What is Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1)?

The prophetic writings of Isaiah (a "Messianic Prophet") view New Testament realities to such an extent that the Book of Isaiah has been referred to as "The Fifth Gospel" and "The Gospel of Isaiah." This passage serves as an excellent example of his writings encompassing the realities of this Gospel Day. Chapter 27 begins by establishing the prophetic time setting of this Scripture. The prophetic expression "In that day" or "at that day" is used forty-four times. All revert to the initial expression of "in the last days" (Isaiah 2:2). 

On the Day of Pentecost (A.D. 33), the Apostle Peter said, "THIS IS THAT which was spoken ... and it shall come to pass in the last days" (Acts 2:16-17). Biblically, "the last days" began on the Day of Pentecost. "This" day is "that day." Isaiah 27:1 is a prophecy with a New Testament time setting and fulfillment.

Look at how the "serpent" (Isaiah 27:1) is to be dealt with: "The Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan." "Leviathan" (in the singular) is being punished by the "sword" ("the word of God"; Hebrews 4:12). "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Corinthians 10:4). We are engaged in spiritual warfare in the New Testament dispensation. Thus, we are admonished to "put on the whole armour of God" (Ephesians 6:11) and "take the sword of the Spirit ... the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). Isaiah prophetically portrayed a spiritual warfare that took place between Christ and the church and this "piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent ... the dragon" (Isaiah 27:1).

What does this "leviathan" represent in the New Testament dispensation? "Leviathan" is mentioned five times in the Scriptures. There was a literal creature of this type known to the Patriarch Job. He gave great detail concerning this creature (Job 41:1-34). Asaph wrote of "the heads of leviathan" (Psalm 74:14). This verse in the Hebrew and the Greek Septuagint says "heads" (plural). Yet, the personal pronoun "him" is representative of a single entity. Isaiah and Psalms speak of "leviathan" being defeated.

Let us put the truth of these verses together. "In that day" reveals the prophetic reality is this New Testament dispensation. "Leviathan" is called "the dragon" in our text (singular). It was an enemy to be dealt with by the "sword" (the "word"). The "dragon" ("serpent") has "heads" (plural). The same description is in Revelation 12:3—a "dragon, having seven heads." He is also called "that old serpent" (Revelation 12:9). This "dragon" was an enemy in spiritual warfare: "Michael [a symbol of Christ] and his angels fought against the dragon" (Revelation 12:7). This does not portray a carnal warfare; what brought them victory was "they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11).

What is this "dragon" ("serpent" or "leviathan")? Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words With Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary defines the Hebrew word "as a symbol of Babylon." What part of Babylon? Revelation 16:19 says Babylon is "divided into three parts." Revelation 12:3 gives identifying factors: "a great red dragon." The "red dragon" was "a Roman symbol cavalry units carried on their flags" (AncientPages.com). This verse tells us the "dragon" ("serpent") had "seven heads and ten horns." In symbolic language, "heads" represent government (Isaiah 9:6) and "horns" represent kingdoms (Daniel 8:20). The historian Machiard described how the pagan Roman Empire had seven distinct different "heads" (types of government in its pagan form). Later, when it began to decline and divide, it was broken into "ten minor kingdoms."

This was the first opposing force to the morning-time church. As Isaiah 27:1 describes, the "sword" (or Word) wielded by the morning-time brethren slayed this "dragon." Its effectiveness and even its existence were destroyed. "Another great event that marks the close of this period of time, A.D. 270, is the division and decline of the Roman Empire" (A History of the Church by Wickersham, page 104). I trust we can see "leviathan" (Isaiah 27:1) is used as a representation of a New Testament reality the church faced and defeated, the pagan Roman Empire.

Earl R. Borders

From the November 2023 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter