Exerpt from

COVERINGS

pages 76-77

 

Seeking to be brief at this moment, yet attempting to provide enough information to reveal the truth of this fact, let us lay out three parallel events which occurred in the Scriptures and confirm this identity of the grape tree of the knowledge of good and evil. These include the Genesis creation account, as well as the two judgments upon the world: by water (the flood) and by fire (Sodom and Gomorrah). We will list these three in parallel fashion so their unmistakable similarities can be seen. In reading this, examine each column - Creation, The Flood, and Sodom - point by point, comparing the entries in each column one with the other.

 

CREATION THE FLOOD SODOM
Adam and Eve were alone on the earth Noah and his family were alone on the earth Lot and his daughters were alone- "there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth" (Gen. 19:31).
Yahweh made every living creature "after its kind" Noah brought into the ark two of every living creature "after its kind" .
Yahweh told Adam to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it ...." Yahweh told Noah to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" and subdue it Lot's daughters bore two sons by Lot (Moab & Ben-ammi) who were fruitful, multiplied, and subdued
Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Noah planted a vineyard, drank the wine, and became drunk Lot's daughters made him drink wine and he became drunk
Adam became naked Noah became naked Lot became naked
Adam and Eve were cursed Canaan was cursed The Ammonites and Moabites were cursed

 

Is there any question that when these events line up so unmistakably perfect, that the wine drunk by Noah and Lot are a simple repeat of what was partaken of in the garden? The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was equally a grape tree. Solomon noted - "That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). What occurred in the garden, occurred on the mountain with Noah, which occurred on the mountain with Lot - the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in each case was partaken of with equally destructive and far-reaching consequences.

The grape throughout the span of history has continued to prove its power to be this tree of both good and evil. As an unfirmented drink the fruit of the grape is very good for men and children, but a little leaven in it produces a drink that can be equally evil and destructive - "Do not look on the wine when it is red (Hebrew - adom), when it (lit.) gives its eye in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent (the serpent in the selfsame tree), and stings like a viper" (Proverbs 23:31-32). And, if this overwhelming evidence thus far is not sufficient, then consider this added truth.

As we have said already, when Adam held the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he well knew the consequences of His actions. Eve was deceived, Adam was not. The first Adam took the grapes, knowing that to eat them would mean his death, but also knowing that this was the only way for him to save his fallen wife, Eve. He ate, and he died! As the last Adam, Christ too was not deceived. He well knew the consequences of His actions - He too would have to die. "In order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled" (concerning Adam and the Nazirite), Christ drank from the same tree and immediately died. As did Adam, Christ equally ate from the same tree that He might save His bride. While the grapes to Eve were perceived by her as "good for food, ... a delight to the eyes, and ... desirable to make one wise" (Genesis 3:6), to Christ and undoubtedly to Adam they were, in more ways than one, a bitter cup of sour wine, necessary to partake of in order to bring life and salvation to the bride. Christ violated His vow by partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thus partaking of the sins of all mankind, and as the second Adam He died. What the first Adam lost at the grape tree, we will see that the last Adam (Christ) restored by eating of the same tree. Christ had to eat of the identical tree in order to restore man and the defiled kingdom at the point of their loss and corruption. Man died at the grape tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and he had to be restored at the selfsame tree.

 

ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE

Subsequent to these writings, we were directed to the writings of Arthur Custance, wherein he addresses from the historical standpoint evidence that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the grape, or something like it. We invite you to read this most interesting material which is two chapters in his book The Virgin Birth and the Incarnation. Upon reading it, click on your "Back" key to return to this as well as the original page where you were reading. "The Nature of the Forbidden Fruit," by Arthur Custance: http://www.custance.org/Library/Volume5/Part_II/chapter2.html

 

Click "Back" to return to where you were reading

Home page