Eden, the Garden of God, Jesus’ Plan for the Lower Regions and Paradise

Eden was and is an interesting place. It is also called the “garden of God”. When Adam sinned, it became closed off and for good reason; however Jesus had a plan to gain entrance once again. While God’s garden stayed in God’s control after the fall, the devil had the right to keep people in Hades after death because he stole it, along with power over man, from Adam. Jesus came to earth with a plan, the first part has been executed, and the second part is in the future when Jesus comes to take back the earth. We are living between phase one and phase two. Let’s explore Eden and the lower regions.  

OT:5731 `Eden (ay'-den); the same as OT:5730 (masculine); Eden, the region of Adam's home: KJV - Eden.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

First of all, God planted the garden on the east side of Eden. Adam wasn’t made in Eden yet, once the garden was finished, Adam was placed in Eden.

Gen 2:7-10 And 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.8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden [5731]; and there he put the man whom he had formed.9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.10 And a river went out of Eden [5731]to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.KJV

What we should notice is that Adam was formed somewhere other than the east side of the Garden of Eden. God planted trees in the garden, on the east side of Eden. We see the tree of life is planted in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We also see rivers that went out from Eden. 

Gen 2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden [5731] to dress it and to keep it.16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17 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.KJV

Adam was put into the garden to be its gardener. Let’s look at the words for dress and keep.

OT:5647`abad (aw-bad'); a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.: KJV -  be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute,  husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ingself,), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:8104 shamar (shaw-mar'); a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:KJV - beward, be circumspect, take heed (toself), keep (-erself,), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

It was Adam’s job to keep the garden growing properly. It was also his job to guard it; who or what did he have to guard the garden from? Since Adam did not know good or bad he probably would not have been militant about guarding it, but instead would have been a guardian over its growth. We know that Adam lived nearly 1000 years, one day on God’s calendar. So what happened after Adam and Eve ate from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil?

Gen 3:22-24 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever [5769]: 23Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden [5731], to till the ground from whence he was taken.24 So he drove out [1644]the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden [5731] Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep [1870] the way of the tree of life.KJV

Adam was sent back to the place where he came from before being put in the Garden of Eden. He then had to work the ground, to enslave it to his desire to grow. Elohim set guards, Cherubim, and a sword which turned to keep the road to the tree of life inaccessible. Adam had been the guardian of the garden, now Cherubim and a sword guarded or protected the garden from Adam. As we understand, if Adam ate of the tree of life he would live in his fallen state forever, damning and dooming his progeny to eternal “sin life”. Adam would have vanished into eternity and been concealed from sight. 

OT:5769`owlam (o-lawm'); or `olam (o-lawm'); from OT:5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always: KJV - alway (-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, [n-]) ever (-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+without end). Compare OT:5331, OT:5703.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:5956`alam (aw-lam'); a primitive root; to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively): KJV -  any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

In order to stop the process that would have taken place had Adam eaten of the tree of life after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Elohim had to send him out of the garden. Adam would have been “out of sight” forever, living eternally in sin. That was not God’s intent for him, so he sent Cherubim to guard the road to Eden. What strange details this brings up. First Adam was made somewhere else, and then put into Eden to work and guard it.  Next he is sent out of Eden, just in case he would eat of the tree of life and vanish forever. But Adam wasn’t simply sent away, he became an ex-patriot, he changed his allegiance or citizenship. Adam divorced Elohim. Therefore he lost his job in the “country” of Eden and was sent back to where he was made. Then the road to Eden was blocked so that Adam could never return. 

OT:1644 garash (gaw-rash'); a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce: KJV - cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel,  surely put away, trouble, thrust out.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:1870 derek (deh'-rek); from OT:1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb: KJV - along, away, because of,  by, conversation, custom, [east-] ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, [high-] [path-] way [-side], whither [-soever].(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

The Garden of Eden was a better place for humanity, yet we cannot go there today. Humanity was created on the earth, and humanity never enjoyed the spiritual dynamic of Eden other than Adam and Eve. Adam was formed on earth, and humanity procreated on earth, but the road to Eden was never available to humans until Jesus died. We will see that in a moment. Adam had the privilege to live in Eden, some say for 40 years, before he had to leave. Eden is a separate place from earth. It may be on or in earth or near earth but it is a place that is distanced by a road. At this time we know that the earth had been refurbished after the cataclysm of Genesis 1:2. Adam was made from the earth, and then put into Eden. He lost his place in Eden and then was sent back to the place he was from. The loss of his spiritual cover, the Holy Spirit, may explain why he had to leave. 

Jesus told Paul to open people’s eyes from darkness to light and from the power or authority of satan to God. Satan stole Adam’s authority in the garden, and Jesus had to take it back in a two part plan. Part one happened on the cross to gain back the keys to hell and death, and part two is soon to come, to take back the earth and reign as King. Part two starts with the gathering, the tribulation, and Jesus coming with his armies to fight the Beast who makes war with the Lamb.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power [authority] of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.KJV

This is an interesting point. The road to Elohim’s garden had to be blocked, suggesting that Adam could have access to it in his fallen state. Adam could probably come and go between earth and Eden as he pleased before the fall. Wherever Eden is, God could not chance Adam or his progeny going there and possibly eating of the tree of life. Now left on earth, with the devil in authority, Adam, Eve, and their descendants had to stay under the devil’s power. Also because of the fall, man was destined to the devil’s control after he died as well. Yet humans, who now could know good and evil, could choose to live good or evil. Some chose to seek out Elohim, and they are the redeemed before Christ came to earth. After Jesus descended and ascended, Jesus told Paul he should tell people how to receive an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in Jesus and forgiveness of sins. That is how satan loses his authority over humans today.

Elohim Jehovah says to the devil that he is now cursed more than the animals that can’t speak, and the creatures and vegetation that live on the earth. Satan was and is an evil magician. He used the body of a snake to speak to Adam and Eve, this is how they could see his form because they did not know evil. Imagine what that must be like, not to know or understand the world in terms of good and evil, but simply live in Eden completely satisfied. They did not see the fallen angel; Adam and Eve needed to see a physical being to talk to satan. Satan used the body of a serpent, and while the usage of serpent can be figurative, it is also literal as the end result is that it will be upon its belly. Is it possible that by permission a serpent allowed satan to use his body to bewitch Adam and Eve? 

Gen 3:14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent [5175], Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed [779]above all cattle[929], and above every beast [2416]of the field [7704]; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: KJV

OT:5175 nachash (naw-khawsh'); from OT:5172; a snake (from its hiss): KJV - serpent.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:5172 nachash (naw-khash'); a primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate: KJV -  certainly, divine, enchanter, (use)  enchantment, learn by experience,  indeed, diligently observe.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:779 'arar (aw-rar'); a primitive root; to execrate: KJV -  bitterly curse.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:929 behemah (be-hay-maw'); from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective):KJV - beast, cattle.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:2416 chay (khah'-ee); from OT:2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively:(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:7704 sadeh (saw-deh'); or saday (saw-dah'-ee); from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat): KJV - country, field, ground, land, soil,  wild.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

The only food satan gets to eat is dirt. Think of this, satan was in Eden, the garden of God, the fruit trees were there, they were probably delicious. Maybe since Adam was in charge of the garden of God, satan thought he’d get control of the garden too. However, it would seem that while Adam was the groundskeeper satan does not get that privilege. Instead the Garden of Eden was closed off. 

Ezek 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden [5731] the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.KJV

As mentioned previously, Jesus has a multi part plan to fix this. Jesus had to undo what Adam did by taking back the keys to hell and death. This means that wherever hell and death were, they were not in the control of Elohim until Jesus took that back on the cross. In other words, where people went when their physical bodies expired was in the control of the devil until Jesus won it back by being sinless. Hell and death could not hold a sinless being. The devil had the right to hold humans because they were not sinless. Whatever authority satan has now, does not include hell and death. As we have previously studied, hell and death were compartments of the grave. Some people were in Hades, and some death or the grave. Jesus, when speaking of the rich man and Lazarus, points out hell (Hades) and death. Abraham’s bosom is also known as Abraham’s bay or creek, therefore there is a compartment of the grave that is different for the righteous. This is the place of the righteous dead. There are other compartments as well but suffice it to say Jesus now has the keys and authority over those places, which is why he took people to Paradise after his death on the cross. Jesus showed himself announcing who he was to the imprisoned spirits and took the redeemed out to another compartment that had been there all along, but it was not being used. 

It is mentioned in describing Lucifer in Isaiah 14:17 that he didn’t open the house of his prisoners. When Lucifer had control of the grave, he did not let the righteous go to the proper compartment in the grave. He kept them in a place called Abraham’s bay, or creek that had a gulf or chasm between the people legally sent to Hades and the righteous ones who should have gone somewhere else. That’s one of the things satan stole, the ability for the redeemed, those righteous people, to go to Paradise. 

Isa 14:17-19 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.KJV

The context is the grave; satan had control of the grave for a time. This is why when Jesus died and the graves opened, and the dead people walked around telling what happened, they said Jesus witnessed to the imprisoned spirits and took them to Paradise; as written in the Acts of Pontius Pilate, aka the Book of Nicodemus. Jesus went to the lower parts of the earth and preached to the spirits that were in prison and also showed himself in victory over the grave.

Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.KJV

Eph 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) KJV

Where did Jesus go? He went to the lower parts of the earth. What’s in the lower parts of the earth? Obviously the conscious grave, not the box six feet under; there is a collective place where there is consciousness where the human spirit goes. When the graves opened in Matthew 27:52-53, the spiritual beings went into the city with their physical bodies. 

Phil 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.KJV

Even the beings under the earth have to bow to Jesus.

1 Peter 3:18-20 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.KJV

This is a rough translation so let’s look at a couple of others. 

1 Peter 3:18-21 That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all — was put to death and then made alive — to bring us to God. 19 He went and proclaimed God's salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment 20 because they wouldn't listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact — saved from the water by the water.  (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

1Peter 3:19 And He preached to the souls who were in submission to Sheol, (Aramaic New Testament, translated by Victor Alexander, copyright 2010, pg 463)

This is a great translation, the souls (spirits) in submission to Sheol is where Jesus went to preach. The redeemed knew a redeemer was coming to rescue them by the stories in the heavens. They, the redeemed people before Jesus came, were like Andromeda; they were in chains in prison. The devil did not let them go to the proper compartment in the grave. But when Jesus came to the lower parts of the earth, he took the keys to hell and death. 

Rev 1:17-18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell [Hades] and of death.KJV

Let’s look at the book The Secrets of Enoch for a recap of what we saw in the Bible. Adam in the garden, then taken out of the garden, then the place of the dead, and the ones who once had the keys to hell.

The Secrets of Enoch:  Chapter 31, XXX  1 Adam has life on earth, and I created a garden in Eden in the east, that he should observe the testament and keep the command. 2 I made the heavens open to him, that he should see the angels singing the song of victory, and the gloomless light. 3 And he was continuously in paradise, and the devil understood that I wanted to create another world, because Adam was lord on earth, to rule and control it.4 The devil is the evil spirit of the lower places, as a fugitive he made Sotona from the heavens as his name was Satanail (Satan), thus he became different from the angels, (but his nature) did not change (his) intelligence as far as (his) understanding of righteous and sinful (things). 5 And he understood his condemnation and the sin which he had sinned before, therefore he conceived thought against Adam, in such form he entered and seduced Eva (Eve), but did not touch Adam.6 But I cursed ignorance, but what I had blessed previously, those I did not curse, I cursed not man, nor the earth, nor other creatures, but man’s evil fruit, and his works.

Chapter 32, XXXII  1 I said to him: Earth you are, and into the earth whence I took you you shalt go, and I will not ruin you, but send you whence I took you. 2 Then I can again receive you at My second presence.3 And I blessed all my creatures visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual). And Adam was five and half hours in paradise. 4 And I blessed the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, on which he rested from all his works.

Chapter 41, XLI  1 And I saw all forefathers from (all) time with Adam and Eva (Eve), and I sighed and broke into tears and said of the ruin of their dishonour:2 Woe is me for my infirmity and (for that) of my forefathers, and thought in my heart and said: 3 Blessed (is) the man who has not been born or who has been born and shall not sin before the Lord’s face, that he come not into this place, nor bring the yoke of this place.

Chapter 42, XLII  1 I saw the key-holders and guards of the gates of hell standing, like great serpents, and their faces like extinguishing lamps, and their eyes of fire, their sharp teeth, and I saw all the Lord’s works, how they are right, while the works of man are some (good), and others bad, and in their works are known those who lie evilly.

So far we have Eden as the garden of God that had a road to it from earth. Adam could go back to Eden in his fallen state. The devil stole authority over people from Adam. Somehow the devil had authority over the grave as well. Once Jesus came and died on the cross, the grave could not contain him and he took back the keys to hell and death.  That is part one of Jesus’ redemption for humanity. 

Eden is also known as Paradise by some writers, and is described as having lots of trees. In a veiled rebuke of satan, Ezekiel berates Pharaoh of Egypt, for his haughtiness. The description is a constant comparison to the trees of Eden. At that point in history, God seemed to speak to a few political leaders and countries around Israel. What God points out is their characteristics and behaviors which are a mirror of Lucifer. 

Ezek 31:2-11 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?.... 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.10 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.KJV

Ezek 31:15-18 Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God.KJV

In Ezekiel 31:16 and 18 God says that Eden is in the nether parts, they (the trees) are comforted in the lower parts of the earth. There is obviously an understanding in the Bible that there are lower parts in the earth. While there are physical things below our feet, rock, dirt, water, oil, lava, there is also a spiritual dynamic under our feet. God told Moses:

Deut 32:21-22 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.KJV

David says:

Ps 63:9But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.KJV

Ps 86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.KJV

Korah says:

Ps 88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.KJV

So the nether regions or lower parts that Jesus went to are somewhere underneath, just as Eden must be under us. We know of two trees in particular in Eden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or as some translate wisdom, and the tree of life.

2 Esd 2:11-13 Their glory also will I take unto me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.12 They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour, nor be weary.13 Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.KJV

2 Esd 8:49-53 In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.50 For many great miseries shall be done to them that in the latter time shall dwell in the world, because they have walked in great pride.51 But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.52 For unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is hid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten: KJV

The tree of life is in Paradise.  It is for the people that are humble. Ezra saw the future of Paradise/Eden being made ready for the righteous. Jesus told the churches that those who overcome He would give to eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God. 

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise [3857] of God.KJV

NT:3857 paradeisos (par-ad'-i-sos); of Oriental origin [compare OT:6508]; a park, i.e. (specifically) an Eden (place of future happiness, "paradise"): KJV - paradise.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Paradise is Eden, Eden is Paradise; two words that are the same place. There is only one tree of life and it is in Eden and Paradise, which means Eden and Paradise are the same. This is the place where the tree of life grows and is ready for the overcomer to eat. The tree of life had to be kept guarded from Adam in his sinful, spiritually naked state, but the overcomer will not be in a sinful state or spiritually naked. Jesus paid for our sins. All we have to do is overcome. While satan tried to keep the righteous dead, those who were believing the Messiah would come, under his control in death, Jesus rectified that and took the righteous to Paradise. He took back the keys that locked the prisoners in hell. Jesus captured captivity. Jesus went to the lower parts and now every knee under the earth must bow to Him. Now when we leave our physical bodies, the overcomers can eat of the tree of life. Jesus opened the road to Eden/Paradise.

Luke 23:43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

We are in the middle of the redemptive plan of the Living God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as the criminal on the cross called to Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered his kingdom, Jesus’ response to the criminal shows he knew where he was headed. Jesus knew the grave would have to give up authority to Him, so Jesus told the criminal that he would join Him in Paradise. That was the first part of the plan, to rescue the righteous dead from the grave. The second part of the plan starts with the gathering of the saints. We are in the middle, between part one and part two. If Jesus knew he would accomplish the opening of Paradise while hanging on the cross, then he will accomplish what has been prophesied regarding part two. As humanity moves through the prophesied times we live in, we are already more than half way to the execution of plan number two.