Revelation 12:1-10

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 then 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.”

The woman represents God’s chosen people that have been waiting for the Messiah. The crown of twelve stars represents the twelve tribes of Israel. The woman’s symbolism confused when I read it first because I believed that the woman was Mary – the mother of Jesus. It even states that the woman gave birth to a son to rule all nations. However, John’s using imagery that would have connected to the ancient Jewish teaching and culture. God set apart the Jewish people for himself (his chosen people), which we can learn more about in Genesis and Exodus. The Jewish nation, the tribe of Judah, is the descendant line that Jesus came from. The son mentioned is Jesus, who morn of a devout Jewish girl named Mary. When Jesus was born, King Herod had a mission to destroy Jesus because he believed this infant would be a threat to his throne. Herod’s desire to kill Jesus was motivated by Satan (represented by the large red dragon.) The pageant shown in Revelation 12 shows that Christ’s lowly birth in the town of Bethlehem had a heavy cosmic and eternal impact. We know that Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was often prophesied in the Old Testament through the various prophets. There are 200 to 570 prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament, hence why we see John’s heavy use of Jewish symbolism for his audience. It’s a way to connect the story together to a time and culture important to the audience’s past generations. What does this mean for us?

John saw a woman who radiated with God’s glory and light, representing the past generations of her people. This woman, imbued with the seed and Spirit of God, gave birth to the Messiah. This child came with the plan to rule the nations and to finally battle the red dragon (Satan.) Let’s talk more about this dragon.

The large red dragon, Satan, had seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns – representing his power and the kingdom of the world, over which he rules. The number seven represents completion and perfection.  The number ten represents completeness and divine order. A head can represent power and authority. A horn can represent strength and power. A crown can represent authority. Satan is the embodiment of the complete divine perfection of power, authority and strength. Yet, he uses it in a rebellious mindset.

The stars that come to earth with the dragon are typically considered by theologians as angels that fell with Satan and became his followers. According to the Hebrew tradition, one third of all the angels in heaven fell with Satan, showing that the other two-thirds of all angels are remaining with God. We also learn that Satan was thrown down to earth after a heavenly battle with Michael and his angels. Michael is often seen as the protector of Israel, as described in Daniel. He is the ultimate protector of God’s people and his church. We’re seeing the battle of Satan’s rebellious divine power and strength going up against God’s protector and defense of his people. Ultimately, Satan and his crew lost, and they were kicked out of heaven down to earth.

We know the woman mentioned in this story, believed to Jesus’ earthly mother Mary, left towards the wilderness. The wilderness often represents a place of spiritual refuge and protection from Satan. God was able to provide a place of escape, and this reminds us that he can offer a place of safety and protection for all of us. This was not the only time when God did this. God cared for Elijah in the wilderness (see 1 Kings 19). God also cared for the Israelites in the wilderness (see Exodus 16). This path of escape, nourishment, and protection is to combat the works of Satan. Some people may experience physical harm as a result of the evil in the world, but God’s people will be protected from spiritual harm. God will not let Satan steal the souls of his followers.

The 1,260 days is the same length of time that the dragon is allowed to exercise his authority and that the holy spirit is trampled. (see Revelation 11:2-3, 13:5)

A major war, as mentioned earlier, was going on between the forces of good and evil. When Jesus was resurrected though, Satan’s defeat was guaranteed. Some believe that Satan’s fall to earth happened at the same time as Jesus’ resurrection or ascension and that the 1,260 days is a symbolic way of referring to the time between Christ’s first and second comings. Others believe that the defeat of Satan 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.

Whichever is true, we must remember that Jesus is victorious over everything. Satan was defeated at the point of Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus can defeat anything and anyone that comes in his path, or the path of his followers.

We cannot dismiss the devil as just a symbol or a legend. Satan had very real spiritual power. Originally Satan was a good angel, but through his own pride, he rebelled. He sees God as his enemy, 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. Satan’s name means “accuser.” He actively looks for people to attack through confusion, doubt, and condemnation. He pursues those who are vulnerable, spiritually weak, and isolated. Even though God allows Satan to work in this world, Jesus has power over him. Many believe that until Satan is bound, he had access to God. But God bars his access for eternity here. Satan is no longer able to accuse people before God.

Next bible study blog: It’s a Zoo in Here – Part 2

Associated Scripture

Revelation 12:2          Isaiah 26:17, 66:6-9; Micah 4:10

Revelation 12:3          Daniel 7:7, 24; Revelation 13:1, 17:3, 7, 12, 16

Revelation 12:4          Daniel 8:10

Revelation 12:5          Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27, 19:15

Revelation 12:6          Revelation 11:2, 13:5

Revelation 12:7          Daniel 10:13, 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:3

Revelation 12:9          Genesis 3:1; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:10; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:3, 20:2-10

Revelation 12:10       Job 1:9-11; Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 7:10, 11:15