Genesis Lecture 51 (The Fourth River)
Bible passage: Genesis 2:14-15
"The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. [15] Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This is the 51st lecture on Genesis.
In the last session, I talked about three of the four major rivers that God made on Earth. Now, let me talk about the fourth river, the Euphrates. We have the Euphrates River today as well. The Euphrates starts from the highlands of Eastern Turkey and runs through Syria and Iraq to finally end in the Persian Gulf. It flows very close to the third river, the Hiddekel or otherwise called the Tigris, and these two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, later join together. So, sometimes they combine these two rivers and call it the Tigris-Euphrates. The original Euphrates is not exactly the same as today's Euphrates.
The topography has changed to a great extent over a long period of time. Genesis 15:18 also mentions the Euphrates. It says, "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:" Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, on the lower end of the Euphrates, around 2,000 BC. Then, in obedience to the word of God, he moved to the land of Canaan. The big river Euphrates at the time of Abraham is in close relation to today's Euphrates. But there is no way for us to know exactly the shape and location of the Euphrates when God first made it. The literal meaning of 'Euphrates' is to taste sweet. But the spiritual meaning that God put in this name is 'affluence'. Why did God put such a meaning- Where the Euphrates adjoins the Tigris, a plain of very fertile land is formed. This fertile plain stretches westwards to reach near the Mediterranean, and this area is called the Fertile Crescent. Based on these characters of this area, one of the major ancient civilizations, the Mesopotamian civilization, was formed.
The Mesopotamia developed with abundance, making use of the good and fertile land. And there is another meaning why God put the meaning 'affluence' in the name Euphrates. This area has a lot of oil reserves, which is the most important natural resource today. The oil reserves of the Middle East account for about 80% of the whole world's reserve. The amount of oil reserves of Iran and Iraq are the 3rd and 4th in the world respectively, and those of Saudi Arabia is number 1. Especially, Iraq declared in this past October that they found 24% more oil reserves than before. (An increase to 143.1 billion barrels from 115 billion barrels) The oil-producing countries in the Middle East earn a lot of money just by selling the oil. Oil became an important natural resource in 19th century, but God foreknew what was going to happen in the end. Considering all these things, God put the meaning, 'affluence' in the name of this river.
But the Bible also prophesies that there will be a great war in this area during the 7-Year Tribulation, because of the abundant oil reserves. Revelations 9:14-15 says, "one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." [15] And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind." Let me explain to you about the flow of the world situations, which is the background of this prophecy.
Today, the world has three major powers, and this trend will be made clearer in the future. Here, the three main powers refer to the United States, China and Russia, and the European Union. At a certain point during the 7-Year Tribulation, the EU will join hands with the China and Russia alliance. To be more precise, the EU will manipulate China and Russia from behind the scenes. Each country will cooperate with each other not for any sense of justice but for their own benefits. What the powerful countries want is the oil in the Middle East. And this clash of common interests will develop into a war. China and Russia will team up to fight against the United States. The EU will not come up to the surface in this fight; they will just back up China and Russia.
This is the 3rd World War, and they will use nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. As a result, one third of the mankind will be killed. So, the countries involved in the war will back off for a while, but they soon fight again. But this time, it is only conventional warfare without any nuclear weapons. Military forces will come to the Middle East, around the Euphrates and get involved in combat. Both China and Russia alliance and the United States will face a great loss due to the continuing warfare. In the end, none of them will take real control over the Middle East. The EU surfaces at this point. The EU will make it look like they are trying to arbitrate between the China-Russia alliance and United States. But since both these parties became weaker, The EU will take the lead in world situations. The EU will have the supremacy and control the world. They will have control over the oil in the Middle East and gain substantial economic benefits. But this won't last long, either.
Revelations 16:12 says, "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east." As prophesied, the water of the Euphrates will dry up. This doesn't literally mean the river will dry up. It means the oil reserves will be depleted due to such conditions as the destruction of oil wells. As the oil reserves are depleted, the economic power of the EU will also deteriorate. The Bible says that the river will dry up referring to the fact that the EU will lose their power due to the depletion of oil reserves. God actually gave abundant blessings on this land. There are two big rivers, so they have a wide area of fertile land, and they also have a lot of oil reserves. But because of the evil of men, they turned this blessing into a curse. There have been wars since ancient times around this area and they will last until the end of the world. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we have looked into all four rivers that God made.
These four rivers are in relation to the 3 of the 4 major ancient civilizations. The first river Pishon is related with Indus civilization, the second river Gihon with the Egyptian civilization, and the third and fourth rivers with the Mesopotamian civilization. For your information, the Huang He civilization around the Yellow River of China is also one of the four major ancient civilizations. Anyway, as you look at the four rivers altogether, you can see they surround Israel like a circle. God knew where His chosen people, Israel, would be located and made the four rivers around it. We can see that God did each work knowing everything in advance. Of course, there are other big rivers in addition to these four rivers.
Those rivers were made by natural forces during a long period of time. But these four rivers were made by God Himself in specific locations in the providence of God for Israel. That is why these four rivers became the cradle of the civilizations. The people of Israel increased in number in Egypt, and they had a chance to form their own nation through the Exodus. Israel is a country whose ruler is God Himself, whose law is the Law of God, and whose people are the chosen ones of God. Therefore, while they were going towards Canaan after the Exodus, God spoke the following to Moses. Exodus 19:5-6 says, "Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; [6] and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." Ezekiel 38:12 also says that Israel 'lives at the center of the world.' God chose Israel and set them as the role-model of God's nation in this world. For this, God made the four rivers around Israel after He finished the 6-day-creation.
I explained to you what kinds of meanings the names of the civilizations carry that are formed around those rivers. We can understand that God is really in control of human history. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, now let us get to Genesis 2:15. It says, "Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it." Adam was made from the dust of the ground on Earth, and when God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, he became a living spirit. Adam, who was a living spirit, had a spiritual body that never decays or ages, unlike the physical body of men. So, God let Adam live in the Garden of Eden in the second heaven, and not on Earth. The Garden of Eden is a spiritual space, and there, no living things die or perish. On the other hand, the Earth belongs to the physical world, so the living things die of aging and perish to go back to a handful of dust. Therefore, a more suitable place for the living spirit Adam was the Garden of Eden rather than this Earth.
God created Adam on the Earth, but then He led him into the Garden of Eden. Then, God let Adam rule over and subdue not just the Garden of Eden but also this Earth. Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Here, 'earth' refers to both the Garden of Eden and Earth. Adam lived in the Garden of Eden but he freely came to Earth to rule over it. So, we can imagine how great his power and authority must have been at that time. Just think about the authority of Emperors who ruled over the vast area of his Empire. Whatever they said became the law and it was executed. Not just people's lives but even the destiny of a whole city or town was hanging in the decision of the Emperor.
The kings on this earth who ruled over some parts of the Earth had this great authority! So, how great Adam's authority must have been! He had the authority to keep and rule over whole Earth and the Garden of Eden. And the Garden of Eden is a place that is incredibly wider than the Earth. Then, how could Adam have such great authority and power- When Adam was first created, he had the body of an adult, but he had no knowledge in his brain. He was just like a newborn baby. Babies can become complete human beings only when they grow up and receive proper education. After God led Adam into the Garden of Eden, He taught Adam with the knowledge of truth, namely spiritual knowledge. Not just God the Father, but also God the Son and God the Holy Spirit taught Adam many things. Especially, since the Holy Spirit shows more of humanity than divinity, He taught Adam in detail about the heart and love of God the Father. He taught Adam what pleases God the Father, why He created Adam as a living spirit, and how God created him. Also, the Holy Spirit taught Adam that he had to subdue and rule over the first heaven and Eden of the second heaven. He taught him how to rule over everything in them.
Other than these, He taught him that God the Father stays in the third heaven or the fourth heaven, and He is pleased with praises. Now, does this mean God the Trinity went to the Garden of Eden- Just like a tutor would sit with the students, did God the Trinity teach Adam like a tutor- It was not so. The original entity of God the Trinity did not go to the second heaven. It's because in second heaven, there are also Lucifer and the evil spirits that betrayed and rebelled against God. So, even though God the Father sometimes came down to the Earth in first heaven, He did not go to the second heaven. But Adam could not just go into the third heaven or the fourth heaven either. So, how did God meet with Adam and teach him- There are passageways and gates that connect the dwelling place of God the Father and the Garden of Eden. God the Father communicated with Adam through these passageways of spiritual realm. Even though He did not go to the second heaven, He could talk with Adam as if they were talking face to face.
Today, men have developed science and technology. We have video calls and video conferencing. In the spiritual realm, we can see other people or objects in other dimensions through the spiritual passageways. God the Trinity taught Adam, who was in the Garden of Eden, using these passageways. God taught Adam so that he could have the wisdom, power and authority to subdue and rule over the first heaven and the Eden of the second heaven. This way, Adam had the likeness of God not just in appearance but also in inner being. He had such wonderful wisdom to fully utilize the knowledge of truth that God gave him, 100%. Also, in the spiritual realm, sinlessness is power and authority. Adam had no sin at all at that time, and he received the authority of light from God. That is why he could keep the Garden of Eden and the Earth from the spirits of darkness. As long as Adam was there, the spirits of darkness could not trespass into the Garden of Eden or on the Earth.
God gave Eve to Adam to be his wife. God blessed them and told them to multiply and increase in number to fill the earth. We can infer from this verse that Adam and Eve gave birth to many children in the Garden of Eden. They actually multiplied greatly, because there is no disease or death in the Garden of Eden. Also, from another Bible verse we can understand that Eve gave birth to children in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve committed a sin, God said to Eve as follows: Genesis 3:16 says, "…to the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." God did not say, "From now you will have pain in childbirth," but He said, "I will multiply your pain in childbirth." 'To multiply the pain in childbirth' means that there was pain in childbirth before this. I will explain to you in more detail later, but when women give birth to children in the Garden of Eden, they have minor pain.
For the baby to come out, the pelvis of the mother has to be widened. Even though they are living spirits, they feel that their bones are widening in labor. But the feeling is almost nothing compared to the pain of birthgiving for women on the Earth. There is another meaning in the fact that women were to have increased pain in childbirth. I will talk about it again when we get to Genesis chapter 3. Adam and Eve gave birth to many children in the Garden of Eden. And their children continued to give birth to children. In this way the Garden of Eden was filled with their children. Adam and Eve did not live in the Garden of Eden just for a short period of time. When I was receiving the revelations on the book of Genesis in 1983, God said as follows: "Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden for a longer period of time than you can imagine." But to God it is also like just a moment. To God it is a short time, but for men, it was such a long time that we are not able to count the years.
Because many people do not realize this fact, they just think Adam and Eve committed sin soon after they were created. If that were true, God wouldn't even have had to make the Garden of Eden as a separate place. Also, it would not have been necessary for God to give such great authority and power to Adam. Adam would have lost all his authority and he would have been driven out from the Garden as soon as he sinned. But Adam lived an unimaginably long time in the Garden of Eden giving birth to children. He subdued and ruled over the Garden of Eden and the Earth with the authority and wisdom given by God. Does this mean he ruled over such a vast area all by himself- I explained in the previous lecture that people in the Garden of Eden also have organization and hierarchy. They are divided by a certain size of units, and each unit has the leader. Along with these leaders, there were other beings that helped with Adam's reign. I will explain to you who they are and how they helped Adam in the next lecture.
I will also explain what Adam did for such a long time while he was living in the Garden of Eden.
Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in this lecture, I explained about the location and spiritual meaning of the Euphrates. Also, I explained how God communicated with Adam. God Himself planted the knowledge of truth in Adam, using the passageways of spiritual realm. God the Father wants to communicate with all His children and not just with Adam. He wants to teach us about God the Father and about the spiritual realm in detail. James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."
And anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and receives the forgiveness will receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit searches even the deepest things of the Father God. The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of the believers, and He speaks to them or inspires them to teach them the heart and will of God. He also lets them feel the deep love of God. To have clear communication with the Holy Spirit, we must not have any sin. We must be like Adam in the Garden of Eden. We have to cast off untruths and evil from our heart and recover the image of God. Then, we will receive the spiritual authority and power from God the Father just like Adam had. We will be the blessed ones who are guided to the way of prosperity in all things. I pray in the name of the Lord that all you believers will quickly recover the image of God and be blessed with the spiritual authority and blessings that the children of the almighty God should enjoy.
Mafundisho ya Mwanzo 51 | Mto wa Nne
Andiko la Biblia: Mwanzo 2:14–15
“Jina la mto wa tatu ni Hidekeli; huo ndio upitao mbele ya Ashuru. Na mto wa nne ni Frati. Bwana Mungu akamtwaa huyo mtu, akamweka katika bustani ya Edeni, ailime na kuitunza.”
Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, hili ni somo la 51 la Mafundisho ya Mwanzo.
Katika somo lililopita, nilizungumza kuhusu mito mitatu kati ya ile minne mikubwa ambayo Mungu aliiumba duniani. Sasa nitazungumza kuhusu mto wa nne, Frati. Mto Frati upo hadi leo. Chanzo chake ni nyanda za juu mashariki mwa Uturuki, kisha unapita Syria na Iraq na kumwaga maji katika Ghuba ya Uajemi. Unapita karibu sana na mto wa tatu, Hidekeli, unaoitwa pia Tigri. Baadaye mito hiyo miwili, Tigri na Frati, huungana. Ndiyo maana wakati mwingine huitwa mito ya Tigri na Frati kwa pamoja. Frati ya awali haifanani kabisa na Frati ya leo.
Jiografia imebadilika sana kwa muda mrefu. Mwanzo 15:18 pia inautaja Frati: “Siku ile Bwana akafanya agano na Abramu, akasema, Uzao wako nimewapa nchi hii, tangu mto wa Misri mpaka huo mto mkubwa, mto Frati.” Abrahamu alizaliwa Uru wa Wakaldayo, upande wa chini wa Frati, karibu mwaka 2000 kabla ya Kristo. Kisha, akitii Neno la Mungu, alihamia nchi ya Kanaani. Mto mkubwa Frati wa wakati wa Abrahamu una uhusiano wa karibu na Frati ya leo. Lakini hatuwezi kujua kwa hakika umbo na mahali ulipokuwa Frati Mungu alipouumba mara ya kwanza. Maana ya moja kwa moja ya jina “Frati” ni “kuonja utamu.” Lakini maana ya rohoni ambayo Mungu aliweka katika jina hili ni “utajiri.” Kwa nini Mungu aliweka maana hiyo? Mahali Frati unapokutana na Tigri, kuna tambarare yenye udongo wenye rutuba sana. Tambarare hiyo inaenea upande wa magharibi hadi karibu na Bahari ya Mediterania, na eneo hilo huitwa Mwezi Mpevu wenye Rutuba. Kwa sababu ya sifa za eneo hili, ustaarabu mmoja wa kale ulio mkubwa, ustaarabu wa Mesopotamia, uliibuka.
Mesopotamia ilistawi kwa wingi wa mazao kutokana na ardhi yake nzuri na yenye rutuba. Kuna sababu nyingine iliyomfanya Mungu aweke maana ya “utajiri” katika jina Frati: eneo hili lina akiba nyingi ya mafuta ya petroli, rasilimali ya asili iliyo muhimu sana leo. Akiba ya mafuta ya Mashariki ya Kati ni takriban asilimia 80 ya akiba yote duniani. Akiba za Iran na Iraq ni za tatu na nne kwa ukubwa duniani, na Saudi Arabia ina akiba kubwa zaidi. Hasa, Oktoba iliyopita Iraq ilitangaza kwamba ilikuwa imegundua akiba ya mafuta iliyo kubwa kwa asilimia 24 kuliko ilivyodhaniwa awali: mapipa bilioni 143.1 badala ya bilioni 115. Nchi zinazozalisha mafuta Mashariki ya Kati hupata fedha nyingi kwa kuyauza tu. Mafuta yakawa rasilimali muhimu katika karne ya kumi na tisa, lakini Mungu alijua kimbele yatakayotokea siku za mwisho. Kwa kuzingatia mambo haya, Mungu aliweka maana ya “utajiri” katika jina la mto huu.
Hata hivyo, Biblia pia inatabiri kwamba kutakuwa na vita vikubwa katika eneo hili wakati wa Dhiki Kuu ya miaka saba, kwa sababu ya akiba nyingi ya mafuta. Ufunuo 9:14–15 inasema: “Ikimwambia malaika wa sita aliyekuwa na baragumu, Wafungue wale malaika wanne waliofungwa karibu na mto mkubwa Frati. Na wale malaika wanne wakafunguliwa, waliokuwa tayari kwa saa na siku na mwezi na mwaka, ili wawaua theluthi ya wanadamu.” Niruhusuni kueleza mwelekeo wa hali ya dunia unaohusiana na unabii huu.
Leo kuna mihimili mikuu mitatu ya nguvu duniani, na mwelekeo huu utaonekana wazi zaidi baadaye. Mihimili hiyo ni Marekani, muungano wa China na Urusi, na Umoja wa Ulaya. Wakati fulani katika Dhiki Kuu ya miaka saba, Umoja wa Ulaya utaungana na muungano wa China na Urusi. Kwa usahihi zaidi, Umoja wa Ulaya utaziongoza China na Urusi kisiri. Nchi hizo zitashirikiana kwa manufaa yao wenyewe, si kwa sababu ya haki. Mataifa yenye nguvu yanataka mafuta ya Mashariki ya Kati, na mgongano wa maslahi hayo ya pamoja utageuka kuwa vita. China na Urusi zitaungana kupigana na Marekani. Umoja wa Ulaya hautajitokeza wazi katika vita hivyo; utaziunga mkono tu China na Urusi.
Hivi vitakuwa Vita vya Tatu vya Dunia, na silaha za nyuklia, kibayolojia na kemikali zitatumiwa. Kwa hiyo theluthi moja ya wanadamu atauawa. Nchi zinazohusika zitajiondoa kwa muda, lakini hivi karibuni zitapigana tena. Safari hii vita vitakuwa vya kawaida, bila silaha za nyuklia. Vikosi vya kijeshi vitafika Mashariki ya Kati, karibu na Frati, na kupigana huko. Muungano wa China na Urusi pamoja na Marekani vitapata hasara kubwa kutokana na vita vinavyoendelea. Mwishowe hakuna upande utakaotawala Mashariki ya Kati kikamilifu. Hapo ndipo Umoja wa Ulaya utakapojitokeza. Utajifanya kuwa msuluhishi kati ya muungano wa China na Urusi na Marekani. Lakini kwa kuwa pande zote mbili zitakuwa zimedhoofika, Umoja wa Ulaya utaongoza mambo ya dunia. Utapata mamlaka ya juu na kuitawala dunia, kudhibiti mafuta ya Mashariki ya Kati na kupata faida kubwa za kiuchumi. Hata hivyo, hali hiyo haitadumu kwa muda mrefu.
Ufunuo 16:12 inasema: “Malaika wa sita akamimina kitasa chake juu ya mto mkubwa Frati; maji yake yakakauka, ili njia itengenezwe kwa ajili ya wafalme watokao mashariki ya jua.” Kama ilivyotabiriwa, maji ya Frati yatakauka. Haimaanishi kwamba mto wenyewe utakauka kihalisi. Inamaanisha akiba ya mafuta itakwisha kutokana na hali kama uharibifu wa visima vya mafuta. Akiba ya mafuta itakapopungua, nguvu ya kiuchumi ya Umoja wa Ulaya nayo itadhoofika. Biblia inasema mto utakauka ikimaanisha Umoja wa Ulaya utapoteza nguvu zake kwa sababu ya kuisha kwa akiba ya mafuta. Kwa kweli Mungu aliibariki nchi hii kwa wingi: ina mito miwili mikubwa na eneo kubwa lenye rutuba, na pia ina akiba nyingi ya mafuta. Lakini kwa sababu ya uovu wa wanadamu, waligeuza baraka hii kuwa laana. Tangu zamani kumekuwa na vita katika eneo hili, na vita vitaendelea hadi mwisho wa dunia. Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, tumechunguza mito yote minne ambayo Mungu aliumba.
Mito hii minne inahusiana na ustaarabu mitatu kati ya ile minne mikuu ya kale. Mto wa kwanza, Pishoni, unahusiana na ustaarabu wa Bonde la Indus; wa pili, Gihoni, na ustaarabu wa Misri; na mito ya tatu na nne na ustaarabu wa Mesopotamia. Kwa taarifa yenu, ustaarabu wa Huang He, karibu na Mto Manjano nchini China, pia ni mojawapo ya ustaarabu minne mikuu ya kale. Kwa jumla, mito hii minne inaizunguka Israeli kama duara. Mungu alijua kimbele mahali ambapo watu wake wateule, Israeli, wangekuwa, akaiweka mito hiyo minne kuizunguka. Tunaona kwamba Mungu alifanya kila jambo akijua yote kimbele. Bila shaka, kuna mito mingine mikubwa zaidi ya hii minne.
Mito hiyo mingine iliundwa na nguvu za asili kwa muda mrefu, lakini Mungu mwenyewe aliiumba mito hii minne katika sehemu hususa kulingana na mpango wake kwa Israeli. Ndiyo sababu ikawa chimbuko la ustaarabu. Watu wa Israeli waliongezeka nchini Misri, wakapata nafasi ya kuunda taifa lao wenyewe kupitia Kutoka. Israeli ni nchi ambayo mtawala wake ni Mungu mwenyewe, sheria yake ni Sheria ya Mungu, na watu wake ni wateule wa Mungu. Kwa hiyo walipokuwa wakielekea Kanaani baada ya Kutoka, Mungu alimwambia Musa hivi katika Kutoka 19:5–6: “Basi sasa ikiwa mtaitii sauti yangu kweli kweli, na kulishika agano langu, ndipo mtakapokuwa tunu kwangu kuliko makabila yote ya watu; maana dunia yote pia ni mali yangu; nanyi mtakuwa kwangu ufalme wa makuhani, na taifa takatifu. Hayo ndiyo maneno utakayowaambia wana wa Israeli.” Ezekieli 38:12 pia inasema kwamba Israeli “inakaa katikati ya dunia.” Mungu aliichagua Israeli na kuiweka kuwa kielelezo cha taifa la Mungu duniani. Kwa kusudi hilo, baada ya kumaliza uumbaji wa siku sita, Mungu aliumba mito hiyo minne kuizunguka Israeli.
Niliwaeleza maana za majina ya ustaarabu ulioibuka kuzunguka mito hiyo. Tunaweza kuelewa kwamba Mungu ndiye mtawala wa historia ya wanadamu. Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, sasa tufike Mwanzo 2:15. Inasema, “Bwana Mungu akamtwaa huyo mtu, akamweka katika bustani ya Edeni, ailime na kuitunza.” Adamu aliumbwa kwa mavumbi ya ardhi ya dunia, na Mungu alipompulizia puani pumzi ya uhai akawa nafsi hai. Adamu, aliyekuwa nafsi hai, alikuwa na mwili wa rohoni usioharibika wala kuzeeka, tofauti na miili ya kimwili ya wanadamu. Kwa hiyo Mungu alimruhusu Adamu aishi katika Bustani ya Edeni, mbingu ya pili, wala si duniani. Bustani ya Edeni ni anga la rohoni ambamo viumbe hai hawafi wala hawaharibiki. Dunia, kwa upande mwingine, ni ya ulimwengu wa mwili, ambamo viumbe hufa kwa uzee na kugeuka kuwa mavumbi. Kwa hiyo mahali palipomfaa zaidi Adamu, nafsi hai, palikuwa Bustani ya Edeni badala ya dunia hii.
Mungu alimwumba Adamu duniani, kisha akamwongoza Bustani ya Edeni. Akamruhusu atawale na kuitiisha si Bustani ya Edeni pekee bali pia dunia hii. Mwanzo 1:28 inasema, “Mungu akawabarikia, Mungu akawaambia, Zaeni, mkaongezeke, mkaijaze nchi, na kuitiisha; mkatawale samaki wa baharini, na ndege wa angani, na kila kiumbe chenye uhai kiendacho juu ya nchi.” Hapa “nchi” inahusu Bustani ya Edeni pamoja na dunia. Adamu aliishi Bustani ya Edeni lakini alikuja duniani kwa uhuru kuitawala. Kwa hiyo tunaweza kuwazia jinsi mamlaka na nguvu zake zilivyokuwa kubwa wakati huo. Fikirieni mamlaka ya watawala waliotawala himaya kubwa. Yote waliyosema yakawa sheria na kutekelezwa. Maisha ya watu, hata hatima ya jiji au mji mzima, ilitegemea uamuzi wa mtawala.
Wafalme wa duniani waliotawala sehemu fulani tu ya dunia walikuwa na mamlaka makubwa hivyo! Basi mamlaka ya Adamu yalikuwa makubwa kiasi gani? Alikuwa na mamlaka ya kuitunza na kuitawala dunia nzima na Bustani ya Edeni, ambayo ni kubwa zaidi kuliko dunia kwa kiwango kisichoweza kufananishwa. Adamu alipataje mamlaka na nguvu kubwa hivyo? Alipoumbwa, mwili wake ulikuwa wa mtu mzima lakini ubongo wake haukuwa na maarifa; alikuwa kama mtoto mchanga. Watoto huwa wanadamu waliokomaa tu wanapokua na kupata elimu inayofaa. Baada ya Mungu kumwongoza Adamu Bustani ya Edeni, alimfundisha maarifa ya ukweli, yaani maarifa ya rohoni. Si Mungu Baba pekee, bali pia Mungu Mwana na Mungu Roho Mtakatifu walimfundisha mambo mengi. Hasa kwa kuwa Roho Mtakatifu huonyesha ubinadamu zaidi kuliko uungu, alimfundisha Adamu kwa kina kuhusu moyo na upendo wa Mungu Baba. Alimfundisha mambo yanayompendeza Mungu Baba, kwa nini alimwumba Adamu kuwa nafsi hai, na jinsi alivyomwumba. Pia Roho Mtakatifu alimfundisha Adamu kwamba alipaswa kuitiisha na kuitawala mbingu ya kwanza na Edeni ya mbingu ya pili, na jinsi ya kutawala kila kitu humo.
Alimfundisha pia kwamba Mungu Baba hukaa mbingu ya tatu au ya nne na hupendezwa na sifa. Je, hii inamaanisha kwamba Mungu wa Utatu alikwenda Bustani ya Edeni na kumfundisha Adamu kama mwalimu anayekaa pamoja na wanafunzi? Sivyo. Nafsi halisi ya Mungu wa Utatu haikuenda mbingu ya pili, kwa sababu Lusifa na pepo wachafu waliomsaliti na kumwasi Mungu pia walikuwa huko. Kwa hiyo, ingawa wakati mwingine Mungu Baba alishuka duniani katika mbingu ya kwanza, hakuenda mbingu ya pili. Lakini Adamu hangeweza kwenda mbingu ya tatu au ya nne pia. Basi Mungu alikutana na kumfundisha Adamu vipi? Kuna njia na malango yanayounganisha makao ya Mungu Baba na Bustani ya Edeni. Mungu Baba aliwasiliana na Adamu kupitia njia hizo za ulimwengu wa rohoni. Ingawa hakuenda mbingu ya pili, angeweza kuzungumza na Adamu kana kwamba walikuwa wakiongea ana kwa ana.
Leo wanadamu wameendeleza sayansi na teknolojia. Tuna simu za video na mikutano ya video. Katika ulimwengu wa rohoni, watu wanaweza kuona watu au vitu vilivyo katika vipimo vingine kupitia njia za rohoni. Mungu wa Utatu alimfundisha Adamu aliyekuwa Bustani ya Edeni kwa kutumia njia hizo. Alimfundisha ili awe na hekima, nguvu na mamlaka ya kuitiisha na kuitawala mbingu ya kwanza na Edeni ya mbingu ya pili. Hivyo Adamu alikuwa na sura ya Mungu si kwa mwonekano tu bali pia ndani yake. Alikuwa na hekima ya ajabu ya kutumia kikamilifu, asilimia mia moja, maarifa ya ukweli aliyopewa na Mungu. Pia katika ulimwengu wa rohoni, kutokuwa na dhambi ni nguvu na mamlaka. Wakati huo Adamu hakuwa na dhambi hata kidogo, naye akapokea mamlaka ya nuru kutoka kwa Mungu. Ndiyo sababu aliweza kulinda Bustani ya Edeni na dunia dhidi ya roho za giza. Adamu alipokuwa hapo, roho za giza hazingeweza kuingia Bustani ya Edeni wala duniani.
Mungu alimpa Adamu Hawa awe mke wake. Mungu akawabariki na kuwaambia wazaane na kuongezeka wajaze dunia. Kutokana na mstari huu tunaweza kuhitimisha kwamba Adamu na Hawa walizaa watoto wengi Bustani ya Edeni. Waliongezeka sana kwa sababu hakukuwa na ugonjwa wala kifo humo. Mstari mwingine wa Biblia unaonyesha pia kwamba Hawa alizaa watoto Bustani ya Edeni. Adamu na Hawa walipotenda dhambi, Mungu alimwambia Hawa hivi katika Mwanzo 3:16: “Nitakuzidishia sana uchungu wako katika kuzaa; kwa utungu utazaa watoto; na tamaa yako itakuwa kwa mumeo, naye atakutawala.” Mungu hakusema, “Kuanzia sasa utahisi uchungu wa kuzaa,” bali alisema, “Nitakuzidishia uchungu wako katika kuzaa.” “Kuongeza uchungu wa kuzaa” kunamaanisha kwamba tayari kulikuwa na uchungu kabla ya hapo. Nitaeleza zaidi baadaye, lakini wanawake wanapojifungua Bustani ya Edeni huhisi uchungu mdogo.
Ili mtoto atoke, nyonga ya mama lazima itanuke. Ingawa ni nafsi hai, mwanamke huhisi mifupa yake ikitanuka anapojifungua. Lakini hisia hiyo karibu si kitu ikilinganishwa na uchungu wa kujifungua duniani. Kuongezeka kwa uchungu wa kuzaa kuna maana nyingine pia; nitalizungumzia tena tutakapofika Mwanzo sura ya 3. Adamu na Hawa walizaa watoto wengi Bustani ya Edeni, nao watoto wao wakaendelea kuzaa. Hivyo Bustani ya Edeni ikajaa wazao wao. Adamu na Hawa hawakuishi humo kwa muda mfupi tu. Nilipokuwa nikipokea ufunuo kuhusu kitabu cha Mwanzo mwaka 1983, Mungu alisema: “Adamu na Hawa waliishi Bustani ya Edeni kwa muda mrefu zaidi kuliko mnavavyoweza kuwazia.” Lakini kwa Mungu ni kama muda mfupi tu. Kwake ni muda mfupi, lakini kwa wanadamu ulikuwa mrefu sana kiasi kwamba hatuwezi kuhesabu miaka yake.
Kwa kuwa watu wengi hawatambui ukweli huu, hudhani tu kwamba Adamu na Hawa walitenda dhambi muda mfupi baada ya kuumbwa. Kama ingekuwa hivyo, Mungu asingehitaji hata kuumba Bustani ya Edeni kuwa mahali tofauti. Isingekuwa lazima pia kumpa Adamu mamlaka na nguvu nyingi hivyo. Mara tu Adamu alipotenda dhambi angepoteza mamlaka yote na kufukuzwa Bustani. Lakini Adamu aliishi muda mrefu usiowazika humo na kuzaa watoto. Alitawala Bustani ya Edeni na dunia kwa mamlaka na hekima alizopewa na Mungu. Je, alitawala eneo kubwa hilo peke yake? Nilieleza katika somo lililopita kwamba watu wa Bustani ya Edeni pia wana mpangilio na ngazi za uongozi. Wamegawanywa katika vitengo vya ukubwa fulani, na kila kitengo kina kiongozi. Pamoja na viongozi hao, kulikuwa na viumbe wengine waliomsaidia Adamu kutawala. Nitaeleza wao ni nani na walivyomsaidia katika somo lijalo.
Pia nitaeleza Adamu alifanya nini kwa muda mrefu hivyo alipokuwa akiishi Bustani ya Edeni.
Hitimisho
Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, katika somo hili nimeeleza mahali ulipo Mto Frati na maana yake ya rohoni. Pia nimeeleza jinsi Mungu alivyowasiliana na Adamu. Mungu mwenyewe alipanda ndani ya Adamu maarifa ya ukweli, akitumia njia za ulimwengu wa rohoni. Mungu Baba anataka kuwasiliana na watoto wake wote, si Adamu pekee. Anataka kutufundisha kwa kina kumhusu yeye na ulimwengu wa rohoni. Yakobo 1:17 inasema, “Kila kutoa kuliko kwema, na kila kitolewacho kilicho kamili, hutoka juu, hushuka kwa Baba wa mianga; kwake hakuna kubadilika, wala kivuli cha kugeuka-geuka.”
Kila mtu anayemwamini Yesu Kristo na kupokea msamaha hupokea Roho Mtakatifu. Roho Mtakatifu huchunguza hata mambo ya ndani kabisa ya Mungu Baba. Anakaa mioyoni mwa waumini na kuzungumza nao au kuwapa msukumo ili kuwafundisha moyo na mapenzi ya Mungu. Pia huwasaidia kuhisi upendo wa kina wa Mungu. Ili tuwasiliane waziwazi na Roho Mtakatifu, hatupaswi kuwa na dhambi yoyote. Tunapaswa kuwa kama Adamu katika Bustani ya Edeni: kuondoa mioyoni mwetu yasiyo ya kweli na uovu na kurejesha sura ya Mungu. Kisha tutapokea mamlaka na nguvu za rohoni kutoka kwa Mungu Baba kama Adamu alivyopokea. Tutakuwa watu waliobarikiwa na kuongozwa katika njia ya kufanikiwa katika mambo yote. Ninaomba katika jina la Bwana kwamba waumini wote mtairejesha upesi sura ya Mungu na kubarikiwa kwa mamlaka na baraka za rohoni ambazo watoto wa Mungu Mwenyezi wanapaswa kufurahia.
