KIDS DO YOU WANT A JOB IN PARADISE?

DID ADAM AND EVE HAVE JOBS?

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Mary the Sunday school teacher asks the class, "Did Adam have to work for a living and have a job?"

Silly Billy replies, "I thought Adam stayed beside the pool and waterfalls all day."

Mary continues, "God wanted Adam to learn work ethic by being His Head Gardener."  "The Lord God took the man and he put him in the Garden of Eden. God wanted the man to work in the garden and to take care of it." (Genesis 2:15 EASY)

Cindy asks, "What was Eve's job?"

Mary states, "Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all human beings."  (Genesis 3:20 GNT - Good News Translation)  "Eve was in charge of Parenting. Every mother knows that's a full time job!"

Mary continues, "When you're on a hike, do you see fruit or berries and desire to eat them?

Bob speaks, "My dad wants to see what I have in my hand, before I put it in my mouth."

Mary says, "Good!  Birds will eat berries that might be poisonous for us.

The Manchineel tree has fruit that looks like small green apples that tastes sweet; but the sap causes blisters to the skin, and you might die if you eat.  Yet a Black Spined Iguana can eat the fruit and live."

Margo speaks, "My brother ate something he shouldn't have, and had to be taken to the hospital to pump his stomach."

Mary teaches, "The Lord God commanded the man. He said, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.  But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”  (Genesis 2:16-17  GW - Gods Word)

William asks, "Why did God plant the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil both in the middle of the Garden?  Was God tempting Adam and Eve?"

Mary replies, "And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else."  (James 1:13  NLT - New Living Translation)

Silly Billy blurts out, "Maybe God made the scary serpent  to keep Adam and Eve from getting too close."

Margo adds, "All the girls I know love to be scared, watching movies.  Maybe Eve enjoyed that scary feeling by talking to the serpent." 

Scott speaks, "I believe God wanted to keep the serpent out of the Tree of Life, so it wouldn't live forever.  So He planted another tree close by with sweet tasting, addictive fruit to attract the serpent."

Mary reads, "Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”  (Genesis 3:1  HCSB)

William adds,  "Satan tempted Jesus when he was fasting 40 days in the wilderness, by asking Him to turn stones into bread."

Mary continues, "The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden.  But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:2-4  HCSB)

Cindy speaks, "Was the serpent possessed by Satan?"

Mary replies, "Lucifer committed the sin of Pride wanting to be God, and he was deceiving Eve, telling her if she would eat the fruit, she would be like God."

Scott remarks, Jesus said, " And He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. (Luke 10:18  NASB - New American Standard Bible)

Mary continues, "Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  (Genesis 3:1-6  HCSB - Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Mary reads, "Then they heard the Lord God walking in the garden. This was during the cool part of the day. And the man and his wife hid from the Lord God among the trees in the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man. The Lord said, “Where are you?”

Cathy smiles, "My dog hides from me every time she's in trouble."

Mary continues reading, "The Lord God said, “Who told you...have you eaten fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?”

The man said, “It’s the fault of the woman you put here with me. She gave me some fruit from the tree. And I ate it.”

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What have you done?”

The woman said, “The serpent tricked me. That’s why I ate the fruit.”  (Genesis 3:11-13  NIRV - New International Readers Version)

Mary asks, "What should have Adam and Eve done?

Silly Billy blurts out, " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  (1 John 1:9  NIV - New International Version)

Cathy adds, "If Adam was a real man of God he would have taken all the blame and repented from His sin."

Mary reads, "The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures;  upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”  (Genesis 3:14-15  NRSVUE - New Revised Standard Version Updated)

William speaks, "Jesus will crush Satan's head and suffer on the cross for our sins."

Mary reads, "To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.”  (Genesis 3:16  NET - New English Translation)

Mary continues, "And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face   you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  (Genesis 3:17-19  ESV - English Standard Version)

Silly Billy remarks, "Did Adam and Eve lose their jobs?  

Cathy adds, "Were they evicted too?"

Mary reads, "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.  So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.  (Genesis 3:21-24  NASB 95 - New American Standard Version 95)

Scott speaks, "The first sacrifice for sin was when God killed two animals to make Adam and Eve clothing."

Bob asks, "I still don't understand what the Tree with Good and Evil knowledge was all about?"

Mary replies, "Good knowledge came to Adam and Eve directly from God.  Evil knowledge came from communicating with a Satan possessed serpent."

Scott adds, "Adam and Eve went to the dark side!"

Cindy speaks, "Why was this Adam's sin and not Eve's sin?"

Mary replies, "Eve was deceived, and Adam knew better when he sinned.  

William asks, "Why did Adam's sin corrupt the world?"

Mary speaks, "Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy.  People were infected by every sin imaginable when they turned their backs on God.  You can't serve two masters."

Scott says, "Adam was the CEO of the garden and he lost his job when he sinned.  They were evicted from paradise, and sent to a place of rocks, thistles and thorns."

Cindy adds, "They had to plant their own crops, and even make there own clothes for all the family."

Mary concludes, "Because of Adam's sin, disobeying God and listening to the dark side, all humans have a sin nature.  All of us have sinned and the wages of sin is death.  But God sent His only begotten Son to pay for our sins dying on the cross, if we believe and trust and allowing Him to be the Lord of your life.  Would you like to have everlasting life with Jesus Christ today?"

All the children raise their hands saying, "YES."

MYSTERY OF REVELATION'S 144,000

PARABLE 144,000

PASTORS ENJOY LUNCH

Enjoying an India buffet, four pastors gather each month for a Bible discussion.  Pastor Dave with red hair lifts his hands saying, "Who are the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation?"

Pastor Jun De replies, "Depends on how you interpret the Bible; whether literal, allegory, or Bible codes."

Pastor Dave speaks, "Let's look at the backstory.  The sixth seal was broken.  There was a great earthquake, a great wind storm, islands and mountains were moved out of place, and men hid in their bunkers in the mountains. What did God do next?"

Pastor Manuel speaks, "And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."  (Matthew 24:22 ESV - English Standard Version)  "God wants to protect his elect, the Jewish nation."

Jun De reads: "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree."  (Revelation 7:1 LSB - Legacy Standard Bible)

Pastor Frank comments, "The 144,000 can't be taken literal.  Revelation is symbolic, poetic, and full of allegories."

Jun De adds, "I search for Bible codes and hidden meanings in numbers.  In the Old Testament there were 12 tribes, and in the New Testament there were 12 apostles.  12 x 12 = 144.  And if we times 144 by 1000 we have a multitude of all nations seen in Revelation 7:9."

Pastor Manuel remarks, "I examine scripture face value, reading God's word in context.  Not everything in Revelation is an allegory or literal.

Pastor Dave adds, "Remember the letters to the seven churches and book of Revelation were sent to Gentiles who may not have had understanding of gematria and Bible codes."

Pastor Manuel reads: "Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:  “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”  Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel."  (Revelation 7:2-4 NIV - New International Version)

Jun De adds, "12,000 were sealed from each of the 12 tribes of Israel: Judah, Rueben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin."

Pastor Frank blurts out, "What happened to the tribe of Dan and Manasseh and why is Levi included here and not other passages in the Bible?"

Pastor Dave replies, "That's a rabbit trail we can discuss on another day."

Pastor Frank responds, "If you read verse 9, it talks about a great multitude of every nation and tribe.  144,000 can't be literal!  Is there only one ethnic group being saved?"

Pastor Jun De, replies, " Apostle John saw the 144,000 being sealed on earth, then in the next vision he saw the multitude in heaven.  Both the dead in Christ and those who had been raptured are present worshipping God at His throne."

Pastor Dave says, "In Revelation 14, the 144,000 worship Jesus, and judgment is declared on those who worship the beast."

Manuel reads: "Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.  And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb.  They have told no lies; they are without blame." (Revelation 14:1-5  NLT - New Living Translation)

Pastor Frank says, "144,000 virgin men can't possibly be literal.  This would exclude women and married couples from entering heaven."

Pastor Dave replies, "God is going to fulfill his promise with the people of Israel, establishing a kingdom with a new temple, with Jesus the Messiah ruling the earth during the Millennium.  God has gathered pure and holy unmarried men from all twelve tribes in preparation of His coming kingdom."

Pastor Manuel adds, "Unbelievers who believe and trust in Jesus Christ any time during the Tribulation will be sealed by the Holy Spirit,  being Born Again.  Satan seals unbelievers with the mark of the beast.  The 144,000 Jews will be sealed with the name of God the Father."

Pastor Jun De adds, "The 144,000 have Jewish DNA.  The Church has not replaced Israel as God's chosen people, superseding the Old Covenant promises to the Jewish people."  

Pastor Dave adds, "Revelation 4, Christ's church will be in heaven worshipping God throughout the Great Tribulation.  During the 7 year tribulation Jews are going to find their Messiah, Jesus.  And Gentile unbelievers receiving Jesus will be call Tribulation Saints.

Pastor Frank takes a napkin wiping his mouth, standing with a grin on his face, saying, "I can't take all of this...LITERALLY!"

Pastor Dave concludes, "If the two witnesses are a literal number, can you tell me why 144,000 can't be a literal number too?

Pastor Manuel's final remarks, "Will the 144,000 be sent in groups of 2 men to evangelize the world during the second half of the Great Tribulation?  

Pastor Jun De adds, "Will they be gather in Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount to Worship God, before the antichrist defiles the Temple and later flee to the wilderness?"

Pastor Dave remarks, "Is this a gathering after the Tribulation, worshipping God on Mount Zion at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?  

Pastor Manuel adds, "Are they gathered on Mount Zion to be raptured to escape the last years of the Great Tribulation?"

Pastor Jun De add, "I am going back for seconds."