BETWEEN ADAM'S CREATION AND FALL—WAS IT LONG?

The timing of Adam and Eve's fall from grace is not explicitly mentioned in any biblical text, leaving us with no precise indication of how long after their creation it occurred. However, a closer examination of the events surrounding the fall suggests that it likely happened shortly after their creation.

The fact that God instructed Adam about the test on the day of his creation implies that the tempter was already present, and the temptation was not far away. While we have no record of Adam and Eve engaging in any activities after their creation, it can be assumed that they would have explored and enjoyed God's creation while working in the Garden, as God commanded Adam to tend to it (Genesis 2:15).

Adam, even before Eve was brought forth, named all the animals in the Garden. Interestingly, the Bible mentions Adam naming his wife, Eve, in Genesis 3:20 after discussing their fall. This implies that the fall occurred relatively soon after their creation.

From the tempter's perspective, it would have been advantageous to tempt Adam and Eve earlier rather than later. The longer he waited, the more they would have come to know the loving character and truth of God, making it increasingly challenging for him to deceive them.

On the sixth day of creation, God blessed Adam and Eve, instructing them to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). This blessing to bear children was bestowed upon them while they were still sinless. Therefore, they were capable of procreation even in their sinless state, as God created them "male and female." However, it was only after the fall that Eve conceived and gave birth to Cain (Genesis 4:1).

Some argue that Adam and Eve could not have had children if they had not sinned. However, this is incorrect, as God had already commanded them to bear children and fill the earth before their fall.

After the fall, God's message to Eve indicates a change in the original experience of childbirth. He tells her, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee" (Genesis 3:16). This statement clearly suggests that the painful experience of childbirth would not have been part of Eve's original experience had she not fallen into sin.

Initially, Adam was appointed as the ruler of the Earth, and Eve was meant to share in that rule. However, after their sin, Eve's husband would rule over her, and the dominion of the Earth passed from Adam to Satan, who became his conqueror (Genesis 3:16; Luke 4:5, 6). The original plan for childbearing was also affected by the fall.

It is likely that God intended for Adam and Eve to face the test and then reproduce. Otherwise, what would have become of their child if he or she had been born before the test? If they had passed the test, everything would have been fine. However, in the event of their failure (which did occur), what would have been the fate of a sinless, holy, and perfect child? Therefore, it can be logically concluded that the test came before the establishment of a family, indicating that the fall of our first parents happened not long after their creation.

Here's another one,

We do not have any text that specifies as to how long after creation our first parents fell. But a careful analysis of the fall indicates it was not long after creation.

The very fact God that instructed Adam of the test on the day of his creation shows that the tempter was around, and that the temptation was not far away. We have no record of Adam and Eve doing anything after creation, though they would have gone around and enjoyed God's nature, and would have started to work in the Garden, for God commanded the man, the day he was made:

To dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

Adam named all the animals in the Garden the day he was created, even before Eve was brought forth. Interestingly, we see, Adam naming his wife, "Eve", in Genesis 3:20, after the Bible talks of their fall. So this should indicate, at least, that the fall was not long after they were created.

From the tempter's point of view, he would have liked to have had a go at them earlier than later, for the more he delays the more they would have known the loving character and truth of God, and that extra knowledge would be a tougher barricade for him to break through.

While making them on the sixth day, God said:

Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it. (Genesis 1:28)

The blessing for them to bear children was given while they were sinless. So they could bear children even while they were sinless, for God made them "male and female". But it was only after the test Eve bore children. The Bible says:

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. (Genesis 4:1)

There are some who try to suggest that they could not have had children if they did not sin. This is untrue, as we have already seen God giving them the command to bear children and fill the earth even before they fell.

You will see in God's message to Eve, after the fall, that He indicated a change of the original experience in child bearing.

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Genesis 3:16)

The Phrase, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception" clearly shows that she would not have had this painful experience had she not fallen in sin.

Initially, Adam was appointed ruler of this planet, Eve was to share the rule with him. But after sin, her husband would rule over her, and the reign of the earth passed on from Adam to Satan, his conqueror. (See Genesis 3:16; Luke 4:5, 6). Also the original plan of child bearing took a beating.

It is most likely that God wanted them to face the test and then reproduce; otherwise what would their child be, if he were born before the test? If they passed the test it would be fine, and if they would fail the test (which they did,) what would be the fate of a sinless, holy and perfect child? So the test was first, before they could set up a family. Therefore, we logically can conclude, it was not long after creation that our first parents fell into sin.