12:1-14:20The seventh trumpet (11:15) ushers in the bowl judgments (15:1-16:21), but in the intervening chapters (12-14), John sees the conflict between God and Satan. He sees the source of all sin, evil, persecution, and suffering on the earth, and he understands why the great battle between the forces of God and Satan must soon take place. In these chapters the nature of evil is exposed, and Satan is seen in all his wickedness.
Life Application Study BibleRevelationChapter 12
Revelation 12
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 2187, 2188
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12Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth. 3Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. 4His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born. 6She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days. 7Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. 8And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. 10Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
11It has come at last—salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,and the authority of his Christ.*For the accuser of our brothers and sisters*has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses thembefore our God day and night.11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamband by their testimony.And they did not love their lives so muchthat they were afraid to die.
12Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!But terror will come on the earth and the sea,for the devil has come down to you in great anger,knowing that he has little time.”
13When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued thewoman who had given birth to the male child.
14But she was given two wings like those ofagreat eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she wouldbe cared for and protected from the dragon* for a time, times, and half a time.1SThen the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from hismouth.
16But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river thatgushed out from the mouth of the dragon. ‘And the dragon was angry at the woman anddeclared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments andmaintain their testimony for Jesus.
18Then the dragon took his stand* on the shore beside the sea.
Textual footnotes
- 12:10a Or his Messiah.
- 12:10b Greek brothers.
- 12:14 Greek the serpent; also in 12:15. See 12:9, 12:18 Greek Then
Life Application Notes 11 notes
12:1-6The woman represents God's faithful people who have been waiting for the Messiah; the crown of 12 stars represents the 12 tribes of Israel. God set apart the Jews for himself (Romans 9:4, 5), and that nation gave birth to the Messiah. The son (12:5) is Jesus, born to a devout Jewish girl named Mary (Luke 1:26-33). Evil King Herod immediately tried to destroy the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:13-20). Herad’s desire to kill this newborn king, whom he saw as a threat to his throne, was motivated by Satan (the red dragon), who wanted to kill the world’s Savior. The heavenly pageant of Revelation 12 shows that Christ’s lowly birth in the town of Bethlehem had cosmic significance.
12:3,4The large red dragon, Satan, has seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns, representing his power and the kingdoms of the world over which he rules. The stars that plunged to earth with him are usually considered to be the angels who fell with Satan and became his demons. According to Hebrew tradition, one-third of all the angels in heaven fell with Satan. For more on demons, see the notes on 9:3ff and Mark 5:1-20.
12:6The wilderness represents a place of spiritual refuge and protection from Satan. Because God aided the woman's escape into the wilderness, we can be sure that he offers security to all true believers. Satan always attacks God’s people, but God keeps them spiritually secure. Some will experience physical harm, but all will be protected from spiritual harm. God will not let Satan take the souls of God's true followers. When Satan’s attacks seem overpowering, remember that God is ruler over all. Trust him.
12:6The 1,260 days (3% years) is the same length of time that the dragon is allowed to exercise his authority (13:5) and that the holy city is trampled (see the second note on 11:3).
12:7This event fulfills Daniel 12:1ff. Michael is a high-ranking angel. One of his responsibilities is to guard God's community of believers.
12:7ffMuch more happened at Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection than most people realize. A war between the forces of good and evil was under way. With Christ’s resurrection, Satan’s ultimate defeat was assured. Some believe that Satan’s fall to earth took place at Jesus’ resurrection or ascension and that the 1,260 days (3% years) is a symbolic way of referring to the time between Christ's first and second comings. Others say that Satan’s defeat will occur in the middle of a literal seven-year tribulation period, following the rapture of the church and preceding the second coming of Christ and the beginning of Christ's 1,000- year reign. Whatever the case, we must remember that Christ is victorious—Satan has already been defeated because of Christ's death on the cross (12:10-12).
12:9The devil is not a symbol or legend; he is very real. Originally Satan was an angel of God, but through his own pride, he became corrupt. The devil is God’s enemy, and he constantly tries to hinder God’s work, but he is limited by God’s power and can do only what he is permitted to do (Job 1:6-2:8). The name Satan means “accuser” (12:10). He actively looks for people to attack (1 Peter 5:8, 9). Satan likes to pursue believers who are vulnerable in their faith, who are spiritually weak, or who are isolated from other believers. Even though God permits the devil to do his work in this world, God is still in control. And Jesus has complete power over Satan—he defeated Satan when he died and rose again for the sins of everyone. One day Satan will be bound forever, never again to do his evil work (see 20:10).
12:10Many believe that until this time, Satan still had access to God (see the note on Job 1:7ff). But here his access is forever barred (see also 9:1). He can no longer accuse people before God (see how Satan made accusations about Job before God in Job 1:6ff).
12:17While the woman (12:1) represents faithful Jews and the son (12:5) represents Christ, the rest of her children could be either Jewish believers or, most likely, all believers.
12:17The apostle Paul tells us that we are in a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-12). John says that the war is still being waged, but the outcome has already been determined. Satan and his followers have been defeated and will be destroyed. Nevertheless Satan is battling daily to bring more into his ranks and to keep his own from defecting to God’s side. Those who belong to Christ have gone into battle on God’s side, and he has guaranteed them victory. God will not lose the war, but we must make certain not to lose the battle for our own souls. Don’t waver in your commitment to Christ. A great spiritual battle is being fought, and there is no time for indecision.