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Chapter 25—Enmity Between Man and Satan
“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.” [
Genesis 3:15
.] The divine sentence pronounced against
Satan after the fall of man, was also a prophecy, embracing all the
ages to the close of time, and foreshadowing the great conflict to
engage all the races of men who should live upon the earth.
God declares, “I will put enmity.” This enmity is not naturally
entertained. When man transgressed the divine law, his nature
became evil, and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with
Satan. There exists naturally no enmity between sinful man and
the originator of sin. Both became evil through apostasy. The
apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy and support
by inducing others to follow his example. For this reason, fallen
angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had
not God specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered
into an alliance against Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity
against Satan, the whole human family would have been united in
opposition to God.
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Satan tempted man to sin, as he had caused angels to rebel, that
he might thus secure co-operation in his warfare against Heaven.
There was no dissension between himself and the fallen angels as
regards their hatred of Christ; while on all other points there was
discord, they were firmly united in opposing the authority of the
Ruler of the universe. But when Satan heard the declaration that
enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between
his seed and her seed, he knew that his efforts to deprave human
nature would be interrupted; that by some means man was to be
enabled to resist his power.
The grace that Christ implants in the soul creates the enmity
against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power,
man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do
his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where
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