Lawrence (Lance) Cantor
ETERNAL ENMITY
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." - Genesis 3:15

Hey Ron, I applaud your earlier effort toward “digging deeper” concerning warfare in the Middle East, with roots of “eternal enmity” playing out in the Gaza war, and now with Iran. Indeed, it is a wake-up call to the world!
Adding on…
The ancient Canaan area of Gaza, now inhabited by the Palestinians, was formerly renamed by the Romans as Philistia (in order to spite Israel, by renaming their land after their ancient enemy, the Philistines) to further show Rome’s bitter hatred against the Hebrew people.
Over the centuries, this contested land has been inhabited by both Philistia and the Edomites, who subsequently received severe divine judgment and curses. The Bible presents these as distinct consequences for their respective sins against God and His covenant people. As adversaries of Israel, they experienced God's wrath due to their own malice, pride, and actions.
With a larger lens to zoom out, it’s amazing to see the enmity of Satan vs. God starting in the Garden of Eden…and continuing into our future apocalypse described in Revelation!
FYI, in Genesis 3:15, after the fall of humanity through Adam and Eve's disobedience, God addresses the serpent (Satan) with a pivotal statement that introduces the concept of "eternal enmity":
The Meaning of Enmity:
Deep-seated Hostility/Hatred: The Hebrew word for "enmity" (אֵיבָה, 'eibach) signifies an intense, inherent opposition, hostility, or deep-rooted hatred. It's more than mere dislike; it's a profound antagonistic relationship.
Spiritual Conflict: Primarily, this enmity is a spiritual one. It's the conflict between good and evil, between God's purposes and Satan's destructive agenda.
Between Humanity and Satan: The primary enmity is established between the woman (and by extension, all humanity) and the serpent (Satan). This means that humanity is fundamentally opposed to the forces of evil. While humans may be tempted by sin, there is a built-in aversion to the ultimate evil.
Between the "Seed" of the Woman and the "Seed" of the Serpent:
Seed of the Woman: This refers to the lineage of humanity, ultimately culminating in Jesus Christ. While it broadly encompasses redeemed humanity, its ultimate fulfillment is in the Messiah.
Seed of the Serpent: This refers to those who align themselves with Satan's purposes, those who manifest evil and rebellion against God.
This aspect of enmity explains the ongoing spiritual warfare and moral conflict throughout history – the struggle between those who follow God and those who are under the influence of evil.
The Church vs. the World: In the New Testament, this enmity is seen as a conflict between believers (followers of Christ, the ultimate Seed) and the world system that is opposed to God.
Internal Enmity (Humanity's Struggle):
Man vs. God: Humanity's sinful nature creates an "enmity against God" (Romans 8:7), where the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God's law.
Man vs. Self: The internal struggle between our desires and God's will. Man vs. Man: The breakdown of harmonious relationships, leading to conflict, blame, and violence (as seen immediately in Cain and Abel). Man vs. Creation: The curse on the ground and the struggle for sustenance also reflect a broken relationship with the environment.
"Eternal Enmity" and Satan's Failed Attempts Throughout the Bible:
Genesis 6:5-7
Explanation: Humanity's widespread corruption (possibly a satanic attempt to prevent the "seed" from emerging) led to God's judgment by flood, but He preserved Noah, ensuring the continuation of the promised lineage.
Genesis 12:1-3
Explanation: God establishes a covenant with Abraham, through whom the "seed" will come. Satan repeatedly attempts to disrupt this lineage through barrenness, famine, and conflict, but God faithfully preserves it.
Exodus 1:15-16, 22
Explanation: Pharaoh's genocidal decree to kill Hebrew male infants was a direct, large-scale satanic attempt to destroy the nation from which the Messiah would arise. God protected Israel.
Esther 3:6, 13
Explanation: Haman's plot represents another significant attempt to exterminate the Jewish people, thereby cutting off the lineage of the Messiah. God sovereignly intervened through Esther and Mordecai to save them.
Matthew 4:1-11 (specifically verses 9-10)
Explanation: Satan directly tempts Jesus, the ultimate "seed of the woman," aiming to divert Him from His divine mission and undermine God's redemptive plan. Jesus perfectly resists and defeats Satan's efforts.
John 13:2, 27
"The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him... Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, 'What you are going to do, do quickly.'" Explanation: Satan orchestrates Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion, believing it to be his victory. This is the "bruising of the heel" for the Messiah, a painful but temporary wound.
Ongoing Spiritual Warfare in Prophecy:
The impending Gog-Magog war led by Russia, Iran, and Turkey with their Muslim confederacy will fail in their attack against Israel, thanks to God’s supernatural intervention …but with great bloodshed and loss by Israel. It highlights that humanity cannot overcome evil on its own; divine intervention is required.
The Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece (Daniel 10)
In Daniel chapter 10, Daniel is deeply troubled and has been fasting and praying for three weeks. An angelic being (often identified as Gabriel or another high-ranking angel) appears to him and explains the delay in his arrival. The angel reveals that he was delayed by the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" for twenty-one days, and that Michael, one of the chief princes (an archangel), came to help him. The angel also mentions that after he returns to fight the prince of Persia, the "prince of Greece" will come.
Here's what this passage suggests:
Spiritual Warfare: This passage provides a unique glimpse into the unseen spiritual realm, where angelic and demonic forces interact and influence earthly events. It indicates that behind the visible political and national powers, there are unseen spiritual entities.
Territorial Demonic Spirits: The "prince of Persia" and "prince of Greece" are generally interpreted as high-ranking demonic entities (fallen angels) who have been assigned to specific nations or empires. They exert influence and authority over these earthly kingdoms, seeking to hinder God's plans and oppose His people. This concept is often referred to as "territorial spirits," where specific demonic powers are associated with particular geographical regions or nations. Their aim is to promote idolatry, rebellion against God, and oppression of God's people within their sphere of influence.
NOTE: do you ever wonder why certain places on earth “feel” oppressed, heavy with an uncomfortable atmosphere that’s inexplicably evil?
Intercession and Divine Intervention: Daniel's prolonged prayer and fasting are directly linked to the angelic assistance. This highlights the power of intercessory prayer in affecting spiritual battles and the timing of God's interventions. Michael, as the "prince" of Israel, is seen as Israel's angelic protector who engages in spiritual combat on behalf of God's people.
The angel's statement that the "prince of Greece will come" foreshadows the historical shift in world power from the Persian Empire to the Greek Empire (under Alexander the Great), indicating that even future geopolitical changes have a spiritual dimension.
The Prince of Rosh and Gog (Ezekiel 38-39)
The figure of "Gog" is introduced in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 as a powerful leader from the land of Magog, identified as the "chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" (Ezekiel 38:2-3). Some translations render "chief prince of Rosh" instead of "prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal," with "Rosh" potentially referring to a geographical area or being an adjective meaning "chief." Many scholars connect "Rosh" to ancient peoples that settled in what is now modern-day Russia, Meshech and Tubal to regions in modern-day Turkey.
The prophecy describes Gog leading a vast coalition of nations (including Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah) to invade Israel in the "latter days."
Here's how this relates to Satan's strongholds and God's declaration:
Gog as a Human Leader (Putin?): While Gog is a human leader (or represents a nation/coalition), the scale and nature of the invasion often lead interpreters to see him as empowered or directed by satanic forces. In Revelation 20:7-8, after the millennium, "Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle." This New Testament reference links Gog and Magog directly to Satan's final deception and mobilization of forces against God's people.
Satan's Strongholds and God's Opposition: In the context of Ezekiel, Gog and his allies represent the ultimate human and spiritual opposition to God and His chosen people, Israel. When God declares, "I am against you, O Gog," it signifies His direct and ultimate opposition to these forces of evil. It's not just a battle against human armies, but a divine confrontation with the spiritual powers behind them.
Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The central message of the Gog and Magog prophecy in Ezekiel is God's absolute sovereignty. He declares that He will "put hooks in your jaws" and "bring you out" (Ezekiel 38:4), indicating that Gog's invasion, though seemingly an act of his own will, is ultimately orchestrated by God for His own purposes.
"The prince of Persia," "the prince of Rosh," and "the prince of Greece" serve to illustrate the biblical understanding of a spiritual hierarchy of evil that influences earthly nations and their rulers. These "princes" are seen as demonic strongholds.
In essence, since the beginning, God's statement in Genesis 3:15 about putting enmity is a profound declaration. It not only explains the spiritual conflict and broken relationships that plague the world due to sin but also provides the very first glimmer of hope for a solution—a coming Redeemer (Jesus Christ) who would ultimately conquer the source of all evil.
Bottom line: wars against God and his people in Israel will continue to be center-stage, until Jesus returns!
Bible Commentaries: These are invaluable for in-depth analysis of specific verses.
Bible Hub: Often provides multiple commentaries for a single verse.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/3-15.htm
Blue Letter Bible: Offers various commentaries, lexicons, and interlinear tools.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/gen/3/15/s_3003 (You'll need to navigate to the "Commentaries" section from here).
StudyLight.org: Another good source for various commentaries.
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/gn/3-15.html
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