Satan – Dragon
“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 12:9).
When God created Lucifer, his beauty was flawless and breathtaking and his brightness was awe-inspiring (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Today, some portray the devil as a red, half-man and half-beast with horns and tail or have an animal appearance of a monster or dragon. This concept came from pagan mythology and pleases the devil. He knows that thinking people reject monsters as fables and so they will be led to deny his existence altogether.
Paul said that “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Light is one of the supreme attributes of God and His holy angels (Matthew 28:2, 3; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 21:23, 24). Whenever and wherever God or His angels go, they shed light and erase darkness (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13). Darkness, on the contrary, represents Satan (Luke 22:53; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 6:12).
This indicates that the description of a dragon or serpent in Revelation 12:9 is only symbolic. Satan and his demons can appear and pose as righteous people, even clergymen. And Satan will appear as a glorious angel of light with power to call fire down from heaven (Revelation 13:13).
Satan will even impersonate Jesus. His deceptive power will be so great that our only safety will lie in refusing to go to see him. Jesus warned His followers saying, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:23-26).
In Revelation 12:3, the dragon is described as “red,” probably because of the fact that in all his connection with the church of God he has appeared in the role of persecutor and destroyer, he shed much blood. Throughout the ages, it has been his goal and purpose to destroy the children of the Most High.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
