A Tale of 2 Paradises

[parthens]

“In the midst of the street of [heaven] and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life…” (Rev. 22:2.)

All description of the tree of life in the paradise of the Apocalypse of John exclude any mention, much less description, of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

But the allegory of paradise in the second chapter of Genesis doesn’t merely accommodate the presence of the cursed tree; it features it, as though it were the most natural thing in the world for such a species to grow and flourish as a planting of God – the Source of good only. Almost immediately, the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the results of eating its fruit upstage the tree of life, virtually banishing it.

In the Star Wars saga, the creative Principle of the universe is called “the Force,” which is characterized as having both a “light” side and a “dark” side, existing forever together as co-equals in a battle of “good” and “evil”. This “Force” is, of course, a fantasy, a god divided against itself, and its self-cancelling existence makes no scientific sense whatsoever.

But thankfully, in the Apocalypse, the final revelation of God and His heaven, the tree of life stands out alone and of itself, without the slightest suggestion of a tree of death “in the midst” of paradise (Genesis 2:8-9), vying for attention, daring to claim its place alongside the Mind of God.

[Author]

Posts