The Watchtower Study, «Article 30», September 19-25, 2022, “An ancient prophecy that influences your life”, Answers.
1. What did Jehovah do shortly after Adam and Eve sinned? (Genesis 3:15).
After Adam and Eve sinned, Jehovah gave hope through a prophecy cited in Genesis 3:15.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
He set to work to solve, to fix this situation, he did not let more time pass if it was not something immediate. And that teaches us that problems must be solved as soon as possible. Jehovah gave us hope to the descendants through an extraordinary prophecy and that is what Genesis 3:15 says where it speaks of an offspring of the woman will crush the head of this serpent the course of the study and we will know more about this extraordinary prophecy.
Well the paragraph mentions that after Adam and Eve sinned, Jehovah gave an important prophecy that was going to be beneficial for their offspring. This prophecy is without a doubt one of the most important of all the prophecies in the Bible and it may be the reason Jehovah had it written in the first book of the Bible.
2. Why is the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 so extraordinary?
It is extraordinary, because somehow all the other books relate to Genesis 3:15.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In some way, all the other books relate to her. Just as the spine of a book holds all its pages together, the words of Genesis 3:15 make all the books of the Bible united and transmit the same message, that God would send a Savior to put an end to the devil and all his evil followers. of the. This message is wonderful for those of us who are on the right side, that is, those of us who love Jehovah.
Because it mentions the first Messianic prophecy, a prophecy that gives us hope that there will be an end to all the bad that has existed until now. This prophecy refers to a Savior who will end the devil and all his minions, knowing this of course is something extraordinary for every Christian.
3. What will we analyze in this article?
We will analyze: Who are the characters of this prophecy? How has it been fulfilled? And how does it help us today?
OPTIONAL ANSWER
In this article we will answer some questions related to Genesis 3:15: Who are the characters in this prophecy? How have they been fulfilled? And how does it help us today?
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS OF THIS PROPHECY?
4. Who is “the serpent,” and how do we know?
“the serpent” is Satan, the Devil, we know this thanks to the Bible.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It is the Bible that answers the question in Revelation 12:9, the original serpent is the devil. It could not be a real real snake because it would not have understood the sentence that God passed on it in the Garden of Eden, so it had to be an intelligent being and the Bible in this same text mentions that it is the devil who is called the original snake.
Well, brothers, the serpent is Satan the devil and we can be sure of that because the Bible confirms it for us in the book of Revelation chapter 12 and verse 9, part of this text mentions the following: The Great Dragon, the original serpent, was thrown down who is called the devil Satan. Of course, through this verse of the Bible, we can be sure that satan is the serpent that the text of Genesis speaks of.
THE SNAKE
ILLUSTRATION:
Satan, represented as a spiritual being.
Satan, the Devil; in Revelation 12:9 he is called “the original serpent.” (See paragraph 4).
5. Who are the offspring of the serpent?
They are part of the offspring of the serpent, the people who oppose Jehovah and his people.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We can say that the descendants of the serpent are made up of spiritual beings and also of human beings, human beings who with their lives, their mentality and their actions are flatly opposed to Jehovah and his people. Also, just as Jehovah has his organization, the devil has organizations in this world whose purpose is to destroy the Servants of God who strive to do Jehovah's will.
The offspring of the serpent are made up of spiritual beings and humans who oppose Jehovah and his native people How Satan does. Among them are the angels who abandoned their post in heaven in the days of Noah and the Evil humans who act like their father, the devil.
Well, as we have already seen in the previous paragraph in the snake is satan the devil, now we must take into account that today satan is not alone, because he is the ruler of this world, he has imposed his way of thinking and act on many people, but I have not only done it with human beings. If not also in angels, let us remember that when satan revealed himself many Angels were sent to earth along with him, and they became his demons today. all these form the offspring of satan which the Bible mentions, this offspring is characterized by being opposed, like his father satan, to all the good that Jehovah wants for humanity
THE OFFSPRING OF THE SERPENT
ILLUSTRATION:
Evil spiritual beings.
Evil spirit beings and evil humans who oppose Jehovah and his people. (See paragraph 5).
6. Why can't Eve be “the woman” of Genesis 3:15?
Because an imperfect human being, a descendant of Eve, can destroy Satan.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Because the prophecy says that the offspring of this woman will crush the head of the serpent. As we have already seen, the serpent is a spiritual being, the devil, therefore it is impossible for an imperfect human being, a descendant of Eve, to destroy the devil. So something else is needed.
Because as we have already seen in the serpent, that is to say, satan is an intelligent being and also a spiritual being, if we think about if Eve were the woman mentioned in Genesis, a descendant of hers should be spiritual but it is not like that anymore. that we know that Eve sinned and therefore all her descendants would be imperfect. Now, then, the option that Eve is the woman mentioned in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 is ruled out.
Another reason is that, as this text already says, the descendant of that woman would have the great responsibility of destroying Satan and his followers, and since Satan is a spiritual being, the one who would have this important mission should also be a spiritual being.
7. How does Revelation 12:1, 2, 5, 10 help us identify the woman of Genesis 3:15?
It helps us to be able to identify her, because she says that she is not a woman of flesh and blood. As the Kingdom is heavenly, so is the Woman.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
She is not a woman of flesh and blood. She has the moon under her feet and on her head she wears a crown of twelve stars. Also, she gives birth to a very special son, the Kingdom of God. How the Kingdom is heavenly, The woman also has to be represents the heavenly part of Jehovah's Organization, which is made up of faithful spiritual beings.
It helps us by describing this Woman of Genesis Who is not flesh and blood but rather is a symbolic Woman, Revelation describes her as a woman who has the moon under her feet and on her head wears a crown of twelve stars. In addition, she gives birth to a son, this son is the Kingdom of God, so we understand here that it is the Jerusalem above, the symbolic wife of Jehovah, that is, the heavenly organization of his spiritual creatures.
THE WOMAN
ILLUSTRATION:
Faithful spiritual beings.
The heavenly part of Jehovah's organization, made up of faithful spirit beings. (See paragraph 7)
8. Who is the main part of the woman's offspring, and when did she become so? (Genesis 22:15-18).
When Jesus was 30 years old, he was anointed, at that time, he was the main part of the woman's offspring.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
This offspring would come through Abraham and the prophecy was fulfilled, because Jesus was a direct descendant of that faithful patriarch. But the offspring would have to be more than human in order to crush Satan and finish him off. So when Jesus was about 30 years old, 30 years old he was anointed, and so he became the spirit-begotten son of God. At that time, he became a main part of the Woman's offspring. after his death and resurrection, God crowned him with glory and honor and gave him all authority in heaven and on earth. Which includes the authority to undo the works of the devil.
The story of Genesis Chapter 22 verse 15 to 18, we can note how Jehovah promises his servant Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the Stars of the sky as we well know of said descendants years later the Savior would come, Jesus who would become the main part of the woman's offspring, but in order to do so he had to be anointed. This happened 30 years from that moment, then Jesus became the Spirit-begotten Son of God and in turn the main part of the Woman's offspring.
THE OFFSPRING OF WOMAN
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus Christ and the anointed ones who will reign with him in his heavenly glory.
Jesus Christ and the 144,000 anointed ones who will reign with him. (See paragraphs 8 and 9).
9, 10. (a) Who else are part of the woman's offspring, and when do they become so?
When Jehovah anoints a Christian with holy spirit, that person becomes part of the Woman's seed.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The apostle Paul identified this part of the offspring when he wrote to Jewish Anointed Christians and other nations that if they belonged to Christ then they were offspring of Abraham and Heirs according to the promise, when Jehovah anoints a Christian with the Holy Spirit, that person becomes becomes the part of the offspring of the Woman. Therefore the offspring is formed by Jesus Christ and the 144,000 who will reign with him. They all try to think and act like their father Jehovah.
As we saw in the previous paragraph, Jesus represents the main part of the descendants of the Woman, since he is the main part, there is also a secondary part made up of Christians Anointed by the Holy Spirit.
In Revelation chapter 14 verse 1, the number of Christians who make up this secondary part of the woman's dependency is found to be 144,000 Anointed Ones Who strive to try to think and act like their father Jehovah.
b) What will we see next?
We will briefly review what Jehovah has been doing to fulfill his words.
OPTIONAL ANSWERS
Now we will briefly review what Jehovah has been doing to fulfill his words, and then we will see how he helps us today.
We'll briefly look at what Jehovah has been doing to fulfill the words of Genesis 3:15, and then we'll see how this prophecy helps us today.
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: “The characters of Genesis 3:14, 15”. 1. The serpent: Satan, represented as a spiritual being. 2. The offspring of the serpent: evil spirit beings. 3. The woman: faithful spiritual beings. 4. The woman's offspring: Jesus Christ and those who will reign with him in his heavenly glory. The images are repeated in paragraphs 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9.
HOW HAS THE PROPHECY BEEN FULFILLED?
11. How was the “heel” of the woman’s offspring bruised?
The "heel" of the offspring of the woman was bruised, when Satan incited the Jews and the Romans to kill the Son of God.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Well, when one injures the heel we are left unable to walk for some time, right? . That makes it impossible for us to carry out our activities, in a similar way satan hurt the heel of the offspring of the Woman to thus make their spiritual advance impossible, we say this because when Jesus was sentenced to death he was temporarily out of the game, thus satan thinking that he had won.
That was fulfilled when satan incited the Jews and the Romans to kill the son of God. a heel injury can leave someone unable to walk for some time. similarly, Jesus' death temporarily put him out of business, and he spent almost 3 days dead in the tomb.
12. When and how will the serpent's head be crushed?
Very soon, it will be when God's appointed time comes, those who rule with Christ will help him cleanse the Earth.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus could not stay in the tomb because, according to the prophecy, the offspring of the Woman would crush the serpent's head. Therefore Jesus' heel wound had to heal. and completely healed on the third day after his death, Jesus was resurrected as a spiritual and Immortal being. and, when God's appointed time comes, he will crush Satan and finish him off. Those who rule with Christ will help him cleanse the earth of all enemies of God or the offspring of the serpent.
Well, it will be very soon when the day set by God arrives, this promise will be fulfilled, Jesus already healed from the wound caused by satan as a spiritual being will crush him and his demons. Later, with the help of the descendants of Jesus, the earth will be cleansed of all the descendants of the serpent.
Important events in the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15
ILLUSTRATION:
Timeline showing important events in the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. A. 1943 before our era: Abraham contemplates the starry sky. B. Year 29: Jesus is anointed with holy spirit after John baptizes him. C. Passover 33 AD: Jesus hangs on a torture stake. D. Pentecost 33 AD: "Something like tongues of fire" appears over the heads of Christ's disciples. E. 1914 or soon after: Jesus casts Satan and his demons out of heaven. F. At the end of the Thousand Year Reign: Satan and his demons are cast into the lake of fire.
A.1943 BCE
The covenant that God made with Abraham comes into force, in which he promised that the main part of the woman's offspring would be his descendant (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:15-18).
B. YEAR 29
Jesus is anointed, and thus becomes the main part of the woman's offspring (Matt. 3:16; Gal. 3:16).
C. THE PASSOVER OF THE YEAR 33
Jesus is wounded in the heel, but three days later his wound is healed (Matt. 16:21; 26:1, 2).
D. THE PENTECOST OF THE YEAR 33
The first members of the secondary part of the woman's seed are anointed with holy spirit (Acts 2:1-4; Gal. 3:29).
E.1914 OR SHORTLY AFTER
Satan is cast out of heaven, and persecution against the woman's offspring intensifies (Rev. 12:9, 12, 17).
F. AT THE END OF THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN
Satan is crushed forever (Rev. 20:7, 10).
HOW DOES THIS PROPHECY HELP US TODAY?
13. How does the fulfillment of this prophecy help us?
It has taught us to lead a life that makes Jehovah happy.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus came to Earth as a man and perfectly reflected the personality of his father, with his example, he has helped us to know and love Jehovah. Jesus has also helped us with his teachings and his way of leading the Christian congregation today, he has also taught us to lead a life that makes Jehovah happy. And even the wound in the heel of Jesus, his death can benefit us all, since when he resurrected he offered the value of his blood as a perfect sacrifice that cleanses us from all sin.
As Christians, this fulfillment of the prophecy of Genesis has helped us to understand Jehovah's teachings in depth, since we have learned the love that he reflects and we have managed to know him as he has always wanted. As well as through Jesus his son we have had the great privilege that he is the one who directs the Christian congregation and that through his death we all have the opportunity to cleanse our sins and be forgiven by his father.
It also helped us to remain faithful and loyal since we know that soon in Jehovah's appointed day Satan will have to be finished.
14. How do we know that what Jehovah prophesied in Eden would not immediately come to pass?
Because it would take years for the woman to have offspring.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It would take time for the woman to have the promised offspring, for the devil to gather his followers and for enmity and hatred to arise between the two groups. And how does it help us to know this? It serves as a warning to us since the world is controlled by Satan and hates Jehovah's servants, since how do we know centuries later Jesus said something similar to his disciples.
We know this because for this prophecy to have been fulfilled, a long time had to pass for both the woman and the serpent to have offspring.
Today we can say that this part of the prophecy has been fulfilled. Satan, the ruler of this world, has a great offspring on earth, since people oppose the will of Jehovah and are willing to fight against him.
15. a) Why does the world hate us today more than ever?
Because the Devil can only exert his influence on Earth and is waiting for his destruction
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus became the messianic King in 1914 and soon after satan was expelled from heaven and from that moment on the devil can only exert his influence on earth and is waiting for his destruction. But he is not waiting idly, but with great fury and desperation he attacks the people of God that is the reason why the world hates us today more than ever.
Today we know that Jesus already rules in heaven and that in the year 1914 he became King and thus expelled Satan and his demons from heaven. banishing them to earth. Since then, Satan has not left the followers of Christ alone, he attacks Christians with much hatred day by day. That is why the world hates us more than ever, satan knows that his end is near and we also know it thanks to Jehovah. Therefore we must avoid falling for satan's lies and avoid all kinds of hatred that the world shows us.
b) Why should we not fear Satan?
Paul wrote, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
We do not have to fear Satan and his followers. On the contrary, we can have the same certainty that the apostle Paul had, in Romans 8:31 who wrote that if God is for us, who can be against us? That is why we can trust Jehovah completely because as we have seen much of the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 has already been fulfilled.
16-18. How has understanding of Genesis 3:15 helped Curtis, Ursula, and Jessica?
Curtis, Genesis 3:15, I help you keep your trust in your heavenly Father. Ursula, the text helped you discover that Jehovah quickly took action so that they were not without hope.” Jessica, this text helped you serve Jehovah.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Brother Curtis mentions that he is a missionary from Guam, in which he tells of problems and disappointments that have tested his loyalty to Jehovah. But what helped him to endure is meditating on what Genesis 3:15 says where he has been able to find confidence in Jehovah and thus he is sure that Jehovah will soon end all these problems of this world.
Sister Ursula thanks Jehovah that through the prophecy of Genesis Jehovah has given Hope to all human beings and that through this text she was convinced that the Bible is the word of God.
Finally, our sister Jessica mentions that the prophecy of Genesis helped her to understand that this life that we are living is not the real life, she is more convinced every day that serving Jehovah will give her the life that it really is in the future. not very far.
19. Why can we be sure that the final part of the prophecy will be fulfilled?
Because the first part of the prophecy has already been fulfilled.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Since the first part of the prophecy has already been fulfilled, we are fully convinced that the final part will also be fulfilled. The Serpent's Head will be crushed, the destruction of Satan will be an immense relief for faithful human beings. Until that day arrives, let us not give up. since our God deserves all our trust. Through the offspring of the woman, I will give infinite blessings to all the nations of the Earth.
We are sure that the final part of the prophecy will be fulfilled, because as we have already seen, we are aware that the first part has already been fulfilled. We are confident that Jehovah will fulfill this last part, since Jesus Reigns in heaven awaiting the day that God has scheduled to finally see Satan finished, meanwhile we must continue expectantly awaiting the day of Jehovah keeping the firm loyal and with confidence that Jehovah will bring a new beginning for mankind.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE PROPHECY OF GENESIS 3:15?
Who are “the serpent” and his offspring, and who are “the woman” and her offspring?
“the original serpent” is Satan, the Devil. The prophecy says that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent's head. As we have already seen, the serpent is a spiritual being, Satan. Therefore, it is impossible for an imperfect human being to be a descendant of Eve.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As we have learned through this study, the Bible mentions that Satan is the original serpent and that his offspring are all people who oppose God's will. In addition, many angels who were banished or removed from the earth and their demons also belong to the offspring of the serpent. The woman, we saw what the symbolic wife of Jehovah is, that is, his heavenly organization made up of Angels and the main descendants of Jesus and his secondary descendants are the 144,000 Anointed Ones.
He couldn't make a real snake, because he wouldn't have understood the sentence that Jehovah passed on the Garden of Eden. He had to be an intelligent being. and the Bible clearly shows us who he is, as Revelation 12:9 says that the original serpent is Satan, the devil.
She is not a woman of flesh and blood. She has the moon under her feet and on her head she wears a crown of twelve stars. Also, she gives birth to a very special son, the Kingdom of God. since the Kingdom is Celestial, the Woman also has to be. She represents the Heavenly part of Jehovah's organization, which is made up of faithful spirit beings.
How has this prophecy been fulfilled so far?
Genesis 3:15 says that the serpent would bruise “the heel” of the woman's offspring. That was fulfilled when Satan incited the Jews and the Romans to kill the Son of God. A heel injury can leave someone unable to walk for some time. Similarly, Jesus' death temporarily put him out of business, and he spent almost three days dead in the tomb.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
We learned that a part of the prophecy of Genesis has already been fulfilled, satan has already struck the heel of the offspring of the Woman, in other words this meant the death of Jesus at the hands of his enemies.
How has the fulfillment of this prophecy helped you personally?
He has helped us to know and love Jehovah. Jesus has also helped us with his teachings and his way of leading the Christian congregation today.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Thanks to the fulfillment of the first part of this prophecy, it helped me to continue expectantly and with full confidence in Jehovah, our God of Justice, who will soon exercise it, putting an end to all the evil influence that exists in this world. we will suffer because of the hatred satan the devil has for us.
It helps us strengthen our confidence that Jehovah has everything under control. As much as we see the evil of people in this world, God will fix it through our Lord and King Jesus Christ, we can fully trust the prophecies of Genesis 3:15.
It helps me to have the resolve not to let the deceptions, the disappointments of others make me stumble or give up and leave Jehovah.
It has helped me understand why serving Jehovah and Jesus Christ is the best thing we can do.
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