A BARN OF SALVATION (Genesis 3:1-5) Now the serpent [an animal that Satan had taken possession of]

was more subtle [Hebrew: cunning (usually in a bad sense):--crafty] than any beast [they themselves are beasts Eccl 3:18] of the field [Hebrew: wild] [examples; a wild animal] 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 [of Eden (Hebrew: delight), the archetype of heaven]? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree [of knowledge of good and evil Gen 2:17] which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it [this last phrase was not part of Gods recorded warning. Consequences = Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelations 22:19], lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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.

1. Commentary: the serpent = refers to a snake which symbolizes the twisting winding path of men filled with cunning and craftiness (examples, the aphorism he is a snake in the grass). Some animals other than the serpent (snake) that Satan himself and his demons, fallen angels, unclean spirits, have taken possession of in the Bible are men (the wild man living in the tombs Mark 5:2, & Judas Iscariot Luke 22:3), and swine (Mark 5:11-13) that are commonly called pigs. Pigs symbolize the pinnacle height of selfishness (example, the aphorism he is a greedy pig) which is manifested in greediness and gluttony, example, being self-centered (inward oriented) rather than God-centered (outward oriented). The latter personality traits are characterized by evil unclean spirits called fallen angels who, upon entering in men (Mark 4:19), possess to a strong degree and characterize those men; however, total demonic possession has never been illustrated in the Bible, even in the extreme case of the herd of swine who, once possessed by the demons, ran violently [indicating conflict] down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters (Mat 8:32), showing that the responsibility is ours, we always have a choice. a. (1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [Greek: permit] you to be tempted above that ye are able [to bear]; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1. Temptation = Greek: a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], by experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implied adversity: X try /// to test, examples: scrutinize, entice:--examine, prove, tempt (-er), try. 2. Commentary: Ye shall not surely die = said Satan to Woman, but God had previously said in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:17) which makes Satans statement a direct contradiction of Gods Word, and a direct lie. Moreover, Satan strongly infers God Himself to be a liar. Actually Satans statement in Genesis 3:4 is the first lie in the Bible, and thus Satan is indeed the father of it (John 8:44) lies, that is. Please secondarily note how Satan projects the faults in his own character upon God, as we also most commonly project our own faults upon others. a. (John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil [Greek: Satan], and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning [Satan orchestrated the first murder, that of Adam and Eve: Gen 3:4,5], and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. b. (Matthew 25:24-25) Then he which had received the one talent [symbolic of understanding/doing the Lords will] came and said, Lord [speaking to the mirror-image of himself for he is his own Lord], I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping [stealing (in context)] where thou hast not sown, and gathering [stealing (in context)] where thou hast not strowed [Greek: scattered]: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. Thus, the man who had one talent did nothing with it. 3. Commentary: knowing good and evil = Many different levels of understanding may be connoted or suggested by the word knowing (synonym: understanding). For example, our knowing recent acquaintances Jim and Jane through a brief introduction at a party has established a superficial relationship with them. Thus, when we are questioned by someone else about knowing them, we may rightfully be enabled to respond Yes, I know Jim and Jane. However, that level of knowing understanding is not at all the same as knowing understanding Jim and Jane intimately through having experienced an in-depth relationship with them over several years (compare knowing God). 4. Commentary: Adam and Woman experienced an introductory superficial relationship with the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good (Lucifer) and evil (Satan) simply by ingesting it; but, having no prior education nor experience relating to this fruit, they were completely unable to discern the difference between the mingled seeds of good, and the mingled seeds of evil resident within the fruit, or by analogy, resident within the field of the world as in Matthew 13:24-30: a. (Matthew 13:24-30) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man [Jesus Christ] which sowed good seed [the good seed are the children of the kingdom Mat 13:38, herein designated as wheat] in his field [the field is the world Mat 13:38]: But while men slept [i.e., did not pay attention to both the world and the crop; lack of inward and outward awareness], his enemy [Satan] came and sowed tares [Greek: darnel or false grain] [a poisonous grass resembling wheat] [the

tares are the children of the wicked one Matthew 13:38] among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade [stalk] was sprung up, and brought forth fruit [black heads and gold heads: then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun Matthew 13:43], then appeared the tares also. So the servants [disciples] of the householder [Jesus Christ] came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence [from where] then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them [(for thou [God], even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) 1 Kings 8:39 & 2 Chronicles 6:30]. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers [the reapers are the angels Mat 13:39], Gather [Greek: sullego; collect] ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles [associations, alliances, organizations: (e.g./for example), homosexuals, feminists, abortionists] [(in preparation)] to burn them: but gather [Greek: sunago; assemble: convene; spec. to entertain (hospitably)] the wheat into my barn. I. Commentary: barn = a barn, much like the archetype Garden of Eden (Hebrew: delight), is assembled as a barrier to protect that which is inside from the outer natural elements and the wild beasts of the field. A barn is, on the outside of itself, much like a seed pod. A barn on the inside, much like the Garden of Eden, is a safe residence for seed, and is employed for the feeding, breeding, and comfortable growth of the domesticated (tamed) animals (seeds) dwelling within. 1. Commentary: an interesting type and shadow = Our Lord Jesus Christ was born and then laid in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). In the dictionary, a manger is a box or trough, as in a stable, from which horses or cattle eat. Conventional religious wisdom assumes that Jesus place of birth was a stable located within either a cave or a wooden barn wherein other domesticated (tamed) animals such as horses, cattle, dogs, cats, chickens, goats, etc., (and Mary and Joseph) harmoniously lived together in peace and safety. That being the case, there exists an extremely high probability that this stable was indeed a type and shadow of Heaven, and if so, although it is not mentioned in the Bible, will we soon be reunited with the dear animals that we have loved and lost? My joy. Food for thought. 2. Commentary: Make my barn a barn of salvation that is assembled together in this world with wooden boards (formerly wild trees, but now domesticated boards) through the great carpentry work of Jesus Christ, as one man (Judges 6:16). Examples of biblical barns of this world are the boards of the ark (Genesis 6:14), the boards of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:9), and the boards of the ship (Mark 6:45). Soon, these earthly works of God shall become a transformed (Rom 12:2) heavenly barn (Revelations 21:927) composed of the gold, silver, precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12) of all saved born-again peoples (John 3:5; Acts 22:16). Hallelujah! Amen.