The dragon in Revelation 12 symbolizes Satan.
In Revelation 12:3, John sees a great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Les Feldick teaches that these are descriptions of Satan and that the dragon in Scripture is always a reference to Satan. The dragon's actions—drawing a third of the stars with his tail and trying to devour the woman's child—show Satan's rebellion and his opposition to the Messiah.
Revelation 12:3 — Reveals the great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns, the image Les identifies as Satan.
Revelation 12:4 — Shows the dragon's actions—sweeping a third of the stars and seeking to devour the woman's child—which Les ties to Satan's rebellion and his attack on Christ.
The Bible describes a "great red dragon" in Revelation 12:3, having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. In verse 4, his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth, and the dragon stood before the woman "which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." Verse 5 records that the woman brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and the child was caught up to God and to His throne. Later, when the dragon was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child (Revelation 12:13). The earth also helped the woman by opening her mouth and swallowing up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth (Revelation 12:16).
Les Feldick teaches that the great red dragon in Revelation 12 is a symbolic description of Satan. The book of Revelation uses symbolism, but it always comes back to literal truth. The seven heads and ten horns depict Satan's power. Les also says the dragon in Scripture is always a reference to Satan. Les explains the dragon's tail as his enticing language that drew a third part of the angelic host into his rebellion, connecting this to Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. The woman is the nation of Israel, and her child is Christ born at Bethlehem. The dragon stood ready to devour the child, and after the child was caught up to God, the dragon later persecutes Israel.
Yes. In Revelation 12:3 the great red dragon has seven heads and ten horns, and Les Feldick says these are descriptions of Satan. He also says the dragon in Scripture is always in reference to Satan. Revelation itself uses symbolic language, but the symbolism points to literal truth.
Les interprets the stars as angels. The dragon's tail, representing his enticing language, drew a third part of the angelic host in his rebellion. He connects this to Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14, where Satan said he would be like the Most High. A third of the angels followed him.
The woman is the nation of Israel. The child is Christ, born at Bethlehem. The dragon stood before the woman ready to devour her child as soon as it was born. Les emphasizes this describes Satan's opposition to the birth of the Messiah.
The child is caught up to God and His throne—the ascension. Later the dragon, cast to the earth, persecutes the woman, Israel. In the symbolism, the earth helps the woman and swallows the flood which the dragon casts out, showing God's protection of Israel.
The Great Tribulation: Israel's Flight & God's Protection Explained
upon their feet." And now you come to verse 12, "...they heard a great voice from heaven saying, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and there any of you held them?" Now that's the midpoint. That's the end of the twelve hundred and sixty days. Now you go right into the next verse, and what did it say? "...and the same hour..." See? So we're at the midpoint. "...
The Dragon's Tail and the Woman Israel
Les teaches that the dragon's tail sweeping a third of the stars refers to Satan's rebellion and the angels who followed him, and that the dragon stood before the woman (Israel) to devour the Christ child.
Dragon Symbolism and the Angelic Fall
Les identifies the great red dragon as a description of Satan and explains that the tail pictures his enticing language that drew a third of the angelic host.
The Dragon Is Satan Who Persecutes Israel
Les teaches that the dragon in Scripture is always a reference to Satan, that the woman is the nation of Israel, and that after being cast to earth the dragon persecutes her.
The Ascension and Israel's Persecution
Les connects the man-child being caught up to God and His throne to the ascension, and notes that the dragon later persecutes the woman, Israel.
Dragon's Heads and Horns Indicate Power
Les identifies the great red dragon as Satan and says his seven heads and ten horns indicate his power.
Earth Helps the Woman Against the Dragon
Les explains that the flood cast out of the dragon's mouth represents an armed force sent to destroy Israel, and the earth swallowing it pictures God's sovereign intervention.
A Third of the Angels Followed Satan
Les confirms that exactly one third of the angels followed Satan in his rebellion, and that the dragon stood ready to devour the Christ child at Bethlehem.
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 upon his heads.
This verse introduces the great red dragon and the symbolic features Les identifies with Satan.
Revelation 12:4: And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
This verse describes the dragon's tail drawing a third of the stars and his attempt to devour the woman's child.
Revelation 12:5: And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
This verse shows the man child being caught up to God and His throne, which Les calls the ascension.
Revelation 12:13: And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
This verse shows the dragon persecuting the woman, Israel, after being cast to the earth.
Revelation 12:16: And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
This verse shows the earth helping the woman by swallowing the flood from the dragon, which Les interprets as God's protection.
According to Les Feldick, the great red dragon is a symbolic picture of Satan. The book of Revelation uses symbolic language, but it points to literal truth. The dragon's heads, horns, and crowns describe Satan and his power.
Les teaches that the stars represent angels. The dragon's tail, or his enticing language, drew a third part of the angelic host in his rebellion against God. This is connected to the fall of Satan described in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14.
The woman is the nation of Israel, and her child is Christ, born at Bethlehem. The dragon stood before the woman ready to devour her child as soon as it was born, picturing Satan's attempt to destroy the Messiah.
The child is caught up to God and His throne—the ascension. After the dragon is cast to the earth, he persecutes the woman, Israel. Les also teaches that the earth helps the woman by swallowing the flood the dragon casts out, showing God's protection.
Watch the Teaching: The Great Tribulation: Israel's Flight & God's Protection Explained