Satan in the Bible: The Red Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns

In the Bible, Satan is described as a red beast with seven heads and ten horns. This is not a literal creature but a symbolic depiction of the angelic rulers of the nations of Babylon, Persia, the four kingdoms of Greece, Rome, and the ten nations that arose from Rome’s division.

Revelation and the History of Satan

Revelation chapters 12, 13, 17, and 18 provide a prophetic outline of the history of the church and the appearance of Satan from the time of Jesus to the end of the world. To understand Satan's appearance and actions, Revelation 12 offers a detailed explanation.

[Revelation 12:1-5] "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who 'will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.' And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne."

In this passage, the woman crowned with twelve stars represents Spirit-filled saints. Throughout the Bible, God’s temple, church, and kingdom are expressions referring to believers who have received the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Jesus used the imagery of a pregnant woman to describe his disciples.

[John 16:20-22] "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again, and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

The pregnant woman represents the disciples, and the child she gives birth to symbolizes Jesus resurrected and coming to them. This foreshadows the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples. In Revelation 12, the child born to the woman is not a literal child but a representation of the resurrected Jesus. The dragon’s attempt to devour the child signifies Satan’s role in Jesus’ crucifixion, and the child being taken up to God represents Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.

Satan Cast Down from Heaven

After Jesus' ascension, he cast Satan and his angels out of heaven. These fallen beings, including the seven angelic rulers and their subordinates, were expelled to earth as a result of their rebellion against God and their role in Jesus’ death.

[Revelation 12:7-9] "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

The expulsion of Satan from heaven marks the beginning of his activity on earth. His actions and their impact on the history of the church are detailed in the subsequent prophecies of Revelation.

Conclusion

Revelation 12 provides critical insight into the symbolic nature of Satan and his role in opposing God's plans. The woman symbolizes the church, and her child represents the resurrected Jesus. The red dragon reflects Satan’s angelic rebellion and earthly influence. As the story unfolds, understanding Satan’s actions and the church's history is crucial to discerning the spiritual battle that continues to this day.