In brief, the book of revelation is an apocalyptic vision foretelling that the church of jesus christ will overcome these two beasts and the demonic dragon behind their plots. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Chapter 4 begins the prophetic parts of the book of revelation. In revelation 17, god makes it even clearer regarding the dragon of chapter 12 and the first beast of chapter. Many see the four horsemen, the beast, the dragon, and conclude that the book of revelation is a symbolic book and must be interpreted differently than the rest of the bible. This appears to be a historical reference to king herods effort to destroy jesus as a young child by ordering the deaths of all male children from two years old and under who lived in and around. The latter reference includes the color red that suggests that the beast of revelation 17 could be identical to the dragon of revelation 12. Chapter 10 understanding revelation and the timeline of. As we will see later in the book of revelation, the dragon in johns day, while representing rome in many respects, still is open to be seen in many different ways, depending on the time period of the reader. A chinese man decodes the 2,000year mystery of the book. The beasts in daniels prophecy are identified as specific kings, or political kingdoms, that rule in succession over empires.
One is at the top of the dragon s head and the dragon is facing left. Those who do evil are thrown into the furnace of fire. It combines features of the four beasts described in the prophecy at daniel 728, including the appearance of a leopard, the feet of a bear, a lions mouth, and ten horns. I download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The two periods most often mentioned are the latter part of neros reign a. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. According to nostradamus, the bear and eagle prophecy is the prediction of world war lll. The dragon is that fabulous monster of whom ancient poets told, as large in size, coiled like a snake, blood red in colour. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are the things which john has seen and the things which are.
Go with me to revelation 17 where this same ugly dragon. The best way to understand the bible is to let the bible explain itself. Revelation must be interpreted the same way any other portion of scripture is interpreted. From both the book of revelation and the cited passage from the pistis sophia, one can see many similarities with respect to the appearance of a dragon in the heavens. Satan causes his false prophet to appear like a meek and gentle lamb when in reality he has the heart of a destroyer. My question has to do with revelation 12, about the dragon why does he have 7 heads, 10 horns, and 7 crowns on his head. Salt lake city the book of revelation has remained the most mysterious book in the bible for the last two thousand years. A readers guide to the book of revelation spilsbury, paul, packer, j.
Many people jump to the conclusion that the dragon must represent china. In the book of revelation we find that the beasts agenda corresponds to that of the dragon. The appearance of the dragon, the heads and the horns 2, tie us in two other chapters in revelation. Summary of the book of revelation revelation was written when christians were entering a time of persecution. It is the story of how the church overcomes the roman. For a time, the beast is given authority over all nations and peoples with which to execute this task. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book. Revelation the dragon, two beasts, and the mark lds. Bill explores the origins of the image and possible interpretations as to its meaning. What the bible says about beast, relationship with dragon.
Revelation was written when christians were entering a time of persecution. There is no specific timeframe for when this battle will play. China and north korea the red dragon in the book of. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of god the almighty. The throne the lamb the dragon a reader s guide to the book of revelation the book of revelation has long intrigued puzzled and even frightened its readers surely it is the most misunderstood book in the bible and some faulty interpretations of revelation are so entrenched. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. In revelation chapter 12, john sees the vision of woman about to give birth and a devouring dragon waiting to pounce. The book of revelation speaks of a raging war in the heavens, wrought by a sevenheaded red dragon and a woman clothed in sun.
We will see christ later in the book of revelation ruling with a rod of iron. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. The great dragon of the book of revelation gnostic warrior. Many students of bible prophecy consider revelation 16. Revelation comes right out and tells us that hes actually that ancient. This first beast is initially mentioned in revelation 11. Who are the woman, child and dragon in revelation 12. When we transition to the book of revelation we find a lot of involvement from the dragon. A readers guide to the book of revelation kindle edition by spilsbury, paul, packer, j. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east.
The two beasts in revelation what do they represent. John implies that the healing of the beasts mortal wound is itself a deception, producing amazement by the. Why does the dragon in revelation 12 have seven heads and. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. This relationship between these two is further confirmed in revelation. The dragon is satan the devil, the deceiver of the whole world revelation 12. Here now in chapter 17 we have a picture of a woman riding a scarlet coloured beast with seven heads and ten horns. In the book of revelation the return of christ at the end of the seven last plagues, as described in the book of revelation. The second half of the book of revelation begins with johns vision of the woman and the dragon. In revelation 12 this is the second great portent in the sky after the woman clothed with the sun. Sars would be a demon coming out of the mouth of the dragon china, described in revelation 16, where the dragon and the two beasts send out demons. There are many cultures such as the hebrew, assyrian, greek, egyptian and arabian which. There are two yellow arrows pointing at the dragon.
His appearance is described in detail in revelation. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, showing that the beast on earth. Note that chinas first leader, and most bloodthirsty leader, the present tyrants in charge of red china are mild compared to mao, chairman mao zedong, was born on dec. The beast from the sea now wages war on the followers of the lamb in obedience to the dragon revelation. In the book of genesis, a serpent, more subtle than any beast of the field, tempted the woman in paradise. The beast from the sea is the dragon s agent assigned by him to annihilate the saints. Revelation 12 tree of life version tlv mother, child, dragon, and war.
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