This file was created to find if I could find the proper understanding of the dragon that is found in Revelation. I will attempt to study the Bible use of the word dragon in an attempt to correctly identify what the dragon symbol is. I only use the scriptures that will help me to understand the symbolism used in the book of Revelation. This means that this file will not have every occurrence of the word Dragon. I will keep any scripture that appears to contradict my conclusion if I can find one.

The study of the word dragon has forced me to include some scriptures concerning the use of the word serpent. I will study the relationship between the words dragon and serpent.

Deut 32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Here is the first use of the word dragon. According to this verse a dragon is known for its poison. This may be a hint that when the dragon is used as a symbol, the thing it represents will be poisonous. In the context of the book of Revelation, this may allude to the poison of false doctrine.

Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

This verse in its context describes the destruction that God threatens against the wicked. Creatures from the animal world are used in a figurative language that is useful for helping the reader to understand the use of the word Dragon in Revelation. In the context of a series of prophesies, the reader knows that the prophet is referring to judgment against nations in this verse. The dragon in this verse may have reference to Egypt, Assyria, or Babylon. The main point here is that the inspired writer uses figures from the animal kingdom to represent oppressing nations. This is done consistently in the book of Revelation.

Isaiah 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Some Bible scholars would say that dragons as translated in this verse would more accurately describe wolves or jackals. Nevertheless, the thought that dragons inhabit a desolated place is the main thought here. When used in a symbolic way, this lets the reader know that in a spiritual sense to live with the dragon is to live in a spiritually dead place. This is also true to live under the dominion of a dragon.

Jer. 51:34 Nebuchadnezzar 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.

This verse teaches that the King of Babylon was like a dragon. Nebuchadnezzar was not a dragon. He was like a dragon. This helps the reader to see the use of the word dragon as a symbol. This may help the reader to see that the dragon is a symbol of a pagan government. In this verse that pagan government is Babylon. In Revelation the pagan government that oppressed the people of God is Rome in its pagan state.

Ezek 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.

Here we see another example of a pagan government being symbolized by a dragon. Pharaoh, being the absolute ruler of Egypt, is spoken to as if he was the nation itself. Egypt does nothing but what Pharaoh wills.

The following is a definition for the word that is translated dragon in the above scriptures. This definition is taken from the Strongs concordance. This definition shows that sometimes the Hebrew word "tanniyn" is translated sea-monster, serpent, and whale.

Strong's # 8577 tanniyn (tan-neen'); or tanniym (Ezek. 29:3) (tan-neem'); intensive from the same as 8565; a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or jackal: KJV-- dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale.

The following scriptures are the New Testament references to the word dragon. We will first give the definition for dragon taken from the Strong's Concordance.

Strong's # 1404 drakon (drak'-own); probably from an alternate form of derkomai (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate): KJV-- dragon.

Rev 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.

If we consider the verses found in Jeremiah 51:34 and Ezekiel 29:3, we can conclude that the dragon here is a symbol of a pagan government. The seven heads and the ten horns with the seven crowns upon his head are a clue that this pagan government is the pagan government of Rome. The difficulty that the average Christian has in receiving this understanding is the wave of popular doctrine that would have us believe that this scene in Revelation happened after creation and before the fall. A careful examination of all the events in the Chapter will cause one to come to a conclusion that seems to have escaped most modern expositors of the scriptures. The above verses are given in an attempt to help the reader to expand his mind about the possibilities of the true representation of the dragon when it is used as a symbol.

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.

This is verse is greatly misunderstood by many Bible teachers. Because the dragon is called the Devil and Satan, many teach that he is the Devil and Satan. However, he is called the Devil and Satan because he is an instrument to do the will of the personal Devil. He is called the Devil in the same manner that Jesus called Herod a fox. Herod was a fox in the sense that he carried the characteristics of a fox. On one occasion Jesus called Peter Satan. Peter was acting as an agent of Satan in this particular case because he was expressing the thoughts of Satan. He was not the personal Satan.

The dragon in this verse is called the Devil and Satan because in the context of the chapter one learns that the dragon was an agent that was being used by the Devil. The above scriptures should help the reader to expand his mind to see this possibility. A careful study of the whole chapter will reveal that the events as revealed in the 12^th Chapter of Revelation occurred after Pentecost but before the downfall of Pagan Rome.

Gen 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Exodus 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

Sometimes the Hebrew word tanniym is used to describe wild animals. However, when it is used as a symbol it is used to describe a civil power. The civil powers used in our examples are Babylon and Egypt. These two countries are noted in scripture for their pagan worship.

The following is a definition for the Hebrew word tan. Tan is translated sometimes as dragon and some times as whale. I included Ezekiel 32:2 because it shows that Pharaoh, King of Egypt, is likened unto a lion and a whale. This may help us to understand the usage of the word dragon as a symbol of pagan civil powers. If nothing else this verse gives strength to the belief that God uses animals to symbolize governments. In this case Pharaoh's position makes him synonymous with Egypt.

Strong's # 8565 tan (tan); from an unused root probably meaning to elongate; a monster (as preternaturally formed), i.e. a sea-serpent (or other huge marine animal); also a jackal (or other hideous land animal): KJV-- dragon, whale. Compare 8577.

Ezek 32:2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

Below is the Hebrew word usually translated serpent. It is included to show how serpent and dragon is related. I use it to show the relationship between the serpent made in the wilderness and the reference made to it in John.

Strong's # 5175 nachash (naw-khawsh'); from 5172; a snake (from its hiss): KJV-- serpent.

Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

2 King 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

The above scriptures shatter a concept that every reference of the word serpent is to Satan. Here the serpent is a type of Christ. I concede that in the above three scriptures serpent is not used symbolically, but it is used as a type. Nevertheless, this departure from common perceptions should be enough to let the Bible student know that it is not out of line to understand that the dragon, when used as a symbol, can symbolize civil governments.

I included the following scripture to show that the word serpent may not just mean the devil. Ophis is used to show an artful malicious person. I believe this is how the word serpent is used with the word dragon in Revelation.

Strong's # 3789 ophis (of'-is); probably from 3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan: KJV-- serpent.

The purpose as stated above is not about giving an in-depth explanation of the 12^th Chapter of Revelation. The above should help the Bible student to understand the use of dragon as it is used as a symbol in the Bible.

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