The Garden of Eden and the “Pit” – Tioran land drift theory

Where was the Garden of Eden? Where is the “Pit” many people consider the entrance to hell? An alternative view based on continental drift and fault lines.

Every discussion we seem to hear about the Garden of Eden follows similar logic. People assume the land masses and formations we see today are the same ones as those at creation. They are not taking into consideration the movement of tectonic plates and continental drift.

If we examine the fault lines and patterns of shifts for land masses, we can put together a puzzle that is worthy of study. Also, we need to look past just the Genesis account to find further clues as to where the garden was. There are several scriptures to piece together:

Genesis- before its destruction- where most people stop

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.

Gen 2:11 The name of the first [is] Pison: that [is] it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where [there is] gold;

Gen 2:12 And the gold of that land [is] good: there [is] bdellium and the onyx stone.

Gen 2:13 And the name of the second river [is] Gihon: the same [is] it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

Gen 2:14 And the name of the third river [is] Hiddekel: that [is] it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river [is] Euphrates.

*** Hiddekel matches the description for the Tigris.

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

**** note: only the east side of the garden is guarded. This means entrance from any other direction is not possible. Other entrances are gone, or the other areas are just missing. So what happened to the west side?

Many Christians have assumed that the entire original garden was located somewhere in the Mesopotamian region (around present day Iraq) where the modern Tigris (Hiddekel) and Euphrates rivers flow. But this is only the eastern side of the garden. If we want to find the rest of Eden, mainly the west side, we do NOT look at where the rivers ended up flowing, or where they ended (current Persian Gulf region). We have to look at where the rivers ORIGINATED. As the rivers flowed out, other areas were certainly included in the general garden area, but the source of the rivers is the point of interest here.

On a modern map, these 2 remaining rivers appear to originate in Turkey. But between the scientifically proven massive land upheaval and breakup, evidenced by known giant tectonic plates and fault lines, and continental drift, the real question is where was modern Turkey ORIGINALLY located at the time of creation? We know now that a great deal of continental drift has occurred since the beginning of the earth, and locations we see now are a result of movements of large masses of land. And if 2 rivers survived, why didn’t all 4 survive?

Because of Noah’s flood, the modern Tigris and Euphrates rivers are sometimes assumed named after the original pre-Flood rivers, but are not considered the original rivers. The Bible speaks of one river breaking into four. This is not what is found in the Middle East today. But is this assumption correct? Could God have allowed 2 of the 4 rivers to survive, to give us clues to the Garden’s original location? And are there other clues right in front of us as well? If He left us clues, was there a divine reason?

People also assume the Garden was destroyed by the Flood, and its actual location on the globe can never be established. Is this assumption correct? The Bible says God sent rain. When Noah got off the boat, he seemed to know where he was. If Mount Ararat was preserved, why not other places?

Ezechiel – the “best part” of Eden falls into a pit (hole) after God shakes the earth

What really happened to the Garden? We will go to Ezechiel to find more clues. This is talking about Assyria, enemy of Egypt, but it is also commenting on the fate of Eden, its relationship, or identity with Assyria, and drawing comparisons:

Eze 31:3 Behold, Assyria [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of and high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.

** note – Assyria here is located inside Lebanon. This area today is located east of Lebanon. This is important to remember.

Eze 31:4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.

**Assyria (east side) being watered by waters of Lebanon (west side).

Eze 31:5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.

**Assyria seems to get the main benefit of the waters.

Eze 31:8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.

*** garden of God mentioned in association with Assyria, not Babylon (Iraq). The most beautiful trees are TOWARD the east side, not ON the east side. In Genesis 2:8 it says that “the Lord planted a garden “eastward” in Eden, and there He put the man whom he had formed. However, the Bible also clarifies that both the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life, was located “in the midst of the garden.” (Gen 2:9) If we look at a map of the middle east, we will see that midway between Lebanon and Iraq is Syria. So the special trees were actually located there, not in Iraq. Syria is still “eastward” of Lebanon.

It would also be logical to assume that the rivers flowed toward the east, since that was the most beautiful, most watered area. This would mean the rivers started in the west, and flowed eastward. On today’s map, we see water flowing from north to south. !! God never says anything about the north to south direction. How did the river origins shift in location? Did continental drifts contribute toward this, and what were the shifts?

Eze 31:9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that [were] in the garden of God, envied him.

*** Assyria (modern day Syria) is part of Eden. It is almost synonymous with Eden. We also have to understand how extensive the Assyrian empire was at times. At times, it included the entire middle east, including Lebanon and Turkey.

Eze 31:14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

*** the trees were destroyed and sent to the “pit” along with men. This pit is mentioned a lot in scripture. It means a “hole” in Hebrew, and represents not just death, but a physical location in or on the earth. Where is the “pit” located?

Eze 31:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.

*** Lebanon mourns loss of Assyria, or some part of it. Water supply is cut off. This means there were water beds that dried up as the water supply was cut off. Where are these dried up water beds today? That would give a clue as to where the original waters flowed, and from where, since they could be traced back to the origin. The origin of the rivers is gone, but there may be evidence as to the direction in which they flowed.

Eze 31:16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

***West Eden was originally in Lebanon. The nations were shaken as West Eden shakes, a pit or hole is created, and its trees fall and go down to the nether parts of the earth. This does not mean just under water. It means deep into the earth. There was an earthquake. And the nations were moved out of place. So there are a lot of buried dead trees, deep in the nether parts of the earth, and the “best part” of Eden (best part of Lebanon) went with the trees. It says the best part went down into the “pit.” Pit here means hole. Where is the hole? How did Lebanon divide and sink?

Eze 31:18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shall you be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth:

** the “best part” of Eden is buried deep in the earth. So when the earthquake happened, where did it happen, and where was the pit (hole) that swallowed the best part of Eden up.?

So far, there is a west Eden, a middle, an east Eden and a “best part” of Eden.

Finding the hole, and finding what is left- the “Tioran sliding land flap theory”

Look at the direction of the arrows on the map below. This is the sliding direction of the plates that the current land sits on.

The land mass where Turkey is located slides like this: ↔

The land mass where Israel and Lebanon is located slides like this: ↨

Imagine the slide continuing until the portion that is Turkey today slides south and down against what is Israel/Lebanon today. It is like a flap that was originally pulled up, and is now returning to its original position. The entire flap of land would then advance to the left (west) and down (south). This would put the land bridge (area of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbalian, Russia) closer to Europe and closer to the black sea.

← From its current position, to return to its original position, the land bridge would shift to the west (left) and south, as the entire land mass shifted.

In the original position, it shifted the opposite direction. (first north ↑, then east →)

–

–

Below is a depiction with arrows, the movement of the land mass back to the original position. Everything moves along the fault lines shown in the other figure above. The 2 blue lines represent the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

If this movement is correct, then the map below depicts the original land mass at the time of Creation. Turkey was, in this theory, originally part of Lebanon, and tore away, when God shook the earth. This would also explain why 2 of the rivers continue to be on this land mass, which has moved northward, and then east. It also explains how such a source of 4 rivers could have one river end up in Ethiopia (Cush).

Other scriptures discussing what happened to the Garden of Eden:

Eze 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities [are become] fenced, [and] are inhabited.

Joe 2:3 A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns: the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

After the splitting of Eden, the east side is cut off from the source of waters in the west, so it becomes desolate. Fire is mentioned, possibly a volcano along with the earthquake that split the land along its fault line. So whatever trees did not fall into the hole, was burned up.

Where then are the dried up river beds, and volcanoes, to show this theory may be correct?

–

Satellite pictures taken from google earth:

–

Volcano (black circle) in Syria with burnt area – below that, Jordan, with dried up river bed. There are a total of 6 volcanoes in Syria. – 4 are near Damascus. One is near the Golan Heights.

–

–

Dried up river bed near volcano in Syria

–

–

Next photo is satellite picture of dried up water bed in the Sinai peninsula.

–

–

Dried up water beds appear light colored. Lava beds appear dark in color. Lava beds also have a denser, less delicate appearance. See below:

–

–

Volcano zones around the middle east – Eden area

Marked in orange. Notice that the middle zone in Turkey matches up with the one on Syria, if they were aligned side by side as pictured above in the theoretical sketch of East-West Eden. In the same way, the zone – that is most east- in Turkey lines up with the dried up water bed in the Sinai peninsula.

Where is the “pit?”

Apparently, there are spots on the earth which can just “open up” and swallow what is there, then close. One is described as being in the desert and one in Israel. God uses it to punish the local people when they disobey:

Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

Num 16:33 They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

***you do not have to be dead to go there !!!

Isa 24:18 And it shall come to pass, [that] he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

***earthquakes and the pit seem to work together

Isa 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

Isa 24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

**** this is more than just an earthquake. The earth as we would know it is broken into pieces, and dissolved, the entire earth is affected. This suggests a force so strong that massive pieces of land are breaking up into pieces

Eze 26:20 When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;

*** indicates a repeated long history of going down to the pit

Num 26:10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

*** people swallowed alive – they go down into the pit

Deu 11:6 And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that [was] in their possession, in the midst of all Israel:

*** people swallowed alive – they go down into the pit

Psa 106:17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

*** people swallowed alive – they go down into the pit

–

–

So where is the “Pit?”

I propose that this “pit” is the Syrian – African rift. See below. Notice one can see Turkey in the distance as well. One can also see not only the fault going north- south but also east-west at the top of the picture, where Turkey is. The fault lines are shaped like a T:

Look how the above rift lines up with the recorded journey of the Israelites while in the Sinai desert:

There were times when they journeyed very close to the rift and could have fallen in if there was an earthquake. The Israelites would have stayed close to the sea to have a water supply.

The Pit in the future is intended for the wicked:

Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

How will this Pit be opened?

Zec 14:4 And his [the Messiah Prince] feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Isa 24:22 And they shall be gathered together, [as] prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

*** these people in the pit are still alive when they go in.

Isa 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

*** When the Messiah -Lord comes to Zion, during a blood moon and solar eclipse, the sign of the end times.

2 conclusions:

1. A theory is proposed, with reasons, that the modern day Turkey used to be the western part of the Garden of Eden. It split off when God initiated a massive earthquake and the land mass split along the fault lines. The land mass also drifted north, then east, sliding into its current position. The middle or “best part” of Eden fell into the Pit. The eastern part of Eden was destroyed by the cutting off of the water supply, making it desolate, and destroyed by volcanic activity as well. Today, much of this area is desert. Turkey appears to have retained 1-2 rivers which still feed the middle east. The other two are lost, or have become less or non-functional.

2. When the Messiah comes, he will activate the Syrian-African rift by the power of God, and the wicked will fall into it. This will occur when Israel’s enemies attack her in an attempt to “wipe her off the map.” Those that come to destroy Israel in this final war will be completely destroyed.

The scriptures accurately describe the movement of the tectonic plates and fault lines.

For those contemplating the destruction of Israel, and God’s people there:

You will not win. You will die and face the judgment of God. So think about what is written here, and stay out of it. When this occurs, it will prove that the God of Israel is above all over earthly gods, and unless you repent of the evil you have done, you will face eternal destruction.