Paradise Restored

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

The rebellion is ended. Christ Jesus [Yahushua] is gloriously vic­torious. The fires of hell have done their purifying work Satan, sin, and sinners are gone; they have utterly per­ished from the face of the earth. Gone also are all the works of man. Every defiling and hurtful thing has been destroyed in the flames, The results of sin are past.

The destruction of Satan and all his followers will finally open the way for the complete establishment of Christ's king­dom upon earth and the restoration of man to his Paradise home.

It was God's original purpose that righteous men should dwell on the earth, and this purpose, though temporarily halted by the intrusion of sin, finally will be carried out.

Soon we shall witness the coronation of our King. Those whose lives have been hidden with Christ, those who on this earth have fought the good fight of faith, will shine forth with the Redeemer's glory in the kingdom of God.

Paradise Lost

1. When God created the earth, to whom did He give it and with how many treasure?

"The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." Psalm 115:16.

Answer: To Adam with four treasures.

A. Life

"The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7. In the beginning man was given life. He was created from the dust of the ground. God breathed into his nostril the breath of life. He became "a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Man had not existed before. He did not create himself. For his very existence he was indebted to God -only to God.

B. A righteous nature

"God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." Genesis 1:26. "God hath made man upright." Ecclesiastes 7:29. God gave Adam, the first man, a righteous nature. Surely a good, wise, and all-powerful God would do no less than that. A good God would desire to make a good man. And this is exactly what He did. Adam and Eve, our first ancestors (Luke 3:38), were innocent and pure when they came forth from the hand of their Creator.

C. A home in a beautiful world

"The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food." Genesis 2:8-9. "God saw every thing He had made, and, behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31.

Yes, God gave man a home, in a garden, in a lovely primeval world. This is no more and no less than we would expect God to do. He is the author of the home and marriage, of beauty and happiness. Security was to be bound up with the home and family life.

D. Dominion of the earth.

"God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Genesis 1:28. God gave man dominion. Although man was made "a little lower than the angels," yet he was equipped with intelligence and management, that he might be in charge of God's creation here. "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet." Psalm 8:6.

What an outlook! Life with abundant health: a righteous character: a home in a beautiful, sinless world; and dominion over the created works of God! What more could man desire? Just one thing - that this happy state might last forever! And that depended upon man. For God placed him under obedience to law as an indispensable condition to his very existence.

Furthermore, God gave to man the power and freedom of choice. Only in this way could man be a morally responsible being. Only thus could he develop character. "Obedience, perfect and perpetual, was the condition of eternal happiness." In God's order, obedience springs from love and is rendered by choice. But it is, nevertheless, imperative.

A special test was arranged. A certain tree was to be left strictly alone (Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17). What an easy test! No great deed, work, or sacrifice was required. There could be no possible reason for transgression. The very lightness of the prohibition would make the sin great. If man sinned, it would be deliberate. God could not be blamed, for He had told them to leave the tree alone. They must have understood this to be a simple test of their faith - nothing more. But we all know what happened (Genesis 3).

2. How did man lose these four treasures and to whom?

"For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19.

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it." Luke 4: 5, 6.

Answer: By sin and lost it to the devil. And what reason can be given for man's sin? None. To give a reason would be to justify the deed. Only excuses and explanations can be offered.

Yes, that is the way it is. Adam blamed God for giving him Eve. Eve blamed the serpent for everything, She had listened to his story about getting on a higher plane, about being like gods. Many today are being lured by the ancient sophistries of the devil, streamlined for moderns.

There was no need for Eve to be deceived. She had to reject God's truth first, before she could accept the devil's deception. Had God not given her truth, the situation would have been different, Adam was not deceived. He walked into sin with his eyes open, taking the risk and hoping God would be merciful. He made an excuse for Eve. He loved her more than he did God. And what tragedy resulted! It is always disastrous to disobey God. Adam gambled and lost, And what did he lose? all that God gave him.

"Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." 1 Timothy 2:14.

A. Man lost life.

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" Genesis 3:19 (Romans 6:23).

As the result of his sin he was removed from access to the tree of life, lest he should "eat, and live for ever" (Genesis 3:22), Man was not immortal by nature or creation. Sin, God warned, would bring death, not life. "All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died" (Genesis 5:5). Sin is real: and death is real. God says so. The devil disputed God's Word. Man found God's Word is right.

B. Man lost his righteous nature.

"By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12. "All unrighteousness is sin," 1 John 5:17. The unnumbered volumes of history record the deeds of man's sinful career for long millenniums. No words need be added here. Adam lost his righteous nature.

C. Man lost his Eden home.

"Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Genesis 3:23-24.

D. Man lost his dominion.

"Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage," 2 Peter 2:19

"The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Having cast off the dominion God had over him, man lost the dominion God had placed under him. He was now in a world fallen to the dominion of Satan.

A curse was also pronounced upon the earth for man's sake. "Cursed is the ground for thy sake: in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (Genesis 3:17). Sinful man in a sinful world needed the discipline of toil and care. No civilization has yet been able to endure ease and luxury. Our civilization today is no exception. And yet the tired and weary heart of man longs for the time of restoration to come when the dominion lost through sin will be his once more.

A New Earth

3. How will Christ restore the four treasures?

Answer: The Saviour came to earth "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10), He purchased our salvation by shedding His "precious blood" (1 Peter 1:19). Then He returned to heaven, "having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12).

Though every man is born in sin, no man has a right to place a low estimate upon himself, God so valued man that He gave heaven's greatest gift for his redemption. He could not have given more. Think now of the treasures that will be restored to us through the gospel.

A. Life restored.

No matter how a man dies, God can raise him up. His ashes may be strewn on the moving bosom of a river and carried to the bounds of seven seas, but God can raise him up to everlasting life. Here are the promises of life restored by the Life giver, Jesus Christ: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John 3:16. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

B. Righteousness restored.

A sinner comes to God. His sins are confessed, forsaken, and forgiven. Love is awakened in his soul, and the process of restoration begins. Sanctification is another name for it. The work is done by the Spirit of God, and the Word of God has a part. "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Cooperation with God is paramount in this process. Here are the promises:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold. all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

"We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

C. Man’s beautiful home restored.

Many an infidel, millions of skeptics, and some Christians have asked, "Why doesn't a good and mighty God put an end to this cruel, suffering world?" The answer is, "He is planning to do that very soon." The first step will be Christ's second coming. The next and the last step will be taken at the end of the 1,000 years, as you have studied. New heavens and a new earth will be created, and God will dwell here with His people forever. Here are the promises:

"He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:20-21. "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isaiah 65:17.

D. Dominion restored.

We do not propose to speculate on the details of the future life. Its loveliness will surpass our fondest dreams, its beauty will exceed the greatest flight of our imagination, and its joys soar beyond our highest hopes. There, man's lost mastery of himself and his dominion of the earth shall be restored as God has promised.

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne," Revelation 3:21. "I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:21.

Paradise Restored

4. When will this restoration occur?

"Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." Psalm 37:34.

5. What will the earth look like when re-created?

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, ... they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. : .. " Isaiah 35:1, 2.

6. In what activities will the righteous participate in this new earth?

"And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them .... And mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isaiah 65:21, 22.

The New Jerusalem

7. What has God prepared for the righteous in this new earth?

"God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16.

8. What does John tell us of the magnificence of this city?

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her hus­band .... " Revelation 21:2-27; 22.

9. What will be the privilege of those who enter the city?

"The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; . . . and they shall see his face." Revelation 22:3, 4.

10. What seasons of worship will be observed in the new earth?

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 66:23.

Country Homes

11. How will the ransomed of the Lord return to their home?

"The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:10.

12. How long will this kingdom last?

"The saints of the most high shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." Daniel 7:18.

13. How shall we make sure of a place over there?

Answer: There are three important guideposts to help direct your feet as you journey heavenward. Here they are:

A. Confess Christ before men.

"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven" Matthew 10:32 (Luke 9:26).

B. Obey God's commands and instructions.

"If ye love Me, keep My commandments," John 14:15. "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." Revelation 22:14.

C. Keep an eye of faith on the better world.

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." Hebrews 11:13-14.

NOTE: “In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called "a country." Hebrews 11:14-16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.” The Great Controversy, page 675.

Have you decided to accept Jesus' glorious offer to live with Him forever in His heavenly kingdom?