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BACKGROUND
(Specially for more Serious Students)
GARDENS
GARDEN
PARADISE
PARADISE
EDEN
EDEN, GARDEN OF
GETHSEMANE
GETHSEMANE
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
RESURRECTION
RIVER OF GOD
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
THE 3 GARDENS OF GOD
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE GARDEN OF ETERNAL LIFE
A GARDEN OF REST
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| PARADISE. |
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 a. Paradise is a loan-word from ancient Iranian (SDLULGDH.]D-) and means a garden with a wall. The Gk. word SDUDGHLVRV is used for the first time by Xenophon for the gardens of the Persian kings. LXX translates JDQµH.GHQ of Gn. 2:8 by DUDGHLVRV_______
b. In the New Testament The word paradise (Gk. SDUDGHLVRV) occurs in only three instances in the NT (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:3; Rev. 2:7). The context shows that the predominating sense is that of the later development of the word. In Lk. 23:43 the word ‘paradise’ is used by Jesus for the place where souls go immediately after death, cf. the concealed paradise in later Jewish thought. The same idea is also present in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31).In 2 Cor. 12:2-4 Paul wrote in the third person of his experience of being caught up into paradise where he heard unspeakable words (Gk. DUUKH.WD_UKH.PDWD). In this case paradise is the ‘third *heaven‘ with its glory, perhaps the same as in Lk. 23. The only place where paradise is used in an eschatological sense is in Rev. 2:7. The promise is made by Christ that he will give paradise as a gift to the one who overcomes. The present paradise will come in its full glory with the final consummation. The idea of a garden of God in the world to come is strongly emphasized in the last chapters of Revelation. The symbols of the tree of life, of life-giving water, and of the twelve kinds of fruit are all witnesses to the glory of the coming paradise (Rev. 22).
The New Bible Dictionary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1962.
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| <i>The New Jerusalem</i> |
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 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them 45 and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)
The 'Holy City", the new heaven and new earth, destined to replace the current ones at the end of the 1000 year 'Millennial Reign' of Jesus, is a combination of elements from the city of Jerusalem, the Temple and the Garden of Eden.
The final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22, describes the new city in terms of a garden, one similar to the Garden of Eden. So, the eternal kingdom of the Lord, which all true Christians look forward to inhabiting, is compared to the Garden of Eden, but with enhancements! Let's have a look.
During the great battle of the end days, the River Euphrates, one of the four that bounded Eden's Garden, will dry up!
Revelation 16:12
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 Prior to this event, the rivers and springs had been turned into blood.
Revelation 16:4
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 However, these worldly disasters are not a spiritual problem, for the watering of the garden will come from the directly from the throne of God.
Revelation 22:1-2
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The Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden is again found here, for perfection has been restored. This time however, mankind's perfection has finally been proven. Now, instead of just one tree in this eternal garden, we have 12. For 12 signifies 'divine government', the rule of God for eternity!
Revelation 22:3
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 Judgement has been completed and all whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life will live together in the kingdom of God, in harmony, (Hard to imagine looking at the church today!) forever.
Revelation 21:26-7
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 Those who overcome the temptations and desires of this life in order to follow Jesus will inherit eternal life.
Revelation 2:7
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 In this final garden, here in the eternal City of God, having been made perfect through the sacrifice of Jesus, the shedding of His blood, we will be able to dwell in the direct presence of God.
Revelation 22:3-4
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 There will no more be a need for night (for night serves to separate days in order to provide a measure of time), as eternity is timeless.
Revelation 22:5
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| IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY |
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 Most Christians see eternity as being something to inherit after death. But we are called to inherit the kingdom of God now, not at some time in the future, for the kingdom is found within us.
Luke 17:20-21
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 As we die to our own nature through obedience to the Lord's will, so the kingdom grows within us. This kingdom is not burdensome, but one of rest in Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30
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 As we learn to submit to the will of Father so we enter His rest.
Hebrews 4:9-11
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 As is the case when we die physically, by the process of dying spiritually to our selfish nature, we can enter God's rest now.
Revelation 14:13
King David recognized this principle 3,500 years ago! In the beauty of the 23rd Psalm David finds rest in the middle of the many problems and challenges of His life, through his trust in and obedience to the Lord. The beautiful setting of the 'garden' of the green pastures and still waters is an appropriate place at which to finish this study of the '3 Gardens of God'.
May we be prepared to sacrifice ourselves in order to enter our garden of rest.
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| <i>Psalm 23</i> |
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 A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> - REVELATIONS REVELATION! |
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 Around 2-3 years ago the Lord drew my attention to the endings of the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. Each letter ends in a similar way, "to him who overcomes," with a promise following.
Upon first discovering these, I shared them with the "Home Group" we have attended for many years. It was an interesting study, but no more. It Wasn’t until late this afternoon (8 October 1999), just in time to get into trouble with the wife for not setting the table in time for tea, that the Lord showed me what they really meant!
But it shows His empathy too, in that He had Started preparing me, several years ago, for this day. And what did He show me? That the promises He made to these 7 churches were to be fulfilled by the overcoming people of His Tabernacle Church.
These promises make just so much more sense, now that the blinkers have been removed from my eyes.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 The deeper I get into God, the more I learn about resting in Him.
It isn't something that 'just happens', but is an ongoing process that develops over a lifetime.
"Lord, may I put aside 'me' and rest in you."
Wealthy Israelite House
Illustration of a Wealthy Israelite Home
Source: http://www.bible-history.com
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
20. God’s rest is a gift, but resting in God a way of life.
David Tait
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