TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Knowledge
Comparison of Olive and Grape
INTRODUCTION
In the Garden which was in Eden there were two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. The Tree of Life was the Olive Tree from which one might be anointed; the Tree of Knowledge was the Grape "Tree" by which the flesh might desire. YHVH placed before Ha Adam and Havah a "choice", whether to obey Him or disobey Him. There are two ways: Life and Death, Blessings and Cursings, Narrow and Broad, Truth and Lie.
YHVH commanded them not to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, lest their spiritual bodies become subject to flesh and death: they chose to disobey, thus "by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" [Romans 5:19]. To disobey is to "mis-hear" [#3878 parakouo] or to neglect to hear [from #191 akouo - to hear, to understand]. In other words, Ha Adam chose to neglect to hear and understand what YHVH had commanded him. He relied, not upon YHVH, but on his own sense of understanding and what "seemed" or "appeared" right to him. Thus it is said: "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death". Ha Adam chose to rely upon his own understanding instead of following YHVH's Will. Therefore, he was self-willed, even in the Paradise that YHVH had made for him. The reason YHVH spoke to Ha Adam first and blamed him with the first mis-stepping, and not Havah, is because The Woman and The Man were considered one Unit, a single entity. Havah was Ha Adam's "counterpart" (meaning when Havah looked upon Ha Adam, she saw herself; and when Ha Adam looked upon Havah, he saw himself, thus they were one, or united as one). When Havah mis-stepped, Ha Adam was held responsible; therefore, the blame for sin rested on him.
The way that "seemeth" or appears to be right is often beautiful and "feels" good, thus it appears to be right. It appears as a disguise to Truth; therefore, it can be called the "True Lie" (an oxymoron but accurate). It is, however, a Lie disguised as Truth. Although it shines and glitters, seduces and beckons, it is the invention of man's mind and self-will. The Way of Truth is obedience to YHVH. It is a "narrow" way and leads to life. It is a blessing. There are many who will take the broad path which leads to destruction, and these, YHVH will allow to believe the "Lie" that they have constructed for themselves. Rather than listening to what Scripture clearly states (in the original languages, which can now be translated personally through a Strong's Concordance), they choose to believe man-made doctrines, traditions, and institutions and rely on them, instead. When YHVH called Abraham, he called him ALONE! Likewise, He must call you alone, too! He does this by providing you with all the tools necessary to study His Holy Word. No one else has control over your salvation. You must take responsibility for your own actions and deeds. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth HIMSELF above all that is called God [YHVH], or that is worshipped; so that he AS GOD, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" [2 Thessalonians 2:3-4]. The first temple of God is the body. In this world we often place ourselves first. Individuals in today's society seek to exalt THEMSELVES - Men of Sin, Sons of Perdition -- we have a natural tendency to make ourselves "gods". We do this by our ambitions, exalting self even above the Will of God. John was clear in his statement: "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist [false messiah] shall come, even now are there MANY ANTICHRISTS; whereby we know that it is the last time. THEY WENT OUT FROM US" [1 John 2:18-19]. The word "antichrist" is derived from the word "anti" [#473 anti] which means instead of, substitution, opposite. Thus the word should be rendered the "false" or "opposite" messiah, the one who is "instead" of messiah. Many have made themselves little messiahs in the world today -- they are "antichrist". In other words, they appear to be like him, but they are not of him -- they are of the "Lie". YHVH relies upon "reason" or logic and order: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith Yahvah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. IF ye be WILLING and OBEDIENT, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye REFUSE and REBEL, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of Yahvah hath spoken it" [Isaiah 1:18-20]. The word "reason" is yakach [#3198] and means to decide, to be correct, to convince, to judge. In order to judge, one must look at both sides of an issue -- this is logic. Webster's Dictionary defines it as "thought" or "intelligence", "a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense". It is from the Latin ratio meaning "computation". In Hebrew the word that most suitably defines "computation" would be #998 binah - "to understand" or "have knowledge". It is derived from #995 bin meaning to "separate mentally", "distinguish", "understand"; i.e. to compute or reason. "For Yahvah is not a God of confusion [#181 akatastasia disorder, confusion, commotion, tumult; thus Babel - #894 - confusion from #1104 bala' - destruction, chaos] but of peace [#1515 eirene - eiro - "to join", rest; i.e. Unity and Order; in Hebrew, Shalom meaning specifically completion in all things into an orderly kingdom] [1 Corinthians 14:33]. This Scripture is an argument against the "Trinity" and "Oneness" doctrines. The Oneness doctrine is a seductive copy of Trinity. It is an "appearance" of Truth. When Yahshua stated that he is IN the Father and the Father IN him, he meant he was "joined" to YHVH and YHVH companioned and was "joined" to him. "Oneness" is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
So Ha Adam did not rely upon reason but upon his own understanding and self-will. He disobeyed, thus one would have to come to overturn this disobedience. Ha Adam was not willing to "suffer" to attain the highest mark. Yahshua, however, "even though he was a son yet LEARNED from what things he SUFFERED, OBEDIENCE; and being made perfect [complete] BECAME to all of them that obey Him [YHVH] author of salvation age-abiding" [Hebrews 5:8-9]. He learned obedience through suffering, thus he became the Last Ha Adam, the Son of Ha Adam (Son of Man).
The Tree of Life [oz chiim] or Tree of Living is Eternal, and YHVH is Eternal Life. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is not what most understand it to be. The word "evil" here is different from the ordinary term for "evil" [#7489 ra'a'] meaning "wickedness", "bad", "mischief", "do wickedness". This word describing the Tree of Knowledge is [#7451 ra'] and means specifically "sorrow", "tribulation", "trouble", "adversity", "displeasure", "misery", "wretchedness"; i.e. the character of the flesh. When Ha Adam and Havah chose to partake of its fruit, they became subject to "death" and "destruction", "corruption", and "decay". They chose a fleshly body over the incorruptible body that YHVH had given them. Thus when YHVH stated that they would "die", He meant they would become subject to desire and lust, corruption, and physical death.
One of the most unfortunate translations in the Bible is the use of the word "serpent" as analogous for "magician" or "sorcerer". The word nachash [5175 - 5172] means to "whisper", or "to enchant", "to cast a spell"; i.e. to seduce. The Enchanter is the master of the "True Lie". What he says appears to true. For instance, he hypnotized Havah into believing that she would not die, and physically at that point in time, she didn't! This maneuver diminished YHVH in the eyes of Ha Adam and Havah. It caused them to doubt and rebel, and rely upon their own understandings: "TRUST in Yahvah with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" [Proverbs 3:5]. To do so is to be wise in one's own eyes [Proverbs 3:7], thus one makes himself a "god".
Once we begin to distinguish or separate mentally the Word that YHVH has given us, it is possible to discern how the two trees of the Garden were symbolized: "wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them" [Matthew 7:20]. Remember, this has to do with the True Truth and the True Lie; therefore, Yahshua follows up with: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, [Master, Master], shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven. MANY will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, [Master, Master], have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" [Matthew 7:21-23]. This is what Paul meant when he said: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels [messengers], and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have a gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing" [1 Corinthians 13:1-3]. There are many who prophesy, and teach, and cast out devils, and done miracles, who speak with words that do not ring true, who feed the poor, and sell the Word of YHVH, but have not True Love (which IS YHVH), and they do not truly know the Hebrew Yahshua and have not sought him nor His Father, and to these Yahshua will not give recognition and honor. We must be careful HOW we hear and what fruit we partake.
THE TREE OF LIFE - THE OLIVE TREE
This tree is representative of YHVH, who is the true spiritual Tree of Life. It is the Tree of Anointing and of Healing. The name Yah-Havah literally means "Eternal Existence" or "Eternal Life" -- the I will be that I will be (the correct translation of "I am that I am"). Let's take a look at the attributes of the Olive Tree. It is a strong and sturdy tree that is long-lived (hundreds of years) and is noted for its endurance and perpetual life. It takes seven years for it to grow to "maturity" and eight years to first flowering. Therefore, it is representative of the seven days of creation and the eighth day (the millennial day) or "first day of the week" -- in other words, it is a symbol of the "World Without End". From every 20 or so flowers only one olive is "born" (this is the actual terminology used by cultivators of the olive tree). Remember, Yahshua stated that "many are called but few are chosen". When the tree becomes two hundred years of age, its trunk becomes gnarled and knobby, then new sprouts develop at the base of its trunk and eventually grows into a renewed tree. It is a tree of renewal and refreshing. The roots grow deep, sometimes as much as 9-10 feet, and serves the olive well in times of drought. A new growth of leaves occurs every three years (notice all these times are times we find in Scripture), a growth of beautiful lance-like leaves ("arrows") with a silvery white covering on the underside. Its trunk is knotty and twisted [like an "umbilical cord" or shor - navel]. This twisting is called the "complex" structure of the tree. The word "knotty" as defined by Webster means "so full of difficulties and complications as to be likely to defy solution" -- YHVH Himself defies "solution". His ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts, thus we have a problem understanding Him. The leaves of the olive are for "healing". The extract pressed from its leaves is "golden oil" [literally yellow-colored] and was anciently used for healing all sorts of disorders, including stomach, intestinal, circulatory, nervous, and other health problems. The extract also is known to kill the "free radicals" of the body (which wine creates).
The word for olive in Hebrew is #8081 shemen, meaning oil, anointing, richness, or fat [from #8080 shamam - "to shine", to make oily, to make fat]. The Latin word oliva provides its family name (ole - aceae). Ole means olive or its oil (thus the first century trademark for margarine was Oleo-margarine). The Greek term is elaia. To be oleaginous (from the Latin oleagineus - olive tree) is to be unctuous (unctum) or anointed (from the Latin oleum and the Greek elaion - meaning to smear or rub with oil, and which should have been the term used for the HaMachiach Yahshua instead of Christ, a term that pagans might understand during the first century]. The Greek elaion #1637 is translated as olive oil but really means to smear or rub with oil and is the equivalent of the Hebrew mashach #4886 - "to rub with oil", "consecrate", "anoint", which is the root word for mashiach [#4899] and transliterated as Messiah, Consecrated. Thus elaia is the Greek word that more closely conforms to the "Anointed One", and not christos (Christ #5547-5548 chrio) which is from the root #5530 Chraomai meaning to give an "oracle", which is primarily used of pagan prophetic utterances in secular works. This word, the pagans of the first, second, and third centuries well understood because it was used of their pagan "gods", thus Constantine was able to "unite" all religions into one: Christianity, the religion of the "oracle", not of the "Word". You will note that Jerome just did not know how to translate this passage because he is redundant: "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias [a transliteration of Machiach] cometh WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST" [John 4:25]. Although he was Machiach, even in the first century he was called "Christ", the only word that pagans understood as having a similar function. A Samaritan (who spoke Hebrew) would never have used the term Christ [the Greek rendition] to refer to their Machiach, so the original Scripture must have been devoid of "which is called Christ". Jerome was notorious for changing Scripture in the Old Covenant and his translations caused a major riot in Tripoli. Furthermore, it is also known that he changed many of the very words of Yahshua (this is historical fact), and it is upon this Latin Vulgate that the majority of our English translations rely. Jerome did this to reach his pagan audience.
The word ole forms the base for the word ole-cranon (ole - oleum or olive and kranion or projection, ridge, skull) -- the olive projection (or "ridge"), or the Olivet Mount, thus the Place of the Skull, Gulgoleth (or transliterated as Golgotha) was the Mount of Olives, the place of execution (see the various chapters of A Book of Evidence in the various Study Links), the Jewish Beth haSeqilah (Place of Stoning or execution site). The Mount of Olives also boasted an "oil press", Gethsemane [#1068] there. The Hebrew roots constituting this transliteration are: #1660 gath - press from #5059 nagav - "to beat" and shemen #8081 - shemen - oil, olive. The ancient method of harvesting olives (and which is still used today) was to "beat" them from the tree. They would not fall on their own. This is reflected in Deuteronomy 24:20: "When thou BEATEST thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow]. The fruit or "carp" (from the Latin carpere meaning fruit and from the Greek karpos or "harvest" and keirein - to pluck, gather, reap) is a drup (Greek dryppa - olive).
The wood of the Olive Tree is an extremely hard wood with close fibers leading to a beautiful brown-veined yellow finish when polished. This wood was used in constructing the two cherubim and the doors of the Holy of Holies, as well as the Temple posts in Solomon's Temple [1 Kings 6:23-33]. When used of the tree itself the Hebrew word is #2132 zayith, the tree, branch, or fruit, which is akin to Zif -- brightness, prominent, and is the name of the Hebrew month Iyar (May), the month of "flowers" (or flowering olive), which itself is from perach - to bud, bloom, blossom, and parach - to bloom, break forth, bud (meaning the calyx, itself). This occurs between April and June, most often during the entire month of May. Job 15:33 uses the tree as a metaphor: "He [the wicked man] shall shake off his unripe grape as a vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive". Remember, only one olive will be "born" from 20 flowers; the rest will be "shaken" off. The word ole-aster (the "wild" olive tree) is the "wandering star" (aster from #4766 stroo - to spread out, scatter) and represented the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel" or Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom.
We must ask ourselves why Solomon chose the Olive Tree to build the cherubim. The answer is found in Scripture. They were the two "olive trees" that stood beside the Lord of the whole earth: Judah and Ephraim. They were supposed to be united, to face each other and turn their faces to YHVH, whose Shekinah rested over the mercy seat. They were chosen to "overshadow" or "guard" the Word of God (the commandments which were, in fact, deposited in the Ark). These two olive trees were to represent "Faith and Truth", the two "witnesses" of YHVH: "O YHVH, thou art my Elohim; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels [#6098 'etsah - witnesses, plan - from #3289 ya'ats - deliberate, resolve, guide] of old are faithfulness [Faith] and truth [Truth]" [Isaiah 25:1]. These are the two witnesses of the book of Revelation: the remnant of Judah and Ephraim. These are the two olive trees that pour out the "golden oil": "Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he said, These are the TWO ANOINTED ONES, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth" [Zechariah 4:11-14]. The "golden oil" [#2091 zahab - gold-colored or yellow] is VIRGIN olive oil. The two trees are the natural and the "wild" and represented by Judah and Ephraim: of Ephraim, Hosea states: "His [Ephraim's] branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as THE OLIVE TREE, and his smell as Lebanon" [Hosea 14:6]. The natural olive is the original olive tree, the United Kingdom of YHVH: "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the ROOT AND FATNESS of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if Elohim spared not the NATURAL BRANCHES, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of Elohim: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if thy abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?" [Romans 11:17-24]. The words "wild olive" here are from the Greek agrielaios - ole-aster or "wandering star", the "wild olive". The "good olive" is the kallielaios [#2565], cultivated, improved olive tree -- thus the two are to be brought together again. Most people do not realize that the term "gentile" at this point in time referred to the dispersed Israelites who were living in Asia Minor, and not to the heathen nations.
These two olive trees are the two staves of Beauty (#5278 - noam - splendor, delight, agreeable - Ephraim, His Firstborn) and Bands [#2256 - chebel - twisted together, united - Judah]. Remember, in the book of Hosea YHVH states that Ephraim's beauty will be like the Olive Tree: "And I took my staff, even Beauty [Ephraim], and cut it asunder [sent into Assyrian captivity], that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people" [Zechariah 11:10]. "Then I cut asunder mine other staff [i.e. the second Babylonian captivity, the first was the Northern Kingdom], even Bands [Judah], that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel" [Zechariah 11:14]. Ephraim's name means "double fruit" (or "firstfruit"). The word "staff" as used in these Scriptures is #4731 maqqel - a shoot, a germinating shoot with leaves; i.e. a "branch" of a tree. Both Ephraim and Judah were "branches" of the Olive Tree, YHVH, thus a family of Unity. They are the two "candlesticks".
"Stars" (as in ole-aster - oil stars, or "anointed wandering stars") are symbolic for the twelve tribes of Israel [see Genesis 15:5 and 37:9, Exodus 32:13, Deuteronomy 1:10, Nehemiah 9:23, and Revelation 12:1 for fuller understanding]: "And they [Ephraim] shall be WANDERERS among the nations" [see Hosea 9:17; Ezekiel 37:16-22]. The word "wanderers" is #5074 hadad - rovers, waving to and fro, fleeing. It was well-known to Hitler (who studied the black kabbalah and its occult) that the ten Jewish tribes who were in the nations were represented by "stars", thus he had them wear yellow stars as badges of shame.
In the book of Ezekiel [37:16], the "stick" of Ephraim is #6086 'ets - a tree, a branch, the firm tree branch (i.e. the branch of the olive).
As mentioned before, the two cherubim of "image" work (a representative figure) represented Ephraim and Judah who were chosen by YHVH to reveal Him to the nations, which they did not do (remember, Elohim made man in His own "image"; i.e. as a "reflection" or representative of His Word). In the wilderness the two cherubim (who were made of olive wood in Solomon's Temple) were made of "beaten" work of gold. Gold is a symbol of refinement. The "open flowers" in Solomon's temple were the calyx of olive flowers and represented the revelation of YHVH that these tribes would bring about. YHVH's Spirit dwells between the cherubim, thus they become a House of Unity (a Family). They are called the "cherubim of glory" [#1391 doxa - dignity, honor, praise, worship], and were to represent a praise and glory to YHVH. This was a pattern, or "shadow" of things to come; i.e. it is a prophecy regarding a future United Kingdom.
Although Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob, he was the "firstborn" of Jacob and Rachel - thus "Israel loved Joseph more than all" [Genesis 37:3]; thus in Genesis 49:22 Jacob bestows upon him the "birthright" of Reuben, his "firstborn" of Leah. Both are "firstborn", just by different women. Therefore, none of the children between Reuben and Joseph were eligible for the birthright, and because Reuben (the elder) "went upon his father's couch", he was rejected for the birthright, and Joseph was named "Firstborn". Ephraim's seed "will become a multitude of nations" because he is YHVH's "firstborn" or "firstfruits". His descendants are the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (or of the Northern Kingdom). Jacob recognizes that Joseph is of the Olive Tree: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty Elohim of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of IsraelJ even by the Elohim of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they [the blessings or anointing] shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren [i.e. the head of Ephraim, separate from his brothers]" [Genesis 49:22-26].
Moses, also, gave Joseph the greater blessing: "And of Joseph he said, Blessed of Yahvah be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the month, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush [YHVH]: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh" [Deuteronomy 33:13-17].
Because of the blessings given to Joseph, the Rabbis have believed that the Machiach would come forth from the line of Joseph, and thus the confusion between Machiach Ben David and Machiach Ben Joseph. But the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) consists of the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel, those for whom Yahshua came [Matthew 15:24], those who would become the BODY OF MESSIAH! Thus the Head of Messiah comes from the line of David, and the Body comes from the line of Joseph, together they unite to make the Whole House of Israel: a United Kingdom, the branches of the Olive Tree, natural and wild, grafted together into the original Olive Tree (YHVH).
This is why it states that the branches of the Tree of Life extend on the right and left on either side of the River of Life, baring TWELVE fruits (for 12 tribes, or variations of olives) every month and "the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" [Revelation 22:1-2]. Yahshua was the Lamb slain on this "tree" (the Tree of the Holy Spirit, who judges all things) in the "midst of the throne". It was, in fact, Yahvah's PURPOSE (plan) to "bruise him" [Isaiah 53:10], not man's nor the Adversary's. The Seven Branches of the original Olive Tree are sometimes called "waters" and refer to the Seven Spirits (Sevenfold Spirit) which stand before the throne. They are the messengers of the book of Revelation who open understanding, announce judgment, and pour out judgment on the wicked -- only YHVH has the ability to do this: "But let judgment run down as waters (i.e. as seven streams) and righteousness as a mighty stream (a River of Life when all streams meet, which is Righteousness)" [Amos 5:24].
Ezekiel tells us that the "fruit" (olive) of the tree will be for food and the "leaf thereof for medicine", and this is exactly what the olive tree is for: the extract from the leaves for healing, and the olive fruit for food and consecration. It is the "balm" of Gilead.
The Olive Tree, the Tree of Life, who is Yahvah, Himself, the Original Olive Tree, shall overshadow both sides of the River. His long-wing (or branches) shall overshadow His own like a hen gathering her chicks beneath her wings to shelter and protect them.
THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
It is important, first, to designate just what kind of tree this was. To do so, we go to the Hebrew. The word "knowledge" is #1847 da'ath - "hidden" knowledge, a tree of beauty, but a tree of "magic", desire, lust, and lies. It was a tree that represented something "mingled", which is hardly ever something of which YHVH approves (for instance, He did not want the nation of Israel to "mingle" with the heathen nations]. It was both "good" [#2896 towb], meaning pleasant, beautiful, bountiful, precious and "evil" [#7451 ra'], sorrow, affliction, tribulation, trouble, misery, wretchedness. As mentioned before, it is not "wickedness". It is the tree of the flesh. Most people don't think of the Grape "Tree" as a tree at all, but a vine. This is misleading. The word is analogous to another word in the New Covenant: the mustard "tree". The mustard "tree" is not at all a tree, but a bush! Likewise, the grape is not a tree but a "vine". It's stalk and tendrils became attached to other trees, twisting itself into firmer branches for support, just as "spirits" attach themselves to humans. The word "vine" does not describe the stalk at all -- it means grape-wine. Thus the fruit of which Havah partook was the grape (vinum - wine), an intoxicating, seductive fruit. Let's take a look at the grape-wine.
The word "grape" in Old High German is Krapfo meaning "to crave", "to desire". In Latin it is desiderare (de+sidus (or a "wish" star - "desire"), de+sider), which means to covet, crave, want, wish, or envy. It causes the "Evil Eye" (envy), thus the phrase "to wish upon a star" is derived from the word "grape" (referring, of course, to the wish, desire, or lust that its juice causes). The word "covet" (which is one of these meanings) is from the Latin cupidus or cupere, and is the root for the word "Cupid", that evil little "cherub" with his bow that we have taken from Roman mythology to represent "love" (actually, he represents evil lust). This animation was the winged boy, son of Venus, the "goddess" of love. This "child" was supposed to represent the son of the "virgin" mother. Reverand Alexander Hislop states: "Speaking of a statue of Cupid, he says it is 'a fair, full, fleshy, round boy, in fine and sportive action, tossing back a heart,' in other words, as Cupid, or the god of love…Venus and her son Cupid, then, were none other than the Madonna and the child" [p. 189, The Two Babylons]. Thus the "Sacred Heart" was venerated in the Catholic Church. It is a throw-back to the days of pagan worship. Cupid's symbol (as well as Osiris') was the "goose", thus came the "Christmas" goose. I highly recommend Rev. Hislop's book. It is quite informative concerning pagan practices and mythology and how it seduced its way into the institutional church. In Greek the word grape is kapnos and smychein meaning to blacken, to smolder, to suffer, to undergo punishment, of little substance. The Latin word for "vine" is, however, vinea from vinum meaning WINE (not "vine" at all). Thus the tree that has been hidden is the grape-wine. In Greek it is oinos - "wine", "intoxicating", "invigorating".
The grape "tree" has a shallow root system and must be DIVIDED in order to propagate. Without division it cannot live. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is, in fact, a "divided" tree, and as Yahshua has clearly told us: "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand" [Mark 3:25]. It has no "foundation", no deep roots. The cuttings from the grape "tree" must be planted separately in order to thrive, but they all tangle together (in chaos and confusion) to form twisted chaotic branches that would move low along the ground (like a "serpent") if not otherwise supported.
There are many different words for wine in Hebrew, and they become important in studying this "tree". There are actually varieties and stages through which grapes must pass and must be harvested at just the proper time.
When the Enchanter seduced Havah, he did it with "drug sorcery" [#5331 Greek pharmakeia - medication, drug, from #5332 pharmakon - poison, potion, spell, magic]. These "wild grapes" or "poison" berries are known to have been used in pagan initiation rites for centuries. This is the poison in the "Golden Cup" that the woman in Revelation holds in her hand. It is filled with "abominations and filthiness of her fornication". These "wild berries" if mixed properly could induce a trance-like state to prepare the initiate for the atrocities that were about to take place. Later, the "god" Bacchus (or Dionysus) became the figure representing the "Enchanter" of the Garden, the "god" of the Wine. Rev. Hislop explains the Golden Cup and its "sorceries": "Now, as the Babylon of the Apocalypse is characterised by the name of 'MYSTERY', so the grand distinguishing feature of the ancient Babylonian system was the Chaldean 'MYSTERIES', that formed so essential a part of that system. And to these mysteries, the very language of the Hebrew prophet, symbolical though of course it is, distinctly alludes, when he speaks of Babylon as a 'golden CUP'. To drink of 'mysterious beverages', says Salverte, was indispensable on the part of all who sought initiation in these Mysteries. These 'mysterious beverages' were composed of 'WINE, honey, water, and flour.' From the ingredients avowedly used, and from the nature of others not avowed, but certainly used, there can be no doubt that they were of an intoxicating nature; and till the aspirants had come under their power, till their understandings had been dimmed, and their passions excited by the medicated draught, they were not duly prepared for what they were either to hear or to see. If it be inquired what was the object and design of these ancient 'Mysteries', it will be found that there was a wonderful analogy between them and that 'Mystery of iniquity' which is embodied in the Church of Rome" [Ibid., pp. 4-5]. Just as mandrake or "poke" salad in proper proportions are safe for consumption, so are these "poison berries".
But this Woman with the Golden Cup (who we know as Mystery Babylon) was first pictured as Nemesis (or Venus, or Aphrodite, the "virgin" goddesses, both of whom were associated with "apples" of vanity). Photius, in speaking of the statue of Nemesis stated: "She was at first erected in the form of Venus, and therefore bore also the branch of AN APPLE TREE". Thus the "Woman" of the Garden (Havah) became associated with the "apple", and the legend of "Eve and the Apple" was born in fertile pagan ground. To this date, many artists portray Havah as biting into a forbidden "apple".
The grape, unlike the olive, falls off the vine onto the ground. The olive has to be "beaten". The grape is "cast off" its vine. The winepress of YHVH is mentioned in three places in the Bible and is prophetic to the Great Day of YHVH when the Tree of Knowledge will be cut down:
Flesh is represented as "grapes"; blood as "wine", thus the Tree of Knowledge will be cut down.
COMPARISON OF THE OLIVE AND THE GRAPE
The Olive Tree
(A house firmly founded)
Stout, firm wood, and support
Regenerates
Deep root system
Fruit must be beaten off
Of many flowers, one olive
Trunk knotted and twisted into a Unit
Heals
Oil purifies, anoints
Fights "free radicals"
The basis for Logic
The True Truth
The Grape Tree
(A House Divided that cannot stand)
Flimsy stalk - no support
Must be divided to renew life
Shallow root system
Casts off its fruit
Of many flowers, numerous grapes
Stalk twisted and tangled into confusion
Harms
Wine intoxicates, seduces
Produces "free radicals"
The Basis for Ecstasy
The True Lie (it "seemeth" or appears to be the truth)
