THE LONG CONFLICT

GENESIS 3:1

A. "I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEE; IT SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEAL"
  1. This passage of the Bible has been named the pro-evangelism, the first gospel:
    1. It unfolds the long and bitter conflict between Christ and Satan - Rev. 12:7-8
    2. It depicts the nature of that conflict which had its origin in heaven - Rev. 12:7-8
    3. Lucifer rebelled against God making His Son the head of the universe - Is. 14:12-17; Ez. 28:12-18
  2. The word "enmity" (ebhah) is a term not applicable to dumb animals, but rather to morally responsible human beings - Luke 23:12; Rom. 8:7 B. LET US NOTE PRAYERFULLY A NUMBER OF PROPHETIC FORECASTS IN THIS DIVINE SENTENCE UPON THE SERPENT
  3. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed":
    1. Note, please it is a God directed enmity against the serpent and his seed
    2. Said Jesus, "I came no to send peace, but a sword" - Matt. 10:34-36
  4. This God-directed enmity toward the serpent and his seed indicates the nature of the long conflict between Christ and Satan:
    1. Loyalty is involved - our first parents rebelled against the will of the Creator - Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-6
    2. The will of God expressed in His law is involved - Matt. 6:24; Rom. 2:17; Ex. 20:3-17
  5. We have in our opening text a clear implication of the parties involved in that long and costly conflict:
    1. The serpent - I Pet. 5:8; James 4:7
    2. His seed - they that are after the flesh - Gal. 4:29
    3. The woman - the church - Rev. 12:17
    4. Her seed - Christ - Gal. 3:16
  6. The issues are well defined:
    1. Allegiance to God or to Satan - Matt. 6:24
    2. The choice between light and darkness - John 3:19 C. THE PROPHETIC FORECAST IN GENESIS 3:15 IS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO GOD'S REMNANT PEOPLE
  7. They enter the long and bitter conflict when it reaches its climax:
    1. The term "remnant" - that which is lift, clearly indicates that the conflict has entered its final hours
    2. Satan knows that his hours are numbered, and that is why he intensifies his assaults against the church - Rev. 12:17,12; I Pet. 5:8
  8. The three angel's message calls attention to the implications of the final conflict:
    1. "Fear God and give glory to Him" - Rev. 14:6-7
    2. "For the hour of His judgment is come"; that shows that the conflict is drawing to a close
  9. Satan, knowing that he is doomed to being crushed under Christ's feet:
    1. Seeks to disrupt the preaching of the gospel by declaring war against God's remnant people
    2. He sues the nations to take away the liberty from the commandment keeping people
    3. But God has commissioned angels to keep the nations in check until He has sealed His people - Rev. 7:1-3
  10. Of special consolation is:
    1. The forecast of the defeat of Satan and his kingdom
    2. Christ defeated him in heaven, he was cast out; He defeated him on earth at every turn
    3. Satan is doomed and he knows it
    4. Victory for the cause of God is assured even though God's warriors may be bruised or even lose their lives in the battle
    5. It will not be too long when the shout of glorious victory will be heard from those who loved not their lives unto death
    6. Dear reader, on which side are you in the long and costly conflict between Christ and Satan
    7. Do you have some battle scars to show that you have stood loyally in the battle
    8. How wonderful it is to think that the conflict is almost over; the victory is in sight for those who remain loyal to God and His cause


Design © John Bryant 2011