Prophecies of Messiah:
in Adam and Eve
Adam
Getting a Wife Prophecies and foreshadowings of Messiah begin very early in Scripture. In fact, what might be the first such picture comes before there is even a sinful act and a need for a savior. The Scriptures state that it is not good for man to be alone and then describe how Adam was put into a deep sleep, his side was opened, a rib taken out, and this was fashioned into his wife. Likewise we can see that Messiah was put to death (like a deep sleep), His side was pierced (opened up), blood and water came out, and the believer is purified and made spotless by His blood which was shed so as to become His bride.
First and Second Adam In 1 Cor 15, Paul makes the comparison of the first Adam to the second Adam (Messiah) showing how the first was a living soul from the earth and Messiah is a life giving Spirit from Heaven. In the early chapters of Genesis, we learn that Adam, Gen 5:1, was the first of mankind. In fact, the name 'Adam' means man and comes from the Hebrew root word meaning 'earth' or 'dirt' which represents man being taken from the ground before being given the breath of life. The number one represents unity. As the first generation of mankind, before the fall from favor in the garden of Eden, Adam had a unique and especially close relationship with Elohim that no one else has experienced except Messiah. This is the kind of relationship that Elohim desires to have with us. Messiah had to come down as a 'man' (Hebrew Adam) to live life and die just as we do to accomplish this relationship.
Eve
Seed of a Woman After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit they were given their punishments in the form of curses. Yet even in this dramatic moment of despair, one of the most impacting of promises and prophecies is spoken which can give us great hope. In Gen 3:15 we read "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 only time in Scripture where the phrase 'seed of a woman' is used. Scripture normally only speaks of the seed of a man. Therefore what is suggested is a descendant who would be born of a woman but have no biological human father. This was fulfilled in the virgin birth of Messiah which we can read about in Gal 4:4-5 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
Bruise His Heel Gen 3:15 also foretells the painful wound that will be given to the woman's seed which was fulfilled when Messiah was crucified. However, in turn, this seed will give a mortal wound to the serpent which will be fulfilled when Messiah casts Satan into the lake of fire. In Gen 3:14 we read that this curse was pronounced on the serpent because it had deceived Eve into eating of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. In crushing the head of the serpent, the seed would aslo put an end to the work and effects of what the serpent had done. We can read about this in 1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.". And further read in Heb 2:14 that "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;". Messiah's work is to destroy the works of the devil and bring Salvation to man.
Todd Elder is a believer in Messiah who wants to help people understand Scripture and know the message of Salvation. For more information from the Prophecy of the Messiah series, please visit my website http://www.exploringsalvation.info and look under 'Messiah'.
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