THE DRAGON(S) OF REVELATION
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There are numerous verses within the Bible that mention a dragon.
What is the meaning?
The Dragon in Revelation
Is this Dragon Satan or what?
The Dragon
On this page we will be investigating the Dragon mentioned multiple times within the Bible. What does this title for Satan represent? Does it have meaning or is it just a scary name?
The word "dragon" found in the Old Testament
Below are the word descriptions from the AHLB & Strong's
The word "dragon" found in the New Testament
Below are the word descriptions from Thayer's & Strong's
A transformation in description
The main focus of the description of a dragon in the Old Testament is that it is a large mysterious creature of the land or sea. But the meaning of a dragon within the New Testament seems to change to a serpentine creature that is looked upon as fabulously facinating or captivating.
Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible (AHLB)
Strong's # - H8577
Taniyn: A large unknown sea animal
Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionary
Strong's # - H8577
Tanniyn or tanniym: a marine or land monster
Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionary
Strong's # - G1404
Drakon: A fabulous kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate).
[probably from an alternate form of derkomai "to look"]
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
Strong's # - G1404
Drakon: A dragon, a great serpent, a fabulous animal
(so as early as Homer, Iliad 2, 308f, etc.).
First we will look at the actual Hebrew and Greek word definitions of this word "dragon".
DRAGON KINGS
The Dragon is associated with heathen kingship
God compares the kings of Egypt and Babylon to dragons
Ezekiel 29:3
Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
Jeremiah 51:34
Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.
+ These two kings were involved in the first two great tribulations:
The great dragon king of Egypt - Jacob's great tribulation
The dragon king of Babylon - Judah's great tribulation
We now have a third dragon king of the Church Great Tribulation.
Revelation 20:2-3
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Revelation 11:7
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
+ Notice how Satan is called the Dragon in Revelation 20 as he is cast into the bottomless pit during the Church Age but is referred to as the Beast in Revelation 11 as he is allowed to arise to power out of the bottomless pit after the Church Age ended in 1988. This is the Second Beast that arises from the earth... the Dragon king!
We have the Hebrew and Greek word definitions above. But the Bible also has spiritual meanings to words and numbers.
Below are a list of descriptions and spiritual meanings from the whole Bible
The Old Testament
The word dragon (H8577) appears 28 times within
11 books of the Old Testament
Descriptions of a dragon:
* A king
* A serpent
* A predator
* A kingdom
* A large creature
* Unsaved person/people
* Creature of the night/darkside
+ Some verses actually have dual meanings above
The New Testament
The word dragon (G1404) appears 12 times within
only the book of Revelation of the New Testament
Descriptions of a dragon:
* Devil
* Satan
* A kingdom
* Old Serpent
* Satan as king
* Unclean spirit
+ Some verses actually have dual meanings above
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THE DRAGON(S) WITHIN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
God refers to the Church as Babylon in these Latter Days. So we can very easily see how Satan is the Dragon king of Babylon. Since we can see this comparison and how this ties the Old Testament with the New Testament, we will concentrate on the book of Revelation. We have to be very careful when reading Revelation because there are two Dragons mentioned within.
* The Dragon king
* The Dragon kingdom
THE DRAGON KINGDOM
THE GREAT RED DRAGON
In Revelation 12 we are shown a symbolic representation of a woman and a dragon in conflict. The Woman represents God's kingdom. The Great Red Dragon represents Satan's kingdom.
* The Woman (God's kingdom) brings forth it's Messiah Jesus, into the physical world.
Revelation 12:1-2 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
The Woman represents God's spiritual kingdom
We know this is'nt Mary because of the Woman's description.
* A wonder is a sign... in Heaven
* Clothed with the sun... the Light of the Father
* Moon under her feet... Moses' Law is now complete
* A crown of 12 stars... God's full kingdom
* The Great Red Dragon (Satan's kingdom) tries to stop this from happening.
Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
The Great Red Dragon represents Satan's spiritual kingdom
We know this is'nt Satan because of the Dragon's description.
* This is yet another wonder...in Heaven
* Great Red Dragon... this is a distinction from the Dragon
* Seven heads... representing Satan's 7 empires on earth
* Ten horns... Representing the Church's congregation
* Seven crowns... Each empire head had a king
Conclusion:
Scripture has shown us that the Dragon can represent both the Dragon king and the Dragon kingdom which is Satan and his kingdom.
The First Beast and the Second Beast arise together
Satan's kingdom -- and -- Satan as king
The Image of the Beast
Satan as the lamb of god
The False Prophet
Satan as the word of god
The Dragon
Satan, the Devil, that Old Serpent
THE DRAGON
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
