Who is the serpent?
Revelation 20:2 (NASB95)
And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
The serpent is none other than .
What is the nature of the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent?
Enmity = “Enmity” intense .
What does the word translated ‘bruise’ (NASB) mean?
It means to , , , .
What is the significance of the head vs the heel?
It is the difference in .
Is this Messianic prophecy?
“…the early church read the Old Testament story in Genesis 3 and could not help but see the serpent associated with Satan, now more fully understood based on later revelation. It also understood that that crushing of Satan was now underway in connection with Christ’s victory over him on the cross.
“Going back to Genesis 3 it is hard to miss the character of Satan in the serpent. Once that connection is made, it would be even more difficult to miss the connection between Jesus and the seed of the woman. The woman here is Eve, and Jesus, fully human as well as fully divine, is a “son of Eve.” In Jesus’ crucifixion Satan bruises his heel; he brings harm to Jesus, but it does not completely do Jesus in; God raises him from death. Thanks to the resurrection the church understood this as the defeat of Satan. Granted this defeat is an already-but-not-yet act, since Satan and evil are not extinguished until the second coming (Rev 20:7–10), but that victory is certain.” (Tremper Longman III, How to Read Genesis (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 2005), 168–169.)
How does the NT interpret this passage?
Romans 16:20 (NASB95)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
The New Testament authors saw this promise being fulfilled by .
Who is Satan?
The Bible describes Satan in many ways. Among them:
Satan is:
A liar and the father of lies, Gen 3:4-5, John 8:44
A deceiver, Gen 3:13, 2 Cor 11:3
The accuser of believers, Job 1:9+, 2:4-5, Rev 12:10
The tempter, Mt 4:1, 3
The ruler of the demons, Mt 12:14-26
The evil one, Mt 13:19, 39
The enemy, Mt 13:25
The adversary, 1 Pet 5:8
A murderer from the beginning, Jn 8:44
The ruler of this world, John 12:31
A schemer, 2 Cor 2:11, Eph 6:11
A tormenter, 2 Cor 12:7
The prince of the power of the air, Eph 2:2
A roaring lion seeking someone to devour, 1 Peter 5:8
It also tells us that Satan:
Sinned from the beginning, 1 Jn 3:8
Binds, Lk 13:15
Blinds, 2 Cor 4:4
Disguises himself, 2 Cor 11:14-15
Sifts like wheat, Lk 22:31
Hinders, 1 Thes 2:18
Snares, 2 Tim 2:26
Captures, 2 Tim 2:26
Is powerful, Eph 6:12, 2 Thes 2:9
Where did he come from?
He was a created being named , who rebelled against God and became Satan, the devil.
Read Isa 14:12-15, Exek 28:13-17
Not equal with God. Book of Job shows that he can only do what God permits. He is subservient to God.
What did Jesus do to him?
Jesus every one of Satan’s temptations, the only human being to ever do so.
John 8:46a (NASB95)
“Which one of you convicts Me of sin?”
Jesus over him.
Matthew 12:29 (NASB95)
“Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
He continually cast out Satan’s allies, the demons.
He .
John 12:31 (NASB95)
“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
Jesus rendered him .
Hebrews 2:14 (NASB95)
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
Jesus delivered us from .
Acts 26:18 (NASB95)
(Jesus speaking to Paul) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Jesus against him.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NASB95)
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
1 John 4:4 (NASB95)
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
What will become of him?
Revelation 20:10 (NASB95)
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
He will be thrown in the lake of and brimstone and dwell there forever. The promise will be fully fulfilled by Jesus, the Promised One.
CONCLUSION
When Adam and Eve first sinned, a curse fell upon them, but God also gave them a promise that the serpent who’d lied to and deceived them would one day be defeated by the offspring of Eve.
This promise was for centuries the only hope that believers before and after the days of Noah had to cling to. Evil would not win, God would, and he’d use a human being to bring about that victory.
Jesus was the Promised One who defeated Satan, crushing his head. Satan now awaits God’s final judgement, knowing his doom is certain. But he is still alive, and he is still taking people captive. Only those who turn from their sin and receive Christ as their Savior are freed from bondage to him.
The promised defeater of Satan has come. You can be free by turning to Christ right now and inviting him into your heart to become your savior from sin, Satan, and self.