Revelation 12:1-17 Lesson 484

Revelation 12:1-17
Lesson 484

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

The pregnant woman, the dragon, and the man-child.

"There was war in heaven" (12:7-12)

War in heaven.
(By the Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder)

The 1260 days.

"The woman was in the wilderness 1260 days (12:6)
She was in the wilderness "a time, times, and half a time" (12:14).
The two witnesses prophesied in sackcloth 1260 days (11:3).
While the Holy City was trodden down 42 months (11:2).
Beast reigned after death-stroke was healed, 42 months (13:5).

42 months, 1260 days, and a time, times, and a half (a year, years, and a half: 3 1/2 years), denote the same period. 3 1/2 years are 42 months, which, at 30 days to a month, are 1260 days.

Thus, four things are represented as being co-eval and co-terminous: woman in the wilderness: Holy City trodden down by the nations: the two witnesses prophesying in sackcloth: and the beast's reign after his death-stroke: all four at same time."

("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 724)

Study Tip:

The book of Revelation is complicated, so it helps to study more than one translation.
Scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below.
Also, check the "Margin Notes" in blue and click on the links.

The Revelation of Saint John the Divine

The King James Bible

Revelation 12:1-17
War in heaven

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.

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.

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.

Margin notes:

"There appeared a great wonder." (12:1) - "There appeared a great sign."

"A woman clothed with the sun." (12:1) - The Old Testament refers to Israel as a "wife" to God (Jeremiah 3:6-8; 31:32), which leads most scholars to conclude that the "woman" in verses 12:1-5 represents Israel/Judaism giving birth to the Messiah. They see the twelve stars as the tribes of Israel. They will tell you that Isaiah 26:17-18, 66:7-10, Micah 4:10, and 5:3 validate their opinion. Others say, beginning with verse 12:5, it is clear the "woman" stands for the Christian church, and the stars represent the twelve apostles. Regardless of your interpretation, the child in verse 12:2 is Jesus.

"Cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." (12:2) - "Cried out in the anguish of labor and the pain of delivery." Just as Mary delivered Jesus in Bethlehem, this woman will symbolically deliver Him in heaven.

"A great red dragon." (12:3) - This is Satan (12:9), with red symbolizing either blood or Satan's brutal character.

"Having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns." (12:3) - The seven heads show that Satan is cunning, and the ten horns represent his power. The seven crowns demonstrate Satan's dominance as the prince of this world.

"His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven." (12:4) - The stars pulled down from heaven are probably fallen angels.

"To devour her child." (12:4) - Satan was ready to devour Jesus. Those who believe the woman represents the Christian church see a parallel between Satan waiting to kill the newborn child and King Herod plotting to kill the baby Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-16). Both failed. "Satan did, however, through Judas (John 13:2; 13:27), succeed in having Jesus as a grown man put to death. But that boomeranged against Satan, for it supplied God's people with the one weapon against which Satan is powerless, the "Blood of the Lamb." ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 722)

"She brought forth a man child." (12:5) - Many scholars believe this is Israel giving birth to the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 66:7-14, Micah 4:8-10 and 5:2-4.

"The woman fled into the wilderness." (12:6) - Many Christians believe this is Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fleeing King Herod into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14). Others say the woman represents the Christian church seeking shelter from persecution.

"Michael." (12:7) - The high-ranking angel who helped Daniel in Persia (Daniel 10:13) and protected Israel (Daniel 10:21). According to Jude 1:9 and the Jewish book, "The Assumption of Moses," (aka "The Testament of Moses"), Michael argued with Satan over the body of Moses. In this passage, Michael and his angels battle Satan and his fallen minions. Michael will be at the Tribulation (Daniel 12:1) and Jesus' side when He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

"Prevailed not." (12:8) - Satan lost the war in heaven.

"The great dragon was cast out." (12:9) - Satan was defeated as prophesized in Isaiah 14:12, Zechariah 3:1-2 and by Jesus (Luke 10:18).

"The accuser of our brethren is cast down." (12:10) - Satan is cast out of heaven.

"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb." (12:11) - Christians overcome Satan's power thanks to the blood Jesus Christ (the ultimate sacrificial lamb) shed on the cross.

"Having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (12:12) - Futurists believe this verse means Satan will have "a short time" to wreak havoc on mankind during the last days of the tribulation. Preterists disagree; they are convinced this verse refers to a period of past religious persecution. Still other Christians believe this passage has a dual meaning referring to both past persecution and the future tribulation.

"He persecuted the woman." (12:13) - "He chased the woman."

"Where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time." (12:14) - "Where she is taken care of for three and a half years."

"From the face of the serpent." (12:14) - "Away from the serpent (Satan)."

"The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed." (12:17) - "Satan was angry with Israel and went to war against the rest of her children (believers)."

New Living Translation

Revelation 12:1-17
The Woman and the Dragon

1 Then 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.

2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.

3 Then 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.

4 His 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.

5 She 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.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.

7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.

8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven.

9 This 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.

10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,  “It 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 them
      before our God day and night.

11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
      and by their testimony.
   And they did not love their lives so much
      that they were afraid to die.

12 Therefore, 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.”

13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

14 But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time.

15 Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth.

16 But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon.

17 And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. When will Satan unleash his terror on the earth (12:12)?

"Contentment comes when God's will is more important than our wants."

Anne Cetas, Christian writer and editor

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "The answer to this question depends upon one's interpretation of Revelation and of the timing of Revelation 12. Some believe "the time is short" refers to three and a half years (11:2-3; 12:6; 14; 13:5) of great tribulation (7:14) in the end times, corresponding to the three and a half years of persecution that Israel endured under King Ahab (James 5:17). Others interpret the expression "time is short" in the same way that they interpret "soon" in Revelation 22:6."

(The "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 1787)

Application thought for the day:

What did you learn from this passage, and how can you apply it to your life?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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