As for me, the narrative in the garden of Eden about the tree of life and the tree of good and evil summarizes the basic foundation of the plan of God, from the beginning, and revealed what actually is the “gospel of the kingdom of God”.

Notice that Adam & Eve had a choice, viz., to “eat all in the garden including the fruit of the tree of life that will make them immortal but not that of the tree of good and evil, also in the midst of the garden, that will make them “like us”, but when eaten they “will surely die”(Gen 2:9, 16; 3:3-5).

As important as that forbidden fruit was, more disturbing was why Adam & Eve chose and prioritized that one, regardless, and risked the consequence of death by so doing? Why not the tree of life that would have made them immortal and be spirits like the angels and then afterwards the “wisdom fruit”? Obviously, God planned us to be “immortal” but not like the angels because the world to come will “not be subject to angels”(Heb 2:5).

In contrast, to the “immortal fruit”, “eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil” would make them “like Elohim”; so they wrongly thought and prioritized. They believed this lie from Satan that, even by violating that command “not to eat” the forbidden fruit, they would not die and continue to live in the garden of Eden so they can afterwards eat the ” fruit of the tree of life”. Hence, prioritizing “wisdom”, the “knowledge of good and evil” over “tree of life”.

Elohim, being the omnipotent, omniscient and Creator/Word of all, their “desire” was understandable. But the action they took to be “like Elohim” was misplaced. God practically was saying, ” this is not the way to be like me”. The Serpent hoodwinked them into believing a lie that appealed to their “desire”.

Notice the plan of God in the creation narrative:
1. He created the non-living, like the planets (universe), then,
2. He created the living, like the plants and animals and different species within their “own kind” (principle of Genetics established); the plant kingdom and animal kingdom.

Much like darkness (non-living), the Word/Creator then said, “let there be light”. Darkness then light, non-living then life. After creating living plants and animals, the Word/Creator said, let us make man in “our image”, i.e. in the image of the Creator Elohim/YHVH, “like us”, not in the image of angels nor the “animal kingdom”.

Notice that YHVH was not creating spirit-beings, like angels. They were already created way before any other living creation. Nor was he creating a “human kingdom” or another animal kingdom.

History shows that all “human kingdoms” failed from 1st Adam, Tower of Babel, Babylonian and its succession of kingdoms, Israel under Saul, etc. Even towards the “ten toes” (Daniel 2:19-45). His plan was for man to be like him (Elohim), a new creation, a “kingdom of God”, not a human kingdom, much different and above angelic beings or “angelic species”. This is the “gospel of the kingdom of God”.

In retrospect, the Serpent wanted Adam & Eve to die as he wanted the man Jesus also to die, not knowing that by Jesus dying, death has no longer a “hold on him” and by extension on us, as in, “death where is thy sting”(I Cor 15:55-56). He lied, being the father of liars (John 8:44), tempted Adam & Eve that they would not “surely die” (Gen 3:4-5) and raised up the ante that they will be “like Elohim knowing good and evil” by eating the forbidden fruit. The temptation by the Serpent (without him realizing it) actually, was acting out and aligned with the plan of YHVH, although violating the strategy for achieving this goal. Remember, Satan is an Adversary, very astute, cunning and manipulative but nonetheless wrong and opposite to God’s strategic plan. Satan did not fully understand the depth and breadth of God’s plan. True, “little knowledge is dangerous”.

In summary, the timetable for humans to be “like him” required the incarnation of YHVH to the man-Jesus who came “from above”, a “temple not made by hands”. This was not “of works” of Adam or any man; it is a gift of God by grace, an expression of love. Adam was indeed forbidden to do this on his own as he was a man “from the ground”(Gen 2:7), not “from above” as Jesus was. This man-Jesus was initially created below angelic beings (Heb 2:1-10; Ps 8:3-9; ) but subsequently became higher than them when “declared to be Son of God by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom 1:4). The strategy is for Jesus to die for the sin of mankind, as Passover substitute for mankind to reconcile us to God, be resurrected to life, as in “we shall be saved by his life”(Rom 5:10), so that the Spirit could be sent to dwell in us for our development into His body, to be “one” as in, “we shall be like him”(I John 3:2), our Elder Brother in this family of God. After he realized being “Son of God”, he will then ” bring many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10).

The kingdom of God is more than a government of God, more than a place. It is in fact more than a plant kingdom, an animal kingdom, and angelic species. Great destiny and gift for mankind to be in the class of “Elohim” with Jesus and the Father. Let us therefore thank our Elder Brother Jesus and our God the Father.