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Bible Passage Genesis 3:15

Promise of Jesus’ Second Coming

  • Tony Raker
Date preached November 20, 2022

Genesis 3:15 Promise of Jesus’ Second Coming

All unfulfilled prophecy in the Word of God is bound up with the personal, bodily and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In 2 Peter 3:3-4, we read of something we are to know and be sure about, and it is something which relates particularly to the last days, the period immediately prior to the Lord’s return. We are to expect that there will be scoffers in the last days. Why? Because everyone who scoffs at the glorious truth of the return of Christ is fulfilling this prophecy!  In fact, Jesus’ second coming was announced just after Eve’s original sin:

Genesis 3:15: “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.”

  • Grammatical Usage: “enmity” or in Hebrew, “ebah” meaning, “hatred; blood feud”; “bruise” or “shuph” a verb meaning, “strike” (context being temporary vs final).
  • Literal Interpretation: I will put a blood feud between the serpent and the woman, and between your offspring (the Devil’s spiritual offspring) and her offspring (both unredeemed and redeemed humanity with fulfillment in Jesus Christ). He will strike your head (Devil’s final defeat), and you will strike his heel (temporary physical death, anticipating resurrection).

 Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word. Peter tells us exactly what the scoffers say, but let us ask this question: “Where is the promise of His coming?” and supply seven answers to it:

 1.The Promise of His Coming is found in the Old Testament

There are 39 books included in the Old Testament: these can be divided into the five books of Moses, called the Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy); twelve historical books (Joshua to Esther); six books of poetry (Job to Song of Solomon and Lamentations); and the sixteen books of the major and minor prophets (Isaiah to Malachi). In each of these five groups we find the promise of His coming. Here are a few selected examples:

  • Genesis 3:15: “You will strike his heel” refers to the first advent; “will crush your head” refers to the second advent and to our Lord’s final overthrow of Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 20:1-3)
  • Genesis 22 – 24: Abraham (a type of God the Father); Eliezer, Abraham’s servant (a type of the Holy Spirit); Isaac (a type of the Lord Jesus); and Rebekah (a type of the Church, the Bride)
  • Genesis 41:45: Joseph (a type of Christ) during his rejection took a Gentile bride (compare Genesis 42:8)
  • 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah swept into heaven foreshadows 1 Thessalonians 4:17
  • Job 19:25 where Job confirms God will come for him; compare Acts 1:11
  • Psalms 22 – 24: Psalm 22 was prophetic of His death; Psalm 23 is true of the believer now; Psalm 24 awaits fulfilment
  • The prophecies of Isaiah to Malachi are full of the promise of His coming
  1. The Promise of His Coming is found in the Four Gospels

In the four Gospels we have the inspired and authoritative record of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; over and over again He spoke of His second coming. For example, look up the following:

  • Matthew: 16:21, 27; 24:3, 27, 35, 36, 37 and 44; 25:1-13
  • Mark 13:24-27
  • Luke 19:11-27; 21:25-28
  • John 14:1-3; 21:21-22

Thus, in many of the clear statements made by our Savior, as well as in many of His parables, we have the promise of His coming.

  1. The Promise of His Coming is found in the Acts of the Apostles

There are two particularly important references:

  • Acts 1:9-11: The testimony of the angels is very important because their prophecies were right in relation to His birth (Luke 1:28-33; 2:8-14), and to His resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8)
  • Acts 15:14-17: 14 is what God is doing today; vv. 16-17 await fulfilment
  1. The Promise of His Coming is found in Epistles of Paul, James, Peter, John and Jude
  • Paul: 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:51-52; 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Titus 2:11-13 and Hebrews 9:24-28
  • James: James 5:7-8
  • Peter: 1 Peter 1:10-11; 5:4 and 2 Peter 3:3-4
  • John: 1 John 2:28 and 3:1-2
  • Jude: Jude 14
  1. The Promise of His Coming is found in the Apocalypse

The Book of Revelation does not make sense if you take from it the promise of His personal return. The whole message of the Book is summed up in Revelation 1:7 and 22:7, 12 and 20.

  1. The Promise of His Coming is found in the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, notice the last three words: “until he comes.”

  1. The Promise of His Coming is found in the heart of every true Believer

Revelation 19:10: “the testimony of Jesus” which we, as believers, have within us is the promise of His coming again. The Holy Spirit places in our hearts the assurance and the expectation of His near return, and it causes us to cry out, “Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

 Conclusion: Are you ready for the second coming of Jesus?