Dagon is Fallen, is Fallen
Samuel's testimony of the fall of Babylon and it is the law of God in the heart that gives victory over Babylon.
Introduction
1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 1 Samuel 5
The Philistine sought to ridicule God’s ark. The ark contained the ten commandments given to Moses at Mount Sinai. The Philistines understood the significance of the ark but misunderstood the power of God. In placing the ark in Dagon’s temple and before the image of their god, they thought to demonstrate the superiority of their false god. This account is not just a literal one but has a deeper prophetic meaning. The prophets of old wrote about the end of the world in signs, symbols and parables.
Who is Dagon?
Dagon means “fish”. This was a god of the Philistines and therefore, is a fish god. In the bible, fish are used as a symbol of men or people. In this sense Dagon would be a a false god of man.
16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them [the children of Israel]; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. Jeremiah 16
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Matthew 4
The Scriptures tell us of one entity that deals with the souls of men, as a fisher would deal with fish. This is referring to Babylon.
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. Revelation 18
To help those still in doubt, let us look at another symbol. Depicted as a fish, Dagon would be dwelling in the waters or seas. In numerous texts, we are made aware of a false power that seeks to dwell in the midst of the seas.
1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: Ezekiel 28
The prince of Tyrus and the great whore are symbols that are part of spiritual Babylon.
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Revelation 17
The water or seas is a symbol of the people. The great controversy, a theme that threads through the bible, is who shall sit upon the seas and who shall rule the people or be in people’s hearts. Satan through his chief agent, Babylon, unrighteously seeks this position which rightly belongs to none other than our Great Redeemer. Therefore, Dagon is seen as a symbol of Babylon.
Dagon is Fallen, is Fallen
3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 1 Samuel 5
Now that we have established Dagon as a symbol of Babylon. Dagon’s first fall is prophetic and points to the second angel’s message of Revelation 14. Note that in this fall, he is not completely out of the controversy.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Revelation 14
It is after the third angel is proclaimed where the mark of the beast is given that Dagon loses his head and hands. The head and hands being cut off is not arbitrary act. It speaks volumes to the sins of Dagon which is Babylon. The second fall aligns with the fourth angel’s message of Revelation 18 which repeats the fall of Babylon.
4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 1 Samuel 5
The head and hands are symbolically the body parts that have committed the unpardonable sin of receiving the mark of the beast. The head is where the abominations are written and the hand is that which is used to drink the wine of abominations according to Revelation 17. The forehead is the seat of judgement and the hand a symbol of works. In thought and in action this power is completely corrupt.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17
Those that worship the beast follow the same pattern and receive the mark in their forehead or their hands.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, Revelation 14
The Plagues
Another confirmation is that due to this act of the Philistines, there were plagues in Ashdod just as there will be plagues after the mark of the beast is received at the end of the world.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. 6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 1 Samuel 5
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. Revelation 16
The Law of God
In the prophetic story of the fall of Dagon, we learn more about the fall of Babylon at the end of the world. One important point that many in the Christian world miss is that the law of God will be central to the fall of Babylon. This is the mark of the beast controversy or crisis. This study is an additional witness to the truth that the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan is over the law of God.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12
It was the presence of the ark of God that led to the fall of Babylon demonstrating in type that God’s power is connected to His law. In our day it is not a literal ark but the chest of the heart. The mark of the beast will be a test whether we are led by God’s law or we will bow down to Dagon, a false god. Those who will have victory over Babylon and proclaim her fall will have the law in their hearts.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. Isaiah 51
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10
In the near future, many like the Philistines will sacrifice God’s law before the gods of Babylon. This will be a grave mistake and will only lead to receiving the seven last plagues. May those who profess to be God’s people arise to take the correct side in this Great Controversy between Christ and Satan.