The serpent is one of the most intriguing animals to be found in the Hebrew Bible. Mentioned 27 times in Old Testament and 8 times in New Testament.
Genesis 3:1-14 The serpent was a subtil (Cunning; artfulness; probably attractive, 4 legged) animal became a snake as part of his punishment.
The Lord Jesus used the serpent in his teaching.
Matthew 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
And to describe the form of death He would suffer: Crucifixion.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Paul knew his scripture as he recalled the Genesis account:
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
The serpent is revealed by the Apostle John in prophecy:
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:14-15 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,