Genesis 2:8-9: “And the LORD God planted a garden [Gr. paradeisos] eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden [Gr. paradeisos], and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
The Greek word for paradise (paradeisos) is used 27 times in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint). The first thirteen times are in Genesis 2 and 3, all references to the Garden in Eden, of course. Other references in the Old Testament to the Garden in Eden use this same Greek word. But it is also employed to refer to a beautiful royal garden in Scripture. Paradise is an ancient term meaning a royal garden or a hunting-park. It derives its origin back to the Garden of Eden. In both Jewish apocalyptic literature and in the Talmud Paradise is associated with the Garden of Eden (the heavenly prototype).
The Greek New Testament that Christ and the Apostles often used which was written in the 3rd century BC.
Genesis 3:23-24: “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden [Gr. paradeisos] of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden [Gr. paradeisos] of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Genesis 3 reveals Paradise lost! When man fell in the Garden his relationship with God was broke. He lost that perfect communion with God and consequently surrendered his favored position before God. Man in the form of Adam disobeyed the divine warning (Genesis 3:6) and brought judgement upon himself and all creation.
The angelic “flaming sword” was placed at the border of the Garden of Eden to prevent man from returning to paradise. Man was not qualified or worthy to return there.
Paradise, the perfection, the tree of life and the flaming sword, were now all transferred to heaven. Earth was left to fallen man and Satan.
Throughout the whole of the old covenant, God’s people, dead or alive, had no automatic access to heaven because of sin. When believers died, they went straight to Abraham’s bosom in Hades. This was a waiting place for believers anticipating being rescued by the Messiah.
Because of sin, man was banished from Paradise. That would remain the case until sin was finally and fully paid for. This was Paradise lost!
Do not miss the allusions to the tree of life.
Man was not allowed to go into the presence of God – only under certain circumstances.
The priest once a year on the day of atonement.
Paradise was lost right up until the cross.
In the New Testament Paradise becomes synonymous with heaven and the New Jerusalem.
When Jesus prophesied to the dying thief, in Luke 23:43, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise [Gr. paradeisos]”
He was announcing a massive change in the location believers went to upon death since the beginning of time. He was revealing something absolutely new. Through the work of Christ, God’s people at death would now be taken into the holy presence of God. It took the transaction of the new covenant to realize that.
It was this same place that Paul the Apostle testified, in 2 Corinthians 12:4. After the cross, after the emptying of Abraham bosom, Paul testified in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4: “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise [Gr. paradeisos], and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
Paradise = the third heaven.
If we compare the location of “the tree of life” in Revelation 2:7 (paradise) and Revelation 22:2, 14 (New Jerusalem), we see that paradise is clearly the New Jerusalem. Revelation 2:7 says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise [Gr. paradeisos] of God.” Clearly “the tree of life” in Revelation 2:7 resides within Paradise.
In Revelation 21:2 we learn: “John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
In Revelation 22:2, 14 he further describes, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life … Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
We can safely deduce that the word Paradise is used as another name for the heavenly abode, and particularly the New Jerusalem. No one would surely doubt the location of “the tree of life” here in Revelation 22:2, 14. It is located in the New Jerusalem.
Paradise = the third heaven = the New Jerusalem.
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