Heaven: The Paradise of God, The Garden of Eden

Jesus promised, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself" (Jn 14:2-3). Although it is true that this heavenly "place" will surpass all that we can grasp (1Cor 2:9), it is also true that God has given us some pictures of Heaven that are worth considering-- pictures of a bright future that can help us persevere and conquer in our earthly walk. One of the main images of Heaven that He has given us is that of a beautiful garden of delights.

We first learn of this place as "The Garden of Eden”, first home of unfallen Man. It is also referred to as "The Garden of the Lord" (Isa 51:3) and "Paradise" (Rev 2:7). If we examine the Biblical names and descriptions of this place, we see that tropical islands and unspoiled wildernesses fall far short of capturing the desirability of Paradise! The real Paradise was and is a place that God specifically cultivated for unfallen man, a place of peace, beauty, bountiful provision, pleasurable purpose and fellowship-- a "Garden of Delights."

The names of Paradise. The first name given to this place (Gen 2:8) is a Hebrew word translated “garden”, referring to a fenced-off region devoted to an orchard or agriculture (SS 6:2, Is 58:11). The location of this garden is called “Eden”, a name derived from a descriptive Hebrew word meaning “pleasure” or “delight” (Gen 18:12, Ps 36:8). Hence, God's choice of names for the place He put Adam is "The Garden of Eden", or "The Garden of Delights" (Gen 2:15). Later, Jesus and Paul used the Greek word “Paradeisos” (Paradise), derived from a Persian word for an enclosed park with a watchtower, stocked for the king to hunt in. The related Hebrew word, “Pardes”, is translated “forest” or “orchard” in the Old Testament (SS 4:13, Neh 2:8).

In all of these names, and in the descriptions of the Garden of Eden, we see a picture of a beautiful, treed, park-like setting, filled with delights: a place deliberately, consciously planted by God with every tree that is pleasant to the eye and good for food (Gen 2:8-10). Pause a moment to consider the ramifications of that description-- have you considered the heart of God that chose to include every tree that is pleasant to the eye? That is an act of tenderness and love that goes beyond mere sustenance. It was so lush, fertile and well-watered that it is the benchmark for other lush places (Gen 13:10, Eze 31), and the extreme contrast to a desolate wasteland (Isa 51:3-6, Joel 2:3). We see it as a place purposefully designed by God to allow Adam and Eve to have intimate fellowship with Him and with each other, as well as the pleasurable purpose of “dressing” and “keeping” the garden. Not to be missed is the aspect that it had boundaries: it was not the whole earth that was like this, but rather “a garden in the east;” hence, Adam and Eve could be placed in the garden, and they could be evicted out of it when their fellowship with God was broken by sin.

Today we do not see a physical garden in Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, God speaks of it as though it still exists in some form or spiritual place. For example, cherubim were set to guard the way to the Tree of Life (Gen 3:24), which continues to yield its fruits in Paradise (Rev 2:7), and which will be fruitful and healing in the eternal future (Rev 22:1-2). Jesus said to the penitent thief that he would be with Him in Paradise “this day” (the afternoon of their crucifixion, Lk 23:42-43). Paul described someone being caught up to the heavenly Paradise , though he didn't know if it was a physical or spiritual visit (2Cor 12:2-4). Finally, the descriptions of the new heaven and the new earth (after this heaven and earth have passed away) include Eden-like elements such as a river flowing from the throne of God and the Tree of Life yielding its fruits. All of these references together show that the Garden of Eden is not merely a historical, physical place, but that it is an enduring reality where God is present, and that it will be the eternal, spiritual home of those who embrace Jesus’ kingdom, who overcome the tribulation of the church, who are the Bride of Christ. Yet it carries with it the idea of a boundary—a separation between it and what is outside of it. This separation is more explicit in the next picture of Heaven (The City of God); the dreadful outside is described in the pictures of Hell (Outer Darkness, Lake of Fire, Gehenna).

Return to Introduction of Heaven and Hell.

Go to summary of pictures of Heaven and Hell.

Return to Index of studies.

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References for the foregoing:

Heaven: The Paradise of God, The Garden of Eden
(Lk 23:39-43, 2Cor 12:4, Rev 2:7, 21:6, 22:1-2)

Eternal dwelling place of water, beauty, bounty, purpose, fellowship
Hebrew word Eden means “pleasure or delight” (Strong): see Gen 18:12, Ps 36:7-9
Hebrew word Garden (Son 4:12-15, 6:2, Is 58:11)
Greek word “Paradeisos” comes from Persian: an enclosed park with watchtower, stocked for the king to hunt in (Webster)
Related Hebrew word “Pardes” is translated “forest” (Neh 2:8) or “orchard” (Neh 2:8, Son 4:13)

Planted by God for Adam with every tree that is pleasant to the eye and good for food (Gen 2:8-9)

Lush, fertile, well-watered; reference point for other lush, fertile places; contrasted with barren wastelands
(Gen 2:10, Lot’s choice: Gen 13:10; Assyrian’s lush growth: Eze 31:8; Before vs after desolation: Joel 2:3,
The healed land: Is 51:1-6

Place of purpose (Gen 2:15) and fellowship (Gen 2:18, 22, 24-25; 3:6, 8)
"Dress" (till, work, cultivate—Gen 2:5-6, 3:23, 4:2, 4:12, 15:13, 29:15, Ex 1:13-14)
"Keep" (tend, take care of, keep, care for, guard—Gen 3:24, 26:5, 28:15, 31:24, 37:11)
"Helper" (“aid”, not a go-fer—Ex 18:4, Dt 33:7, Ps 20:2, 33:20, 89:18-19, Is 30:5)
Naked but not ashamed (Gen 2:25) —no secrets, intimacy.
Note God’s presence (fellowship) in the garden: Gen 1:27-29, 2:7, 8, 16, 19, 21-22, 3:8-9