Who is this dragon said to be?
Answer
"And the great dragon was cast out that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole
world." Verse 9.
NOTE-Primarily the dragon represents Satan, the great enemy and persecutor of the church in all
ages. But Satan works through principalities and powers in his efforts to destroy the people of God. It was
through a Roman king, King Herod, that he sought to destroy Christ as soon as He was born. Matt. 2:16.
Rome must therefore he symbolized by the dragon. The seven heads of the dragon are interpreted by some
to refer to the "seven hills" upon which the city of Rome is built; by others, to the seven forms of
government through which Rome passed; and by still others, and more broadly, to the seven great
monarchies which have oppressed the people of God; namely, Egypt, Assyria, Chaldea, Persia, Greece, and
pagan and papal Rome, in`--either of which Rome is represented and included. See pages 155, 156. The ten
horns, as in the fourth beast of Daniel 7, evidently refer to the ten kingdoms into which Rome was finally
divided, and thus again identify the dragon with the Roman power.
Through whom will Abraham receive the promise of the future inheritance?
Why were many attracted to Christ?
By what is the Medo-Persian Empire represented in the great image?
Because evil is not punished immediately, what presumptuous course do many pursue?
By what figure does the Bible represent death?
By what are we to try them?
If an answer does not come at once, what should we do?
Questions & Answers are from the book Bible Readings for the Home Circle