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Verse:For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. —Romans 5:19
The first few pages of the Bible tell us the dramatic story of the original Paradise and how it was ruined by Adam and Eve’s transgression (Genesis 2; 3).
The last pages of the Bible portray the wonderful Paradise restored (Revelation 21; 22), the moment when God will “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). In between these two contrasting scenes, we find the ongoing human drama in which each person decides his or her own destiny. English poet John Milton (1608–1674) produced some of the most famous and epic poems on those scenes.
Totally blind after 1652, Milton dictated his poems to transcribers and friends. He signed the contract to publish his book Paradise Lost, and four months later, on August 20, 1667, printer Samuel Simmons registered the work.
Thomas Ellwood, who studied Latin with Milton, supposedly approached him with the following remarks, “Thou hast said much here of Paradise lost, but what hast thou to say of Paradise found?” Milton reflected on that comment and sometime thereafter produced his follow-up work Paradise Regained (1671).
This short book portrays a series of debates between Christ and Satan. Christ ultimately makes up for Adam and Eve’s failure by victoriously resisting the temptations of the devil. As the Bible eloquently describes it: “For as by one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s [Christ’s] obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). Christ’s amazing victory over Satan can deliver us now from the bondage of sin and ultimately take us to the restored Paradise.
The Great Controversy describes the moving moment in which Christ takes Adam back to the Paradise in which he used to live. Adam’s “mind grasps the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it... He looks about him and beholds a multitude of his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God.
Then he casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer. He touches the golden harp, and the vaults of heaven echo the triumphant song: ‘Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!’ ”38 You and I must be there on that glorious occasion!