Adam, the Devil, and Jesus: #1

Adam and Eve were created as God's images and were given authority over all the earth.

Gen. 1:26 "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

They were given the responsibility to work it and to take care of it (or guard it). So when Adam allows the serpent to enter into the garden without subduing it - maybe even crushing its head, he fails to guard the garden and to protect even. Adam and Eve eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil against God's command and so God hands them, along with humanity and the world, over to the Devil's authority, much like God would hand Israel over to the nations who they followed after.

The Serpents demise is prophesied, not only with of a son who would crush the head of the serpent, but also in the serpent's demotion from a wild creature to one who will now crawl on its belly and eat the dust. This typifies the fall of Satan from the heavenly realms to the earth. (Ezekiel 28 - So I threw you to the earth; Isaiah 14 - How you have fallen from Heaven...but you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit; Revelation 12 - The great dragon was hurled down...he was hurled down to the earth.)

Nevertheless, the serpent is given authority now over the earth to deceive the nations. (Rev. 12,20) This is confirmed in a number of ways. 1. He offers the kingdoms of the world to Jesus (Matt. 4:8) 2. In Job is says that Satan roams the earth 3. He has a kingdom 4. He's the one who deceives the whole world. 5. In Daniel the angelic messenger is opposed by prince over Persia - a fallen angel over a nation. 6. He is called the prince of this world, John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11