Revelation Chapter 12
(Rev 12:1) A Great Sign
A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Now a great sign appeared: This is the first of seven signs that John relates, and is described as a great sign (mega semeion). In Revelation chapters 12, 13, and 14 the main figures of the Great Tribulation are described, and this great sign introduces the first of the seven:
· The woman, representing Israel
· The dragon, representing Satan
· The man-child, referring to Jesus
· The angel Michael, head of the angelic host
· The offspring of the woman, representing Gentiles who come to faith in the Tribulation
· The beast out of the sea, representing the antichrist
· The beast out of the earth, representing the false prophet who promotes the antichrist
A woman clothed with the sun: Because John plainly said this is a sign, we don’t expect this woman to appear literally on the earth. God will use this sign to communicate something to John and to us. Women often represent religious systems in Revelation.
· Jezebel is associated with a religious system promoting false teaching (Revelation 2:20)
· The Great Harlot is associated with false religion (Revelation 17:2)
· The Bride is associated with the church (Revelation 19:7-8)
A woman clothed with the sun: This woman has been associated with many different religious ideas. Roman Catholics claim this woman is Mary, pictured as the “Queen of Heaven.” Mary Baker Eddy (the founder of Christian Science) said she was this woman.
It is common in Roman Catholic art to represent Mary as standing on a crescent moon with twelve stars around her head.
A woman clothed with the sun: Scripturally, this woman clothed with the sun should be identified with Israel, according to Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9-11). In that dream, the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.
In other Old Testament passages, Israel (or Zion or Jerusalem) is often represented as a woman (Isaiah 54:1-6, Jeremiah 3:20, Ezekiel 16:8-14, and Hosea 2:19-20).
(David Guzik)
(Rev 12:2) The Child born of Israel
She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.
Being with child: Later in the chapter, it is clear that this child born of Israel is Jesus (She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, Revelation 12:5). (David Guzik)
She cried out in labor and in pain to give birth: The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression). (David Guzik)
(Rev 12:3) Another sign: A great red dragon
Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns.
Another sign appeared in heaven: Again, we are reminded that this is a sign. The creature here was not literally a great, fiery red dragon, but the dragon represented his nature and character. (David Guzik)
His description “symbolically suggests his fierce power and murderous nature... a picture of the fullness of evil in all its hideous strength.” (Johnson)
Seven diadems (crowns) on his heads: This dragon had great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claimed royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King. He wants to be considered a king. (David Guzik)
“From the similar description given in Rev 13:1 and the parallel references in Daniel 7:7-8, 2,
it is clear that the revived Roman Empire is in view... The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.” (Walvoord)
(Rev 12:4) The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth
His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits. (David Guzik)
To devour her Child: The attempt to devour her Child was initially fulfilled by Herod’s attempts to kill Jesus as a child (Matthew 2:16-18). It was also fulfilled throughout Jesus’ life as Satan attacked Him (John 8:58 and Mark 4:35-41). (David Guzik)
(Rev 12:5) The woman gave birth to a male child who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.
A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: Clearly, this refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2 and Revelation 19:15). (David Guzik)
She bore a male Child: This refers to Jesus’ birth. Rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to the triumphant return of Jesus. By stating the starting point and ending point of Jesus’ earthly work, John alluded to all that stood in between. (David Guzik)
“After a conflict with the Prince of this world, who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God. Words can hardly be plainer than these.” (Alford)
A male Child: This is obviously Jesus. This means that the woman of Revelation 12:1 cannot be the church, because Jesus “gives birth” to the church, not the other way around. The woman must therefore either be Mary or Israel, the only two “women” who could have “given birth” to Jesus. The rest of Revelation 12 will demonstrate that this woman is Israel, not Mary. (David Guzik)
(Rev 12:6) The woman fled into the wilderness
The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.
The “woman” at this time can only be Israel, and the “wilderness” into which she flees must be the desert-and-mountain regions east and southeast of the Dead Sea. This is the region occupied in ancient times by the peoples of Ammon, Moab and Edom, and it is this area that Israel will flee to escape the armies of the prince who is also called the Beast (Daniel 11:36-45; see also Isaiah 16:1-5; 26:20-21). Gentile Christians—that is, those that will accept Christ during the first half of the tribulation—will either have been martyred or gone into hiding. On the other hand, the 144,000 sealed Israelites and probably many other Israelites in Jerusalem will either have become Christians or at least have entered sincerely into the Jewish worship at the restored temple in Jerusalem. All of these Israelites, probably led by the 144,000, will need to make a very rapid exit from Jerusalem and Israel, when the “abomination of desolation” is set up by the beast in the temple. See notes on Matthew 24:15-21 and Revelation 13:14-17. There in the wilderness the Lord will care for them during the final 1260 days (3� years) of the tribulation. For those Jews who lag back or fail to escape for some reason, whether in Jerusalem or anywhere else, this period will see the most deadly pogrom in the long history of Jewish persecution. “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7). (Henry Morris)
(Rev 12:7-8) Michael and his angels made war on the dragon
There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war. They didn't prevail, neither was a place found for him any more in heaven.
This is the first reference to Michael in this book. Who is this Michael? We can tell by what he is doing. He is not rowing his boat ashore but he is fighting against the great red dragon. The prophet Daniel was told, "Michael is the great prince who stands for your people Israel," (Daniel 12:1). Unmistakably, Israel is in the forefront here, symbolized by the woman -- the believing remnant of Israel.
From this scene we can draw the conclusion that up to these last days of history Satan has access to heaven. In the book of Job he appears before God and requests permission to assault the body of Job. In the book of Zechariah he is also seen accusing the saints of God before God, in heaven. And Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we believers today "do not wrestle against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV), i.e. other people are not really our problem. It is what the devil is doing to people that makes them oppose us; it is through wicked spirits which he calls "spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places," (Ephesians 6b NIV). So throughout this present age Satan still has access to heaven.
But at this point of Daniel's seventieth week, God has had enough of the presence of the devil in heaven. He sends Michael, the great archangel, with his angels, and together they force the devil and his angels out of heaven and hurl him to the earth.
(Ray Stedman)
(Rev 12:9) The great dragon and his angels was thrown down to the earth
The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Deceiver of the whole world: As the great deceiver, Satan has deceived the whole world with the great lie with which he evidently deceived himself in the beginning—namely, that God is not really the Creator, Sustainer, and Judge of all things, and that, consequently, both men and angels can reject His Word, rebel against His rule and ultimately aspire to be “gods” themselves. This lie finds its only rationale in the false premise of evolution, the idea that the universe always existed or exists independently of a Creator and is able to evolve itself into higher and higher orders of being. This lie may take the form of either atheism or pantheism, but both deny God and His revealed truth of special creation. With it, Satan has deceived the whole world, in every age and culture since the creation. Note I John 5:19; II Corinthians 4:3-4. (Henry Morris)
Thrown down to the earth: Satan had long ago been cast out of his heavenly authority as the anointed cherub (Ezekiel 28:14-17), though he still has access to God as “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Even that access will end when he is defeated by Michael; from then on he and his angels will be limited to the earth alone, where he will still desperately try to overthrow God. (Henry Morris)
(Rev 12:10-12) They overcame him (the Devil) because of the Lamb's blood, and the word of their testimony
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death. Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time."
They overcame him: Revelation chapters 2 and 3 contain a series of promises to Christians who overcome. Here, in Revelation chapter 12, we have this important explanation of how they overcome. Also, we discover here whom their principal enemy is: it is Satan, the devil.
Christians should not imagine that their real enemies are other people. Their real enemies are not the rulers who make wicked laws; nor are they the people who act cruelly towards them. Christians suffer because of the actions of evil spirits, who are powerful forces in the spirit world (Ephesians 6:12). The leader of those forces is the devil (1 Peter 5:8). When Christians serve God, even in the normal actions of their lives, they are actually making war against the devil (Ephesians 6:13-17). So it is not surprising that the devil fights against them.
You might think that Christians are much too weak to defeat such a powerful and terrible enemy. Certainly, their situation would be hopeless if they depended on their own efforts, skills and intelligence. However, their success is certain because they depend not on themselves, but on Christ’s work for them. Here, Christ is called ‘the Lamb’; his ‘blood’ refers to the fact that Christ died on their behalf. The death of Christ defeated the devil (Hebrews 2:14) and gave them a right relationship with God (Hebrews 9:14). It is that fact that they declare as witnesses; it is by that fact that they overcome the devil.
They overcome because they remain loyal to God. That does not mean that they are perfect. They are not, but they trust God to work in their lives. They have chosen to live for him, so they are willing even to die for him (Mark 8:34). For them, that is not loss, but the gain of something much better (Mark 8:35; Philippians 1:21). Christians who overcome will live with God always in the New Jerusalem (21:1-4). (Keith Simons)
The devil has gone down to you, having great wrath:
People sometimes ask why the devil chooses to fight against God. Passages like Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 seem to show that the original reasons were proud thoughts and jealous attitudes. However, the devil is fighting a war that he will certainly lose. That fact will become clear, even to the devil, as the events in the Book of Revelation happen. So we may ask why he will continue to fight at that time.
Revelation chapter 13 shows that the devil will oppose God even more fiercely just before Christ’s return. The most terrible and wicked things that have ever happened upon earth will happen then (Daniel 12:1).
Revelation 12:12 gives three reasons why the devil will be so active in the world then. Firstly, in the defeat in verse 8, the devil lost his power in heaven to accuse God’s people (verse 10). So, the devil must now concentrate his evil acts upon the earth and sea. Secondly, the devil’s anger is very great. He is behaving like someone who cannot control his temper. Because he cannot defeat God, the devil tries to cause as much damage as possible. Thirdly, the devil knows that his time is short. When Christ returns to rule the world, the devil will lose all his power and authority (20:1-3). So the devil cannot delay. If the devil does not carry out his evil acts now, he will not have another opportunity.
We might compare the devil’s behaviour to the actions of a fierce wild animal, for example a wild dog or a lion. When they are dying, such animals do not become tame - they are extremely dangerous and fierce. Or we might compare him to a wicked ruler who expects to suffer complete defeat soon. The last acts of such rulers are often acts of great cruelty. (Keith Simons)
(Rev 12:13-16) Satan's Wrath on Earth
When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony.
Satan’s wrath on earth (Rev. 12:13–16). Knowing that his time is short, and having no more access to heaven, the adversary must vent all of his anger earthward. He begins with Israel (the woman), and creates a wave of anti-Semitism. Satan has always hated the Jews because they are God’s chosen people and the vehicle through which salvation came into the world. Satan would like to destroy the nation, particularly as the time draws near for the Messiah to return to earth to establish the promised kingdom. A Jewish remnant must be ready to receive Him and form the nucleus for the kingdom (Zech. 12:9—14:21; Rev. 1:7). God will prepare a special place where the Jewish remnant will be protected and cared for. It is interesting that the remnant’s escape from Satan is described in terms of a flying eagle, for this is a repeated image in the Old Testament with reference to Israel. God delivered Israel from Egypt “on eagles’ wings” (Ex. 19:4) and cared for the people in the wilderness as an eagle would her young (Deut. 32:11–12). Their return from Babylonian captivity was like “mounting up with wings as eagles” (Isa. 40:31).
Note that the remnant will be sheltered for the last half of the tribulation. We do not know where this sheltered place will be, nor do we need to know. But the lesson for all of us is clear: God cares for those whom He wants to use to accomplish His purposes on earth. True, some people will give their lives (Rev. 12:11), but others will be spared (see Acts 12 for an example of this principle).
The phrase “water as a flood” is not explained, but there is a parallel in Psalm 124. (Also note the phrase “escaped as a bird” in verse 7 of this same Psalm.) This “flood” is probably an outpouring of hatred and anti Semitic propaganda. Or it may symbolize armies that invade Israel and seek to defeat the remnant. If that is the meaning, then the earth opening up could well be an earthquake that God sends to destroy the invaders. When Satan discovers that the people he seeks to kill are protected, then he turns on those who were not carried to the hidden place of safety. He will declare war, and God will permit him to have victory for a time (Rev. 13:7), but ultimately, the old serpent will be defeated. (Wiersbe)
The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring: This may refer to Israel (the woman) and Gentiles who come to faith in Jesus during the Great Tribulation (the rest of her offspring). These two groups are particular targets of Satan and his antichrist’s persecution in the last days. (David Guzik)