Revelation12

A celestial woman, pregnant with a man child, is threatened by a great red dragon. The child is caught up to God, and a war in heaven ensues, resulting in Michael casting the dragon, identified as Satan, to the earth. The dragon then persecutes the woman, who is divinely protected, and subsequently makes war with her faithful offspring.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

The Woman, the Dragon, and the Man-Child

1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: ​
2
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. ​
4
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. ​
5
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. ​
6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. ​

The War in Heaven and Satan's Defeat

7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ​
8
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. ​
10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. ​
11
And 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. ​
12
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. ​

The Dragon Persecutes the Remnant

13
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. ​
15
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. ​
16
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
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. ​

Study Notes for Revelation 12

Verse 1

The woman is a powerful symbolic figure, representing the faithful community (likely Israel) from which the Messiah sprang, clothed in cosmic glory (sun, moon, stars, and twelve tribes/apostles).

Verse 3

The great red dragon is explicitly identified as Satan. His seven heads and ten horns link him to the oppressive empires described in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, signifying worldwide political power.

Verse 4

The drawing of the 'third part of the stars' likely refers to the angels who joined Satan in his initial rebellion. The dragon's attempt to devour the child symbolizes historical attempts (like Herod's) to destroy the infant Jesus.

Verse 5

The 'man child' is Jesus Christ, whose future universal rule is guaranteed by Psalm 2:9 ('rod of iron'). His immediate 'caught up' refers to the Ascension and Exaltation, showing that Satan's primary attack failed.

Verse 6

The 1,260 days (exactly three and a half years) is a symbolic time period common in apocalyptic literature, signifying the limited, divinely ordained duration of the Church's protection and tribulation on earth.

Verse 7

Michael, the archangel known as the champion of Israel (Dan 10:13, 21), leads God’s forces against the Dragon, emphasizing that the conflict is fought on a cosmic, spiritual level.

Verse 9

This verse explicitly identifies the Dragon by his most common biblical names: 'that old serpent' (referencing Genesis 3), 'the Devil,' and 'Satan,' confirming his role as the ultimate deceiver and adversary of God.

Verse 10

The heavenly voice celebrates the defeat of Satan, the 'accuser of our brethren' (referencing Job 1 and Zechariah 3). His casting down means the end of his legal access to God’s presence to slander believers.

Verse 11

This verse provides the theological basis for the victory of believers: achieved through Christ's atoning work ('blood of the Lamb'), faithful witness, and willingness to face death rather than deny Christ.

Verse 12

The heavenly victory results in earthly judgment because Satan, having failed above, now focuses his short, intense rage entirely on humanity, knowing his time is strictly limited.

Verse 14

The 'two wings of a great eagle' recall God’s provision and rescue for Israel in the wilderness (Exod 19:4). The 'time, times, and half a time' restates the 1,260 days, confirming the temporary nature of the persecution.

Verse 15

The 'flood' is symbolic language often used in the Old Testament to represent overwhelming forces, armies, or chaos directed by the enemy to destroy the community of God's people.

Verse 17

The 'remnant of her seed' refers to the faithful Church—those who maintain obedience to God and hold fast to the core truth of the Gospel ('testimony of Jesus Christ'). They become the direct target of the Dragon's final war.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options