Paradise Lost and Paradise Found

Paradise Lost and Paradise Found

"Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained" are epic poems written in blank verse by the blind Puritan poet, John Milton. They were published in 1667 and 1671. The poet relates the story of the tragic fall of Adam and Eve into sin and the loss of their paradisiacal home. The second volume tells how Christ, the second Adam, successfully met the tempter and recovered paradise for mankind. Of course, Milton's poems are based upon the Scripture record. Not only do few read Milton's classics, few truly comprehend the Biblical record of Paradise Lost and Found.

The Paradise That Was Lost

Moses presents for us the story of a garden planted by the Creator in Eden in which he placed the first of our kind (Genesis 2:7-10). It was a perfect earth in which they dwelt. Their garden home was a paradise. Every tree which was "pleasant to the sight and good for food" was there. The tree of life also grew there, which sustained their immortality. Sparkling rivers provided them water of life. Sufficient work was assigned to save them from boredom (Genesis 2:15). No disease, suffering or death was known in that Edenic home. Death was only known as a vague penalty threatened for disobedience (Genesis 2:17). Genesis 9:3 seems to suggest that man did not even eat the flesh of animals in that glorious domicile. Child-birth was not the painful experience it is today (Genesis 3:16). There were no thorns nor thistles to plague man then (Genesis 3:18). Before the ground was cursed, man's toils were rewarded with a more bountiful return (Genesis 3:17). But the grandest feature of all was their intimate fellowship and communion with God. Before the fall, he walked and talked with them as a Father would his children (Genesis 3:8). The man and his wife knew no sin or shame (Genesis 2:25).

How Their Paradise Was Lost

According to Genesis 2:16-17 only one thing was forbidden in the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was necessary to test their faithfulness. It provided an opportunity to use their will power and the freedom of choice which distinguished them from the lower creatures.

The temptation and fall is recorded in the first eight verses of Genesis three. Satan, the arch enemy of God and man, chose the lowly serpent through which he schemed to destroy the precious children of the Creator. His method of tempting was simple. He lied to the innocent pair. He contradicted the Lord's ruling, blatantly saying, "Ye shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4). Jesus described Satan as a liar from the beginning, the father of lies (John 8:44). Having shaken their confidence in the word of their Lord, he then voiced the ultimate absurdity, "Ye shall be gods" (Genesis 3:5) (the Hebrew expresses this). Seeing Eve's resistance weakening, he appealed to the lust of her flesh, the lust of her eye and the pride of her heart (Genesis 3:6). Her defenses shattered, she took the forbidden fruit and ate. This technique has been used successfully on every soul born to this day (I John 2:15-16). Poor Eve was beguiled by the master seducer (II Corinthians 11:3), but Adam sinned with his eyes wide open, fully aware of the consequences. Thus God laid the burden of responsibility on him. In Romans 5:12, Paul writes, "Through one man sin entered the world and death through sin." In this seemingly simple deed they had transgressed God's law, they had sinned (I John 3:4).

The Awful Consequences of the Deed

Little did they know how awesome would be the results of their disobedience. Immediately guilt, shame and fear swept over them. They hid themselves from their loving benefactor. They tried to fashion coverings of leaves to conceal their nakedness. Death was let loose in their world. In its train came disease, suffering and sorrow. The woman now was further subjected to man and her childbearing was made a painful experience (Genesis 3:16). Adam now was forced to toil and sweat in earning his bread (Genesis 3:18-19). Even the earth itself was blighted under the curse which sin brought (Genesis 3:17). Wreck and ruin spread themselves across the once fair abode of man and the whole creation groaned, longing to be delivered from the curse of man's folly (Rom. 8:20-22).

The guilty, cowering couple were driven in shame from their once lovely home lest they eat of the tree of life and live forever in their pitiful state (Genesis 3:12-13). This separation from God meant spiritual death (Isaiah 59:1-2), a condition far worse than the physical dying already mentioned. Surely that was the saddest day in human history. All the sorrows of the ages were born that gloomy day. To this day the blighting effects of their folly are shared by one and all of creation.

Paradise Regained

In the glorious scenes of heaven depicted in the Revelation, John saw "a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God.... On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life... and there shall be no curse any more, and his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face... and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:1-5). Thus in the eternal ages God will restore to mankind, the Paradise long ago lost in Eden. Throughout John's marvelous volume are found glimpses of that future paradise that reminds us of the first one.

In Genesis we saw the material earth created; in Revelation it is seen passing away and a new earth being given (Revelation 21:1).

In Genesis the sun and moon were created; in Revelation there is no more need for them. Jesus will provide adequate light (Revelation 22:5; 21:23).

Genesis tells of the marriage of the first Adam; in Revelation we see the marriage of the second Adam, Christ (Revelation 19:7-9).

Genesis portrays the first appearance of man's great enemy Satan. In Revelation we see Satan destroyed in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

In Genesis we saw sin's entrance; in Revelation sin is destroyed. God promises, "There shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie but only they that are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:27).

Genesis tells of the beginning of sorrow, suffering and death, but in heaven all these are done away (Revelation 21:4).

Genesis reveals the curse which settled on the earth because of sin. In eternity the curse is removed (Revelation 22:3).

In Genesis man had personal communion and fellowship with God which he forfeited. In the heavenly paradise, both are restored. "Behold the tabernacle of God is with man, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them...." (Revelation 21:3).

In Eden, man had the tree of life and water of life but lost them. In the coming paradise both shall be restored (Revelation 22:1-2).

In the beginning there was immortality which sin destroyed. But in the eternal realms, immortality will once more be bestowed upon man. "Death shall be no more...." (Revelation 21:4). There will be realized that thrilling promise of the Savior, "He that heareth my word and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life...." (John 5:24).

How Was Our Paradise Regained?

As our first parents stood trembling before their offended Maker they heard the following words which shed a gleam of light over that dreary day. "I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise they head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). Likely they did not comprehend nor fathom the hope which these words foretold. Only when the events of Calvary had been fully revealed did their children grasp the significance of those glorious words. Christ "abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel...." (II Timothy 1:10). Paul explained to the Roman saints, "For if by the trespass of one (Adam) the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many" (Romans 5:15b). Christ has restored to us that which was lost in Eden. "So then as though one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. For as through one man's disobedience the many were sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19).

Thank God, my brethren, that through the life and suffering of our Lord, victory over Satan, sin and death was won for all the children of sorrow. Today the cherub with the flaming sword has been removed. Now twelve gates stand ever open (Revelation 21:12, 25) with heavenly angels waiting to welcome the ransomed and to drive every enemy away. The Lord God invites all men and women to come live with him in Paradise restored (Revelation 22:17). The privilege is extended to all who are Adam's children. The decision to accept or reject is ours to make, even as it was with the first couple in Eden's garden.

Sincerely,

Back -- or go -- Home