The Dragon, The Serpent, Leviathan, and Rahab

 

Revelation 12:3:  “Behold, a great red dragon.”

 

            These figures are symbolic features of the time-telling sky, literally described as constellations.  Figuratively, they represent the tendency to chaos and destruction.

            Early in time-reckoning, the position of the sun in relation to the background stars was noted and the sun year was calculated by reference to this phenomenon.  The divisions of the heavens were called “mansions.”  The moon also moved through these “mansions” in its own year – about eleven days less than the sun year.  The “mansions,” rooms or houses, were quite naturally divided by the position from one new moon to the next, or from one full moon to the next.  These “mansions” formed the circle of the heavens, known to the Greeks as the zodiac, but perhaps called Mazzaroth, or rahab by the Hebrews. 

Note this phrase found in Psalm 89:10 and Isaiah 51:9:

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. [Art] thou not it [he] that hath cut Rahab, [and] wounded the dragon?

 

            Psalm 89:10: “Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain.”

            The word ‘rahab’ means ‘breadth, broad expanse.’  In these two passages it probably refers to the division of the broad expanse of the heavens into the ‘mansions’ or ‘signs’ which divided the months and other seasons of the year.

            In Psalm 89:10, the context is of God establishing his faithfulness in the heavens, vss. 2-6, and of founding the heavens and the earth and the north and the south, vss. 11-12.  This act of establishing seasons and directions required the marking off of the apparent heavens into “pieces” or divisions.

            In context of Isaiah 51:9, along with “cutting Rahab in pieces” He has “wounded the dragon.”  This creature is hard to explain or define in literal, earthly terms.  Brown, Driver, Briggs defines the Hebrew (tannîyn), as: serpent, dragon, sea-monster…1. serpent, (as venomous)….2. dragon, as devourer….3. Sea– (or river-) monster.

            What is this wounded or slain dragon?  Spiritually it is clearly the devil.  But the literal symbol of it may be the portion of the circle of the sky that remains after the equal parts have been defined.  For example, neither the numbers of months in the moon-year nor the sun-year come out to an even year; there is a fraction remaining.  Even the days of the years do not divide out evenly with the solar or lunar years; there is always a fraction of a day or a week, creating a challenge to the orderly calculation of the times.

            Isaiah 27:1 not only speaks of the dragon, but also leviathan, as the piercing serpent and the crooked serpent, perhaps all the same creature.  Let us look at these two words.

            The Hebrew leviathan is simply transliterated from the Hebrew characters ןתיול, not translated.  Brown, Driver Briggs derives the word from the root הול which has three separate lines of definition:  “I. be joined….II…to borrow…III…turn, twist, wind;…surround, encircle…The word leviathan itself means serpent, dragon, leviathan…seamonster=crocodile…whale….dragon producing eclipses (mythol.) Job 40:25; figuratively of Egypt as all-engulfing, Psalm 74:14.”

            This dragon/serpent/monster may be identified as the twisting, encircling ecliptic in the depths of outer space.  When God punishes and slays this creature, He reconciles the cycles of time so that there is knowledge of the divine order of time and seasons.

            The serpent is Hebrew nâchâsh.  The various forms of this triliteral mean: “I…hiss….II…practise divination, divine, observe signs…. III…copper, bronze.”

            This creature may be identified as that which causes the eclipses, which was very difficult to determine with precision in ancient times.  The astrologers and diviners used their knowledge of the times and causes of eclipses to terrorize and subjugate people.  When God revealed to His priests the true nature and times of the eclipses, He slew this “serpent.”  This cosmic battle is being played out in conjunction with the earthly battles over Judea.

            (See “Beasts of the Earth”, Commentary on Revelation 6:8, also “The Red Dragon and His Manifestations”, Commentary on 12:3, and “The Four Beasts”, Commentary on 4:6-9).

 

The Red Dragon and His Manifestations

 

Revelation 12:3:  “And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon.” (RSV)

 

            Prior to these passages we have seen the “four living ones“, (translated “beasts” in KJV), in chapters 4-6 and the “beasts of the earth” in chapter 6.  Neither of these two references is equivalent to the Great Red Dragon of chapter 12 and the “Beasts” of chapters 13 through 20.  This creature is a manifestation of the devil himself, as is clearly revealed in 12:9:

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and satan, the deceiver of the whole world – he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9 RSV)

With this Biblical interpretation of this Beast, we need not speculate about his identity.

            This Dragon is here standing before the Woman Clothed With The Sun[1], about to devour the Child she is bearing.  When the Child is born, He is caught up to God’s throne in heaven.  Immediately, war arose in heaven, because the Dragon is still trying to destroy the Child.  It seems that the Dragon tried to follow the risen Child even into the heavens.  But there Michael and his angels, or ministers defeated the Dragon and cast him down into the earth. 

            The saints who sit with Christ in the heavenlies, (Eph. 1:3, 15-23; 2:6; Colossians 3:1-4), qualify as “angels” in this instance.  They who overcame this Dragon, are “those who dwell therein (i.e. in heaven)” (Revelation 12:12).  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and by loving not their lives unto the death.  They may be physically living in the earth; but whether or not they have passed from the fleshly existence, they are dwelling in heaven.  Heaven is the place of their citizenship. (Phil. 3:20).

            Biblically speaking, when, in man’s terms, is the Dragon to be cast out of heaven?  Is it to be in some yet future millennium?  No, it is clearly stated in Luke 10:18:

And he said to them, “I saw (past tense) satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Luke 10:18 RSV)

            Jesus defeated satan, (Revelation 1:18) and gave the keys to His church, (Matt. 16:18-19.  (See “Kingdom Singular or Plural?” Commentary on Revelation 11:15)

            When the Dragon is cast to the earth, Heaven rejoices, but “earth and sea” are warned of the “woe” that is to come because of the wrath of the Dragon.  This is significant for the interpretation of the “Beasts” that are described in chapter 13 for one arises “out of the sea,” (13:1) and the other “out of the earth,” (13:11).

            After his defeat in heaven, the Dragon pursues the Woman, (fleshly Israel), but being frustrated in that endeavor, he turns his attention to making war on “the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17).  This remnant of the Woman’s seed not only keeps the commandments but also bear testimony to Jesus.  These are those of fleshly Israel who were faithful to God’s commandments and also accepted the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ: in other words, the immediate reference was to the Jewish Christians of the first century.  The “rest of her offspring” is reminiscent of the phrase in Genesis 3:15 which promises that the seed of the Woman shall bruise the head of the serpent.

            In Revelation 13:1-3, we see what appears to be another of these horrible “Beasts,” but on closer scrutiny, we see that it is actually the same old serpent-devil, appearing in another form.  He has the same seven heads and ten horns, but has gained another three crowns, making him ten instead of the seven we saw on the Dragon.  This creature has a fleshly form but is possessed of the devil, for the “dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority“.  In other words, the devil has found a fleshly form to inhabit.

            He is now wearing a blasphemous name upon his heads.  That would mean that he is pretending to be God.  He utters proud and blasphemous words “against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.”  In other words, he blasphemes the saints of God who are God’s dwelling place, and who are now dwelling “in heaven,” whether in the body or out of the body.  (See “Blasphemy”, Commentary on Revelation 2:9.)

            This incarnation of the devil makes war on the saints and conquers (some of) them.  It will have authority over “all who dwell on earth/land,” that is, all those who have not been raised with Christ into the heavenly places, and they will worship it: “every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.”

            This incarnation of the devil is none other than what is elsewhere referred to as “the Flesh.”  “The Flesh” refers to the sin principle born into all mankind, (Rom. 8:1-13 and many other references).  There was also, at that time, an “Israel according to the Flesh,” (1 Cor. 10:18.  Galatians 4:23; Philippians 3:3-21.  See also article “Who Is a Jew?” Commentary on 2:9).  Indeed, in Philippians 3:2-21 Paul clearly draws a parallel between the genetic identity of being a Hebrew and of being “in the Flesh.”  Just as “The Flesh” is not acceptable to God, so the genetic identity is not acceptable except in Christ Jesus.

            From the time of Christ‘s sacrifice, the blood of animals was no longer acceptable as a sacrifice for sin.  Therefore, those who were not written in the Book of Life of the slain Lamb were subject to the devil and worshipped him.  Their Flesh was the abode of satan.  (See “Alpha and Omega”, Commentary on 1:8.)

            In Revelation 13:11 we see the Flesh, (‘Beast’), then takes another form.  This is still the same old devil-Dragon but here is seen possessing another fleshly form.  In this form, he appears as the great religious head of the earth and works miracles, makes images, and issues a mark that designates those marked as devotees of the idol-image.  This same devil makes another appearance in chapter 17, verse 3:

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3 RSV)

This time he is carrying a Woman.  The identity of the Woman is given in one short verse:

And the woman that you saw is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18 RSV)

            The identity of this beast is revealed in 17:8-18.  All of those “who dwell on the earth/land;” that is, those who live in The Flesh and not after the Spirit, will marvel, or worship.  The immediate reference was of the fleshly nation, Israel, which rejected Christ, of their kings, their warfare against the Lamb and His followers, of their idolatrous whorish relationship with the Romans.  The ten horns are the Roman appointed “kings” of Judea that joined with the Beast (fleshly Israel):  (See Commentary on 1:6 “Kings and Priests” and charts.)

(They) will hate the harlot; they will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and giving over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” (RSV)

            The “Words of God” here refers specifically to those recorded by Daniel 9:24-27. 

            The Woman is the “great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth”.  That was the position of Jerusalem in the days between the prophecy given by Christ and the fulfillment of that prophecy in AD 70.  She reigned as a queen, collecting the rich taxes from all the Jews in dispersion.  (See “Kings and Priests”, Commentary on 1:5 and “Roman Appointed Kings of Judea”, Commentary on Revelation chapter 17.  Note: The descendants of Sarah are referred to as “Kings”, Genesis 17:6, 16; 35:11).

            The “Flesh” is shown to be the designation of those who trusted in their fleshly descent, their genealogy traceable to Abraham coupled with their trust in Pharisaism, (later called Judaism), keeping the Law of fleshly circumcision.  But Paul clearly shows that this kind of confidence in “The Flesh” is vain:

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Phil. 3)

            Circumcision of the Flesh does not cleanse it, for the bodies we inherited through fleshly descent are vile and only Christ can purify them: True circumcision is a spiritual cleansing:

(Christ) Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Phil. 3:21)

 

28 For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29 He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise (Jewishness) is not from men but from God.  (Rom. 2 RSV)

 

Satan Cast Down

 

Revelation 12:10-12:  “The accuser of our brethren has been thrown down…woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath.” (RSV)

 

            Just as nations have their “Prince,” (as the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Grecia in Daniel 10:13, 20), so the Churches have their Prince, in the heavenlies.  When Christ is revealed in the book of Revelation, He is occupying the office of “Prince” of the Church nation.  This shows that Christ has the place that satan desired to have in Isaiah 14:12-14:

How are you fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!  How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!  You said in your heart ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; [The KJV translates this phrase as: “The mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north“] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.’ (RSV)

We find this same mountain again in Psalm 48: 1, 2: (KJV):

In the mountain of his holiness.  Beautiful in situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Compare RSV: “His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King”.

            Isaiah 14:15 continues and says to satan:  “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”  Satan desired the position reserved for Christ, but instead was cast down into the earth where he deceived Eve and became the god of this world, (2 Cor. l 4:4 KJV).

            Then in Revelation 20:2, 3, 10 we see Christ fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 14:15, casting the devil into the pit and occupying the holy mountain, “Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King,” visually represented to John in Revelation chapter one as the center of the universe, with the constellation of “The Greater Sheepfold,” analogous with the universal Church, orbiting around Him, and holding in His hand the spiritual reality of that Church.  (See “Seven Stars”, Commentary on Revelation 1:12.)