The enmity represents the ongoing spiritual conflict between the forces of Satan and the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ — a running battle that Les Feldick says climaxes at the cross.
God announced this conflict in Genesis 3:15 immediately after the fall. Les points out this verse is the first prophecy of the Redeemer, with the seed of the woman being Christ. He explains that the serpent would bruise the Redeemer's heel (the suffering of the cross) while the seed would bruise the serpent's head (Christ's defeat of Satan at the cross). Though the decisive victory was at the cross, the battle is still not fully over, because Satan remains the god of this world until he is finally put under Christ's feet.
Genesis 3:15 — This is the verse that directly announces the enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman.
Galatians 3:16 — This New Testament verse identifies the promised seed as Christ, which Les applies to the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15.
In Genesis 3:15, after the fall, God speaks directly to the serpent: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This is the Bible's own wording; it declares the enmity and the outcome. Later, Galatians 3:16 explains the language of "thy seed" in the promise to Abraham, saying, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." The Bible therefore identifies the promised seed as Christ. Revelation 12:13–14 shows the same conflict continuing: "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
Les consistently calls Genesis 3:15 "one of the primary verses" of Genesis and "the first prophecy of the coming of the Redeemer." He explains that God is putting enmity between the forces of Satan and all the powers of darkness, on one side, and the seed of the woman, on the other. The seed of the woman is Christ. So what Genesis 3:15 really promises is "a running battle between Satan and Jesus Christ" that you see from that moment on. Les teaches that as soon as Satan understands God's program, he comes in and tries to disrupt it. After the covenant with Abraham, that meant a 4,000-year attempt to destroy Israel, because God promised everything would be fulfilled through that little nation. In the cross, the seed of the woman bruised and defeated Satan, while the serpent bruised the Redeemer's heel through the suffering of the cross. Yet even after Christ's resurrection, Les notes that Satan is still the god of this world and is not yet under Christ's feet.
Les says the Redeemer concept begins right here in Genesis 3:15. In [Clip 0], he calls it "the first prophecy of the coming of the Redeemer," and in [Clip 5] he says it is where the promised coming of the seed of the woman is "first voiced, right after Adam and Eve fell."
Les points to Galatians for the identification. In [Clip 1], he says, "Galatians tells us that the seed of the woman is Christ." He repeats this in [Clip 3] and [Clip 5], where he tells listeners to put the word "seed" in their computer and then adds, "Galatians tells us flat out, who is the seed of the woman? Christ." So the seed of the woman is not just a general human offspring but Jesus Christ Himself.
In [Clip 1], Les says the verse is "a promise then of a running battle between Satan and Jesus Christ," and you see it "from this moment on." He adds that just as soon as Satan understands God's particular program, he comes in and tries to disrupt it. In [Clip 2], he describes "that long run of enmity between the powers of Satan and especially the Son of God, who would be coming on the scene as the Redeemer."
Les connects the enmity to God's covenant with Abraham. In [Clip 1], he says that after God made the covenant with Abraham, Satan began a process that has been running for over 4,000 years, "and that was to destroy the nation of Israel. Because God promised that everything would be fulfilled through that little nation." In [Clip 7], Les shows the same conflict continuing in the tribulation when the dragon persecutes the woman who brought forth the man child — Israel — and she flees into the wilderness.
In [Clip 3], Les says the seed of the woman "is going to bruise the head of the serpent" and asks, "When did Christ bruise and defeat Satan? Well, at the cross." He then explains that "thou shalt bruise his heel" refers to "the suffering that Christ went through through the ordeal of the cross." [Clip 6] adds that at the cross Christ dealt with the powers of Satan and defeated them "so far as the potential," but Satan is still the god of this world and will not be under Christ's feet until later.
Genesis 3:15 as first prophecy of Redeemer
Les introduces Genesis 3:15 as the first prophecy of the Redeemer and explains that God is putting enmity between the forces of Satan and the seed of the woman.
Seed of the woman is Christ; running battle
Les says Galatians tells us the seed of the woman is Christ, and describes the enmity as a running battle that includes Satan's long attempt to destroy Israel.
Long-run enmity with the Redeemer
Les reinforces that the enmity is a long-running conflict between Satan's powers and the coming Redeemer, with the serpent bruising the Redeemer's heel.
Cross fulfillment of head and heel
Les connects the seed of the woman to Christ and explains that Christ bruised and defeated Satan at the cross, while the heel bruising was Christ's suffering in the cross ordeal.
Cain, Abel & The Virgin Birth: Genesis 4 Explained
I have gotten a man-child, even Jehovah. Now that has to make us think. Come back now to chapter 3. And we touched on this verse, and when I was teaching it, I said, now we'll be coming back to it, so I didn't really go into it too much in depth a couple weeks ago. But in chapter 3, verse 15, the Lord God or Jehovah is addressing, of course, Satan in verse 14 and 15.
Seed of the woman stressed = Christ
Les urges listeners to put the word "seed" in their computer and says Galatians tells us the seed of the woman is Christ; this is where His promised coming is first voiced.
Satan not yet under Christ's feet
Les explains that Christ defeated Satan at the cross potentially, but Satan is still the god of this world and is not yet under Christ's feet.
The woman and dragon in Revelation
Les shows the enmity continuing in the tribulation when the dragon persecutes Israel, the woman who brought forth the man child, and she flees into the wilderness.
Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the foundational verse that directly announces the enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman.
Galatians 3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
This verse identifies the promised seed as Christ, which Les applies to the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15.
Revelation 12:13-14: And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
This shows the continuing enmity against Israel, the woman who brought forth the man child, in the end-time tribulation.
The enmity is the promised conflict between Satan and the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ. Les Feldick describes it as a running battle between Satan and Christ that begins at the fall and continues throughout Scripture.
Les points to Galatians 3:16, which identifies the promised seed as Christ. He says the seed of the woman is Jesus Christ.
Les teaches that Christ bruised and defeated Satan at the cross. The bruising of the heel refers to the suffering Christ endured during the ordeal of the cross.
Les explains that God promised everything would be fulfilled through the nation of Israel, so after the covenant with Abraham, Satan began a 4,000-year process to destroy Israel and disrupt God's program.
Watch the Teaching: Understanding the Curse & God’s Promise of a Redeemer