The Great Red Dragon

Rev. 12: 3, 4 "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold agreat red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to bedelivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."

The appearance seen is not a literal representation of the devil as he actually is. The wonder (the sign) of the dragon is figurative and descriptive of the devil's particular characteristics, suggestive of his destructive and murderous character. There is no doubt as to the significance of the dragon symbolizing the devil; invariably a symbol of what is harmful,wicked, evil, tyrannous and murderous. The devil is a hideous bloodthirsty monster, always "seeking whom he may devour."

This is the history of a fierce, hostile, evil power with which the Church has, and is, and must yet contend. This evil force is set to hinder the progress and destroy the hopes of the Church. It is "another wonder" (sign) that is to be interpreted after the same manner as the preceding "sign."

The Dragon

The Image or "Sign" is that of a "Dragon"

Understand, this dragon is a terrible creature that delightsin attacking, terrifying and devouring. It is especially determined to attackand destroy the truth of God's Word.

Matt. 13: 19 "When any one heareth the Word of the kingdom, andunderstandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that whichwas sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side."

Lk. 8: 12 "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh thedevil, and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believeand be saved."

I Pet. 5: 8 "Be sober, bevigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,seeking whom he may devour:"

It is "A Great Dragon"

While the picture in general is that of a dragon, it isaltogether peculiar and different from the common dragon. It exceeds theordinary idea in size and bulk, and every dragon feature is greatly magnified. The dragon is "great" in its evil accomplishment and great in its power tokill. It is "a great… dragon."

"Megas" -- "Great" -- mighty of external form, measure -- of adegree and intensity -- mighty of rank (whether of persons or angels) -- of allthose who had position of authority and power

Here is abeing that has dared to set himself against the Almighty God. This "dragon"is trying to overcome Him and take over the universe by taking from the Creatorthe creation that God had created. Although this dragon had the power ofdeath, it was through death that Christ defeated him.

The devil has the Power of Death

He has the power to put to death.

Heb. 2: 14 "For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"

The devil has the Ability to Deceive

He is great in his ability to deceive and destroy. The devil has the ability to deceive the whole world.

Rev. 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."

What a power of deception must lie in him who deceives angels to follow him!

It is "A Great Red Dragon"

It is " red ," seemingly for two reasons. The first isto enhance his terrible appearance. The second is suggestive of his murderous,destructive character. It is a peculiar color.

"Purrhos" -- "Red" -- fiery -- bloody -- the color of blood --murder

This was the color of the horse whose rider was to take peace out of the world, and bring about terrible war and bloodshed.

Rev. 6: 4 "And there went out another horse that was red : and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."

Jesus said the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and could not tell the truth.

Jn. 8: 44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Dr. J. A. Seiss said, "There has never been a murder, but he(the devil) caused it."

I Pet. 5: 8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as aroaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Fiery red also indicates the destructive and cruel nature ofthe dragon. The dragon is burning like fire with rage and out of control with malignant hatred against that which is righteous and godly.

It has "Seven Heads"

Seven is a number of completeness, or fullness. This indicates the fullness of evil and wickedness. Dragons ordinarily were given one head,but this dragon possesses "seven heads." Two heads would indicate confusion. Here there are seven heads. "Seven heads" also reveal a total and complete state of confusion. The head is the seat of governing power and it implies rule and control. The fact there are seven heads should be understood in the same sense that we read of "the seven Spirits of God" -- a manifold unity. We have here in these heads the symbol of the entire imperial reign and rule of this world from the beginning of time to the end of this present age.

Three times the Lord calls the devil "…the prince of this world."

Jn. 12: 31 "…Now shall the prince of this world be cast out."

Jn. 14: 30 "…For the prince of this world cometh…"

Jn. 16: 11 "…Because the prince of this world is judged."

The Apostle Paul called him the "god of this world."

II Cor. 4: 4 "…The god of this world hath blinded the minds…"

I Jn. 5: 19 "…The whole world lieth in wickedness."

The Amplified New Testament reads, "The whole world (aroundus) is under the power of the evil one."

The image before us presents the dragon having dominion over the governments of thisworld. Therefore, through these world powers, he sets himself against thekingdom of God and all that is good and right.

It has "Seven Crowns upon his Heads"

The "heads" being "crowned" would indicate at least to somedegree, that he has been successful in his diabolical attacks.

Successful in Deceiving -- A Crown

Rev. 12: 9 "And the great dragon… called the devil, and satan, whichdeceiveth the whole world…"

Successful in Dividing -- A Crown

I Cor. 11: 18 "…There be divisions among you…"

Successful in Defeating -- A Crown

Matt. 24: 12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

Successful in Denying -- A Crown

Jude 4 "…Denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Successful in Devouring -- A Crown

I Pet. 5: 8 "…Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,seeking whom he may devour:"

Successful in Delaying -- A Crown

Dan. 10: 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me…"

Successful in Deforming -- A Crown

Lk. 13: 11 "…A woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself."

Lk. 13: 18 "…Whom satan hath bound…"

He is the destroyer of both body and soul. Heseduceth and misleads the whole world, promising everything including peace andprosperity, so that he can more effectively enslave and destroy.

It has "Ten Horns"

"Ten" signifies the perfection of Divine Order. This is incontrast to that of an evil, wicked being, so this would be in reverse of theDivine Order; complete and total disorder.

"Keras" -- "Horns" are symbolic of strength, power, dominionand kingly rule -- kings and their kingdoms.

Dan. 7: 24 "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings…"

Dan. 8: 20 "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings…"

These "horns" are not symbols of good rule but of evil power to hurt, wound, afflict and destroy. The forces which destroyed Palestine were referred to as "four horns" in Zech. 1: 18--21. They scattered,oppressed, injured and destroyed the people of God. Likewise, the "horns" ofthe dragon scatter, divide, oppress, torment, injure, afflict, destroy and kill the believers in Christ.

It has A Tail

Rev. 4: 12 "…His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:…"

His tail is certainly one of the most striking features of the dragon. It swings through heaven drawing a third part of the stars andcasts them to the ground. These "stars of heaven" are very particular stars. They are not literal stars, for the whole scene is a "sign." Thesewere the angelic hosts, fitly called stars by reason of their brightness,shinning beauty and glory.

Job 38: 4--7 "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, ifthou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are thefoundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When themorning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

When Lucifer fell and became the devil, he was able to deceive and draw away a third part of the angels with him.

Jude 6 "…Angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation…"

II Pet. 2: 4 "…God spared not the angels that sinned…"

The Mystery of the Dragon

The dragon is not altogether that great a mystery because of:

Rev. 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."

The devil is not literally a dragon, as the Church is not literally a woman, but these are divinely given images or symbols. There is adevil. John recorded here that the dragon was the devil. "…The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world…"

This is a great contrast from his original state.

Isa. 14: 12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of themorning! how art thou cut down to the ground…"

Eze. 28: 14 "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth…"

He was the highest order of all God's creation.

Eze. 28: 15 "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wastcreated…"

Eze. 28: 17 "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hastcorrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness…"

Perfect in "Beauty" -- Full of "Wisdom" -- Clothed in"Brightness" (Light -- Truth -- Righteousness)

Lucifer fell from the anointed cherub that covereth, to amurderous dragon. What happened? What caused this terrible change? God didnot make a dragon (devil); He created Lucifer -- "The light bearer." Godcreated him with a free will to choose to do good or evil. He was not thedevil, but he became the devil through the desire to be like God, or to be God.

Dragon -- "The dragon, figured prominently in ancient andmedieval mythologies as an embodiment of evil principle. It has beensuperstitiously dreaded and even worshipped, as in China, where it is theimperial emblem. It is commonly represented as a large winged serpent, with acrested head and powerful claws. In classical mythology, a dangerous, often asupernatural serpent." (Standard Dictionary)

The dragon has great power.

Power over the nations Lk. 4: 6

Power of the air Eph. 2: 2

Power and signs II Thes. 2: 9

Power of death Heb. 2: 14

Jude 9 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil hedisputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke thee."

Lucifer is of the highest order of angelic beings, but is subordinate to God. Some compare the dragon in Rev. 12 to the Beast coming upout of the sea in Rev. 13. In Rev. 12, the seven heads wear the crowns. InRev. 13, it is the horns that are crowned. The dragon is the head of a spiritual empire while the Beast is the head of a physical empire. This portrays a concentration of, and the exercise of, the devil's diabolical power in and through the world powers.

There is a likeness between the Dragon and the Beast because they are both the workings of the devil. There is also the distinction between them because one works in the spiritual realm and the other works in the physical realm.

The Objects of The Dragon's Malignity

Rev. 12: 4 "…And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."

The First Objective is to Devour the #39;Man-Child'

To destroy and devour the "Man-Child," the devil would haveto destroy the message (the Truth of the Word) that produces the "Man-Child." Ifthere ever was a message that the devil hates, it is this message of the " Man - Child "-- the message of overcoming -- the message of perfection.

Jesus said:

Matt. 13: 19 "…Then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that whichwas sown…"

The power of the Word is "…made of none effect…"(Rom. 4: 14) in the lives of those that "…understandeth it not." (Matt.13:19)

When the Word is received and understood, it will producethe characteristics of Christ in the life of the believer. The Word producesto the extent that it is believed and obeyed. Jesus said by the same "Word"some would produce "…thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred…"

Mk. 4: 20 "…Such as hear the Word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit,some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."

The Scripture speaks of some as babes, some as children andsome of mature age.

Heb. 5: 12--14 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have needthat one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is ababe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those whoby reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

The "Man-Child" will be a ruling body of Overcomers that will be given power to rule the nations.

Rev. 2: 26, 27 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end,to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father."

Psalm 2: 9 "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash themin pieces like a potter's vessel."

Here we see Christ ruling with the rod of iron. It is said that Rev. 12 has to be Christ because they believe He is the only one that isruling with the rod of iron. The Overcomer has this promise of being giventhis power to rule the nations with a rod of iron.

The devil will try to devour the "Man-Child" as soon as heis born, but the "Man-Child" will be "…caught up unto God, and to Histhrone." This is the promise to the Overcomer.

Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in Mythrone, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."

The dragon's desire is to devour the "Man-Child" who is destined to "…rule all the nations with a rod of iron…" that the dragonhas ruled over. All satanic activities are carried out under the ambitiousmotive to rule and to be worshipped. Does the devil know he will lose thisplace?

When this objective failed, he attacked the Woman.

The Second Objective is to Devour the "Woman"

Rev. 12: 13 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, hepersecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."

In the Gospel according to St. Luke, Jesus spoke of the great and awful signs of the last three-and-a-half years of the TribulationHour.

Lk. 21: 12 "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, andpersecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, beingbrought before kings and rulers for My name's sake."

"Basileus" -- "King" -- a sovereign -- ruler -- dictator (kings are not presidents)

Several years ago the Lord showed me in a dream that theChurch was going to go through "Great Persecution." The Church is persecuted for three-and-a-half years to bring her to a place of separation from the worldand complete dedication to the Lord.

Rev. 12: 6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a placeprepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand twohundred and threescore days ." (Three-and-a-half years)

Rev. 12: 15 "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood (falsedoctrine) after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of theflood (false doctrine)."

When this failed, he attacked the "remnant of her seed."

The Third Objective is to Destroy the Seed

Rev. 12: 17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make warwith the remnant of her seed…"

The "remnant of her seed" is the saints that are leftafter the Rapture of the Church, which takes place in the middle of theTribulation Hour. These saints find themselves facing the lastthree-and-a-half years of the Tribulation. They are represented by the foolishvirgins that neglected their experience. They will have to wash their robes inthe blood of the Lamb, and will come out of Great Tribulation.

Rev. 7: 9 "After this (the sealing of the 144,000 Jews) I beheld, and, lo,a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, andpeople, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed withwhite robes, and palms in their hands;"

Rev. 7: 13, 14 "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What arethese which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said untohim, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out ofGreat Tribulation, and have washed their robes , and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

The Destiny of the Dragon

Cast out of Heaven

Rev. 12: 8 "…Neither was their place found any more in heaven."

Rev. 12: 9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, calledthe devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into theearth, and his angels were cast out with him."

The devil's place was not left empty, but was found no more. The "Man-Child" now occupies that place.

Bound in the Bottomless Pit

Rev. 20: 1--3 "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key ofthe bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on thedragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and satan, and bound him athousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and seta seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousandyears should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

Loosed a Little Season

The dragon will be loosed for a short season. He goes forthand deceives many nations.

Rev. 20: 3 "…And after that he must be loosed a little season."

Rev. 20: 7, 8 "And when the thousand years are expired, satan shall beloosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are inthe four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together tobattle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."

Cast Ultimately into the Lake of Fire

The dragon will eventually be cast into the lake of fire,where he shall be tormented forever, and forever.

Rev. 20: 10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake offire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall betormented day and night for ever and ever."