Page 52 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

~JULY 2006~ 53

THE TWO SOURCES OF

“THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL”

THE “TO WHICH OF THE LIE
TRUTH
THE TREES
IN EDEN

WILL YOU THEN BE
LIKENED
IN GLORY
AND

GREATNESS?”
Ezekiel 31:18

I would like to borrow Ezekiel’s rhetorical question above
and use it as a challenge to us as Christians, to examine
the source of any “glory and greatness” that we may have
achieved in life. Which of the two “trees in Eden” is the

source of our wisdom and knowledge?

“…THE TREE OF LIFE WAS ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN,
AND THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL…
OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN YOU MAY FREELY EAT;

BUT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL YOU SHALL NOT EAT,
FOR IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE.” Gen. 2:9,16,17

“THAT WHICH HAS BEEN IS WHAT WILL BE. THAT WHICH IS DONE IS WHAT WILL BE DONE. AND THERE IS
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN…IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN ANCIENT TIMES BEFORE US.” Ecc. 1:9-10

Solomon states, with good reason, that “There is nothing new under the sun…” because history does
repeat itself. As an example, consider that basically there are only two types of religions in the world
today and both find their origins in Genesis. Cain offered to God a form of religion based on his works,
while Abel offered the only religion that is acceptable to God, one based upon God’s grace. Christianity
stands alone today as the only grace-based religion of salvation. All other “saving” religions are founded
on man’s works.

The subject of this newsletter is knowledge. The Bible speaks of two kinds of knowledge, and they also
have their origins in Genesis. These two sources of knowledge are typified by the Tree of Life and the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In part one of this subject I would like to convince you that the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is still available in our day and remains “forbidden fruit” for God’s
people as it was for Adam and Eve. As it was in ancient times, the fruit of this tree is still Satan’s first line
of temptation that he sets before God’s people today. It worked with Eve, and he is sure it will work on us!