“For the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly, but by reason of him who subjected the same in hope.”

It was a revelation to me as I discovered that east was not necessarily only a direction toward the rising sun but from antiquity. All creatures were then east of the garden for God put Cherubim at the entrance to keep the Way to the tree of life also to prevent man’s return to take from the tree of life and live forever in the state of carnality. East:#6924 qedem (keh'-dem); or qedmah (kayd'-maw); from 6923; the front, of place (absolutely, therefore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward): aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end, part, side, -ward), eternal, X ever- (lasting), forward, old, past.

Throughout the Old Testament of the Bible a pattern developed for us to follow from the beginning. Moses was admonished to build a tabernacle according to the pattern given him on the mount. By following the pattern explicitly the only entrance/exit was by way of the east gate. Likewise the door into the most holy place and on into the most holy place, which represents the way to the tree of life, was by way of the east gate. Logic tells me that man was put east because the only way to re-enter paradise that was Eden is by way of the east gate. (Albeit first the natural then spiritual.) I believe that the Garden of Eden is and has always been a spiritual place in God. Paul was caught up into Paradise in which now still stands the tree of life.

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

Ezek 43:1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: 2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.

East #6923 qadam --to meet, to come (or be) in front to confront, to go before a) (Piel) 1) to meet, to confront, to come to meet, to receive 2) to go before, to go in front, to be in front 3) to lead, to be beforehand, to anticipate, to forestall 1) to come in front 2) to confront, to anticipate The first inhabitants of the garden planted in Eden were called the sons of God. They fell into iniquity and were the cause of the deluge and are still held in chains of darkness.

As we read in 1John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

We stand poised at the gate that faces east or the entrance into the most holy place. The curtain has been rent and we can boldly enter in. As Esther represents the church with great dignity put on her royal robes and entered the court of the king though she had not been summoned and put out her hand to touch the scepter. In that same way shall we enter the east gate and reach out and take and eat from the tree of life. Of the three feasts that Israel was required to celebrate not yet fulfilled is the Feast of Tabernacles. “And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly , according unto the manner.” (Neh 8:18) It was the eighth day when Jesus descended from the Mount of Transfiguration and took the boy (Adam) by the hand and lifted him to his feet and he stood up.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that sees the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

*To read more from Betty Woodkey order your copy of "WORDS" by E mailing pastorpeterd@comcast.net