1. God created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1-2). As creator, He has the ultimate authority and rule over all He created.

2. The earth was created as a place where man could dwell in eternal fellowship with the Lord. Man was created in the image of God and for His glory (Isaiah 43:1-7), yet was without sin - even without the knowledge or understanding of good, evil, or sin (Genesis 2:25).

3. God extended His authority to the man and woman (Adam and Eve) He created (in His image) to rule over the earth. Their purpose upon the earth would be to (a) have dominion over every living thing that moves upon the earth; (b) be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth; and (3) subdue it (Genesis 1:26-29).

4. God placed man in a garden named Eden to dress and keep it (Genesis 2:15). There was one commandment that Adam was to follow: not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that if he ate of this fruit, he would surely die (Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:3).

5. One of the creatures, the serpent, came to Eve to tempt her to eat of this fruit. The serpent is Lucifer, also known as the devil and Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:9-10). He was an anointed cherub that was once upon the holy mountain of God and had been in Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 28:11-19). He was beautifully covered with every precious stone and was filled with pipes and tabrets (timbrels, tambourines) in the day he was created - and he was perfect in all his ways until sin was found in him.

His heart was lifted up because of his beauty and his wisdom was corrupted through the reason of his brightness. He sought to place himself above the stars of God (Isaiah 14:12-15). He enticed one-third of the angels to join with him against God and he (and those angels) were removed from heaven and will be eternally punished at a future time (Ezekiel 28:16-19; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:4, Revelation 20).

Satan is a deceiver, tempter, and adversary against God and His creation (Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 12:9-10). His name, Satan is translated as 'adversary' and devil is translated as 'prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely.'

6. In his nature, he came to Eve to tempt her to eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He deceived her into seeing the 'benefit' of eating the fruit (to become wise like God), while ignoring the disobedience of the act. She ate and gave some to Adam (Genesis 3:1-11).

7. Adam disobeyed God's commandment. When Adam ate of the fruit, their eyes were opened where gained the knowledge of good and evil. Because of his disobedience to God's command, he would surely die, but there was another consequence.

The authority and dominion that was given to the man was now usurped by the devil. He became the prince of the power of the air and the god of the earth (John 8, John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:1-4; Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 5:19). He continues his quest to place himself above the stars of God. Though the devil has influence, dominion, and power within the earth, his authority is still limited by the Lord (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-7). The devil is establishing his dominion upon the earth by multiplying and replenishing the earth with animals and people that live and act in disobedience to God's original standard and purpose.

8. SIN HAS ENTERED THE WORLD THROUGH MAN. Man could no longer dwell eternally with God or live forever because of our sin and His holiness (Romans 5:12). The curse and sin of man has reigned upon this earth (and in our hearts) since this ONE act of disobedience (Romans 5:17-19). Pain, destruction, sadness, disease, war, etc. filled our world and lives. The trials, tribulations, and pains experienced today are a result of one man's decision to disobey God. The judgment of sin and death is upon mankind - to be eternally separated from God and to suffer everlasting condemnation and destruction.

9. Though eternally separated from the man and woman He created, God loved them so much that He would restore the eternal position of His creation (Ezekiel 33:11; John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9)...and destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Therefore, after God confronted Adam for his disobedience and brought judgments upon him, the woman, serpent, and earth, He foretold of a seed of woman (a child) that would crush the head of the serpent, while the serpent would bite the heel of the child (Genesis 3:14-15). The seed of woman would establish God's Kingdom to restore the eternal relationship between God and man.

BOOTCAMP: Phase1 Bible Reading Schedule
Matthew 1:1-25
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