Topical Bible: The Dragon: Often of a Red Colour

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In biblical literature, the dragon is a significant symbol, often associated with chaos, evil, and opposition to God. The imagery of the dragon is most prominently featured in the apocalyptic literature of the Bible, particularly in the Book of Revelation. The dragon is frequently depicted as being of a red color, symbolizing its destructive and malevolent nature.

Biblical References:

1. Revelation 12:3 : "Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads." This passage introduces the dragon as a formidable and terrifying creature, emphasizing its power and authority through the imagery of multiple heads and crowns. The red color is often interpreted as representing bloodshed, war, and violence, aligning with the dragon's role as an adversary.

2. Revelation 12:4 : "His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth." Here, the dragon's actions further illustrate its destructive intent and opposition to God's plan. The sweeping of stars is symbolic of the dragon's influence and the chaos it brings.

3. Revelation 12:7-9 : "Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels. And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." This passage identifies the dragon with Satan, the ultimate adversary of God and His people. The dragon's expulsion from heaven signifies the triumph of divine order over chaos and evil.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The dragon's red color is rich in symbolic meaning. In the biblical context, red is often associated with sin, judgment, and warfare. The dragon's red hue underscores its role as a bringer of destruction and its connection to the shedding of blood. This symbolism is consistent with the dragon's identification as Satan, who is described as a murderer and deceiver from the beginning (John 8:44).

The dragon's depiction in Revelation is part of a broader apocalyptic narrative that portrays the cosmic struggle between good and evil. The dragon's opposition to the woman and her child in Revelation 12 is often interpreted as an allegory for Satan's attempts to thwart God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The dragon's ultimate defeat by Michael and his angels serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the eventual triumph of righteousness.

Cultural and Theological Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, dragons and serpents were common symbols of chaos and opposition to the divine order. The biblical portrayal of the dragon draws on these cultural motifs while infusing them with theological significance. By identifying the dragon with Satan, the biblical narrative emphasizes the personal and cosmic dimensions of evil.

The dragon's presence in Revelation serves to encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith amidst persecution and spiritual warfare. It reassures them of God's ultimate victory over evil and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. The vivid imagery of the dragon, with its red color and fearsome attributes, serves to highlight the seriousness of the spiritual battle and the need for vigilance and faithfulness among God's people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 12:3
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Consider the Lilies of the Field
... The red glare upon them was his dying blood ... which lay below the world; or with the
dragon who tried ... disobedience and actual sin he punished, often with terrible ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xiv consider the lilies of.htm

A Provision Ground
... if he be a man of taste" as he often seems to be ... at each of its four corners an upright
Dragon's-blood {314h} bush, whose violet and red leaves bedeck our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvi a provision ground.htm

The Fourth vision "In Heaven"
... his hand, and God overthrew his armies in the Red Sea ... makes war against the dragon,
and not the dragon who makes war against the man-child (as is so often stated ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fourth vision in heaven.htm

The Sack of Rome
... The red bricks of the enclosure and the fresh mason ... he marched by carrying his
ensign"a dragon embroidered on a ... It often happened that he was duped by his own ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the sack of rome.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... at home, and remembering that there were dragon-flies of ... when it extends its wings,
which it often does, there ... A game-bird, olive, with a bare red throat, also ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

The Flag of the World
... martyr and the suicide was not what is so often affirmed in ... He can shake his sword
at the dragon, even if it ... was right when I felt that roses were red by some ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/v the flag of the.htm

The Mystery
... been recently written, that word so often repeated, Lateinos ... is the number of the
red dragon, that is ... the apocalyptical sense,""I renounce the dragon, and all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

The First Theban Empire
... who were sent to quarry the stone often took advantage ... or by steep mountains, which
appear sometimes a dull red, sometimes a dingy grey colour, according to ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

The Solar Eclipse
... may set the sun at liberty, that the dragon may be ... The sons of great men are often
small and drivelling ... When war, with its blood-red sword, sweeps the nations ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the solar eclipse.htm

The Ethics of Elfland
... by being told that Tommy opened a door and saw a dragon. ... could at any moment do and
which, very often, it was ... it a bold quality as of choice; the red of garden ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/iv the ethics of elfland.htm