American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Revelation 12
1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:
Reference
3
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.
Reference
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.
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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 to God, and to his throne.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 12:2
Isaiah 7:14
Revelation 11:12
Matthew 1:25
Micah 5:3
References God
Revelation 19:15
6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days.
Reference
7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
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9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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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 brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Reference
Kingdom
Revelation 11:15
Daniel 2:44
1 Chronicles 29:11
Matthew 6:10
Parallel theme
Luke 22:31
Matthew 28:18
Job 1:11
Revelation 2:26
Job 2:5
References God
Job 1:9
11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 16:33
1 John 5:5
1 Corinthians 15:57
Revelation 2:26
Romans 16:20
Revelation 3:5
1 John 4:4
Revelation 3:21
Witness
Acts 20:24
Word
Revelation 20:4
12
Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
Reference
13
And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
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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.
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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.
Reference
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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 3:15
Revelation 13:7
John 8:44
Revelation 17:14
Witness
Revelation 19:10
Revelation 11:7
Word
Revelation 14:12
Revelation 6:9
Revelation 1:2
Revelation 1:9
Summary of Revelation 12
Revelation 12 presents the great spiritual conflict behind the events of history, portraying a woman, a male child who represents Christ, and a great red dragon identified as Satan, whose attempt to destroy God's purposes ultimately fails, while Satan is defeated and cast down, yet continues attacking God's people for a limited time, revealing both the certainty of Christ's victory and the reality of continuing spiritual opposition before the final judgment.
The chapter introduces one of the most important symbolic visions in Revelation.
John sees a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet and a crown of twelve stars.
She is pregnant and experiencing the pain of childbirth.
The imagery strongly recalls Old Testament symbolism associated with God's covenant people and the twelve tribes of Israel.
A second sign then appears.
John sees a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns.
The dragon is later explicitly identified as Satan, the Devil and ancient serpent who deceives the whole world.
The dragon waits for the woman's child because he intends to destroy him.
The woman gives birth to a male child who will rule the nations with an iron rod.
This child is commonly understood as representing Jesus Christ, particularly because He is taken up to God and His throne.
The dragon cannot prevent Christ from reaching His appointed position.
The woman then flees into the wilderness, where God provides a place for her and sustains her for a limited period.
The scene then moves to heaven.
Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his angels.
The dragon is defeated and thrown down to earth.
Revelation explicitly identifies the dragon as Satan, the deceiver and accuser.
A heavenly voice celebrates this defeat because the accuser of God's people has been cast down.
The victory of God's people is connected to the blood of the Lamb and their faithful testimony.
They overcome not through earthly military power but through their loyalty to Christ, even when that loyalty costs them their lives.
However, the chapter also explains why the earth continues to experience evil.
Satan has been thrown down and knows that his time is short.
His remaining activity therefore becomes increasingly hostile.
He pursues the woman and attempts to destroy her.
Again, however, God provides protection.
The woman is given wings and escapes into the wilderness.
The dragon then sends a flood after her, but the earth swallows the flood and prevents the attack from succeeding.
Frustrated, the dragon turns his attention toward the woman's other offspring.
These are identified as people who keep God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
This makes the central conflict clear.
Satan's hostility is ultimately directed against God, Christ, and those who faithfully belong to Christ.
The chapter ends with the dragon standing by the sea, preparing for the arrival of another major enemy.
This leads directly into Revelation 13 and the appearance of the beast from the sea.
The central message of Revelation 12 is that behind the visible conflicts of history lies a spiritual struggle in which Satan opposes God's redemptive purposes and persecutes God's people, yet Christ's victory, Satan's defeat, and God's protection of His people demonstrate that the enemy's power is temporary, his time is limited, and those who remain faithful to Jesus can overcome through the Lamb's sacrifice and their steadfast testimony even in the face of suffering and death.
The chapter introduces one of the most important symbolic visions in Revelation.
John sees a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet and a crown of twelve stars.
She is pregnant and experiencing the pain of childbirth.
The imagery strongly recalls Old Testament symbolism associated with God's covenant people and the twelve tribes of Israel.
A second sign then appears.
John sees a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns.
The dragon is later explicitly identified as Satan, the Devil and ancient serpent who deceives the whole world.
The dragon waits for the woman's child because he intends to destroy him.
The woman gives birth to a male child who will rule the nations with an iron rod.
This child is commonly understood as representing Jesus Christ, particularly because He is taken up to God and His throne.
The dragon cannot prevent Christ from reaching His appointed position.
The woman then flees into the wilderness, where God provides a place for her and sustains her for a limited period.
The scene then moves to heaven.
Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his angels.
The dragon is defeated and thrown down to earth.
Revelation explicitly identifies the dragon as Satan, the deceiver and accuser.
A heavenly voice celebrates this defeat because the accuser of God's people has been cast down.
The victory of God's people is connected to the blood of the Lamb and their faithful testimony.
They overcome not through earthly military power but through their loyalty to Christ, even when that loyalty costs them their lives.
However, the chapter also explains why the earth continues to experience evil.
Satan has been thrown down and knows that his time is short.
His remaining activity therefore becomes increasingly hostile.
He pursues the woman and attempts to destroy her.
Again, however, God provides protection.
The woman is given wings and escapes into the wilderness.
The dragon then sends a flood after her, but the earth swallows the flood and prevents the attack from succeeding.
Frustrated, the dragon turns his attention toward the woman's other offspring.
These are identified as people who keep God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
This makes the central conflict clear.
Satan's hostility is ultimately directed against God, Christ, and those who faithfully belong to Christ.
The chapter ends with the dragon standing by the sea, preparing for the arrival of another major enemy.
This leads directly into Revelation 13 and the appearance of the beast from the sea.
The central message of Revelation 12 is that behind the visible conflicts of history lies a spiritual struggle in which Satan opposes God's redemptive purposes and persecutes God's people, yet Christ's victory, Satan's defeat, and God's protection of His people demonstrate that the enemy's power is temporary, his time is limited, and those who remain faithful to Jesus can overcome through the Lamb's sacrifice and their steadfast testimony even in the face of suffering and death.