( Galatians 3:16, 29) In the Bible the number of these corulers with Jesus-all taken from among sinful humankind on earth-is given as 144,000.- Revelation 14:1-3.ĩ. ( Luke 22:28-30) Others were to be selected from among humankind, and these would join him in heaven to share in ruling, and thus they would come to constitute a subsidiary part of the woman’s seed. When on earth Jesus revealed that he would not be alone in this government. After Satan’s rebellion, Jehovah immediately acted to undo all the bad consequences of wickedness by means of this new Kingdom government. (a) What new thing did God provide in connection with his original purpose? (b) Who constitute God’s new government?Ĩ This Kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ is thus a new thing that God provided for in connection with his original purpose for humans to enjoy everlasting life on earth. ( Matthew 1:18-23 John 6:38) Chapter 12 of Revelation reveals that as a resurrected heavenly Ruler, this Seed, Jesus Christ, would take the lead in the conquest of Satan and would establish, as Revelation 12:10 says, “the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ.”Ĩ. Observe in Re 12 verse 1 that she is said to be “adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head.” This woman represents God’s heavenly organization of faithful angels, and the “male child” to whom she gives birth represents God’s Kingdom, with Jesus Christ ruling as King.- Revelation 12:1-5, The Jerusalem Bible.ħ Who, therefore, is the “seed,” or offspring, of the woman, mentioned at Genesis 3:15, that will bruise Satan “in the head,” thus giving him a deathblow? It is the one whom God sent from heaven to be born miraculously of a virgin, yes, the man Jesus. (a) Who is the woman that bears the “seed”? (b) Who is the promised Seed, and what does he accomplish?Ħ Who is this “woman” for whom Satan has enmity, or hatred? Just as “the original serpent” is identified in Revelation chapter 12, so is this woman that Satan hates. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.”- Genesis 3:15.Ħ, 7. Thus, in sentencing Satan, God said to him: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. It was a powerful spirit creature who is identified in the Bible as “the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan.” ( Revelation 12:9) Satan used this lowly animal as his mouthpiece to seduce Eve. ( Genesis 3:1-5) Of course, that serpent was not a literal snake. He did this when he pronounced sentence upon “the serpent” who had spoken to Eve and had tempted her to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit. How can we identify the serpent who seduced Eve?ĥ Jehovah God identified in symbolic language the promised Savior. Let us now examine how the provision of Jesus Christ as mankind’s Savior was first foretold.ĥ. Do you know when, after Adam sinned, Jehovah God indicated that mankind could enjoy everlasting life? It was right after Adam’s fall. Let us, therefore, examine his role more closely. (a) How does the Bible show the vital role of Jesus in our salvation? (b) When did God first reveal that mankind could gain everlasting life?ģ Clearly, Jesus has an important role relative to that way, as his apostle Peter proclaimed: “There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.” ( Acts 4:12) Similarly, the apostle Paul declared: “The gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” ( Romans 6:23) Jesus himself revealed that the only way to everlasting life is through him, for he declared: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”- John 14:6.Ĥ So it is crucial that we accept Jesus’ role in making everlasting life possible. Notice that Jesus emphasizes that this way to life is not an easy one, saying: “Go in through the narrow gate because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.”- Matthew 7:13, 14.Ģ Do you get the import of this illustration? Does it not reveal that there is but one road, or way, leading to life and that it will require careful attention on our part to avoid straying from that way to life? What, then, is this only way to everlasting life?ģ, 4. IN HIS famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus compares the way to everlasting life to a road that a person enters through a gate. To what did Jesus compare the way to everlasting life, and what is the import of his illustration? “I am the way and the truth and the life.”- JOHN 14:6.ġ, 2.
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