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Revelation
The Great Dragon
1. In the Book of Revelation, the "Great Dragon" is a symbolic figure that represents Satan, the devil. The imagery of the Great Dragon is used to depict the powerful and malevolent nature of the adversary and his role in opposing God and His people.
2. The reference to the Great Dragon is found in Revelation 12, where the apostle John describes a vision he received. In this vision, a great sign appears in heaven: "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head." The woman is about to give birth, and she is threatened by a dragon, described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on its heads.
3. The dragon seeks to devour the woman's child as soon as it is born, but the child is snatched up to God and His throne. This child is identified as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who ultimately triumphs over the forces of evil. The dragon, unable to harm the child, turns his attention to making war against the rest of the woman's offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.
4. The symbolism of the Great Dragon in Revelation represents the cosmic conflict between good and evil, with Satan as the ultimate instigator of opposition to God and His people. The dragon's attempts to destroy the woman and her child reflect Satan's ongoing efforts to thwart God's redemptive plan and to persecute those who follow Christ.
5. The imagery of the Great Dragon underscores the spiritual warfare that believers are engaged in and the reality of the opposition they face from the powers of darkness. However, the vision in Revelation also highlights the ultimate victory of Christ over the forces of evil and the assurance of protection for God's people.
6. The Great Dragon in Revelation is a symbolic representation of Satan, the adversary of God and His people. The imagery serves to emphasize the spiritual warfare and persecution faced by believers, while also pointing to the ultimate triumph of Christ and the security of those who remain faithful to Him.