He stated: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.” Inherent in that promise (recorded at Genesis 3:15) was the hope that ultimately righteousness would triumph and Jehovah’s purpose regarding the earth and man would be realized. Other parts of the Bible indicate that this hope-inspiring promise pointed forward to a Kingdom in the hands of the principal “seed” and a body of loyal associates.​—Eph. 1:8-12; 1 Pet. 1:18-21; 2:4-9; Rev. 5:9, 10.

JEHOVAH’S WORD HAS EVER PROVED TRUE

6. Why can we fully rely on Jehovah’s promises?

⁶ Why can we today be confident, certain that Jehovah God will fulfill this promise? Because, on the one hand, he has the power and wisdom to bring about the accomplishment of his purpose. That is why he can consider “things that are not as though they were.” (Rom. 4:17) And, on the other hand, we can have full faith in that original Kingdom prophecy and promise because Jehovah God has ever since shown himself to be dependable in fulfilling his word. (Josh. 21:45) God is faithful.​—1 Pet. 4:19.

From the beginning Jehovah has, by many supernatural acts, given evidence to faithful men that his original Kingdom prophecy would be fulfilled.

11, 12. How did the Flood and Jehovah’s dealings from the time of Abraham to Moses serve to strengthen the hope of his servants in the Edenic prophecy?

¹¹ Giving support to that first Kingdom prophecy was the flood of Noah’s day. How so? Well, the Flood was an expression of Jehovah’s interest in the earth. It provided undeniable evidence that God would not always let wickedness hold sway but would, in his due time, fulfill the promise about the “seed.”​—Gen. 6:3.

¹² Moreover, Jehovah God revealed that he was taking steps to produce the “seed” and to protect the line of descent leading up to that one. He revived the reproductive powers of Abraham and Sarah, enabling them to have a son, Isaac, in their old age. (Heb. 11:11, 12) Later, a grandson of Isaac, Jacob’s son Joseph, came to be a slave in Egypt. Jehovah God made use of this circumstance to prevent Jacob’s large family from perishing in a seven-year famine. (Gen. 45:4-7) In time Jacob’s family grew to be a nation in Egypt and came under terrible oppression. God’s sending Moses to deliver the Israelites from that oppressive slavery was yet another step in producing the “seed.” (Ex. 3:13-17; 19:3-6) From that time onward Jehovah used an entire nation to make known aspects of his purpose concerning the “seed.”

13. What basis for hope did the reigns of David and Solomon furnish?

¹³ In his dealings with the nation of Israel, Jehovah God gave further basis for faith in his original Kingdom promise. The Law and the priesthood that he gave to the Israelites pointed forward to the principal “seed” and the marvelous things he and his associate king-priests would accomplish in making this earth a beautiful home, to be inhabited by a perfect human race for all eternity. (Col. 2:17; Heb. 10:1; Rev. 5:9, 10; 21:2-4) During the reign of King David over the entire nation it became clear that the principal “seed” would come through his royal line. (2 Sam. 7:12-16) The conquests of David and the glorious reign of his son Solomon furnished foregleams of that “seed’s” grand Kingdom reign. Like David, he would gain the victory over all who set themselves in opposition to him. (Ps. 2:1-12; 110:1, 2; Matt. 22:41-45; Acts 4:24-30) And, as in the time of Solomon, his devoted subjects would dwell in security, enjoying the fruitage of their labors to the full.​—1 Ki. 4:25; Ps. 72:7, 8; Isa. 11:1-9.

14, 15. What basis for hope did Jehovah give by means of Jesus’ earthly ministry?

¹⁴ What strong evidence that Jehovah God would carry out his Edenic promise appeared with his sending his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth! Now features of Jehovah’s purpose began unfolding even more speedily. In laying down his perfect human life in sacrifice, Jesus provided the legal basis for the Kingdom. By his entire course of faithfulness while subjected to great stress and suffering, he also proved himself worthy to be the king of the Kingdom. As we read in the Bible: “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered; and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him.” Jesus “conquered the world” in that he refused to become like it. As a reward for his unswerving devotion to his Father, he became “the King of those who rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords.”​—Heb. 5:8, 9; John 16:33; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14.

¹⁵ What grand assurances of the ultimate triumph of righteousness and the everlasting blessing of humankind Jesus gave by the many miracles that he performed! There was nothing too difficult for him. He healed all manner of diseases and infirmities, fed multitudes on a few loaves and fishes, calmed wind and sea, and raised the dead, even one who had been dead for four days. Truly God ‘had anointed his Son with holy spirit and with power,’ thereby giving all men further basis for hope in the sure coming of the Kingdom.​—Acts 10:38.

16. What has Jehovah been doing since Pentecost of 33 C.E. to further his Kingdom purpose?

¹⁶ And what has Jehovah God been doing since Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven to unfold his purpose respecting the “seed”? Much, as the book of Acts and the rest of the Christian Greek Scriptures show. Beginning with Pentecost of 33 C.E., by means of miracles Jehovah showed that members of the Christian congregation are to be associates with Jesus as part of the “seed” foretold in Eden. In fact, for the past 1,900 years Jehovah God has been selecting these, for a total of 144,000 members. By now that number appears to be nearly complete.​—John 14:1-3; Acts 2:1-47; Rev. 14:1, 3; 20:6.