The Nativity Story with a Dragon?

None of the Gospels mention this unwelcome visitor to Bethlehem, but the Apocalypse does. John paints a seven-headed, ten-horned red dragon onto the peaceful Christmas canvas. You can read all about it in Revelation 12.

In Revelation 12, there is a vision of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She is described as being in labor, ready to give birth. A great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns appears, waiting to devour the child as soon as it is born.

The dragon is identified as Satan or the Devil, who represents evil and opposition to God. The child the woman gives birth to is described as a male child who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron. This child is often interpreted as a representation of Jesus Christ.

The dragon tries to devour the child, but the child is caught up to God and His throne. This event is seen as a depiction of the victory of Christ over the forces of evil. The dragon then wages war against the woman and her offspring, symbolizing the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil. The imagery in Revelation is highly symbolic, and interpretations may vary. The seven heads and ten horns on the red dragon are often associated with power and authority.

This passage is not directly related to the traditional Nativity story but is part of the broader themes of Revelation that include the cosmic conflict between good and evil. John’s version is not a retelling of what happened in Bethlehem on that dark night two thousand years ago;

instead, Revelation describes what happened in heaven the same night. Satan, the red dragon, was present as the Savior of the world was born. The dragon had full intentions of overpowering Christ from the beginning, but God snatched up his son and protected him from evil. Satan was present again thirty-three years later as Jesus hung on the cross. I can imagine the red dragon prowling behind the crowds, waiting to devour Christ.

But once again, God snatched up his Son and protected him. Then God did something that would prevent the dragon from ever again attempting to overpower Jesus—he raised his Son from the dead. On that day, the red dragon was defeated once and for all.