Chapter 9: Return to Garden of Eden

The Last Baptized

The morning sun hung low over the river, its golden rays dancing upon the water’s surface. A hush fell over the gathered crowd as they stood on the riverbank, their eyes fixed on the young man stepping into the cool current.

His heart pounded, but it was not from fear. It was awe.

A pastor stood before him, his hand raised.

"Are you willing to confess that you are a sinner and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?"

Tears welled in the young man's eyes. He took a deep breath, his voice steady.

"I do."

The pastor smiled and gently placed his hands on the young man's shoulders. Slowly, he lowered him beneath the water.

The river embraced him, and in that moment, it was as if all the weight of his past, his doubts, his burdens, had been washed away.

Then, as he rose from the water, something happened.

A light—brighter than the sun—broke through the sky. It shone down upon him, illuminating his face, warming his soul.

In the heavens, an unseen voice echoed through eternity:

"The number is complete."

And at that moment, the gates of heaven began to open.

Satan’s Fear

In the depths of hell, flames twisted and churned, licking the edges of an unseen abyss. The throne of darkness trembled, and a figure upon it jolted upright.

Satan's wings snapped open. His claws dug into the stone. His eyes, burning like embers, darted wildly.

He felt it.

Something had shifted.

He turned his gaze upward—to the world of men.

And there, he saw him.

The young man, standing in the river, the water still dripping from his skin, his face glowing with a peace that no darkness could touch.

And behind him, the heavens stirred.

Satan’s breath hitched. A growl rumbled in his chest.

"It can't be…"

A tremor rippled through the abyss. His minions, sensing his unease, cowered.

"No!" he roared, his voice shaking the very foundations of hell. "One more?! One more?!"

He turned, his gaze wild, searching. The shadows around him recoiled.

"This wasn't supposed to happen!" he snarled. "I had them! I drowned them in their own desires! I blinded them with pleasure! I made them forget eternity!"

But it hadn't been enough.

He had lost the last one.

And then—he felt something worse.

Time was slipping away.

"My time…" he whispered, dread creeping into his voice. "It’s… almost over."

But then, something deeper clawed its way into his mind.

He had offered them everything - pleasure, power, knowledge, the freedom to rule themselves. He had whispered in their ears, fanned the flames of their desires, made them doubt, made them turn away.

Yet still…

They chose Him.

They chose Jesus.

Satan’s claws dug into the stone. His wings twitched, his breath came sharp and ragged.

"Why?"

The word escaped his lips in a whisper.

"Why would they choose Him over me?"

He did not understand.

And that terrified him more than anything else.

For all his knowledge, for all his cunning, for all his power, he could not comprehend the choice they had made.

They had chosen love over control. Faith over sight. Humility over pride.

"It doesn’t make sense," he muttered, shaking his head. "It doesn’t make sense!"

But it didn’t matter.

His time was gone. His reign was ending.

And for the first time in an age, Satan knew fear.

The Reopening of the Garden of Eden

The sky cracked, and light poured down.

A veil, long drawn over the world, lifted.

The people below looked up, their eyes wide, their hearts pounding. And before them, a sight unseen since the dawn of man unfolded—a kingdom, radiant and wonderful, stretching beyond the horizon.

The gates of Eden had opened.

No longer barred by flaming swords, no longer distant in sorrow and longing. They stood open in welcome.

A crowd had gathered at the threshold. The descendants of Adam stood among them, their eyes filled with disbelief and wonder.

They stepped forward, trembling, reaching out.

And then, from among them, a familiar figure emerged.

Abel.

He looked upon the kingdom, and his eyes filled with tears. He took a deep breath, his voice quivering with awe and joy.

"We… have finally come home."

His face was bright and unburdened, his wounds long healed. He turned his gaze to the sky, and in that moment, he fell to his knees.

"Lord, You accepted the sacrifices I offered in my life. And now, in Your grace, You have lifted me up to share in Your glory."

Tears of joy streamed down his face.

Abel rose. He turned and walked toward the gates, his steps sure. He entered the Garden of Eden, and with him, the children of Adam followed.

They stepped onto soft grass, beneath towering trees heavy with fruit, beside streams of living water that murmured like a song of old.

The air was rich, the sky endless, the peace eternal.

And then—

A voice rang out from the throne of heaven.

"Behold, My dwelling place is with men!"

A new world had begun.

The Garden of Eden was no longer a memory of what was lost.

It was home once more.

Epilogue: Kingdom of God

The light of heaven shone across the new earth.

And the nations—the redeemed, the saved, the chosen—raised their voices in unison:

"Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God!"

On either side of the river of life, the Tree of Life grew, its leaves bringing healing to the nations. Its fruit was sweet, its shade eternal.

The people gathered around the throne of God, their faces shining like the dawn. They would never again be deceived. Never again feel sorrow. Never again be cast from Eden.

And then, God spoke:

"Behold—I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End."

A new heaven and a new earth had come.

The gates of Eden would remain open forever.

Sin was gone. Satan was put away for good. No shadow of his deception would ever fall upon the redeemed again.

The reign of darkness had ended, and the kingdom of God endured forever.

"God saw all that He had made—and it was very good."

The End

Appendix: Key Scriptures and Theological Themes

This book is deeply rooted in biblical theology, tracing the journey from fall to redemption, from exile to restoration. The following key scriptures serve as the foundation for its themes.

1. The Creation and the Fall

Genesis 1-3 – The Garden of Eden, the creation of man, the fall, and the expulsion from Paradise.

Romans 5:12-14 – Through one man, sin entered the world, and through sin, death spread to all mankind.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 – As in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Theological Theme:

Free Will and the Consequences of Sin – Humanity was given the ability to choose, and with it came both the blessing of love freely given and the curse of separation from God.

2. Cain and Abel: The First Bloodshed

Genesis 4:1-16 – The story of Cain and Abel, the first recorded murder, and the mark placed upon Cain.

Hebrews 11:4 – By faith, Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.

1 John 3:12 – Cain belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother because his deeds were evil, while Abel’s were righteous.

Theological Theme:

True Worship and the Heart’s Condition – God does not accept sacrifices based on works alone but looks at the heart of the worshiper. Abel represents faith; Cain represents pride and rebellion.

3. The Heavenly Wager and the Role of Free Will

Job 1-2 – Satan challenges God regarding Job’s faith, believing that suffering will break him.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 – God sets before humanity life and death, blessings and curses—urging them to choose life.

Joshua 24:15 – Choose this day whom you will serve.

Theological Theme:

Free Will as the True Test of Faith – Satan believed that free will would always lead people away from God, but the story ultimately reveals that true faith is freely chosen, not forced.

4. The First Prophecy of Redemption

Genesis 3:15 – The first prophecy: The seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.

Isaiah 9:6-7 – A child is born, a Son is given; His kingdom will have no end.

Luke 2:10-11 – The angels proclaim Christ’s birth: “I bring you good news of great joy for all people!”

Theological Theme:

God’s Plan of Redemption – Even in Eden, after the fall, God already had a plan—one that would take thousands of years but would never fail.

5. Christ’s Temptation and Victory

Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus is led into the wilderness and tempted by Satan.

Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus was tempted in every way, yet without sin.

Colossians 2:15 – He disarmed the powers of darkness and triumphed over them by the cross.

Theological Theme:

The Second Adam – Where the first Adam failed in a garden, Christ triumphed in a wilderness. Satan tempted both, but only one remained sinless.

6. The Crucifixion and Resurrection

Isaiah 53:3-7 – The prophecy of the suffering servant: "He was pierced for our transgressions."

John 19:30 – Jesus’ last words on the cross: "It is finished."

Luke 24:5-6 – "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"

Theological Theme:

Victory Through Sacrifice – The cross, which appeared to be Satan’s victory, was actually his ultimate defeat.

7. The Final Defeat of Satan

Revelation 20:1-10 – Satan is bound, and then cast into the lake of fire forever.

Philippians 2:9-11 – At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

Revelation 21-22 – The new heavens and new earth, the Tree of Life, and the final restoration of Eden.

Theological Theme:

Eden Restored – What was lost in Genesis is fully restored in Revelation. The Tree of Life, the presence of God, and eternal peace return.

8. The Role of Free Will in Salvation

Romans 10:9-10 – If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you will be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 – God is patient, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Theological Theme:

Love Freely Given – Satan’s great deception was believing that free will would always lead people away from God. Instead, free will was the very thing that allowed them to choose Him.

Conclusion: The Story of Redemption is Complete

The Garden of Eden was closed. But through Christ, it was opened again.

The war between darkness and light, between deception and truth, between sin and salvation, has ended.

Satan is defeated.

Eden is restored.

And God’s people have returned home—forever.

"Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5)