-Caveat Lector- Man severs his relationship with God Man was given privileges that no other creation had been given before. God gave man dominion over all creatures of the earth. Man was given the right of self-determination and thus could do whatever he desired. He alone was in control of his destiny. Angels, on the other hand, are created to serve God and man. Rebelling against God means instant removal from heaven. There are no second chances. Angels can not repent after rebelling against God. In the beginning, God created this beautiful garden in a place called Eden. He created numerous plants and trees for humans as well as animals to eat. He also created the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve had no shame among them. God told them to eat the fruit of the trees that He had made. He requested nothing from them and gave them only one rule, "Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Unfortunately for us, they broke that one rule. He told them that if they ate the fruit from this tree, they would surely die. No where in scripture does it indicate the fruit was an apple! Satan, being his own devious self, saw an opportunity to make Adam sin against God. He knew he himself could not persuade Adam to eat from the tree. He therefore possessed the body of a serpent and attempted to persuade Eve. Eve would not eat the fruit initially. However, Satan told Eve she would become like God. Eve took and ate the fruit, but nothing appeared to have happened. She then brought the fruit to Adam and asked him to eat it. He remembered what God had told him regarding the fruit from this tree, but Eve seemed perfectly fine. Adam unwisely ate the fruit and their eyes were immediately opened. They knew that they were naked and attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves. Adam was the head of the family. He should have taken control of the situation. Note again that Eve was not aware of what she had done until Adam ate the fruit. God, as He normally did in the afternoon, came down in the garden to speak with Adam and Eve. They heard Him walking toward them and hid themselves. He called out to Adam, "Adam where are you?" Adam replied, "We're naked and were hiding from You." God said, "Who told you that you are naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" Adam replied, "This woman that you gave me made me do it." Because of their disobedience to God's commandment, they were punished for their actions. God said to Eve, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you"(1). The punishment on Eve and hence other women was two-fold. Any woman who has given birth will acknowledge that it is a painful experience. The expressions I saw on my wife's face during labor led me to thank God that it was her having our child instead of me. Eve was created to be equal to Adam and he treated her as such. Her sin destroyed this equality and established the husband as the head of the family--a fact that has been ignored in recent history. Because Adam heeded the voice of his wife and ate the forbidden fruit, God cursed the ground. Adam would now have to work to produce his own food. God then said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil." He then killed an animal and gave them the skin as clothing. The killing of the animal was probably a traumatic event in their lives. They had never seen death before(2). Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission from sin(3). Because the tree of life was also in the garden, God drove Adam and Eve out of Eden so that they could not eat of its fruit ever again. He then placed angels at the east end of Eden with a flaming sword so they could not re-enter the garden. The authority they had over the planet earth was taken away and Satan became the god of this world. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Footnotes (1) Genesis 3:16. Return to text. (2) NKJV; Genesis 1:26 & 27 indicates that vegetation was given to both humans and animals for food. There are no indications that Adam and Eve ate animals prior to their sin against God. Man in his present form cannot survive without certain nutrients from animals. We can obtain the needed protein from plant life, but essential vitamins, such as vitamin B-12, are only available through animal sources. It would have taken a great deal of effort to determine the correct combinations of foods for a balanced diet. Unlike today, they did not have the convenience of going to the local store and purchasing needed vitamins and minerals. However, located in the garden of Eden was the Tree of Life. The fruit from this tree probably provided everything needed to sustain life. Initially, they may have eaten meat. I assumed from verse 1:27 that animals did not initially eat one another. (3) Hebrews 9:20. http://www.ghgcorp.com/hollaway/mansever.html Bard We don't need a 3rd Party; we need a 2nd Party! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
