Revelation Chapter Twelve
Revelation 12:1
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:
woman all believers form all times (Revelation 12:13) (Revelation 12:17) represented by Mary, who was in need of the Saviour as well
(Luke 1:46-55).
Clothed with the sun clothed with Christ who is their robe of righteousness (Malachi 4:2).
moon under her feet moon represents the law, see study notes on
Revelation 6:12. Believers have become victorious over the law in the sense that the law
of God can no longer condemn them.
crown of twelve stars signifies that all the believers reign with Jesus.
twelve represents fullness See: Numbers in the Bible. Compare with (Genesis 37:9-11)
Revelation 12:2
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
birth the birth of Jesus (Genesis 3:15-16) (Isaiah 7:14) (Isaiah 9:6-7) (Isaiah 66:7-9) (Micah 5:2).
Revelation 12:3
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.
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.
in heaven before the cross, Satan had access to heaven to accuse the brethren (Revelation 12:9-10) (Job 1:6) (Job 1:12).
dragon Satan (Revelation 12:9)
seven heads represents Satan rule over unsaved mankind throughout history.
ten horns Satan's complete reign over all the nations during the tribulation period (Revelation 17:12).
seven crowns upon his heads the crowns on his heads puts emphasis on Satan's rule throughout history. The crowns move to the horns
heads represents Mountains/Kingdoms (Revelation 17:9) (Isaiah 2:2-3) (Jeremiah 54:24-25)
Now we can understand the spiritual implication of the Words of Jesus (Matthew 17:20) (Matthew 21:21). Through the power of the Gospel,
we conquer and overthrow the Kingdom of Satan. This is much more impressive than physically moving a mountain.
Revelation 12:4
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.
tail See (Isaiah 9:15)
third part/stars of heaven this seems to represent the fall of Satan, and the angels that were cast out with him
(Revelation 12:9). There is another possibility to the interpretation of this verse. It may represent all the elect to be redeemed that fell
in Adam. This would follow the pattern in Revelation referring to believers as the third part,and also referred to as stars. Compare also
with (Daniel 8:10) (Daniel 12:3).
The whole human race was in the loins of Adam and was lost at the fall (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Before the fall, the whole human race was alive in the loins of Adam, and now we can understand what Paul meant in
(Romans 7:9). We can conclude this to be a proper understanding if we compare with (Hebrews 7:9-10).
devour her child Satan has been failing to reverse the curse placed on him since the beginning (Genesis 3:15).
We see his first attempt at Baby Jesus, working through King Herod (Matthew 2:16).
Revelation 12:5
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.
man child Jesus
rule all nations/rod of iron (Psalm 2:6-9) (Revelation 2:27)
(Revelation 19:15)
caught up into God/to His Throne the resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus (Revelation 3:21)
Revelation 12:6
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.
wilderness while believers are still in the world, they are in the wilderness under God's providential care.
Compare with Israel in Egypt
Pharaoh = Satan
Egypt = Satan's Kingdom
Israelites = Believers
Red Sea = Hell
wilderness = the World (believers under God's protection)
promised land = Heaven
Egyptians = non-believers
God Almighty = God Almighty
thousand two hundred and threescore days New Testament age
See study notes on Revelation 11:3
Revelation 12:7
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
war in heaven This was a spiritual war, as it was over the souls of those God chose to redeem. A war between two spiritual kingdoms, the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of Satan. A war that shows the Glory and Wisdom of our Lord Jesus (Ephesians 3:10). This war was won at the cross, when Jesus gave Satan a death blow (Revelation 13:3). He defeated him by giving His life, by the shedding of His own blood.
Michael means "who is like God" many believe this to represent Jesus Himself.
Revelation 12:8
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
prevailed not Satan and his angels are not worthy adversaries compared to our Lord Jesus.
Revelation 12:9
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.
cast out Jesus gave Satan a death blow at the cross (Genesis 3:15) ((Revelation 13:3) (Psalm 110:6), he was cast out of Heaven
(John 12:31). Satan was bound so that he could no deceive the nations (Revelation 20:2-3). He was cast into hell (Revelation 20:3)
(2 Peter 2:4), which we learned is to be placed eternally under the wrath of God, so that on the last day, he will be cast into the lake
of fire (Revelation 20:10).
Revelation 12:10
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.
Kingdom of our God, and power of His Christ Gods Kingdom is spiritual (Romans 14:17) (Luke 17:20-21), and it is eternal (2Peter 1:11).
accuser of our brethren Satan has nothing over the elect, as Jesus has paid for all their sin (Romans 8:1).
Revelation 12:11
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.
overcame him believers overcome death and Satan by the...
blood of the Lamb (Hebrews 9:12) and...
word of their testimony (Hebrews 4:12) and they...
loved not their lives unto the death (John 12:25)
Revelation 12:12
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.
heavens/ye that dwell in them believers are positionally seated in heavenly places at salvation (Ephesians 2:6).
woe See notes on Revelation 8:13
earth (Revelation 13:11-18)
sea (Revelation 13:1-10)
short time or little season (Revelation 20:3) (Revelation 6:11) This verse seems to refer to the tribulation period when Satan shall be loosed to
have universal tyrannical and blasphemous control over the world.
Revelation 12:13
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
persecuted the woman believers, Satan constantly attacks the believers, but his real target is Jesus (Revelation 12:4) and his anger is deflected
toward God's people (Revelation 12:13). However, Satan cannot harm the believers as they have been delivered from the tyranny of Satan's Kingdom of Darkness and
placed into the Kingdom of Jesus
(Colossians 1:12-14).
Revelation 12:14
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.
two wings of a great eagle implies the salvation of God (Exodus 19:4), and His constant care (Deuteronomy 32:9-11).
time, and times, and half a time a total of three and a half times. The same as the thousand two hundred and threescore days.
see study notes Revelation 11:3
Revelation 12:15
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.
cast out of his mouth water as a flood this seems to represent the false gospels that deceive the world, leaving men in their sins.
(Revelation 9:19) (Revelation 13:6) (Revelation 16:13)
carried away See (Jeremiah 29:4-9)
Revelation 12:16
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.
earth helped the woman all creation is at God's disposal to do as He wills (Psalm 24:1-2)
earth opened her mouth (Numbers 16:25-35) (Psalm 106:17). This obviously has spiritual implications of the divine protection the Lord provides for His own.
mouth false gospels (Exodus 15:12)
Revelation 12:17
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.
remnant of her seed this remnant appears to be those who become saved during the latter part of the tribulation.
keep the commandments of God/testimony of Jesus (Revelation 14:12) (Revelation 19:10) (John 14:15)
