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The First Prophecy (Part Three)

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the book of origins, Genesis, the first prophecy emerges in Genesis 3:14-15, revealing God's plan to redeem mankind. Within the curse on the serpent, God exposes the role of satan in humanity's sinfulness and foretells the devil's future humiliating punishment. Simultaneously, God promises a Savior and His church, preaching the fundamentals of the gospel to our first parents. Though the immediate effects of the curses seem burdensome, the struggle against satan's deceptions and the ongoing battle prepare human character to inherit eternal life. We live in hope and faith that God will see this curse through to its end, bringing about the total humiliation and imprisonment of the adversary.

The First Prophecy (Part One)

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Genesis, the book of origins, contains the foundational elements of prophecy, holding the key to identifying significant names of people and nations that feature in later prophecies, as well as introducing numerous symbols and basic principles of interpretation. Within its pages, the first prophecy is recorded in Genesis 3:14-19, a passage often overlooked but crucial for understanding fundamental relationships and consequences. This prophecy encapsulates the nature of satan's relationship to Christ and the church, woman's relationship with man, man's struggle with nature, and the role of sin in human suffering. The setting of this initial prophecy unfolds in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve, deceived by satan through a serpent, disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. God's judgment, expressed as curses, reflects the consequences of their rebellion. Though they had received clear instruction from God, their actions and subsequent blame-shifting revealed their character, leading God to voice the inevitable outcomes of their sin in prophetic terms. This prophecy outlines satan's ultimate guilt and punishment, the ongoing conflict between genders, mankind's struggle for survival, and the necessity of a Savior to mend the damage caused by sin. Addressing the serpent, God sets it apart from other creatures as a symbol of satan, the originator of sin. The imagery of the serpent crawling on its belly and eating dust signifies humiliation, serving as a constant reminder to both humanity and satan of the devil's ultimate fate of abasement before God. This theme of humiliation and imprisonment continues as a certainty throughout the scriptures. God further prophesies a spiritual enmity between the serpent and the woman, symbolizing the church, and between their respective seeds. The seed of the woman is identified as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, while satan's seed represents those who rebel against God. The prophecy details a conflict where the Messiah will crush the serpent's head, a fatal blow rendering satan powerless, while satan will merely strike the Messiah's heel, causing temporary harm. This imagery underscores satan's subservience and mortification under the Messiah's authority, a recurring theme of victory and submission. In Genesis 3:14-15, God symbolically preaches the gospel to the first sinners immediately after their transgression, ensuring they are aware of the truth. This early prophecy lays out the major elements of God's plan, revealing the spiritual battle and the ultimate triumph of Christ over satan. As part of the woman's seed, the body of Christ shares in the Messiah's victory and anticipates the rewards in God's Kingdom.

Economics in Prophecy

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Many doubters think that the Bible is not sophisticated enough to comment on modern ideas, but God's Word factors economics into the end-time prophecies.

John (Part Four)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The apostle John has provided at least eight separate forms of witness, establishing the veracity of Jesus Christ's identity as God in the flesh.