Where was the garden of Eden located?
Read Time: 2 min
I believe that before the flood came on the earth, everyone knew where this garden was located—as an angel was sent to guard the gates to Adam’s and Eve’s first home. Scripture mentions a river that came out of Eden: “Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads” (Genesis 2:10). The four rivers mentioned are Pishon, Gihon, Hiddekel (Tigris), and Euphrates. Keeping in mind that the world’s geography was greatly altered by the flood, this area corresponds today with the country of Iraq.
I like to believe the Lord raptured this garden from this world to preserve it from the flood. If God can bring the New Jerusalem down from heaven after the millennium, He could have taken the garden up to heaven to save it (Revelation 21:2). A little anecdotal evidence for this can be found in Revelation 22:2, which speaks of the tree of life in the New Jerusalem. Since this tree was once in the garden, God might have saved the entire area and will restore it in the earth made new.
As mentioned, after the flood, the earth was radically changed. Perhaps the patriarchs had an approximate idea of where these rivers were now located by astronomy. Or it could be that the two rivers that Noah came upon after the flood reminded him of two rivers he knew before the world changed. Two of the rivers are actually missing, so you are not going to go wandering around and suddenly stumble on the garden.
Did you know that to make lots of oil and coal, it takes a tremendous amount of vegetation to be covered deep underground? Geologists today recognize that though the Middle East, rich with oil, seems largely dry and barren today, it was not always that way.
Finally, in Revelation 22:1, John sees “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God” (Revelation 22:1). That’s a river I’d like to stand next to someday!
Key Bible Texts
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. (Genesis 2:8 KJV)