Leviathan is a spirit assigned to stop God’s call to the apostolic people of God.
Old Testament Leviathan
Most references to Leviathan have come from the book of Job, with some verses in Isaiah and Psalms.
Multi-headed
Psalms describe Leviathan as being multi-headed:
PSALMS 74:14 YOU BROKE THE HEADS OF LEVIATHAN IN PIECES, AND GAVE HIM AS FOOD TO THE PEOPLE INHABITING THE WILDERNESS.
Therefore, it is a spirit, not a natural animal because it has multiple heads.
Scales
Job makes it obvious that this beast has scales:
JOB 41:15-16 HIS ROWS OF SCALES ARE HIS PRIDE, SHUT UP TIGHTLY AS WITH A SEAL; HE LEAVES A SHINING WAKE BEHIND HIM; ONE WOULD THINK THE DEEP HAD WHITE HAIR.
Fiery Breathing
Job 41 also teaches us that this spirit is fire-breathing:
JOB 41:19 OUT OF HIS MOUTH GO BURNING LIGHTS; SPARKS OF FIRE SHOOT OUT.
Serpent
We also learn that Leviathan is a twisting serpent:
ISAIAH 27:1 IN THAT DAY THE LORD WITH HIS SEVERE SWORD, GREAT AND STRONG, WILL PUNISH LEVIATHAN THE FLEEING SERPENT, LEVIATHAN THAT TWISTED SERPENT; AND HE WILL SLAY THE REPTILE THAT IS IN THE SEA.
Dragon
We get the complete interpretation when we look at the Hebraic meaning of Leviathan: liwyâṯân; a wreathed animal, a serpent, figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Bab.
Now let’s look at the New Testament to interpret who Leviathan is.
New Testament Dragon
When we look at these four characteristics of Leviathan, we see that they are mirrored in the New Testament.
Identifying Leviathan
REVELATION 12:3 AND ANOTHER SIGN APPEARED IN HEAVEN: BEHOLD, A GREAT, FIERY RED DRAGON HAVING SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS, AND SEVEN DIADEMS ON HIS HEADS.
So, from this verse, we see three of the four major attributes given to Leviathan. It is multiheaded, fiery, and a dragon, having scales.
Leviathan of the New Covenant is a Dragon
Further on in this chapter, we find that it is also a serpent:
REVELATION 12:9 SO THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, THAT SERPENT OF OLD,
Leviathan Identified as the Devil
We now get an interpretation of who this spirit is – the devil himself.
REVELATION 12:9 SO THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, THAT SERPENT OF OLD, CALLED THE DEVIL AND SATAN, WHO DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD; HE WAS CAST TO THE EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM.
In the New Testament it is identified as a dragon attacking the son of God:
REVELATION 12:4 HIS TAIL DREW A THIRD OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN AND THREW THEM TO THE EARTH. AND THE DRAGON STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN WHO WAS READY TO GIVE BIRTH, TO DEVOUR HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT WAS BORN.
And then the sons and daughters of the kingdom:
REVELATION 12:17 AND THE DRAGON WAS ENRAGED WITH THE WOMAN, AND HE WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING, WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.
God Assigns Leviathan to Strengthen the Men and Women of God
Satan’s Perspective
In the eyes of the devil, his purpose is to destroy anything that glorifies the Trinity. God made humankind in His image and said it was good. Because Satan is the arch-enemy of everything good and cannot attack God, he attacks the image of God – humanity.
Therefore, by attacking humanity through sickness and torment, he is taking away from the father-heart of God.
Unfortunately, some false teaching today states that there is a war between God and the devil. We know that God created Lucifer. Therefore, God can destroy Satan at any time He chooses.
Now, however, God uses the devil to perfect and strengthen the sons and daughters of God.
God’s Perspective of Satan
God’s perspective is different from the devil’s perspective. When we understand the perspective of God, we need to see ourselves with God’s perspective, not the devils.
God is not anxious, and God has given us the command. When we look at the Hebraic meaning of the word devil, we start to see God’s perspective. śâṭân; an opponent; the archenemy of good: — adversary, Satan, withstand.
This revelation helps us to understand that he is an adversary to us. We can either succumb, or we can grow stronger because of struggling with him.
Mystery of the Father’s Will
We must remember that Leviathan is a spirit that God made but has fallen.
The lesson on the mystery of His will teaches us that God wants us to display to Leviathan and every spirit what the will and wisdom of God are through overcoming him.
The Devil Himself Will Attack Apostles As the spirit of Jezebel attacks the prophet, Leviathan himself will attack the apostle.
JOB 41:25 WHEN LEVIATHAN RAISES HIMSELF UP, THE MIGHTY ARE AFRAID; BECAUSE OF HIS CRASHINGS THEY ARE BESIDE THEMSELVES.
Ambassadors
In this verse, when we look at the Hebraic word mighty, we find that it is the word el, which means god, god-like one, mighty one mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes.
The apostles are like the mighty ones. Apostolos; a delegate; especially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ with miraculous powers; he that is sent.
They are ambassadors taking the kingdom’s message and power and dominion into areas where the domain is not yet established.
Maturing the Apostle
The devil will send an assignment against any who wishes to rise to be a mighty man or woman of God, But for the apostle, Leviathan himself will attack them.
God’s maturing an apostle takes a long time. It took 13-17 years to prepare the Apostle Paul, and it is the same now.
When Leviathan attacks the apostle in training, the Spirit of God will allow revelation about Leviathan to be made available to them from the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
One of the revelations that the church is coming into at this time, is understanding how important abiding is.
True Abiding
Unless we learn to abide, we will not be fruitful:
JOHN 15:5 “I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. HE WHO ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
And nor can we see prayer answered the way we desire:
JOHN 15:7 IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YOU WILL ASK WHAT YOU DESIRE, AND IT SHALL BE DONE FOR YOU.
So it is logical, that if the devil wants to succeed, then he will do anything to stop us from abiding. For example, he will try to stop us from abiding through prayer and reading the Word of God.
Leviathan the False Abider
Amazingly the word for Leviathan in Hebrew comes from the root word: lâwâ; to twine, to unite, — abide with; also to borrow (as a form of obligation), cleave, We are meant to abide and entwine ourselves with God. So Leviathan will attempt to:
Hide the importance of abiding with the Trinity.
Bring false teaching on abiding and ruling and reigning now. He will also attempt to bring about demonic oppression for a Christian, or possession for a non-Christian. This will result in:
Attempt to have us abide in Satan
Bring us into financial bondage to Satan.
Cause us to come into contractual agreements with him.
Leviathan is King Over Prideful Children.
JOB 41:34 HE BEHOLDS EVERY HIGH THING; HE IS KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF PRIDE.”
The description of Leviathan being “king over all who are proud” gives us a key to preventing the spirit from overcoming us. Not enabling Leviathan overwhelm us requires walking in humility. This humility allows us to conquer it, as Jesus says:
MATTHEW 5:5 BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.
It Will Attack Good People.
JOB 1:8 THEN THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB, THAT THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM ON THE EARTH, A BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT MAN, ONE WHO FEARS GOD AND SHUNS EVIL?”
Although walking in humility will mean Leviathan does not rule over us, being good does not stop it from attacking us. Job was a blameless and upright man in the sight of God, yet Leviathan still attacked Job. Like Job, we can undergo persecution, lose our job, and be abused for standing up for Jesus Christ.
ROMANS 8:37-39 YET IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US. FOR I AM PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS NOR PRINCIPALITIES NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATED THING, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
The New Covenant does not protect us from persecution or difficulty, so there are times when Leviathan will appear like it is successful in completing an assignment against us. However, Abba Father, always turns things out for good, because that is His nature towards his children:
ROMANS 8:28 AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
So when the devil attacks us, God immediately starts the process of restoring us. Sometimes we need to make changes in how we think about ourselves, others or God. This is precisely what repentance means: “change the way you think for the kingdom is here.” When it comes to my walk with God, I frequently remind myself, that “the devil is a tool in the hand of God, for the perfecting of the saints”. So the process may involve discipline from my Father.
HEBREWS 12:5-7 AND YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE EXHORTATION WHICH SPEAKS TO YOU AS TO SONS: “MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” IF YOU ENDURE CHASTENING, GOD DEALS WITH YOU AS WITH SONS; FOR WHAT SON IS THERE WHOM A FATHER DOES NOT CHASTEN?
The outcome of this process is always good:
HEBREWS 12:11 NOW NO CHASTENING SEEMS TO BE JOYFUL FOR THE PRESENT, BUT PAINFUL; NEVERTHELESS, AFTERWARD IT YIELDS THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IT.
The Weaponry Used Against it Must be Powerful.
JOB 41:7 CAN YOU FILL HIS SKIN WITH HARPOONS, OR HIS HEAD WITH FISHING SPEARS?
Job Lived when Death Reigned
The book of Job is chronologically the earliest of the books in the Bible; from then, Abraham was still in the land of Ur, around 2000 BC.
So the harpoon and fishing spears were advanced weapons of the day. We also need to remember it was before the deliverance of the Israelites by Moses and the Abrahamic Covenant. At this time, death still reigned.
ROMANS 5:14 NEVERTHELESS, DEATH REIGNED FROM ADAM TO MOSES, EVEN OVER THOSE WHO HAD NOT SINNED ACCORDING TO THE LIKENESS OF THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM, WHO IS A TYPE OF HIM WHO WAS TO COME.
Reigning Sons and Daughters Some have said that Leviathan cannot be defeated because of this verse:
JOB 41:8 LAY YOUR HAND ON HIM; REMEMBER THE BATTLE— NEVER DO IT AGAIN!
We must remember that this scripture was written before the Old Covenant came into effect, during a totally different epoch. We are under a different covenant, death no longer reigns and where we are the sons and daughters of God.
ROMANS 5:21 SO THAT AS SIN REIGNED IN DEATH, EVEN SO GRACE MIGHT REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS TO ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
Because we are in Christ Jesus, and He abides in us, the principalities and powers are not just under Jesus’ feet but also under our feet.
EPHESIANS 1:22 WE ARE UNDER A DIFFERENT COVENANT; DEATH NO LONGER REIGNS AND WHERE WE ARE THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD.
Our Powerful Weapons
We are not just sons and daughters but also kings and priests:
REVELATION 1:6 AND HAS MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO HIS GOD AND FATHER, TO HIM BE GLORY AND DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.
Because we are kings and queens, we also have mighty spiritual weapons to fight principalities and powers at our disposal.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:4 FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL BUT MIGHTY IN GOD FOR PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS,
Leviathan has been Cast Down
At the time of Job, Satan was still in heaven.
JOB 1:6 NOW THERE WAS A DAY WHEN THE SONS OF GOD CAME TO PRESENT THEMSELVES BEFORE THE LORD, AND SATAN ALSO CAME AMONG THEM.
However, when Jesus ascended into heaven, Satan was cast down to earth and could no longer enter heaven.
REVELATION 12:7-9 AND WAR BROKE OUT IN HEAVEN: MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS FOUGHT WITH THE DRAGON; AND THE DRAGON AND HIS ANGELS FOUGHT, BUT THEY DID NOT PREVAIL, NOR WAS A PLACE FOUND FOR THEM IN HEAVEN ANY LONGER. SO THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, THAT SERPENT OF OLD, CALLED THE DEVIL AND SATAN, WHO DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD; HE WAS CAST TO THE EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM.
For these reasons, Leviathan can be defeated. In my opinion, in the same way, the prophet will overcome Jezebel, the apostolic people of God, those whom God is training to the apostleship, and the apostles whom God has chosen will overcome Leviathan. It is because our weapons are now mighty enough to pierce his armor.
ISAIAH 45:1 “THUS SAYS THE LORD TO HIS ANOINTED, TO CYRUS, WHOSE RIGHT HAND I HAVE HELD— TO SUBDUE NATIONS BEFORE HIM AND LOOSE THE ARMOUR OF KINGS, TO OPEN BEFORE HIM THE DOUBLE DOORS, SO THAT THE GATES WILL NOT BE SHUT:
It Tries to Rule the Nations
PSALMS 104:26 THERE THE SHIPS SAIL ABOUT; THERE IS THAT LEVIATHAN WHICH YOU HAVE MADE TO PLAY THERE.
The Sea Refers to the Nations of the World.
Revelation 17:15 THEN HE SAID TO ME, “THE WATERS WHICH YOU SAW, WHERE THE HARLOT SITS, ARE PEOPLES, MULTITUDES, NATIONS, AND TONGUES.
We use the New Testament to interpret the Old Testament, so we learn from the Book of Revelation that the sea refers to the peoples of the nations.
The Apostles Take the Nations
The word apostle is the Greek word:
Apostolos, which means an ambassador of the Gospel, officially a commissioner of Christ with miraculous powers. The Spirit of God sends apostles to the nations, therefore if they are going to be successful in taking the nations, they will have to overcome the spirit of Leviathan. Let us now look at some of the symptoms of Leviathan’s attack on the sons and daughters of God.
Leviathan is a Mocking Spirit.
PSALMS 104:26 THERE THE SHIPS SAIL ABOUT; THERE IS THAT LEVIATHAN WHICH YOU HAVE MADE TO PLAY THERE.
The Greek word for play is more correct, to mock: śâḥaq; deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er) In other words, Leviathan is a mocking spirit who laughs mockingly at churches that do not understand spiritual warfare and how to take dominion.
EPHESIANS 3:9-10 AND TO MAKE ALL SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE AGES HAS BEEN HIDDEN IN GOD WHO CREATED ALL THINGS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; TO THE INTENT THAT NOW THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD MIGHT BE MADE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH TO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES,
So, it is our purpose to dismay principalities and powers. We should not pay attention anytime Leviathan mocks us, instead being like Nehemiah and continuing to advance the kingdom of God.
NEHEMIAH 4:3,6 NOW TOBIAH THE AMMONITE WAS BESIDE HIM, AND HE SAID, “WHATEVER THEY BUILD, IF EVEN A FOX GOES UP ON IT, HE WILL BREAK DOWN THEIR STONE WALL.” SO WE BUILT THE WALL, AND THE ENTIRE WALL WAS JOINED TOGETHER UP TO HALF ITS HEIGHT, FOR THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK
Leviathan Causes Coldness
One of the symptoms of spiritual attack by this spirit is the coldness of the heart to the things of God or the moving of the Spirit.
JOB 41:15 HIS ROWS OF SCALES ARE HIS PRIDE, SHUT UP TIGHTLY AS WITH A SEAL;
When I see people cold towards God in meetings, I consider whether Leviathan is operating and needs to be defeated.
Quenching the Holy Spirit.
The scales mentioned in the previous verse are so close together that no air can get through:
JOB 41:16 ONE IS SO NEAR ANOTHER THAT NO AIR CAN COME BETWEEN THEM;
The Holy Spirit is the breath of God, as we learn from the first few verses of the Bible. The Hebrew word for Spirit of God is: rûaḥ; wind; by resemblance breath, a sensible exhalation So Leviathan will attempt to quench the Spirit of God.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:19 DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT.
Spiritual sorrow
Leviathan carries a spirit of sorrow.
JOB 41:22 STRENGTH DWELLS IN HIS NECK, AND SORROW DANCES BEFORE HIM.
Ungodly sorrow
Although Leviathan will cause sorrow, it may also manifest as religious people trying to force people to show” godly sorrow”. Godly sorrow is not evidence of Repentance. When the Holy Spirit produces godly sorrow, it is a decisive move that is followed by times of refreshing:
Joy in the Holy Spirit
ACTS 3:19 REPENT THEREFORE AND BE CONVERTED, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, SO THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,
Therefore, one way of telling if it is godly sorrow or religious sorrow is to look for the joy that comes shortly after:
ROMANS 14:17 FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT EATING AND DRINKING, BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Joy in the Holy Spirit is the true manifestation of the kingdom of God operating in a person’s life.
Leviathan Produces Terror.
JOB 41:25 WHEN HE RAISES HIMSELF UP, THE MIGHTY ARE AFRAID; BECAUSE OF HIS CRASHINGS THEY ARE BESIDE THEMSELVES.
God saves anyone who calls on the name of the Lord. Salvation is not only about being “saved from your sins”. Salvation means to rescue; therefore, Jesus will save you from any terror Leviathan throws at you. Jesus saves us from sin, sickness and terror.
Disunity
Job teaches us that Leviathan leaving will not mean everything will be OK.
JOB 41:32 HE LEAVES A SHINING WAKE BEHIND HIM; ONE WOULD THINK THE DEEP HAD WHITE HAIR.
You know that Leviathan is involved when people leave a congregation and leave behind them a trail of destruction. However, the result will be much better for the church, ministry or business in the long run.
Leviathan is a Twisting Serpent.
A manifestation of Leviathan is to twist communication. So the person speaking will say one thing, and the person listening will hear different words. If Leviathan is involved, the outcome is that someone gets offended, causing division. The people under Leviathan’s influence will twist things around, confusing what was said to them as if they heard something different.
ISAIAH 27:1 IN THAT DAY THE LORD WITH HIS SEVERE SWORD, GREAT AND STRONG, WILL PUNISH LEVIATHAN THE FLEEING SERPENT, LEVIATHAN THAT TWISTED SERPENT; AND HE WILL SLAY THE REPTILE THAT IS IN THE SEA.
It is essential when having necessary confrontations to ensure that the person hearing understands what the person speaking is saying. So, for example, when we do marriage counselling, we ask the hearer to repeat back what they have heard the spouse say.
Leviathan Attacks Through Friends
Reading through the Book of Job, we find that Job’s friends accused Job of many things that were not true, usually multiple times through different people, just like Job’s Friends.
The Attacks May be on Your Children.
JOB 1:18-19 WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, ANOTHER ALSO CAME AND SAID, “YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WERE EATING AND DRINKING WINE IN THEIR OLDEST BROTHER’S HOUSE, AND SUDDENLY A GREAT WIND CAME FROM ACROSS THE WILDERNESS AND STRUCK THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE HOUSE, AND IT FELL ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE DEAD; AND I ALONE HAVE ESCAPED TO TELL YOU!”
The Attacks May be on your Finances.
JOB 1:13-17 NOW THERE WAS A DAY WHEN HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS WERE EATING AND DRINKING WINE IN THEIR OLDEST BROTHER’S HOUSE; AND A MESSENGER CAME TO JOB AND SAID, “THE OXEN WERE PLOWING AND THE DONKEYS FEEDING BESIDE THEM, WHEN THE SABEANS RAIDED THEM AND TOOK THEM AWAY—INDEED THEY HAVE KILLED THE SERVANTS WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD; AND I ALONE HAVE ESCAPED TO TELL YOU!” WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, ANOTHER ALSO CAME AND SAID, “THE FIRE OF GOD FELL FROM HEAVEN AND BURNED UP THE SHEEP AND THE SERVANTS, AND CONSUMED THEM; AND I ALONE HAVE ESCAPED TO TELL YOU!” WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, ANOTHER ALSO CAME AND SAID, “THE CHALDEANS FORMED THREE BANDS, RAIDED THE CAMELS AND TOOK THEM AWAY, YES, AND KILLED THE SERVANTS WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD; AND I ALONE HAVE ESCAPED TO TELL YOU!”
The Attacks May Involve your Health.
JOB 2:7 SO SATAN WENT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AND STRUCK JOB WITH PAINFUL BOILS FROM THE SOLE OF HIS FOOT TO THE CROWN OF HIS HEAD.
Atonement includes healing so you can stand against all sickness that the devil comes from. Disease never comes from God.
Leviathan May Attack your Spouse.
JOB 2:9 THEN HIS WIFE SAID TO HIM, “DO YOU STILL HOLD FAST TO YOUR INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD AND DIE!”
The Attacks Will be on Your Character.
JOB 2:9 THEN HIS WIFE SAID TO HIM, “DO YOU STILL HOLD FAST TO YOUR INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD AND DIE!”
Summary
Leviathan is a demonic spirit over the nations.
Leviathan is the devil in the Book of Revelation.
After he could not destroy the first-begotten son of God Leviathan’s primary purpose was to try and destroy the sons and daughters of the kingdom.
God uses this spirit to train His apostles to advance the kingdom.
Our paramount protection is humility and meekness.
Leviathan will try to hide or distort the truth of abiding in God.
Its main function is to kill rob and destroy.
When Satan himself attacks, rather than through his demonic army, it will appear multi-directional, causing offence and division.
Religious spirits work closely with Leviathan.
The attacks may be on or from closest family members and friends.
Humility and Abiding in God are your best defense.