In the Bible, what does a dragon symbolize? Is it a literal creature?
Dragons do not exist. The word signifies a serpent.
In the 0ld Testament:
In the New Testament:
Using Strong’s Concordance: Dragon 1404 δράκων drakon Translated in the KJV – ‘dragon’ 13 times. Meaning: a great serpent,
This connects us with the literal serpent in Genesis which deceived Eve. The serpent has a metaphorical seed – those who devise and do evil.
It includes those who invent and serve their own gods. Thus the ‘devil’ or ‘Satan’ (the adversary) being the propensity to do evil which resides within man is represented as a serpent in opposition to the Gospel and the teachings of Christ.
In Revelation the opposition to the preaching of the Gospel by the pagan Roman authorities is described as a war in heaven (representing the political heavens) between Michael (the archangel) (representing those who preached the Gospel) and the Serpent (representing the pagan Roman authorities). In the end those who preached the Gospel won and the Serpent and his angels were cast out of the political heaven. Constantine legalised Christianity and Theodosius outlawed idolatry in the Roman government.
Sadly, the liberated Church went rapidly downhill from there becoming the Mother of Harlots described in Revelation 17.
When Christ returns to rule the earth, the serpent (the evil within man and false religions) will be restrained by righteous governors who can read minds. Evil will be suppressed. This restraint will continue for 1000 years.
At the end of this time the restraint will be relaxed to permit a final rebellion.
Man’s opposition to God will cease and all who live on will possess the divine nature, freed from sin forever.
I hope you find this helpful.
God bless,
Glenn