What does the curse on Satan mean?

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal.” (Genesis 3:15) 

God told the serpent (Satan) that the seed of the woman (meaning Eve’s offspring) would one day bring a fatal blow to Satan and his offspring (the wicked angels who left heaven with Satan and humans who knowingly choose to follow after Satan). 

We believe the seed of the woman represents not only Jesus who would come from the line of Adam and Eve’s third son Seth, but also a heavenly class (faithful Christians) who would become superior to the serpent (Satan) and have the power to crush out evil. We derive this thought from the Apostle Paul’s encouraging statement to the church at Rome.

“The God of peace will soon [at the end of this evil age] crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16:20 

The “your feet” or “heal” (as it is rendered in Genesis 3:15), we believe, refers to “The Christ” (Jesus and faithful Christians who have obtained the heavenly reward of immortality). They will have power in the next age to finally destroy Satan and his evil followers. 

The mystery of the seed of the woman is fulfilled in Christ—the Messiah—the promised seed along with all those who belong to Christ: 

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29 

To learn more about what it means to belong to Christ listen to, “What Does Discipleship Cost?”