Some questions to begin the discussion.

Why did God create man?
What was God's original purpose for Adam and Eve? Was it to raise a family, die and go to heaven?
What would have happened had Adam and Eve not sinned against God? Would they have died?
What is God's purpose for the Earth? Is it a training ground for angels or a home for mankind?
What happened to righteous people who died before Jesus died for mankind? Before he paid the ransom for mankind, these ones obviously could not go to heaven since that door was not yet opened up for mankind, so what happened to them?

These questions are all related very closely and it's impossible to answer one without considering the others. For most of Christendom,(those professing knowledge of Christ Jesus), as well as many non-Christians, heaven and the existence as a spirit in some other realm is the ultimate hope. I do not disagree that the Bible holds out this promise, but not for all.

The most relevant question is this "What is God's original purpose for Adam and Eve?" Taking into consideration Isaiah 55:11 which contains God's own statement:

Isaiah 55:11 (New International Version)

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

must be fulfilled. So what God says, must happen.

OK... So what did God say to Adam and Eve upon their creation that helps us find out his purpose for mankind.


Genesis 2:15-17 (New International Version)
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."

The instruction was given to Adam while he was a perfect human, before he has sinned. God's purpose was again stated when he gave the first husband and wife instructions recorded at Genesis 1:27-28

(New International Version)
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it...

So God created man, to "work and take care of" the Garden of Eden. God proceeds to make for man a "complement and a helper" that can accomplish something that man alone can never do, namely, have children. Together now, the first couple are to "Be fruitful and increase in number" and "fill the earth and subdue it"

This was instruction given to sinless humans.

Consider Isaiah 55:11 again.

Since Adam and Eve sinned before they brought perfect offspring into the world, is it possible that God's original purpose changed for perfect mankind inhabiting the entire Earth might have changed?

(off to work... will continue with the other questions...)

This post has been edited by CrazyDwarf: May 26 2008, 11:56 PM

According to Isaiah... Once God states that something is to happen... it must happen... If not for the simple reason that failure of one of his commands to take place would make God a liar. He forbade the Israelites from lying (Lev. 19:12) because his name was associated with them. As well, Paul brings out that it is impossible for God to lie. (Heb. 6:13-18)

Therefore God's original purpose for mankind, to expand the garden of Eden so that it encompasses the entire Earth, filling it with a paradise for perfect humans has yet to be fulfilled.

If this does not happen: then God would have lied, and that can not be possible.


Related Question: What would have happened had Adam and Eve not sinned against God? Would they have died?

Note God's statement to Adam at Gen 2:17, I've linked several translations here from Bible Gateway.
Genesis 2:17 (New American Standard Bible)
"but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
Genesis 2:17 (New Living Translation)
"except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Genesis 2:17 (King James Version)
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:17 (New International Reader's Version)
"But you must not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you do, you can be sure that you will die."

Consider this statement God had made to the nation of Israel at Deuteronomy 30:19.

God has given us the freedom to chose what we want in life. We're not forced to pick one way or the other, and each conscious decision will have rewards, blessings, curses or maledictions. We get to decide which it will be.

Adam and Eve had that choice as well... they chose to eat from the tree... the result of their choice was death. They in turn passed on the consequences of that decision upon their, at that time, unborn children (Rom 5:12).

So what if they had chosen not to eat from the tree... well they would have obeyed God and they would have continued to live. Yes, they would not have died and would still be alive today.

The references to mankind living under perfect conditions in the Bible are endless. The 37th Psalm and 65th Chapter of Isaiah for example. The visions of Revelation speak of Heavenly Jerusalem with a river of live flowing form it so that mankind can benefit from God's provisions (Ch22:2) including the "Tree of Life" that will feed perfect mankind. Remember how Adam's eating from the "Tree of Knowledge" resulted in his expulsion from Eden so that he would not eat from the "Tree of Life"? (Gen 3:22-24) Now mankind will be able to eat from it freely.

Jesus own words when he left the model prayer for us bring out this hope as well.
Matthew 6:9-10 (New International Version)
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus here brings out that God will undo the works of the Devil and restore mankind to perfection and thus God's will can finally prevail on the Earth.