An Incredible, Unspoiled Garden
In the beginning of the Biblical narrative, Divinity creates a dazzling garden. He names it Eden and saw that it was good. In all its fancy, in every spray of color, in every sound of peace, in every thought of wonder, in every taste of sweetness, for every human sensory, for every pleasure known, this garden is created for mankind—yes, everything an Almighty could “conceive.”
Then the Divine Creator creates Adam (Ish) and Eve (Ishshah) in His very own likeness. It was all very good. But then Eve by deception and Adam by choice, disobey and capitulate to the Serpent’s lure. All sin, all sadness, all sickness, all pain, all evil, all separation, all death, all corruption, all disease, and all thistles trace their origins to this one sad choice. All mankind, along with charming Eden, fall into chaotic patterns. To save humankind from their own “inventions,” the Tree of Life is moved to a new garden (cf. Rev 2:7, 22:2). Now without a Redeemer, the whole of human race stood condemned before the righteousness of a Holy God. And now all as Adam, have both sinned and chosen to sin. Paradise was lost?
How could a thrice Holy God redeem such tragedy befallen mankind and planet Earth?
An Olive Tree Garden
Some 4,000 years of history pass as God’s Redemption plan takes shape through people, prophet, priest, and king. And now in a darkened countryside, in the hours of a full moon night, 12 men (one a thief, a liar, and a turncoat) hold an exemplary supper of love put on by their Master. The traitor leaves this supper, and God gives Satan all control as he goes out to a dastardly deed. Meanwhile, eleven men remain with their Master to sing a hymn, to leave the beloved City of God behind, to cross a small brook, and to enter another garden, a garden of olive trees, a garden named by men—the Garden of Gethsemane—meaning olive press. In the darkness of the garden eleven men, exhausted, sleep, while one solitary Man wages war with mind and flesh. “Would He or wouldn’t He” obey His Heavenly Father?” One lone Man wins because He chooses to obey. He chooses the merciless cross death, He chooses the Fathers’ will, He chooses the sacrifice for sin, He chooses to die that the ransom be accomplished, He chooses to die that the law in Eden be reversed—He chooses so that Redemption comes, and that Paradise be regained!
A Garden with a Tomb
Satan fought, but Satan lost, for there was yet another garden. Satan lost because a perfect Man died, because of perfect blood poured out, because of perfect obedience unto death. Only complete death could redeem and satisfy the Divine penalty for sin—in the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die. Sacrifice alone was not enough. Blood alone was not enough. Sacrifice alone without death could never reverse the Divine commandment of Eden; only all-inclusive loss of life-sustaining blood would do. But thanks, and glory be to God, there was a third garden. Now in the place where [He} was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid (John 19:41). And in that garden tomb, His friends laid His precious broken and dead body. It was no lie. The Redeemer had died. Praise God, the remedy for death was accomplished. The law against sin was defeated while God remained Holy, ...as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for [He] is risen. Hallelujah, there was a third Garden!
And now all have a choice because of three Gardens—and a fourth Garden too.
Listen carefully to the messages of the three gardens. In the third garden, provision for a fourth garden was finished. All who repent, believe, and choose to be baptized in faith shall be saved and have an entrance into the final Paradise Garden. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).
Yes. Paradise lost in Eden was regained in the Garden of the Tomb!
This is the Wonder of Four Gardens.