Subject: Genesis Beginning |
Bible Note: Hi NightJay, 1. The serpent was one of the animal creatures in the animal kingdom created by God. The true identity of the serpent is not a talking snake, but Satan himself. Rev 12:9 tells us clearly that Satan is "the Original Serpent". Satan used the snake just as a ventriloguist talks through a puppet. Using the snake, an animal which Adam and Eve no doubt looked after (Gen 1:28), Satan was able to lower Eve's guard and suspicion when the lie was told. 2. Although Adam and Eve did not die on the spot, they did die in God's eyes when they disobeyed. The analogy is like when you turn the fan off, the moment you unplug it, it is cut off from the source of its sustenance. Likewise, when the first couple disobeyed God, they were cut off from the source of life, destined to die in due course. The account in Mt. 21:19-20 says that the fig tree wither immediately, but Mk 11:19-21 seems to suggest that the fig tree was discovered later in the day to have been withered. It's probably the same thing here, when Jesus pronounced the tree to be withered, it probably did right away, but it did not appear to be so until later in the day. I hope this helps. Kenny (pepper_jw ATT hotmail.com) |