Article April 26, 1941 Issue

Casting Out the Dragon

EMMA C. SHIPMAN

NEARLY two thousand years ago, John, in a vision recorded in the twelfth chapter of Revelation, saw that "the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world."

Throughout the Bible, a serpent or dragon is metaphorically used to symbolize evil. The Scriptures abound in figurative language, and to understand their teachings, one needs to perceive the inner meaning of Biblical metaphors, allegories, and parables. Spiritual discernment will reveal the truth behind the figure.

The dragon, as John says, is that "which deceiveth the whole world." It is a fiction, in which not a single fact of true being appears. Its so-called facts are merely false impressions made on the material senses. Evil is parasitic. It depends on mortal belief to give it a semblance of power. It operates as an aggressive mental suggestion. It suggests that it will be good for one to accept its insinuations.

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"Be ye separate"
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