Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 2

Adam and Eve were warned against the TKGE [not to even touch it, and certainly not to eat of it] as this knowledge was *not* part of the original creation of God [Eden represented the original, pure, unblemished creation, yet God truthfully represented the evil introduced; GOD IS TRUTH]; this iniquity originated with Lucifer [Ezek 38] and he [as Adversary; Satan] was still the god of this world - Adam and Eve were *free* to partake of the food of Eden, *all* that God offered [schooled in His knowledge and wisdom; His Way], to qualify to replace Satan [to continue in the creation of the earth (Gen 2:15, to dress it and keep it), God's future home (for 6000 years; to replenish, complete)], but they were skillfully manipulated by the very one whom they were to replace, and tempted by *their own desire*, "... a tree to be *desired* to make [one] wise," THEY DISOBEYED GOD, "... in the day ye eat thereof, *then* your eyes shall be opened (consciousness), and ye shall be as gods, *knowing* good and evil"; they grew impatient with God, they desired short-term gain - the 2nd Adam [Christ Jesus' temptation after His Baptism] provides us with the scenario; THEY WERE OFFERED THE WORLD BY THE DECEIVER, AND THEY BIT !! - their sin prevented them from receiving God's Holy Spirit [the Way of God was protected, but *NOT* removed]; they accepted Satan as sovereign lord over them through their desire [the same as we do every day], and THEY NOW FEARED GOD BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN - Adam and Eve were *NOT* offered a choice by God, He specifically instructed them NOT to partake of this tree of death [the penalty of sin]; ONLY GOD CAN *KNOW* GOOD AND EVIL; HIS PURE, AND HOLY CHARACTER NEGATES THE EVIL !! - the woman took and ate, and gave to the man, and he ate [this is representative of the COG Inc. today, the deceived "woman" taking from Satan what seems to be from God (pleasant to the sight, and good for food), and giving unto the man to eat; the woman (church) has *no* authority over the man (the ekklesia)].

Genesis 2:9 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.

Genesis 2:16. 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. [ADAM WAS NOT OFFERED A CHOICE !!]

Genesis 3:1. Now the serpent was more subtil 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? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, ** Ye shall not surely die **: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ** ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil **. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and ** a tree to be desired to make [one] wise **, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons [Eve was deceived but Adam ate willingly in spite of God's warning to him directly].

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