The Tree of Life

[daninthelionsden]

There is no mention of "numbering of days" in the Bibles, New King James or the Contemporary English Version. You talk about something that, as far as these Bibles are concerned, doesn't exist. Where did you get that idea of "numbering of days"?

After Noah, God set man's days at a hundred and twenty five years. Before then, they were mortal with centuries of life expectancy even post-Eden. I don't know how God's grace worked in allowing each individual his allotment of days, but we know they were numbered just as each of us are still today. I consider your idea of "effective immortality" closest to how I see it. I just can't see flesh and bone as immortal. When Christ returns, we will receive glorified bodies so that we may inherit the Kingdom in immortality. Without these glorified bodies, we would be as Adam &Eve. We would be flesh and blood unable to take part in the Kingdom s Christ intended. Flesh and blood must be cast off to gain immortality. Correct?

 

[Douglas King]

After Noah, God set man's days at a hundred and twenty five years. Before then, they were mortal with centuries of life expectancy even post-Eden. I don't know how God's grace worked in allowing each individual his allotment of days, but we know they were numbered just as each of us are still today. I consider your idea of "effective immortality" closest to how I see it. I just can't see flesh and bone as immortal. When Christ returns, we will receive glorified bodies so that we may inherit the Kingdom in immortality. Without these glorified bodies, we would be as Adam &Eve. We would be flesh and blood unable to take part in the Kingdom s Christ intended. Flesh and blood must be cast off to gain immortality. Correct?

Possibly. Why do we age and eventually die? Scientists have speculated that it is because our DNA becomes corrupt over time. They think that if we could somehow maintain the integrity of our DNA that we could, theoretically, live forever. The "glorified bodies" you mention, I believe, are bodies with uncorruptible DNA. This is what my "effective immortality" is meant to address. Periodically eating of the Tree of Life enables the DNA to become uncorrupted, regenerated for a time. But you have to continue to periodically eat the fruit of the Tree of Life to continue living. I propose that the Tree of Life has the capability to do this to our bodies. Of course, that is somewhat of a mute point since we don't and can't live in the Garden of Eden anymore with its access to the Tree of Life.

 

[Douglas King]

This is a good topic and these are just my thoughts.

Adam and Eve were created perfect, but I don't think they were created immortal as when we read in the genealogies in Genesis 5, beginning with Adam he lived to be 930 years old when he died. From Adam to Noah the life expectancy was around 950 years, give or take a few years. After the flood God lowered the life expectancy to around 120 years, Genesis 6:1-3.

The tree of life stands as a symbol of God's life giving presence and the fullness of eternal life available in God. But, this fullness of life in it's physical and Spiritual dimensions could only be maintained through obedience to God's command. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they were expelled from the garden. The reason being is that God did not want them to run the risk of eating from the tree of life and forever live in disobedience to Him.

Now we can see the symbol of the tree of life that is Christ Jesus being the life giver to all who will obey God's commands.

I want to respond to your statement: "God did not want them to run the risk of eating from the tree of life and forever live in disobedience to Him". Sounds like good rhetoric. However, your statement excludes the possibility of being Saved. No, I believe that God had a more positive - as opposed to your more negative - motive for denying Adam and Eve access to the Tree of Life: He wanted to avoid the situation where Adam and Eve would have to live forever with pain, suffering, heartache, etc. if they eat from the Tree of Life while in sin.

Another thing. You state that the Tree of Life is a symbol of God's life giving presence and the fullness of eternal life available in God. You say this from the point of view of someone in authority. You don't state that this is your opinion, you state it as fact. However, nowhere in Bible does it make this statement or even imply it.

 

[daninthelionsden]

Possibly. Why do we age and eventually die? Scientists have speculated that it is because our DNA becomes corrupt over time. They think that if we could somehow maintain the integrity of our DNA that we could, theoretically, live forever. The "glorified bodies" you mention, I believe, are bodies with uncorruptible DNA. This is what my "effective immortality" is meant to address. Periodically eating of the Tree of Life enables the DNA to become uncorrupted, regenerated for a time. But you have to continue to periodically eat the fruit of the Tree of Life to continue living. I propose that the Tree of Life has the capability to do this to our bodies. Of course, that is somewhat of a mute point since we don't and can't live in the Garden of Eden anymore with its access to the Tree of Life.

I believe Adam and Eve had perfect DNA whilst in the Garden of Eden and near perfect DNA afterwards, but I don't believe they had the glorified bodies we will receive upon our Lord's return. The glorified bodies we will receive will be beyond human.

 

[for_his_glory]

He wanted to avoid the situation where Adam and Eve would have to live forever with pain, suffering, heartache, etc. if they eat from the Tree of Life while in sin.

If this is what you are saying, then I have said that already.

You say this from the point of view of someone in authority. You don't state that this is your opinion, you state it as fact. However, nowhere in Bible does it make this statement or even imply it.

This is not my opinion, but what I believe to be true by studying the tree of life. I'm not saying I am right, but only how I believe.

FYI, If it's only my opinion then I will say so.