In the Beginning

[Chief117]

OK, I have this question:

Did God originally intend for man to live forever?

This question came up when my wife and I decided to start reading Genesis together. Reading about the fall of Adam and Eve reminded me of a non-believer's question regarding the nature of the whole "wages of sin is death" concept.

It is also a commonly stated "contradiction" in the Bible that God says that if they eat the fruit, then they will surely die--but yet they didn't. My wife thought, well, if they were meant to live forever, then they did die, so its not a contradiction."

It sure sounded good to me, but I have never heard anyone say that they were supposed to live forever. Are there any thoughts/comments/revelations about this?

 

[Catholic Dude]

Well it all depends on your definition of "live forever" and "death"....

.....all through the OT you see guys living to like 500 years old, is this "living forever" or "death" ??

 

[Daedalus]

There is so much to say about this. The genesis is also a very controversial part of the bible, and I won't argue about the validity of what I believe about it only using facts in it's content.

So, I believe they were built to live forever; I won't go into a logical paradox saying they were ment to live forever.
That is if God ment them to live forever.... and God's will allways prevails.... and God knowing they would eat the apple etc. etc. etc.

So, the orthodox view is that disseas of the soul causes much of the disseases of the body (see this as general as possible, it includes the fact that what you choose makes you ill but also things more in the spirit of "soul disseas" such as your sins(or even your parent's sins) causing you to become ill) can also explain why Adam and Eve became mortals ( again my believes -- how could they have became if they allready were for instance).
The real death however is the fact they would be separated from God (the nice way to say they would go to hell).

 

[TrevorL]

Howdy Chief117,

"Did God originally intend for man to live forever?"

Greetings. I believe that they were under probation towards eternal life. God would at a certain point in time invite them to partake of the tree of life if they were faithful. But because they sinned, they were driven out of the garden so that they would not eat the tree of life and live for ever.
Genesis 3:22-24 (KJV): "22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[visionary]

Howdy Chief117, Greetings. I believe that they were under probation towards eternal life. God would at a certain point in time invite them to partake of the tree of life if they were faithful. But because they sinned, they were driven out of the garden so that they would not eat the tree of life and live for ever.
Genesis 3:22-24 (KJV): "22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

Kind regards
Trevor

he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.... We were created in the image of God. We were created to be like God and live forever. That privilege was taken away... ie... take away the tree of life .. now that they have sin in them... so that they do not eat of it and have sin live forever too.

There were two trees in the garden, the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve chose the wrong tree. IF they had chosen the right tree we would have lived forever.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

We see the results of living the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Our world that we have created from this knowledge is full of evil and good and we often have a difficult time doing the right thing.

If we lived in a world where the tree of life reigned, we would not be blocked from knowledge, it would have been filtered so that only good uses, good understanding, and good would come from it. Yes, I believe that we were meant to live forever. Genetics have shown the scientific world that it is possible.

Revelation 2:7 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 of God.

The offer still stands, if we want to live the good life, the righteous life, be an overcomer, then we will again get the opportunity to eat of the tree of life.

Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

How would you like to have your mind be cleared up from circling thoughts? How would you like your mind to be focused on the good things and creative active to live them out? Instead of being bombarded with stupid, evil, tripe we are inspired, receive revelations, have visions, and contenplate deep and wonderous thoughts without interruptions of junk thoughts. This is why it is so important for us to focus on Christ and His Kingdom given from Mount Sinai. It is the kingdom to come.

Revelation 22:14 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.

 

[Chief117]

I appreciate everyone's comments and ideas--everything is welcome. However, let me clarify a few things and make a few comments in response:

Well it all depends on your definition of "live forever" and "death"....

.....all through the OT you see guys living to like 500 years old, is this "living forever" or "death" ??

I consider the fact that life as a mortal ended in death. My thinking was, if man in the beginning lived such long lives (e.g. 500-700 years) then maybe they were originally intended to live forever as children of God in His garden. When they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of G&E, God limited their lives (at the time to about 600 years).

There is so much to say about this. The genesis is also a very controversial part of the bible, and I won't argue about the validity of what I believe about it only using facts in it's content.

Whereas there may be times when we Christians of varying backgrounds may butt heads, I believe that we are part of the Body of Christ. That being said, there is no need for anyone on here to have to argue about the validity of any book of the Bible--we are all Christians. As for me, I believe that Genesis is both an actual account and that it is a literal, historical story. Feel free to make posts on that assumption.

Greetings. I believe that they were under probation towards eternal life. God would at a certain point in time invite them to partake of the tree of life if they were faithful. But because they sinned, they were driven out of the garden so that they would not eat the tree of life and live for ever.

As I am understanding the Scripture, they were always allowed to partake of the Tree of Life. This strengthened the idea that they were supposed to originally live forever:

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil....15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17).
​

God does not forbid them from eating the Tree of Life. However, as you pointed out, when they sinned and ate from the Tree of Knowledge, God was angered, kicked them out of Eden, and forbade any human from eating of the Tree of Life again. It would seem that the Tree of Knowledge brought mortality into the world.

I've thought out many of the pieces, but I've never heard anyone make this connection before and that is why I am asking. You never hear, "in the beginning God made man to be immortal." So, I'm just curious what everyone else knows or believes on the subject!

 

[~Nikki~]

I believe that they were meant to live forever, but sin brought death into the world.

Adam and Eve were only forbidden to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but once they had done that God set an angel to guard the tree of life. It appears that they were allowed to eat from it til then.

 

[linssue55]

OK, I have this question:

Did God originally intend for man to live forever?

This question came up when my wife and I decided to start reading Genesis together. Reading about the fall of Adam and Eve reminded me of a non-believer's question regarding the nature of the whole "wages of sin is death" concept. This is spiritual death...they did not die physically for another 600 yrs......

It is also a commonly stated "contradiction" in the Bible that God says that if they eat the fruit, then they will surely die--but yet they didn't. My wife thought, well, if they were meant to live forever, then they did die, so its not a contradiction." This is not a contradication...........


It sure sounded good to me, but I have never heard anyone say that they were supposed to live forever. Are there any thoughts/comments/revelations about this?

We will live forever after we die, or if the Rapture happens before we die, we will live forever in our resurection body.

 

[Philip]

Adam and Eve were intended to live forever, and they will. However, this is not, now or then, due to anything in themselves. It iss always because of their union with God.

 

[AngCath]

God intended that we should live forever and through Jesus Christ we shall in union with God.

 

[talitha]

Adam and Eve were designed consistently with eternal life, BUT we must remember the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8 ). I believe that God's plan of redemption is eternal, ie: outside time, even though that concept is hard for us to wrap our temporal minds around.

blessings
tal

 

[Chief117]

Just so everyone knows--thank you for your responses. I very much like to receive ideas and things about Scripture, as I have a hard time absorbing it all as fast as I'd like!

However, I just want to be clear that I am aware of God's plan for our eternity with Him in Heaven. My question pertains to the possibility that in the Beginning we were meant to live forever on earth without death. After all, it would appear that the Lord was literally with them in Eden.

 

[talitha]

Chief, I did not doubt your awareness of God's plan for our eternity with Him; I wasn't talking about that. Basically, I was saying "no" to your question -- God did not have a plan that man foiled. God's plan is succeeding.

blessings
tal