So fwiw I prolly should not have tagged you there, and could have put that better, of course chronology is paramount as long as you are reading Literal History, carry on imo
what happened to the Pishon and the Gihon, do you think?
Actually it is believed that the
Pishon represents the “
Ganges”,
Gihon the “
Nile”,
Hiddekel the “
Tigris” and the last river of course the “
Euphrates”.
However that said it seems evident that the four rivers mentioned in Gen 2: 11-14 are only mentioned by way of illustration for in no part of the earth do the rivers named, if by them are meant the rivers now existing under their names, meet either in their source or their progress.
Likewise one would wonder, if these had been actual rivers would they have survived the flood?
The conclusion, therefore, to be drawn is, that these rivers were not meant to be taken as the literal rivers that exist today, but by way of illustrating the properties of the literal rivers a comparison can be made. These rivers were chosen to express the same qualities as the four, which went out from the garden in Eden.
What then is the significance of the “
river that went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became into four heads”
?
What could each of the four rivers represent?
“There is a spiritual significance to this description, the lesson being that all humanity originally stemmed from a single stock or
one “
river” namely,
Father Adam. Just as the stream, upon its exit from the garden, subsequently parted into
four heads, (or “
beginnings”, Rotherham’s version) so the human race or seed of man, subsequent to Adam’s fall and banishment from Eden, terminates into
four separate salvations (“
beginnings”) or destinies between Paradise Lost and Paradise Restored.”
1) The name of the first is “
Pishon” (
the gusher) it may also carry the meaning “
flowing stream” The Pishon is now known by some to be called the “
Ganges” which word signifies or express its quality of continual increase in its course, from the great number of tributary streams which flow into it. (“…
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…”
Isa 9:7), “
And the nations shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.”
Rev 21: 24).
It is believed to represent the
Very Elect class, the “
Little Flock”, the reasons we believe this to be so are given in its description it is said to surround all the land of Havilah which means “
the circle or crown” it speaks of the
good (perfect) gold of the land,
gold is associated with
divinity. There is also
Bdellium (
the heavenly food or manna) thus is given the reminder of the hope of
immortality, the future reward to the faithful.
It is also stated that the “
onyx stone is found there”. The black onyx indicates the humble origin of the exalted Christ Company. The Christ in glory will ever be mindful of the pit whence they were dug and the rock whence they were hewn. (
See Isa. 51:1; Rev.1: 4).
2) The name of the second river is “
Gihon” (
the bubbler) now known to some as the “
Nile” it is said to surround all the land of Cush (Ethiopia) the land of servitude. “…
They are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.” (
Rev.7: 15) Thus is pictured
the Great Company Class.
3) The name of the third river is “
Hiddekel” (
the encircler), (possibly representing the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth
Zec 1:10) known to some as the “
Tigris” that which goes toward the east or in front of Assyria (
Assyria??? possibly Babylon, see
Mich 5: 5, 6)
The Ancient Worthies.
The Ancient Worthies or "
Princes in all the earth"
(Psa.45: 16) shall come to the forefront (east) of Assyria or Mystic Babylon which is situated on the banks of the Euphrates and
“They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria” also see
Zec 1:8-11
4) The name of the forth river is the “
Euphrates” (
waters, the fertile river) known as
the good and abounding river, “
Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth…”
Gen 1:28, thus representing
the World of Mankind when Perfected.”
