Further, in understanding such prophecies as the beasts of Revelation we must keep in mind that it is solid spiritual food and that therefore it can be assimilated only by those who have made some progress in spiritual understanding. To illustrate: How could one appreciate that the dragon and his angels represented Satan and his demons if one did not believe in the existence of these? This principle also applies in a collective sense, for “the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” It follows that even if God’s Word itself does not interpret a prophecy we may not shut out the possibility of increased light shining upon it. With these principles in mind let us now proceed with a consideration of the beasts of Revelation.—Prov. 4:18.

The Fiery-colored Dragon

FOREMOST among the beasts that John saw as recorded in the book of Revelation was “a great fiery-colored dragon, with seven heads and ten horns and upon its heads seven diadems.” The word “dragon” here translates the Greek word drakōn, which is defined as a fabulous kind of serpent. The English word “dragon” means a fabulous and monstrous scaly serpent with a crested head and enormous claws.—Rev. 12:3.

Who is this beastly dragon? The prophecy itself tells us: “Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” Appropriately the apostle Peter refers to the dragon Satan the Devil as a “roaring lion, seeking to devour.”(Rev. 12:9; 1 Pet. 5:8) His fiery-red color is symbolic of his being extremely wicked and a shedder of blood. (Isa. 1:18; 63:1-3) He is indeed the “original serpent,” for he is the one that, using a serpent as his mouthpiece, “seduced Eve by [his] cunning.”—2 Cor. 11:3.