How long did it take Adam and Eve to get kicked out of the Garden of Eden? — Melissa of OK

Dear Melissa,

We don't know how long Adam and Eve were in the Garden before they had to leave. Sadly, it doesn't seem like they were there for long. There are two clues. First, God commanded them to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28). This means they were to start having a family as soon as possible. And second, we don't read anything about the children of Adam and Eve until after they have left the Garden (Genesis 4:1-2). It takes about nine months for a human baby to develop. So they might have lived in the Garden for less than a year!

The rest of the Bible is about God's wanting to get us back. He wants to be able to walk and talk with us just as He did with Adam and Eve in those wonderful days before sin came into the world. Our new home won't be the old Garden of Eden, because that was destroyed in the Flood. Instead, we can look forward to being in heaven where we can live with God forever (evelation 22:1-5).