What IF

[theotherguy]

Assume for a moment that man never fell and stayed in Eden. I'd like your take on what would of happened. How would God, for example, maintain the proper population density? Would take those who have finished their time here be taken to Heaven without dying? Or would he cause everyone to be infertile when the right number of people was reached. Or could it be that Eden would of been gradually expanded as the population increased? (Although this would of lead to the other two in the end)

Would major building been allowed?

 

[Vance]

I am not sure, but I think we will find out when the new heaven and earth are in place!

 

[DailyBlessings]

Why wouldn't death have occured in Eden? Without sin, death would hold none of its terror- I don't think it would have been dissallowed. Just another part of the way the world works. I don't think Eden as a physical place so much as a stage of our development, but I think my opinion works for a literal Eden just as well. Man was not allowed to eat from the Tree of Life beforehand any more than he was afterward.

As for major building, I can't imagine that it would be desired. We build shelters for protection, for privacy, and for pride, none of which we required before reaching out for knowledge.

 

[theotherguy]

In which case what was the purpose of the tree of life, for in revalation we read it is there to give life forever to those who have trusted. It seems inconsitant to me that the "temtation" tree should have such a clear prupose, yet the "reward" tree should not.

 

[DailyBlessings]

In which case what was the purpose of the tree of life, for in revalation we read it is there to give life forever to those who have trusted. It seems inconsitant to me that the "temtation" tree should have such a clear prupose, yet the "reward" tree should not.

We have life forever now, through Christ. But we don't have life on this earth forever, nor do I think that this would be a reward.

 

[Vance]

I believe that, even in symbolism and imagery, God does not include something without a specific purpose. He includes the image of the Tree of Life, which gives eternal physical life, and they were told they could eat of that tree. If they were immortal when they were placed in the Garden (and remember that Adam is described as being created outside the Garden and then placed into it, a very intriguing, but almost completely ignored point), why would they need a tree that could give them what they already had?

So, EVEN IF God was referring to physical death with the "on that day you shall surely die" (although I don't think this is the most likely reading), this would not AT ALL require that there had been no physical death before the Fall, since Adam could have been mortal coming into the Garden, eat of the Tree and gain immortality, then lose that gift upon eating the other tree.

 

[TwinCrier]

Would take those who have finished their time here be taken to Heaven without dying?

This would be my guess. When Jesus died His, shall we say "natural" death, a body was left behind to rot, when He went to heaven after the resurrection, He went straight to God body and all. It seems we would remain whole if we didn't have to die and separated soul, body and spirit.