And another portent appeared in heaven: as in verse 1.

Behold, a great red dragon: for behold see 1.7. Good News Translation has “There was.” It is also possible to say “it (the strange event) was.” Here great means “large,” “huge.” The dragon was a legendary beast, conceived of as a huge snake, or lizard, and sometimes thought of as living in the ocean depths. It appears in the Old Testament under various names; see Job 7.12 (“sea monster”); Psa 74.14 (“Leviathan”); 89.10 (“Rahab”); Isa 27.1; 51.9. This monster was a figure for the forces of destruction and chaos; here it is identified as Satan (verse 9). In some cultures in Asia the dragon is a symbol of good luck.

With seven heads and ten horns: for ten horns (but on a single head) see Dan 7.7, 20. They must be thought of as like the horns of a bull.

Seven diadems upon his heads: this indicates the dragon’s great authority. The translation should make clear that each head has one diadem. The Greek word translated diadems (New Jerusalem Bible “coronet”) is different from the word translated “crown” in verse 1. A diadem is a smaller, less elaborate crown. If a language lacks the two different words, it may be possible to say something like “seven small crowns” or “seven small kings’ hats (or, high chiefs’ hats).”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .