The Grand Theme of the Bible

The Principals in the Drama

The prophecy of Genesis 3:15 was addressed to the serpent that had lied to Eve, suggesting to her that she would not die for her disobedience but that she would become independent, a goddess.  The serpent thus made Jehovah out to be a liar and insinuated that humans could improve their lot  by rejecting His supreme rulership.  (Genesis 3:1-5) Jehovah's sovereignty was challenged and his good name besmirched.  The book of Revelation describes how the righteous judge, Jehovah, uses his Kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ, to vindicate his sovereignty and clear all reproach from his name. - REVELATION 12:10; 14:7.

As for that term "serpent," does it apply only to a literal snake?   Not at all!  Revelation identifies for us the infamous spirit creature that spoke through the snake. It was "the great dragon . . . , the original serpent, the one called Satan and Devil, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth, that "seduced  Even by its cunning." - REVELATION 12:9;  2 CORINTHIANS  11:3.

Genesis 3:15 speaks next of " the woman,"  was this Eve?  Possibly she thought so.  (Compare Genesis 4:1.) But  a long-lasting enmity between Eve and Satan became impossible when Eve died more than 5,000 years ago. Further, since the serpent addressed by Jehovah is an invisible spirit, we should expect that the woman also belongs to the spirit realm.  Revelation 12:1, 2  confirms  this, indicating that this figurative woman is Jehovah's heavenly organization of spirit creatures. See also Isaiah 54:1;, 5, 13. 

Next time: The Grand Theme of the Bible - Two Seeds in Opposition

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