Revelation Chapter 12:1-10/Commentary

Revelation Chapter 12:1-10 Revelation 12:1-10 “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3And another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

7And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, 8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night’” Introduction “The reader could close the Apocalypse after the first eleven chapters and be assured of the outcome. The characters have been introduced—the beast versus God’s witnesses. The winners have been announced, Christ and His saints. However, several questions remain unanswered. What are the underlying reasons for this hostility toward church and the persecution of the saints? From whence comes the power motivating the persecutors? From earth’s viewpoint, the conflict is between Rome and the church. But the remaining visions will show that behind the scene the struggle actually originates

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in heaven. The battle is between God and Satan, righteousness versus evil” (Harkrider pp. 131-132).

“There is little doubt that the scene and theme of these chapters are rooted in God’s promise to Satan and the woman when He said, ‘And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel’ (Genesis 3:15)” (Hailey p. 267).

At this point in the book many who believe that the previous chapters were dealing with the destruction of Jerusalem now feel that the rest of the book deals with judgment upon the Roman Empire.

This chapter does start a second main division of the book, chapters 12-22. In these chapters the main characters that arise in opposition to Christ and His church are introduced. They are the dragon, the beast out of the sea, and the beast out of the earth, Babylon, and the men that have the mark of the beast.

The visions that follow show us what happens to each of these antichristian forces, to those having the mark of the beast (chapters 15-16), to the harlot Babylon and the two beasts (17-19), and, finally to the dragon (20).

12:1 “A great sign appeared in heaven”: That is, a sign seen from heaven’s viewpoint. “A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars”: The woman here is not specifically Israel or the church, but rather God’s faithful remnant. This woman will produce the Messiah (12:5), and will also exist after Jesus ascends to heaven (12:6). She wears two heavenly bodies, indicating that she brings light into a dark world (Genesis 1:16-17; Matthew 5:13-16). She cannot simply be Old Testament believers for we read of her being persecuted by the Dragon after she has brought forth the Messiah. Her offspring “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (12:17), that is, they are Christians. Nor yet can we hold her to be simply Christians because she is given existence prior to the birth of the Messiah. Therefore, she simply stands for God’s people. She wears 12 stars that are worked into a crown of victory, thus she stands for God’s victorious people. The number 12 appears to refer to the totality of God’s people, that is, 12 tribes or 12 apostles, see also Genesis 37:9. The crown that she wears is the stephanos that is the crown of victory. 12:2 “She was with child”: Though victorious, she has endured periods of trial and pain. Her destiny is to produce the Messiah. “The promise of God and the hope of a messiah, had been in the womb of the faithful remnant since Genesis 3” (Hailey p. 269). “The woman’s labor and pain represent the afflictions endured by Israel throughout pre-Christian history, while they awaited the birth of the Messiah” (Gregg p. 255). Compare with Romans 9:5.

Point to Note Roman Catholic commentators argue that this woman is Mary, the mother of Jesus, here seen in her post-assumption role as the exalted Queen of heaven,

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yet this contradicts the order of the chapter, for she is seen in glorious array even before she gives birth (12:1-2), and this same woman must flee into the wilderness (12:6).

Certain cults like the Christian Scientists have identified the woman with the female founders of their groups.

Hendriksen notes, “On earth this church may appear very insignificant and open to scorn and ridicule; but from the aspect of heaven this same church is allglorious” (p. 136). God’s people have always been radiant, lights in the world, exercising dominion and victorious.

12:3 “Then another sign appeared in heaven”: Note this does not mean that Satan was in heaven.

12:3 “A great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his head were seven diadems”: This is Satan (12:9). He is great because of his power, “red” because he is a murderer and is bloodthirsty (John 8:44). “His seven heads indicate fullness of intelligence and infernal wisdom, the master mind of craftiness and cunning which operates through lying and deceit” (2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15). The “ten horns” speak of power and strength and he is the ruler over the realm of evil (Matthew 12:24 “prince of devils”; 25:41 “the devil and his angels”). One should note that Satan does not wear the stephanos or victor’s crown; rather, his kingship is one of arrogated dominion. That is, these diadems are tokens of royalty, and while he has victories in a sense, he wins no permanent victories. In addition such a picture of Satan should remind us that he is a serious foe (1 Peter 5:8), and that he often succeeds in deceiving nations to do his bidding (Matthew 4:8-9).

12:4 “And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth”: The “stars” are often used to speak of God’s people (Daniel 8:10; 24; 12:3; Matthew 13:43). So the allusion here may be that the devil has been able to cast down (persecute, kill or perhaps cause to apostatize) some of God’s people. Some see this as a reference to the devil leading a rebellion of angels against God (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). If the devil can lead such wise men as Solomon astray (1 Kings 11:1ff), then we need to be on our guard constantly (Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:7-9). Premillennial writers at this point try to contend that this refers to the gathering under the devil’s power a large portion of the earth. “And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child”: The idea is that the devil, from the beginning, has been constantly aiming at the destruction of the Christ. “Thus viewed, the entire Old Testament becomes one story, the story of the conflict between the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) and the dragon, between Christ and Satan” (Hendriksen p. 136).

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Satan’s Near Misses Only one faithful family left (Genesis 6:5-10) The aged Abraham and Sarah with no offspring (Genesis 17) The vulnerable baby Moses in a basket (Exodus 1) The bondage that seems inescapable (Exodus 1) The nation in complete apostasy (Exodus 32; Judges 2:9) David before Goliath (1 Samuel 17) David hunted by Saul (1 Samuel 18ff) Athaliah’s attempt to destroy the Messianic line (2 Kings 11:1ff) Haman’s attempt to destroy all the Jews (Esther) Herod’s attempt to destroy Jesus (Matthew 2) 12:5 “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne”: This is Jesus (Psalm 2:1-9; Revelation 2:26-28). This verse sums up the entire earthly existence of Jesus from His birth to His ascension. The whole experience from birth to coronation is contemplated in the few words of this verse. The “rod of iron” points to the fact that His rule was to be with firmness.

The destiny of all nations is in His hands (Acts 17:26; Ephesians 1:20-23). He rules over the church with a scepter of righteousness (Hebrews 1:8), but in the kingdoms of this world with a rod of iron, which infers bringing them to an end as He sees fit (Jeremiah 18; Revelation 19:15). Following His ascension, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God (Daniel 7:13-14; Acts 2:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:25). Remember, Jesus presently rules (Psalm 110:1-4; Revelation 1:5 “the ruler of the kings of the earth”), and Jesus presently rules on His throne.

McGuiggan reminds us that in the Scriptures the expression “throne of David” refers to “God’s throne” (1 Chronicles 28:5; 29:23; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 9:8; 13:8; Luke 1:32; Mark 11:10; Psalm 2:7ff; Zechariah 6:9-12; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12).

Thus, there is only one throne, God’s throne, and that is the position (as ruler over God’s people) that David occupied and that Jesus presently occupies.

Point to Note Right here Premillennialists who want to apply everything in Revelation to the end of time have a major problem with this chapter. First, Jesus had been born long ago; the events in this chapter are clearly not talking about the period of time at the end.

Note that the devil failed to destroy the child while He was extremely vulnerable.

Here is strong encouragement for the believer. “Throughout the career of Jesus, from His birth through His suffering and burial, he was a victor. If ever the Devil was to win it should have been then” (McGuiggan p. 73). Yet, even while on earth Jesus noted the devil’s downfall and failure (Luke 10:18).

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12:6 “And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God”: Moses fled from Pharaoh into the wilderness, and Israel escaped from Egypt into the wilderness. Elijah fled from the wrath of Jezebel, coming to Sinai were he found protection and received instruction from God. Mary and Joseph eluded the wrath of Herod by fleeing into Egypt. The “wilderness” is the place where God’s people are protected and disciplined. As Israel was nourished by manna in the wilderness, so now, God nourishes spiritual Israel, the church during a time of persecution. “For one thousand two hundred and sixty days”: That is, the time of persecution waged by the beast and the false prophet (11:2-3; 13:5). This number has already been used for a period of persecution coming upon God’s people (11:2). This section is amplified in verses 12:14-17.

Point to Note Without any Scriptural support Premillennialists interpret this as referring to the Jewish people being persecuted by the Antichrist and they flee into southern Palestine and take refuge in the city of Petra in the Jordanian wilderness south of the Dead Sea. The problem with this view, besides having not Scriptural support, is that such an interpretation jumps from the ascension of Jesus (12:5) to the end of time (12:6) without any warning and would have no consolation for these Christians. In addition, the woman here refers to God’s faithful people and not specifically to Jewish people. Finally, it is clear that the “church” has not been raptured, for it is the church that is being persecuted in this section.

12:7-8 “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven”: Before continuing the fortunes of the woman, we are given a description of a great spiritual conflict. “Michael”, whose name means, “Who is like God?” stands as the dragon’s opponent. He is named three times in the Book of Daniel as “one of the chief princes” (10:13), “the prince of Israel” (10:21; 12:1), who stood for the people against their enemies, Persia and Greece. He is called the “archangel” who contended with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9). We are not told when this war took place. The main point seems to be that Satan is defeated and cast down from his high-handed control over men (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8 “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil”; Colossians 2:15 “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him”). Some have thought that this scene looks back to a war fought before the beginning of time in which Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven, but this does not agree with the context. “Picture, if you will, the Dragon racing up to heaven after the man-child. Having been defeated in his earthly career, he would seek to defeat him in heaven. Heaven, where all the battles for the righteous are (as it were) fought and won. Heaven, where the 5

man-child is now at the right hand of God and interceding for his oppressed saints. The thing which the saints on earth must remember is that the Devil could not defeat their Master here on earth, and he surely cannot beat Him now!

The Devil has already been whipped on earth. In this case, he will be whipped in heaven. At the end of this chapter he will be again, on earth. In these first two cases the whipping is in reference to the Master, and in the latter end of this chapter it will relate to the servants of that Master” (McGuiggan p. 174). “A place”: “This speaks of the decisiveness of the defeat. There is nothing implied in the text that the Devil and his angels ‘had a place’ in heaven until this vision.

The vision speaks of an assault on heaven. We read of the devil appearing before God, in the book of Job, but the indications there are that he was called to give account of himself, not that he lived or ‘had a place’ there’” (p. 175).

Thus, this war may be a battle fought at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

12:9 “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him”: “Who deceives the whole world”: The study of history will confirm the truthfulness of this statement. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1John 5:19). “Thrown down to earth”: He is still here!

And he is still deceiving many people in the world (1 John 5:19).

Point to Note Some feel that verses 12:7-10 are retelling verses 1-6 from a heavenly perspective and that the announcement that follows celebrates Christ’s resurrection victory over Satan and the beginning of the New Covenant age (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14).

Premillennial writers argue that these verses are the beginning of seven years of great tribulation, but nothing in the context even hints at such a view.

Remember, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil at His first coming (1 John 3:8; Matthew 12:29-30). By His death He enabled people to be forgiven of their sins, and thus He removed the bondage of sin and the fear of death (Ephesians 4:8-11; Hebrews 2:14-15; Revelation 1:18). In that sense, the devil, who had gained control over so many men and women, was cast down.

12:10 “Now”: Carefully consider this term or note of time. The realization of salvation, and the establishment of God’s kingdom immediately follow the battle mentioned previously. This seems to confirm the thought that the battle in heaven was not a battle before the beginning of time but a battle immediately prior to the establishment of the church.

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12:10 “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night”: Some feel that the devil’s “place” prior to the death and resurrection was to accuse the faithful of their sins before God, that is Satan continually accused God’s people before God because atonement had not been made for their sins, and thus the entire world stood guilty (Romans 3:23). Yet seeing that the devil himself is a murderer, I do not see how any weight would be given to his accusations. Or, how he would occupy any moral high ground as far as the sins of others are concerned. In addition, from the above verse it seems that the devil still “accuses” us before God even after the resurrection of Jesus. Added to this fact, Satan even accuses righteous men (like Job) (Job 1:9-10). The death of Jesus accomplished three things: 1. Salvation, the forgiveness of our sins (Colossians 1:12-14). 2. The kingdom of our God, which is the church, the body of the saved, purchased by the blood of Christ was established (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:38,47; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10). 3. The power of Jesus Christ, as the ruler of the kings of the earth and the one who has all authority was clearly demonstrated (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23; 1 Peter 3:22 “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”). Notice that “salvation”, “the kingdom” and Jesus’ authority all came at the same time. Contrary to the claims of Premillennialists, this battle is not some battle in the middle of a supposed Great Tribulation at the end of time. Salvation came in the first century, and so did the kingdom and Jesus’ rule (Matthew 28:18-20).

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