Andrew Choi - Hope From the Garden of Eden to the End of the Patmos Island

Copyright 2021 by Andrew Choi.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-64133-904-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021920768

Religion/Self-Help

10.08.2021

MainSpring Books

5901 W. Century Blvd

Suite 750

Los Angeles, CA, US, 90045

www.mainspringbooks.com

CHAPTER 1

REDEMPTION AND THE RESTORATION: HOPE MESSAGE FROM THE BEGINNING

Gods Creation of the Happy Life

Genesis Chapters 1-2

T hese two chapters of Genesis, which are the accounts of creation and the Garden of Eden, cover the broad spectrum of the origin of human beings, the beginning of the universe, and the first humans assimilation into life in the Garden of Eden. The phrase in the beginning and the verb created in Genesis 1:1 share the same word root that means continuing creation. In the Hebrew language, the noun beginning describes not just existing things but also moving objects. So, although beginning is the noun, it tells about God the Father and the Son of God creating the universe and continuing to do the work of creation that sustains the universe. The concept of Christ as the Creator with God the Father echoes the first verse of Genesis and the gospel of John: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1 KJV). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made (John 1:13 KJV).

These two chapters of the Bible concern themselves with the principles of a perfect, happy life. We all anticipate happy lives. Everyone has a map of happiness, and they pursue this plan in their own ways. However, there are specific precepts and an accurate map to follow to reach that land. These two chapters in our Bible today are a fine road map for all of us to reach a happy life. With these two chapters, I would like to focus on the subject of God loving the world and creating perfect happiness for humans. The Garden of Eden is the original palace where humans should be placed, but humans lost that palace. Someone would have to win back that land. John Milton wrote two important books concerning this topic. One book is entitled Paradise Lost , the other book is entitled Paradise Rest ored .

These two chapters of Genesis speak about the paradise that was lost, and this picture gives us the concept of the kingdom that Christ promised to us, which would be a paradise rest ored.

Eden means delightfulness. So the Garden of Eden means the garden of delightfulness. In Genesis, God has basically two names: the first is Elohim, which means almighty; the second name is Jehovah, which means the God of love. In the first chapter when God created the heavens and the earth, Gods name is referred to as Elohim. So, Genesis 1:1 can be read as, In the beginning the almighty God created the heaven and the earth. Then, in Genesis 2:4, God is referred as Jehovah God, so it can be read as, When the God of love made the earth and heavens, He created the garden of happiness. When God created the Garden of Eden, God planned for the perfect happy garden. His love, mighty power, and wisdom made it poss ible.

Just like good parents want to give the best lives to their children and prepare them for happy lives, the Lord, Jehovah, who is our heavenly parent, wished for our best and made every condition possible for the achievement of human happiness in the Garden of Eden. He also had the ability to make the garden perfectly. So, in the Garden of Eden, we can find the glorious condition of happiness. Before we learn about the conditions of perfect happiness that existed in the Garden of Eden, let me ask you a question. What do you do for your happiness? What is happiness? What do you need for a happy life? What conditions are you missing now for that happiness? If you find your shortcomings, pray to God that He would fill you with blessings. God, who is almighty (Elohim) and loving (Jehovah), will provide those blessings for you.

Here are some conditions that are necessary to have a happy life.

First are basic survival needs. For example, the basic human needs for survival in the desert are one cot, a warm heater, water, and food.

The next requirements for human basic needs are safety and security, which are expansions of the basic needs. We are referring to constant stability, not just temporary satisfaction. Examples of constant stability would be job security and family security. Safety and security also include freedom from fear, freedom from anxiety and chaos, and the need for safe bounda ries.

Third, we need life goals that would be meaningful and pleasant for life. This meaningful goal of life rises to the next level of safety. When people sense safety and security, and when their emotions are stabilized, they will be capable of establishing and accomplishing goals in their daily l ives.

Fourth, we need love and belonging. These are important issues not just for teenagers but for everyone in their stages of life. All human beings need community, family, and friends: where they can belong, where they can be appreciated, and where they can love and be l oved.

The fifth human need is self-esteem. People need to be respected by others. The sixth human need is self-actualization. This is when people are able to reach their peak performance, independent of primitive needs. More fully functioning and creative people can achieve their dreams, yet not many people are at this s tage.

One of my elders from my previous church, who was about sixty years old, told me that he had many dreams in his life. However, he never achieved even one dream. He once wanted to become a writer; then he wanted to be a musician and a pastor. He also wanted to be a good father. Another time, he wanted to be a rich millionaire. He said, I never achieved any of those dreams, and I gave up each one of those dreams. Now I only need to be satisfied with my life just as i t is.

We all have needs and wants, whether we come from simple beginnings or from the highest ranks of society. Some of us may never be satisfied in this world no matter what state we find ourselves. We all strive to be better and go further to find satisfaction and happiness. But what is the real condition of happiness? What do we need for happi ness?

Let us look at the Garden of Eden to find the conditions of happi ness.

First, the basic physical needs were met in the Garden of Eden. Christianity primarily focuses on spirituality, but Christianity does not depart from material things (as many believe). Christianity does not ignore the basic needs of humans. In fact, there is a misunderstanding in the Christian religion whereby certain people feel that Christianity despises material wealth. God never intended for us to suffer in poverty. In special circumstances of Gods providence (and to serve the suffering Lord), we sometimes can choose to content ourselves with the situation of poverty. However, God is not condemning material things. In fact, as you see here in the days of creation, God carefully designed a world that could produce abundant foods, beautiful trees, and a comfortable environment. Allow me to share a few verses in Genesis 1:2829 (KJV): And 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. And God said, Behold, I have given you every hear bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of tree yielding seed; to you it shall be meat. In chapter 2, verses 8 and 9 (KJV) say, And 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; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As you can see here, God gave us a rich environment in the Garden of Eden.