GENESIS 2.10 (BEEBE)

Brother Beebe: - According to your receipts, as published, you must feel the pressure of the hard times, as we also do; but I hope the Lord will sustain you, and keep you from all the delusions of the world. Please give your views on Gen. 2:10, “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” Now our branches come from different sources and unite in one, but it appears this river parted, but became into four heads. 

Yours in hope of eternal life, 

Samuel Seitz 

REPLY: Eden signifies pleasure, or delight, and may represent, figuratively, heaven the paradise of God, or the throne of God and the Lamb, from whence John saw a pure river of life proceeding, clear as crystal. The garden in like manner may represent the church of God, which is frequently called a garden, the garden of the Lord. Truly the church of God is watered and refreshed by the pure water of life which comes to her from the throne or government of God and the Lamb; that is, the Mediatorial throne of our Redeemer. This is the River, the streams whereof make glad the city, or garden of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 

The channel, course, and direction of the waters of life are not governed by the laws of nature, but by the sovereign power of that throne from whence they proceed. All earthly or natural streams and rivers with which we are familiar receive contributions from various branches which empty into them, swelling and increasing them. But the river of life flowing to the church of God is full and sufficient of itself and can admit of no supplies from any other source. And, as it is designed to reach every department of the Garden of the Lord, it is divided, in an experimental sense, into four heads, answering to the four points of the compass, like the molten sea in the temple, placed on twelve molten oxen, with their faces towards the east, the west, the north, and the south. Thus we see in the figure that our glorious Lord is the place of broad rivers and streams, etc. 

We have neither time nor space to enlarge, but submit the above to Brother Seitz. 

Middletown, N.Y., June 1, 1862. 

Elder Gilbert Beebe Editorials Volume 5 Pages 210 - 211