[Genesis 3:24]

So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. [NKJV]

So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life. [BSB]

"MAN WAS BANISHED, BUT NOT BANNED, FROM HEAVEN"

In this bible verse above, God drove mankind out of the Garden [banished but not banned], then placed Cherubim at the East of the Garden [meaning mankind was driving out from the West of the Garden], and also set up special kind of “Laser Beam” or “Cutting Light” called “Flaming Sword” that turns all direction to guard the Way to the Tree of life.

Notice,
A. The purpose was not to guard the Tree of life, but to guard the Way to the Tree of life, making the Way harder.

B. The Flaming Sword – “Fire+Sword” was neither cutting nor burning any of the trees of the Garden, yet turned all directions.

C. The Cherub was not placed by the Tree of Life, but by the East Side of the Garden: Even the Cherub was not get to the Tree of Life himself, but he guarded the way to it.

Now understand, it appeared sending the man out of the garden's heaven did not get the man out, and so God rather drove the man out of the garden's heaven. God banished man from the garden containing the tree of life, and still placed His cherubim and flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. It was not the devil that took those measures to deny mankind access to the tree of life, but God did so. In life, the devil does not care the Way you get things for yourself; but God cares and judges the way. In that case, the road map to gaining life (tree of life) became the road to getting killed or way to die for the life so desired. Man had to give up his life to gain the greater life (everlasting life) the tree of life offers. Any man who must get to the tree of life then must be killed either by the cherubim or the flaming sword. This is similar to the road map the Lord Jesus revealed to us, saying,

[John 12:24-25] — "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He who loves his life shall lose it. And he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal."

God drove the man out but He did not keep the man out. The cherubim and flaming sword were brought to keep/guard the way to the tree of life, but not to close or shutdown the way. It was to make the way to the tree of life harder, but not impossible, to the man from whence the man could just put forth his hand to take of the tree of life to where the man must now put forth his heart and his life for same access to the tree of life. Just as God was not blocking the man from eating food but made it harder for him (so that man had to sweat before he finds his food from the ground), so also God wanted the man to go through the losing of his life to find the eternal life such as is in the tree of life. This is about faith and value, not about rejection.

God drove the man out of the garden but brought cherubim and flaming sword into the garden to guard the way to the tree of life. In that realm, the way is the same as the door or gate. Having access through a way means having access through a door or gate. Supernatural Security Forces took over man's work in the first heaven or garden of God as soon as the man was driven or cast out.

Nevertheless, mankind now have a new and living Way, and a new and living Door, to access the tree of life; not just in that garden anymore where man was driven away from, but in a new and far better paradise and new City that is eternal through the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. This new Way or Door to eternal life is not a way that cherubim or supernatural security forces need to guard or keep; but the Way or Door that keeps cherubim and keeps everything in the New Heaven and New Paradise. The Lord Himself is the Way and the Door, and He is the Son of man.

Take up this Assignment:

[Revelation 22:14-‬15]—Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.


[Luke 13:25-30] — "And once the Master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and He shall answer and say to you, I do not know you; from where are you; then you shall begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You have taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I do not know you; from where you are. Depart from Me, all workers of unrighteousness! There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you will see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrust out. And they will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and will recline in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last ones which will be first, and there are first ones which will be last."