FALSE PROPHETS APLENTY
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
1 John 4:1-3 NLT
Hardly a generation had gone by since the New Covenant came into bring before false prophets were on the increase. Not all who claimed to be believers were true believers. Some twisted the truth about Jesus out of shape even as Peter wrote in his second letter.
“And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.”
2 Peter 3:15-16 NLT
Others tried to marry Greek philosophy with the Gospel, producing a Christianised form of Gnosticism which denied the reality of Jesus’ humanity.
“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”
Colossians 2:8-9 NLT
John returns to his condemnation of this heresy repeatedly. That people were peddling this false message must have irked him greatly.
The test to check the validity of the prophet was simple. If he confessed that Jesus was a real human being, the Holy Spirit was in him.
If he did not acknowledge the truth about Jesus’ humanity, he functioned through the spirit of antichrist.
Once again, John makes it clear, as he has already done in earlier parts of his letter, that the antichrist spirit specifically denies the humanity of Jesus.
This heresy is still very much around today in the form of “Christian” cults. Perhaps the most universal cult, enslaving many millions of people, is the one that propagates and holds to the doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary. Since this belief is an official tenet of this religious system, and since it has pronounced Mary sinless by implication, also by implication, Jesus was not born like us but like Mary. He is, therefore, according to this doctrine, disqualified from being our substitute.
And this, declares John, is the spirit of antichrist. This system, collectively, is part of the antichrist present everywhere on earth.
How do we counter this false doctrine? Our most effective strategy is to cling tenaciously to the truth. In the following study we shall find out what John’s strategy is for overcoming the work of the devil.
Category Archives: Apologetics
PRAYING AGAINST…
PRAYING AGAINST…
Beloved fellow-believers, I am compelled to write to you about an ongoing issue that troubles me greatly.
I recently attended the reunion tea of a fellowship group that hasn’t met since Covid. During conversation, one of the ladies was enthusing about a “powerful prayer” that was being circulated by a “prayer warrior”. The prayer was apparently against a certain political figure who is currently making waves in South Africa.
The content of her enthusiasm disturbed me for many reasons. Let me, therefore, explain my objection to the motive of this prayer even if I have not received or read the prayer.
1. Nowhere in Scripture is there any example of “praying against” a person or situation in the history of Israel or the church, no matter how bad things became. Habukkuk is a fine example of someone who had such an opportunity, since God revealed to him what Babylon was going to do to his people. Instead, Habukkuk prayed a prayer of trust and confidence in God, no matter what happened.
“I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster strikes the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights….”
Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT
Equally, in the New Testament, its writers encouraged God’s people to submit gladly to their hardships and suffering because God was working His character in them and supplying His grace to endure with joy. There was never any “praying against” the Emperor or the Roman government, regardless of severe persecution. Rather, believers were encouraged to submit to the governing authorities unless they were commanded to do what was contrary to God’s Word or will.
2. Scripture adamantly declares God’s rule over the nations, His power, wisdom, sovereignty, and will in all His dealings with people and nations. There are numerous references to His authority in all things. I can only quote a few.
Pharaoh…
“For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”
Romans 9:17 NLT
Nebuchadnezzar…
“But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
Daniel 4:28-32 NLT
The rulers of the nations…
“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
Psalms 2:1-6 NLT
The wicked…
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
Proverbs 16:4 NLT
“God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm….. “I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists! Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’” For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness— should raise a defiant fist. It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs.
Psalms 75:2-8 NLT
God has appointed His own authority to rule over the nations.
“For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”
Psalms 2:6-9 NLT
Paul assures us that God is in charge.
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…”
Ephesians 1:11 NIV
These are only a few of the verses that assure us that God’s power, wisdom, sovereignty, and will are unassailable.
2. To “pray against” people or situations that happen to offend us is unbiblical, and a denial of the Lordship and sovereignty, wisdom, and power of Jesus. He earned the right to rule over all things through His obedience to the Father’s will. God has exalted Him to the highest place, far above all principalities and powers.
“… That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 NIV
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:22-25 NIV
God works in all things for the good of His people. His church is His focus not the world. He uses the world to hone our faith and character so that we will resemble His Son.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
Romans 8:28-29 NLT
3. There is no such office or authority in the church as a “prayer warrior” in Scripture. This is a man-made office and an imposition upon the Word which is unauthorised and unacceptable to God. No one has the right to add, practise, or teach what is not in Scripture. There are severe warnings for those who do this.
“Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.”
Deuteronomy 4:2 NLT
“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”
Revelation 22:18-19 NLT
On the contrary, the Bible teaches us that…
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16 NIV
Since our righteousness is a gift from God, all who believe in Jesus are righteous in Him. Therefore, every true believer’s prayers are powerful and effective if they are according to God’s will.
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
1 John 5:14-15 NLT
We have a Helper…
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”
Romans 8:26-27 NLT
Let no one deceive us into believing that one person’s prayers are more powerful and effective than another’s.
There may be other reasons for us not to participate in these unbiblical practices. I have highlighted only three which should be enough to help us not to be guided by our emotions or by the deception of false teachers. Jesus warned us to be on guard constantly because the deceivers can be very convincing. We have the Scriptures to guard and guide us. Let us be faithful to God’s word.
A WORD ABOUT THE WORD
A WORD ABOUT THE WORD
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (1 John 1: 1-2)
There is no testimony more powerful than that of an eyewitness. He was there. He saw it happen and he relates the details of the event with a measure of accuracy as his eyes and ears took it in and his brain processed the information. Of course, not every eyewitness’s story is exactly the same. Each one saw it happen from a slightly different geographical position and each one interpreted the details through his grid of understanding.
Some eye witnesses are more observant than others. They will pick up details which others miss. Others think they saw this when they actually saw that. But when one puts all the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle, a clear and a story begins to emerge. Most of the details correspond and overlap, making the story realistic and credible and can be accepted as an accurate account of what happened.
Why did the Holy Spirit orchestrate four gospels to be written? Some of the details in their accounts of Jesus’ life overlap; other bits differ slightly or even contradict, but the overall story is accurate and believable. Each of the gospel writers had a different purpose for telling His story and therefore it is understandable that they would have had different emphases and that they would have arranged their material differently.
Matthew presented Jesus as the King of the Jews, the fulfilment of prophecy and God’s promised Messiah. Chronology and details were not as important as his overall purpose and were fitted into the bigger picture. He was careful to record those parts of his information which highlighted Jesus’ identity as the King of the Jews.
Mark’s message was that Jesus came as the Servant of Yahweh. He included nothing about His birth or early childhood. He told us much about Jesus’ actions and little about His teaching. A servant is busy doing the will of his master, rather than teaching others about him.
Luke, the doctor, focussed on Jesus’ humanity. He was very much the Son of Man. This aspect of Jesus was real but not the only meaning of His identity since Son of Man was also a Messianic title. The Holy Spirit featured prominently in Luke’s story because, as a human being, Jesus did nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was a real man, hungering, weary at times, eating and drinking and experiencing the whole range of human emotions.
When we get to John’s writings, which include his gospel, his letters and the book of Revelation, a much broader Jesus emerges, a man, yes, but much more than a man. John wrote in later years and had time to process the information he remembered about this Jesus. He could only reach one conclusion – He was indeed the Son of God.
He began his first letter to unknown recipients with words of affirmation and reassurance. What he had to say to them was based on eyewitness facts. He employed words which conveyed the activities of the senses – seen, heard, touched – sensory experiences which registered in his memory indelibly. Was it not John who leaned against Jesus at the supper table, hearing His hear beating in His chest, feeling the warmth of His body against his own?
Did he not see miracles happen; deaf ears opened, blind eyes seeing, paralysed limbs functioning again and even the dead coming back to life? Did he not hear the resounding cries of his dying Lord from the cross? Did he not look with horror on the one who was pierced with a Roman spear until the last drops of His blood spilled on the ground? Did he not hear the words of the Roman centurion who pronounced that his Master was dead? Did he not gaze in wonder at the gaping wounds in the hands and feet of his risen Lord?
No one could deny what he had seen and heard and, on the solid foundation of eyewitness facts, he made his declaration to his readers. If Jesus said what He said, and did what He did, and then He fulfilled His predictions about His own death and resurrection, who could contradict what He taught about Himself and His mission?
No other human being in history who created a religion around himself or out of his own imagination could back up the ramblings of his mind with indisputable historical fact. Many skeptics have tried to disprove the resurrection of Jesus on legal grounds and have come away convinced of the truth of the Biblical record.
The bottom line is: Jesus was the Son of God. He came from the Father. He was God’s complete and final Word to humanity. Everything He said and did confirmed His identity. He brought us life through His death and resurrection. Those who believe in Him have eternal life and, though they die physically, they live eternally in the fullness of God’s presence and glory.
QUESTIONS
- How did John present Jesus in his gospel?
- Give some evidence for John’s claim that he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ glory.
- How do we know that the claims Jesus made about Himself are true and trustworthy?
Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
WHO IS THE HIRELING OF JOHN 10?
WHO IS THE HIRELING OF JOHN 10?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:10-13
Times without number, I have heard preachers, teachers, and every other category of believer in Jesus, refer to the devil as the one who comes to “kill, steal, and destroy”. Never once, in all my Christian experience, have I ever heard or read a query to this interpretation.
Yet, when I read Jesus’ words in John 10, nowhere does He refer to Satan in His teaching about the hireling and the Good Shepherd. His debate was not with the devil whom He could vanquish with the Word, but with the religious leaders who twisted the Word to suit their own purposes.
In His teaching on the Good Shepherd, Jesus contrasted Himself with the “hireling” who had no interest in the sheep but in what he could gain from shepherding them. When danger or difficulty came, the hireling abandoned the sheep to save his own skin. No mention of the devil here!
By contrast, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, not only takes good care of the sheep whom He knows by name, but He also sacrificed His own life for His flock.
Who, then, was the hireling? Surely, Jesus was referring to the religious leaders, with whom He continually contended because they cared more about themselves than about God’s people. He called them “hypocrites”, play-actors who played the role of “shepherd” to impress their audience.
Matthew 23:2-7; 13-36 is a painful exposure of those who masquerade as shepherds but behave as hirelings. On many occasions, Jesus pointed out their dishonest use of the Law.
“For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
Mark 7:10-13 NLT
These religious leaders were so dishonest that they refused to weigh all the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. They rejected His claim that His authority came from God. Instead, they crucified Him as a blasphemer because He claimed (and proved by the Word, His works, and the witness of the Father) that He was the Son of God.
Yes, Satan was behind their attitudes and behaviour but, in the end, they made their choices and were the greatest threat to Jesus’ mission. They influenced the people against Jesus despite all the miracles He did for them. Although they made the decision to crucify Jesus, they were ultimately accountable to God, the highest authority, for what they had done.
“Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.” Matthew 27:20 NLT
‘Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”
Matthew 27:24-25 NLT
Peter laid the guilt for Jesus’ death squarely at the door of the Jews, including all those, led by the religious leaders, who had clamoured for His death.
“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:22-23 NLT
Nowhere did Peter on the day of Pentecost, give credit to the devil for having Jesus crucified. It was the human will by human hands that killed Him. What of today?
There are many “hirelings” in places of leadership in churches across the world today, people who are filthy rich at the expense of the “sheep” who depend on them for care and guidance. These are the ones who kill, steal and destroy since those who follow them are robbed of money, wisdom and life itself.
Unfortunately, these hirelings are often difficult to identify because they masquerade as shepherds or, as Jesus said, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. We can identify them by their fruit.
I am very wary of those who get people to give either by offering them a reward or by making them feel guilty if they don’t give. Many great so-called compassion ministries are built on the money the big names get out of their followers while they gather wealth for themselves.
Three things motivate the hireling that contradict what Jesus taught about the way of God’s kingdom; fame, power and money. Look for these “fruits” in the lives of false shepherds and stay away from them and their teachings.
The tragedy is that, though these false shepherds will take the rap for what they have done, the sheep who blindly follow them will also be lost because they have exchanged the truth for lies.
God holds every individual responsible for what he/she believes and how his/her belief system directs their lives. He has given us the New Covenant in His Word to show us how and provide everything we need to live godly lives.
“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT
No one can hide behind ignorance as an excuse. We are told to test everything and hold fast to what is good.
“Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 NLT
Jesus warned us that deception will be the greatest threat to believers as time draws to an end. Fear and deception are the devil’s most effective tools, and hirelings his most efficient allies in his quest to draw people away from simple faith in Jesus.
So, my beloved friends, beware of the hirelings who are everywhere and out to lure you away by their smooth-tongued and convincing words that twist God’s Word, pander to your flesh and set you on the path to destruction.
Remain “in Christ”, abide in Him and in His Word. He is your only place of truth and safety.
THE MYSTERY OF THE TREES
THE MYSTERY OF THE TREES
I have often puzzled over the account of the Fall in Genesis 3. It’s a weird story if we take it literally. It’s no wonder sceptics question the truth of Scripture and read the story as a myth. Some of us simply ignore ordinary good common sense and believe the details as though they actually happened.
There is much in Scripture that is figurative, symbolic and makes no sense if taken literally.
Is this practice of interpreting everything literally a valid way of understanding the Bible? If so, then we must read every parable Jesus told as a literal story, and miss the deeper spiritual truths He was teaching.
One of His purposes for teaching in parables was to separate the casual hearer who had no intention of responding from the earnest listener who desired to have more of the truth.
“He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ … “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
Mark 4:11-12, 24-25 NIV
Hebrew people interpreted according to function, not form: for example, God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock and covered him with His hand. However, God is Spirit. He does not have hands, wings, feathers etc., according to the descriptions of Him in the Bible. To take this action of God literally would contradict who He is.
So, how do we interpret these details? Hebrews would ask the question, “What does a hand do? “, not,” What does a hand look like?”
What if the fruit trees in the Garden of Eden were not literal trees but something else with far bigger implications? What if they are symbolic of a theme that runs through the whole Bible?
“Fruit” in Scripture is often used of the consequences of words and actions, e.g.,
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.”
Proverbs 11:30 NIV
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 NIV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”
Galatians 5:22 NIV
God often used word pictures that people could understand to illustrate the deeper truths of His dealings with people.
Take, for example, Daniel’s prophetic visions about beasts representing kingdoms. God actually identified them as kingdoms in His explanation of the visions.
“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:… “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.”
Daniel 7:15-16, 23 NIV
Is it possible that the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” in the Garden of Eden also represented a kingdom – the one over which Satan had control?
“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes: “‘Who can be compared with you in majesty? Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage…. “‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendour and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. “‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
Ezekiel 31:2-3, 18 NIV
Ezekiel 31 is an interesting chapter about God’s judgement of the “trees” of Assyria and Egypt. Here, trees obviously represent the kingdoms of Assyria and Egypt.
THE WAR OF THE KINGDOMS
One of the great themes of the Bible is the war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan which began in heaven.
Satan and his fallen angels rebelled against God, God’s angels made war in heaven against them, overpowered them and banished them to the earth.
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
Revelation 12:4, 7-9 NIV
What is the difference between these two kingdoms?
God’s rule is about relationships and is governed by love. In His kingdom, the governing principle is “God in the centre” and “others before self”. This makes for unity and harmony in every relationship. God’s Kingdom is unified because it governs every believer from within by His Spirit. His kingdom is about power to rule over self.
Satan’s rule is dominated by “me in the centre” and “self before others” no matter how much damage it does to relationships. Satan rules over “kingdoms” because his principle of self first operates in every system or “kingdom” that controls the world. His kingdom is about power to rule over others.
There is a close parallel between Adam’s temptation in the Garden and Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.
In the Garden, where Adam and Eve enjoyed all the benefits and blessings of life under God’s rule (they “ate the fruit” of living in the kingdom of God), Satan intruded and lured them by deception into believing that it was better to live under his rule in his kingdom.
Adam chose rebellion against God, chose to eat of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”…and to be part of the kingdoms of Satan where he ( Adam, thought) he could make his own rules. Of course, Satan didn’t reveal the small print in this deal. He works by deception. Once Adam had made his choice, there was no turning back. Adam became the devil’s slave and could only do what Satan demanded in his kingdom.
… and the whole human race is still eating the fruit of that choice.
So, Adam DID die, emotionally, spiritually and physically.
The prize in this war would always be people. God wanted a family of sons and daughters just like Jesus, who would live together forever under His loving rule in peace and harmony. They would manage the earth for God under His direction so that His nature of ECHAD, unity in diversity, would be reflected in the whole universe.
For the devil, the prize was also people, not to bless but to destroy.
Satan tried the same tactic with Jesus.
Satan actually offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship because he wanted to wrest control of the universe from God and control of all the people through deception. If Jesus accepted his offer, He would lose His title and role as Lord.
Jesus never fell for Satan’s lies for one simple reason. He had been sent by the Father to fulfil the law and to die as a law breaker so that He could reconcile fallen man to God. What was the law He came to fulfil?
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31 NIV
Put very simply, God in the centre, others above self. And Jesus lived it perfectly.
Now, let’s go back to the garden.
If my interpretation is accurate according to the whole scope of Scripture, the story in Genesis is a vividly symbolic picture of Satan’s battle to get control of what was most precious to God – man.
The tree of life represents the kingdom of God where the life of God, expressed through His love, keeps everything functioning in perfect harmony (good = functional), creating an environment for His human family to live in all the blessing He had for them.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil (functional versus dysfunctional) represents Satan’s kingdom, where everyone, enslaved by selfishness and greed, does his own thing, creating chaos, ruin, and death. Satan’s plan was to gain control by enslaving the whole human race so that God’s plan of a family like Himself would come to nothing.
What would be the outcome of this war? God predicted it in the Garden.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:15 NIV
His plan involved sacrificing the dearest treasure He had to offer, His Son. God literally put all His eggs in one basket to achieve His goal.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Revelation 11:15 NIV
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
Revelation 22:1-2 NIV
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”
Revelation 22:14 NIV
“And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”
Revelation 22:19 NIV
In the end, because God is God, the “tree of life” overcomes “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Through the seed of the woman, God’s kingdom is established forever.
“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:30-33 NIV
So, what happened in the garden, Adam’s foolish choice to change allegiance and move from God’s kingdom of light and life to Satan’s” dominion of darkness”, was reversed by Jesus’ obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection. The “tree of life” has once again become the kingdom and dwelling place of redeemed mankind.