Genesis 2:8-14 Eden CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
GEOGRAPHY
Eden can be located by the four rivers that flowed through it, and the land that they compassed. The four rivers and the land that they compassed are listed below:
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River
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Land
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References
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| Pison | The land of Havilah | Gen. 10:7; Gen. 25:18; 1 Sam. 15:7; Currently, the area of southern Jordan, northwestern Saudi Arabia; possibly, the Jordan River. |
| Gihon | The Land of Ethiopia | Is. 18:1; 20:3; 45:14; Currently, Ethiopia, the area of Northeastern Africa; possibly, the Nile River. |
| Hiddekel | The east of Assyria | Dan. 10:4; Currently, Iraq; probably the Tigris River. |
| Euphrates | Gen 15:18; Deut. 1:7; Josh 1:4; 2 Sam. 8:3; Rev. 16:2; Currently, Iraq. Still called the Euphrates River. |
According to verse 8, the garden was planted eastward in Eden. Therefore, it would have been in the area that is now southeastern Iraq, Kuwait, and northeastern Saudi Arabia, near the Persian Gulf.
HISTORY
Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11:27,28), which is in the region of the garden of Eden. He journeyed into the land of Canaan, and there, God gave him a land grant that included everything from the Nile River to the Euphrates River and northward toward through Syria and Iraq (Gen. 15:18-21). When David ascended to the throne of Israel, he had conquered most of this land (2 Sam. 8:3). The land will be given to Israel at the Second Advent of Christ, in fulfillment of the covenant that God made with Abraham.
So, the history of the world began in a garden near the Persian Gulf. God’s chosen people came from there and moved westward to Palestine. Their throne was established in Jerusalem, their Messiah was crucified there, and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ began to be preached from there. The gospel continued to move from east to west through Europe and eventually came to the United States, Mexico, and South America. Now, China, Mongolia, India, Russia, etc. are opened to the gospel and history has circled the globe with international attention now on the Middle East. As history and the gospel have completely circled the globe, there is nothing left but for the Lord to return and sit on the throne in Jerusalem, from which he will rule the world.