INQUIRER: The tree of righteousness, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the serpent - those three were all placed in the garden of Eden. Are they material or spiritual?

Bro. Eli F. Soriano (EFS): You know, brother, the serpent was not put in the garden of Eden. First of all, God did not put it there. It would be as though God does not love man if He throws the garbage of heaven right where He would place man. That's where others are wrong. They say that the devil was cast down to Eden. Let us read about who Eve was speaking to in Eden, Genesis 3:1 -

Bro. Mel Magdaraog (MM): "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

EFS: What did it say there about the one speaking to Eve?

MM: It says there, "serpent," Brother Eli.

EFS: Did it say, "old serpent"?

MM: There is no "old serpent" written there.

EFS: The error of false pastors is that they interpret that the great dragon, the serpent that was cast out in Revelation was cast down to Eden. It seems illogical, nonsensical. Do you know why? Because man was put in Eden to be cared for by God. Correct?

MM: Correct.

EFS: If you have garbage, would you throw it right where you placed man?

MM: Why, no, Brother Eli!

EFS: No man in his right senses would place garbage right at the center of the living room.

MM: No man in his sound mind.

EFS: Correct?

MM: Correct.

EFS: You know, in the entire world, Eden was chosen by God as the place where to put Adam and Eve. Eden is very beautiful. Do you know why? Perhaps you will ask me. In Eden you can survive even without clothes.

MM: That's how beautiful Eden is, Brother Eli?

EFS: The climate there is very good. It is very suitable for man. You will not catch cold even if you are without clothes. Do you not recall, Adam and Eve were naked?

MM: Yes, the couple were without clothes.

EFS: So, Eden is a chosen place by God. God has chosen that place for man. Will God cast the devil to Eden, Brother Mel?

MM: Definitely not, Brother Eli. They were the first humans ever created by God. Why would God put satan there with them?

EFS: Do you know why? Because they did not understand what is written in Rev. 12:9 - Let us read Revelation 12:7-9 –

MM: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,” “And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

EFS: They concluded that the devil was cast down directly unto Eden. That is great foolishness. Do you know why? I will read it - "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world:" [Rev. 12:9] When he was cast out, was he already deceiving the whole world?

MM: He was already deceiving the whole world, Brother Eli.

EFS: So, that did not happen in Eden. That casting out did not happen in Eden. Not during the time in Eden. Let me read it again - "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." [Rev. 12:9-10] See that? When that old serpent was cast down, do you know when he was cast down? After the battle in heaven when Michael the Archangel fought against the dragon. And after the devil was cast down - "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." That is near the end of history when satan is cast down unto earth. Satan will battle against the children of God. Michael the Archangel will defend God's children. Do you know when that will take place?

MM: When will this happen, Brother Eli?

EFS: In Daniel 12:1-2 -

MM: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

EFS: When will the devil be cast down when Michael the Archangel fights against him? In the time of trouble. And in that time, that is also the resurrection of the dead. So, that will happen near the end. The proof is, if we continue Revelation 12:9 –

Sis. Luz Cruz (LC): "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

EFS: Continue.

LC: "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." [Rev. 12:10-12]

EFS: See that? The time after casting down the devil, the old serpent, he has but a short time. That did not happen in Eden. When that casting down happens, the time span will be short. Could he have a short time if that is in Eden wherein it was just the beginning of mankind? So that time element is not understood by others who read the Bible. They thought that the devil was cast down when there was battle in heaven, at the beginning of human history. No. When the devil was cast down, he was already deceiving the world. And the servants of God overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. So, Christ's dispensation has ended when satan was cast down. The proof is - "...for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Meaning, the history of Christianity has ended. Satan was cast down, by the end of the history of man. So he has but a short time. Have you noticed the term "old serpent?" What was in Eden was just a serpent, no adjective word "old." He is old because he has been deceiving the whole world. But he was very young then in Eden. See that? His question is, is that serpent literal? It is literal. The devil took the body of a serpent when he was in Eden. Do you know why? As what I have said a while ago, what he will tempt with, what he will offer is a fruit. There is a tree there. That is a literal fruit, to be offered to Eve and Adam. It is not normal for an elephant to hang and swing on a tree. Literally and normally, a serpent swings on a tree. Satan took the form of a serpent. He took the form of a serpent and talked with Eve to introduce her the fruit of the tree where he was hanging, right, Brother Mel?

MM: Yes. So that is the account.

EFS: So that is a literal tree. Those were literal tree and fruit. And the tree of life in Eden is also literal.

-------