The ancient Book of Enoch is becoming quite popular nowadays. As anyone familiar with it knows, the ancient Patriarch composed his mystical gem from within the land of Eden. This is where he was taken by God, as we read in the 44th chapter (v.16) of the Book of Ecclesiasticus (throughout the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, the term "paradeisos" was used exclusively to refer to Eden, or the Garden of Eden). And so, it was here in this mysterious land that the Patriarch spent his time - traveling around, sampling its delicacies, and conversing with the Archangels, who showed him the great, unseen mysteries of God’s creation. Except for the years’ time when he was allowed to return to his family to explain his visions, he spent the rest of his life in Eden.
Now first of all, when I speak of “Eden”, I’m talking about the land where Enoch received his visions and instructions – and not specifically the “Garden of Eden”. According to Enoch, the Biblical “Garden of Eden” is a separate territory within the land of Eden. He calls it the “Garden of Righteousness”, but we know he’s speaking of the same place because it’s in this “Garden of Righteousness” where he says the Tree of Wisdom (a.k.a. the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) is found. Ergo, we know that the Garden of Eden is a separate territory within Eden. And so again, when I speak of “Eden”, I’m talking about the entire land of Eden, and not strictly The Garden.
The reason I mention this is because Scripture tells us that Adam and Eve were banished from the “Garden of Eden” without making any further mention of the land of Eden itself. This might be confusing to some as it seems to imply that the pair were merely banished from "The Garden", and not from Eden as well. But it’s clear from reading Enoch’s book that the land of Eden, in general, is definitely NOT a part of our visible world. Enoch tells us, for example, that there are mountains there that are larger than any found in our visible world – some of them comprised entirely of gold, silver, and precious stones. There were also creatures there, as well as vegetation, which are altogether unfamiliar to us. All this to say, the land of Eden is evidently NOT a part of our visible world. Ergo, Adam and Eve must have been banished from Eden as well as the Garden (I personally believe the entrance to Eden is through "The Garden". This would explain the apparent discrepancy).
Anyway, along with Enoch, it was also to this hidden paradise that the prophet Elijah was taken in a whirlwind (4 Kings 2:11), and where he spent at least the next ten years of his life. I say at least ten years, because Scripture says that a decade after his “disappearance”, he sent a letter to King Jehoram of Judah, berating him for his godless reign (2 Chronicles 21:12). And so we know that Elijah definitely lived somewhere on earth after his disappearance. A few might argue that he was taken to some other location in our visible world, but this doesn’t follow reason - for excepting the letter he wrote, he was never seen or heard from again after his disappearance. By anyone. This doesn’t make any sense if he was living somewhere in our visible world. Nor is it consistent with the glory of God. That is, to imagine that the great Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind and carried off in such a magnificent manner, only to be later dropped off in some nameless pagan land many miles away, just doesn’t square with the way God does things. And the prophet later made his way back to the land of Judah to hand a letter to King Jehoram? And then he left again on foot? Right. It sounds kind of stupid, to say the least – certainly not in the style of God. No, like Enoch, Elijah was taken to Eden to live out the rest of his days in peace. All this to say, though somewhat shrouded in mystery, the land of Eden is an actual physical location on earth. We just can’t see it because it’s in another dimension.
No doubt this sounds quite fantastic to our modernized ears - but keep in mind that when Adam and Eve fell from grace, they were only banished from the Land of Eden. The territory was never destroyed. This is important to remember. Eden was never destroyed. Instead, as we read in Scripture, God placed Cherubim at the entrance to guard it. This being the case, it's reasonable to assume it still exists. Otherwise, God's actions would be senseless. No, Eden still exists to this day. In fact, I would posit that the land of Eden is the mysterious “Wilderness” spoken of in chapter 12 of the Apocalypse. I believe there’s good evidence to maintain such a belief. Recall that the Wilderness is the secret place where the “Woman” (the Remnant Church) will be hidden and nourished by God for 3 1/2 years, or 1260 days (Apoc.12:14). It’s here in this quiet, secluded, and beautiful wilderness that God will “speak to her heart”, unmolested by any outside forces. Here He will protect the Woman from the rage of the Antichrist, and from the wiles of the Devil. Naturally, the Antichrist won’t be able to find the location because it’s in another dimension. On the other hand, the Devil knows where it is, but cannot enter because there are Cherubim guarding the entrance (Gen. 3:24). This is why he sends a flood instead – to try and drown the Woman (Apoc. 12:15). You see, the Flood of Noah DID affect the land of Eden. And the Devil knows it. And so he thinks he can destroy the Remnant by sending another flood into the territory. This is why he tries this approach. But to no avail. God will protect her. All this to say, I believe there’s good evidence to maintain that Eden is the mysterious “Wilderness” spoken of in the Apocalypse.
As for its existence at present, we find a testimony to this fact in the biography of St. Lydwine of Sheidam. This amazing saint was blessed with frequent visits from her Guardian Angel. On one occasion, he traveled to Eden and brought her back a branch from a tree found there. The branch was said to be extremely hard (more so than any tree found in our world) and, for a time, emitted the most wonderful fragrance. It was seen and handled by many of the visitors who came to the saint for help and prayers. The branch’s fragrance remained for some time, to the delight and edification of many – that is, until a heretic defiled it with his touch. Anyway, the point is that there is evidence to suggest that Eden is not only an actual physical place, but one that exists to this day as it did in the days of Genesis.
Finally, I maintain that our visible world, almost completely defiled with the inventions and pollution of godless men, will be done away with in the renewal of the earth following the Second Coming of Christ – and that this renewal will be accomplished by the visible emergence of the land of Eden. In other words, the land of Eden will emerge from obscurity to become our visible world, and our present visible and defiled world will become invisible. As to how it’s going to take place, who knows? God could simply wave His hand over the earth and renew it. But whatever it entails, this seems to be what Scripture alludes to. The land will become like Eden:
“The Lord therefore will comfort Sion, and will comfort all the ruins thereof: and he will make her desert as a place of pleasure, and her wilderness as Eden. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of praise.” (Is. 51:3)
And again:
“They shall say: This land that was desolate is become as a garden of Eden: and the cities that were abandoned, and desolate, and destroyed, are peopled and fenced.” (Ez. 36:35)
And so I believe it is perfectly in line with the words of Scripture that our visible world would be replaced, if you will, by the land of Eden. At any rate, it would be hard to imagine that Christ would reign gloriously for a thousand years here on earth amid the loathsome eyesore of modern man’s materialistic pollution (not to mention the actual toxic pollution of land, sea, and air). No, that position doesn’t follow reason – especially when a far greater renewal could take place with no effort on God’s part whatsoever. And so, I believe that Eden will become our new “visible world” following the Second Coming of Christ. I think this position makes perfect sense, and is consistent with the glory of God.
So in summary, we know from Scripture that God never destroyed the Land of Eden, but merely placed Cherubim at the entrance to guard it. We also know from the descriptions in the Book of Enoch, that it must be in another dimension – a dimension which runs concurrent with ours but which is invisible. We also know from the history of St. Lydwine of Sheidam that the land of Eden exists to this day, as it did in the days of Genesis. Finally, although hidden at present, this magnificent paradise will soon become our visible world when the Messiah comes again to destroy the forces of evil, purify the earth, and reign in glory upon His throne for a thousand years.
Topic: Eden still exists.. (Read 3330 times)