Find out how did Jesus conquered death and set us free from fear.

Are Your Kids Afraid of Death?

Are your kids afraid of death? 

A few years ago, my grandfather passed away in his sleep. 

I remember talking with my boys about what a blessing it was for Great Grandpa to be in heaven with Jesus, and how he didn’t suffer much. “He just went to sleep and woke up in heaven!” 

Well, my four year old at the time didn’t want to go to bed that night. He was terrified that he might fall asleep and wake up in heaven, just like Grandpa!  

Well, like it or not, death is the one thing in life that is inevitable for all of us. Unless Jesus returns soon, there is a 100% chance that we will all die sooner or later. 

How’s that for an encouraging thought to start off our episode today?  😳 😅

The past two episodes of Redeeming the Chaos have been a mini-series on the topic of Easter. Two weeks ago we talked about how Cherubim can help our kids understand the meaning of Easter. And then last week we talked about all the reasons you should put chocolate dragons in your kids easter baskets. 😂

Episode 89: How Cherubim Can Help Kids Understand the Meaning of Easter

Episode 90: How Dragons Can Help You Teach Your Kids About Easter

Today is the third and final episode in our little Easter mini-series. And we’re talking about how Jesus conquered death and defeated the dragon. 

Why do we fear death?

Many adults fear death. Even Christians, who have a guarantee of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. I don’t fear what will happen to me after I die. I know where I will be. But I do fear what might happen to me in order to get to heaven. 

But the Bible tells us we have been set free from the fear of death! 

HEbrews 2: 14-15  

“Only by dying could he [Jesus] break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

But in order to understand all the nuances of Jesus breaking the power of death, we’re going to have to talk about dragons again. Haha. Sorry… not sorry!  🐲

Last week I was interviewed on the Fantastical Truth podcast. We talked about dragons in modern literature, dragons in ancient literature, and dragons in the Bible. Today, I want to dive a little deeper into the topic of dragons in the Bible, because it has a lot to do with this topic of death. 

Dragons: A Symbol of Chaos and Death

In the ancient world, dragons were a symbol of chaos, disorder, and death. There are many ancient stories from Mesopotamia, Babylon, Egypt and Greece, that tell of a hero (often a god) slaying a dragon. Interestingly, these “dragons” in the ancient stories were typically sea monsters, because the sea was also a symbol of chaos, disorder and death!  

We’re going to take a little journey through the Bible to see where we encounter images of dragons and death.

The Great Sea Creatures

We first meet a dragon in Genesis 1:21, where God created the “great sea creatures.” (NASB).  

Genesis 1:21

“So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

The term translated “great sea creatures” is the Hebrew word tannin. In ESV it’s translated as “great sea monsters.” But in other places throughout Scripture, the word tannin is translated as “dragon”!  We’ll look at a few of those verses in a minute. 

In Genesis 1, the “dragon” or sea monster is just one of God’s creatures. Why is this significant?  Because in Ancient Near Eastern culture, there were many creation myths. In the Babylonian creation story, the god Marduk had to defeat the sea dragon Tiamat before he could create the world. But here is Yahweh. He is the supreme creator of all things, even the mighty sea dragon. He creates the world by the power of his word. He doesn’t have to conquer any dragons before he creates the world.

The Crafty Serpent

Our next introduction to a dragon in the Bible is in Genesis 3.

Genesis 3:1-3

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

The Hebrew word for serpent here is nahash. The word Nahash is often interchangeable with the word Tannin. They both symbolize chaos, death, and disorder.

Consider this verse: 

Isaiah 27:1 (NASB)

“In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, With His fierce and great and mighty sword, Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.”

There are several terms here that are all referring to the same creature: 

• Leviathan – Livyatan (transliteration from Hebrew)

• Serpent – Nahash

• Dragon – Tannin 

In order to understand what the Hebrew readers understood by this passage in Isaiah, we need to go back to Genesis chapter 3. 

In Genesis 3, after the Nahash deceived Adam and Eve, God curses the serpent. 

Genesis 3:14-15

“The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

In verse 15, the word “bruise” is sometimes translated “crush” or “strike.” (NIV, NLT) But it’s understood that a bruise to the heel can be survived, whereas a bruise to the head would be fatal. One day, a descendent or “seed” of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. 

We know from other places in Scripture (Revelation 12) that this serpent was the devil in a serpent costume.

For thousands of years, the Hebrew people looked forward to the day when Yahweh would send someone to crush the head of the serpent.

Can People Be Dragons?

Sometimes throughout the Bible, people are referred to as “dragons.” Anytime a human aligns himself with an agent of chaos and evil, he becomes the “seed” of the serpent.

PHARAOH

In Ezekiel 29, God is speaking to Pharaoh, King of Egypt.

Ezekiel 29

“Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, ‘My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.’

I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales.”

GOLIATH

In I Samuel 17, where David fights Goliath, an interesting word is used to describe Goliath’s armor. Goliath wore “scale” armor – a word used to describe the scales of a fish, a reptile, a serpent, or … a dragon?

I Samuel 17:5

“He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.” (NASB)

David (a seed of the woman) cuts off the head of the “serpent / dragon” – an enemy of Yahweh.

Jesus Conquered Death

Throughout the Scriptures, Hebrew writers predict that this dragon, the evil serpent, or the devil, will one day be destroyed. So, when does this happen? Has this prophecy been fulfilled? Has Jesus conquered death and defeated the dragon?

Examine the following verses:

Hebrews 2:14-15

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Christ had to submit to death in order to defeat death! We too must “die to ourselves” in order to experience new life in Christ. 

Isaiah  25:8

 “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”

I Corinthians 15:25-27, 54-57

²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”  …

⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

We Die With Christ

Not only does Christ have to submit to death in order to defeat death, but we too must die with Christ in order that we may have new life in him.

Romans 6:5-10 

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

Colossians 2:13-15

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Just as Christ defeated the dragon of chaos and death by entering into death itself, so we too gain new life through death. We no longer have to fear death. By embracing death, we defeat it! 

The final Demise of the Dragon

So what happened to the serpent, that evil dragon?

Revelation 12:7-9

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 

Here we see another mention of a dragon. Who is this dragon? John, the author of Revelation, did not leave any room for questioning. He explains it very clearly. The dragon is the ancient serpent, the devil and Satan. Hebrew and Greek readers would recognized this reference to Genesis 3, when God cursed the serpent. 

When we study the Bible, it’s important to analyze the parts in light of the whole. Because the Bible is God’s inspired Word, we can interpret Genesis 3 in light of Revelation 12. 

There are differing view points as to when exactly this war between Michael and the dragon happened, or will happen in the future. Some say this was when Satan first fell from heaven, some say this happened when Jesus died on the cross, and some say it will happen in the end times. 

In any case, what is clear is that the dragon has been defeated by the blood of the Lamb!  The seed of the woman (Eve) has finally crushed the serpent. The Dragon Slayer has defeated the dragon!

We see later in Revelation 20, the final demise of the dragon:

Revelation 20:1-3, 7-8, 10

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while…. 

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations … 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 2:20

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Join the Army of the Dragon Slayer

Not only did Jesus conquer death and defeat the dragon, but he invites us to join him in crushing the head of the serpent. Sometimes it’s hard to understand the “already but not yet” aspect of the Bible. The dragon has already been defeated in Christ’s death and resurrection, but he has not yet been bound. He is still trying to “wage war” on all the offspring of the woman, “on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12). 

As his image bearers, Jesus invites us to join him in fighting the dragon. 

Luke 10:17-20

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Romans 16:20

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Ephesians 6:11-13

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

The Dragon Slayer Bible Series 

Frank Peretti meets the Jesus Storybook Bible! 

The Dragon Slayer Bible Series is a series of Bible stories and devotions for pre-teen boys. It’s a call to courageously put on the armor of God and join the Dragon Slayer in the battle against the evil dragon. 

People ask me: Is this a chapter book, a devotional, or a Bible study? The answer is… YES! Each book includes an action-packed fictional retelling of a biblical narrative, as well as devotional readings, Bible studies, and journal entries. 

Book one, Rise of the Enemy, is currently available for purchase on Amazon. 

Book two, Garden of Mysteries, will be available to order through Kickstarter on April 3, 2024. But only for two short weeks! 

VIEW ON KICKSTARTER

REFERENCE MATERIALS

• The Bible Project podcast with Tim Mackie – series on the chaos dragon
• Book: The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer by Andrew David Naselli
• Book: Myths from Mesopotamia: Epic of Creation
• Article: Dragon Myths and Biblical Theology – Robert D. Miller (also wrote a book called the Dragon, the Mountain, and the Nations)
• Article: The Skull Crushing Seed of the Woman by James Hamilton
• Brian Godawa has several articles and videos on his website about this topic… on particular article I used – Leviathan: Sea Dragon of Chaos
• Booklet:  Brian Godawa: Leviathan & Behemoth – Giant Chaos Monsters in the Bible
• Book: The Penguin Book of Dragons (history of dragons in literature throughout history)
• Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/