Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Revelation Chapter 12 mean?

Starting in chapter 12, Revelation takes a detour from the step-by-step narrative of the end times. The events described occur over a wide variety of eras, including past, present, and future. In the course of these visions, seven main figures are described. Five of those appear in this chapter. The next two chapters will continue to fill in the details. Chapter 15 adds another vision of heaven, and chapter 16 will return to a more chronological depiction of the last days.

This passage typifies the grand symbolism found in much of the book of Revelation. John sees a woman, clothed with the sun, crying out in pain as she gives birth. Waiting to kill her child is a red dragon. The woman symbolizes Israel, the dragon is Satan, and the male child is Jesus. The male child is “caught up to God,” a reference to Jesus’ ascension after His resurrection, and the woman is able to flee into the wilderness (Revelation 12:1–6).

Next, John observes a war in heaven, where Michael the archangel fully casts Satan out of heaven. This is not a depiction of the initial fall of Satan; according to Old Testament books such as Job, the Devil was still able to access heaven and accuse humanity before God. At this point, however, he will be entirely evicted and thrown down to earth. This results in rejoicing in heaven, but also a dire warning. Now that Satan is running out of time, and confined to the earth, his rage will be taken out on mankind, especially Israel (Revelation 12:7–12).

Jesus predicted an “abomination of desolation” in Matthew 24:15–16. There, He most likely referred to a defilement of the temple by the Antichrist. Jesus warned that people ought to respond to this act by fleeing to the mountains. Here, in Revelation, the people of Israel are given supernatural protection by God—symbolized by the reference to wings—and able to survive for a period of three and a half years. Echoing other prophetic messages about an invasion by a northern army (Ezekiel 38), John also sees the serpent attempt to wash the woman away with a flood of water from his mouth. This would symbolize an armed invasion. God, again, protects the woman with what Ezekiel says is a tremendous earthquake (Ezekiel 38:19–22). This enrages Satan, who commits to attacking the offspring of the woman (Revelation 12:13–17).

The five figures mentioned in this chapter are the woman who symbolizes Israel, the seven-headed dragon who represents Satan, the male child who is Jesus, Satan himself as the fourth figure, and the offspring of the woman, referring to the people of Israel. The following chapter will introduce the last two major characters, who are among the most infamous in all of Scripture: the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

Chapter Context
Preceding verses have brought us to the middle of the tribulation, after the seal judgments and very near the end of the trumpet judgments. Now, the focus shifts to symbolically introduce a series of important figures. These are mentioned in various eras, not as part of the earlier chronology of Revelation. This passage relates to Matthew 24:15–26 and Isaiah 16:1–4. Ezekiel 38 and Joel 1 describe an invasion into Israel from the north, and Revelation 9 identifies the invading army as demon inspired. Revelation 13 continues to describe major end-times figures, focusing on ”the beast,” also known as the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

John tells us in this verse that a sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun. She is the first of seven key figures described in this part of Revelation. The moon was under her feet, and she wore a crown of twelve stars on her head. This sign was and is the first of several signs to come: Revelation 12:3; 13:13–14; 15:1; 16:14; and 18:20. Although the sign of the woman appears in heaven, the events that ensue take place on earth.

The woman symbolizes Israel. Genesis 37 tells us Joseph, Jacob’s favored son, had a dream in which Jacob’s other sons and his parents bowed down to him. When he told his father Jacob about the dream, his father immediately applied the imagery. The sun and moon were Joseph’s father and mother, Jacob—also named Israel—and Rachel. Joseph’s brothers were the eleven stars. The crown on the woman’s head probably signifies that Christ’s future kingdom will center in Israel. Although Joseph’s brothers bowed down to him in Egypt (Genesis 42:6), someday restored Israel will bow down to Jesus, who is far greater than Joseph.

This symbolic woman’s status as Israel will be confirmed later in the passage, as her future-ruling offspring is opposed by “a great red dragon.”

Context Summary
Revelation 12:1–6 opens a long stretch of Revelation which ”pauses” the narrative of the end times. These events are highly symbolic and refer to varying times throughout both history and the future. This section points back to the fall of Satan and to the birth and ascension of Jesus. The passage concludes with an event in the middle of the tribulation period. Revelation 13 will describe the situation prompting the woman of Revelation 12:1–6 to flee into the wilderness.

Verse 2. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.

John records that the woman who appeared in the sign in heaven was crying out in pain. She was experiencing the trauma of giving birth. We learn from verse 5 that the child is appointed to rule the nations. This statement is a clear reference to Jesus Christ. Isaiah prophesied the birth of Christ in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].”

Isaiah 66:7 predicts that the woman would deliver a son before her pain came upon her. This prediction seems to refer to the fact that Israel would bring forth Christ before the painful tribulation period. Israel’s refusal to accept Christ, the Messiah, will bring the nation unprecedented pain in the tribulation. First Thessalonians 5:3 alludes to the painful tribulation by noting: “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

Verse 3. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

John saw another sign appear in heaven. A great red dragon—the second of seven important figures mentioned in this segment of Revelation. Verse 9 identifies this dragon as the Devil and Satan.

The dragon had seven heads and ten horns, and each of his heads had a diadem: a crown-like object similar to a headband. The imagery suggests that Satan holds absolute sway over political entities in the tribulation. The ten horns represent ten kings who reign for a while with the first beast mentioned in Revelation 13:1. Daniel 7:7–8, 23–24 prophesies this confederacy of ten kings. Today, as “the god of this world,” Satan dominates the evil world system (2 Corinthians 4:4), but this influence will be even more potent, and more obvious, during the tribulation.

In John 12:31, Jesus called Satan “the ruler of this world.” When he tempted Jesus, he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would fall down and worship him (Matthew 4:8–9). In the tribulation Satan’s political power will reach its peak. He will use the two beasts of Revelation 13 to suppress millions of people.

Verse 4. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

Currently, the Devil has access to heaven. He does not reside there, but often he appears before God to accuse believers (Revelation 12:10). Job 1:6–12 pictures Satan at the throne of God with the accusation that Job reverenced God only because God prospered him.

In the middle of the tribulation, Satan will lose his access to heaven. Scholars differ on whether this specific reference to “a third of the stars of heaven” is a reference to Satan’s work in corrupting one third of the angels of heaven, or a point about his immense earthly power at this time. Either way, Satan and all rebelling demons will be cast down and barred from their normal communication with God.

Revelation 12:4 depicts Satan standing before the woman so he might destroy the woman’s child. Satan’s opposition to God’s plan to redeem fallen mankind is apparent from the dawn of human history and is abundantly clear in Herod’s attempt to kill baby Jesus, whom he saw as a threat to his kingship (Matthew 2:7–13). Satan has always tried to destroy Israel, too, as is apparent in the longstanding evil of antisemitism. His hatred of Israel will reach an all-time high in the second half of the tribulation.

Verse 5. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

This verse reports that the woman John saw brought forth a male child who was destined to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. This child is the third of seven critically important figures described in this passage. The woman is symbolic of the nation of Israel, and this verse is an obvious reference to Jesus. Isaiah 9:6–7 prophesies that this child will bear the government on His shoulder and there will be no end to His government and peace. He will rule with justice and righteousness from the throne of David. Zechariah prophesied that Jesus “shall sit and rule on his throne” (Zechariah 6:13). Psalm 2:7–9 prophesies that God the Father will give His Son Jesus the nations for His inheritance and the ends of the earth for His possession, and His Son will break them with a rod of iron. This rule will follow the tribulation and last a thousand years (Revelation 20:1–6).

Satan’s effort to destroy Jesus the Messiah failed. Jesus arose from the dead and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:16). John testifies here that the woman’s child “was caught up to God and to his throne,” reflecting an event which has already occurred.

Verse 6. and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

An indeterminate length of time separates the events described in verses 5 and 6. In the middle of the tribulation, the False Prophet in Jerusalem will erect an image to the beast who achieves enormous political power. The false prophet demands that everyone worship the image (Revelation 13:14–15). Failure to worship the image brings the death penalty.

Many Jews will understand this idolatrous act to be the abomination of desolation that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15. They will act upon his warning: “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:16). These Jews will escape to the mountains. By doing so they will escape the invasion of “the north”—most likely Russia—into Palestine (Ezekiel 38, Joel 1). The place God has prepared for the fleeing Jews may be Petra, also called Sela, the capital of Edom, in Isaiah 16:1. Whatever the place of safety is, it will provide sustenance for the escapees for 1,260 days. This is three and a half years, or the second half of the tribulation.

These locations are likely candidates due to their combination of terrain. Various biblical references to this event mention both “wilderness”—or “desert”—and mountains, both of which can be found in these regions.

Verse 7. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

In this verse we read about a war that breaks out in heaven. Michael, called “the archangel” in Jude 1:9, and his angels fight against the dragon, Satan, and the dragon and his angels fight back. The Hebrew name Miyka’el is formed as a question: “who is like God?” Michael appears in Scripture as the defender of holiness and all that is good.

Satan is the fourth of seven key individuals listed in this passage: this verse refers to Satan as “the dragon,” which is further clarified in verse 9. Satan appears in Scripture as the perpetrator of evil and everything opposed to God. Ephesians 2:2 refers to him as “the prince of the power of the air.” We can readily understand why conflict between Michael and Satan breaks out in heaven.

The conflict between good and evil rages today, as Satan attacks believers (1 Peter 5:8). Using trials and temptations, he tries to render believers spiritually ineffective. Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 12:7 a thorn in his flesh, some kind of severe personal trial, which he calls “a messenger of Satan.” Ephesians 6:10–12 reminds us that we are engaged in a vicious warfare with the Devil and his demonic followers.

Context Summary
Revelation 12:7–12 describes a war in heaven which breaks out between Michael and his angels and the Devil. Prior to this expulsion, the Devil has access to heaven, where he accuses believers. Job 1 confirms this fact. However, he cannot prevail in his war on Christ and His followers. Genesis 3:15 prophesies his violent opposition to the virgin-born Son of God, and Revelation 20:1–10 reveals his ultimate defeat and eternal punishment. Revelation 13 unveils the Devil’s two henchmen, the beast and the false prophet, who assist him in persecuting Israel.

Verse 8. but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

This verse reports the outcome of the war in heaven between Michael and his angels and the Devil and his angels. Michael and his angels won the war, and there was no longer any place in heaven for the Devil and his angels.

The Bible makes it clear that evil will not be allowed to coexist with good. In his final address to the people of Israel, Joshua upheld God’s honor and warned the people against adopting the evil ways of their Gentile neighbors. He summoned them to make a choice between serving false gods or serving the Lord. He assured them, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Similarly, Elijah confronted the people of Israel with a choice between good and evil. He demanded, “If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him: (1 Kings 18:21). In 2 Corinthians 6:14 we read, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Some teachers believe the expulsion of Satan from heaven, described here and in earlier verses, refers to his initial rebellion against God before the dawn of human history (Ezekiel 28:14–17). However, prior to this yet-future moment, the Devil still has access to God’s throne, where he accuses believers (Job 1:9–11). In the instance described here, Satan and his followers are thrown down to the earth, so he no longer has access to heaven.

In Revelation 12:9 the apostle John refers to Satan as “that ancient serpent,” a reference to his appearance in the garden of Eden to tempt our first parents. John also calls him Diabolos in Greek, in English “the Devil,” from a term literally meaning “slanderer” or “opponent.” Satanas is the Greek word derived from the Hebrew name for the leader of the evil spirits, Sā’tān. This entity is “the deceiver of the whole world,” as Jesus said the Devil was “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Proof that Satan deceives the whole world may be found in those who think success brings true happiness or sex brings lasting pleasure or money offers security. It may also be found in the false religions and cults that reject or twist the truth.

Verse 10. And 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 brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Heaven cheers the expulsion of Satan and his angels from heaven. A loud voice from heaven proclaims the fact that the accuser of the believers has been cast down. The voice acknowledges that the accuser points out believers’ faults and sins around the clock. Now he is cast out of heaven and God and Christ are exalted.

Satan’s expulsion brings Christ’s millennial kingdom even closer. God will deliver His people from the Devil’s tyranny. God’s power and Christ’s authority are about to be displayed. The end of the Devil’s kingdom is certain! Although Jesus judged and defeated the Devil when Jesus was on earth (John 16:11), Jesus did not execute the sentence He pronounced on Satan. Someday, however, He will chain the Devil and cast him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1–3), and finally He will consign the Devil and his followers to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7–10).

Verse 11. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

This verse focuses on believers on earth during the second half of the Tribulation. Although all believers are overcomers (Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4–5), believers in the Tribulation are especially targeted by the Devil, but they conquer him “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11).

All believers are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (1 Peter 1:18–19). This transaction removes them from Satan’s kingdom of darkness and places them in Christ’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Believers’ testimony also assists in conquering the Devil. He cannot defeat us if we resolutely confess our faith in Jesus—though the Bible does not guarantee that “victory” will come in the form of earthly success or prosperity. Even the martyrs of the Tribulation are conquerors. Death is the believer’s ultimate victory. Paul explained that to be “away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). When facing the possibility of martyrdom, he confessed, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Verse 12. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

The voice from heaven that John heard called on all of creation to rejoice. The Devil’s defeat and banishment from heaven was an occasion of great joy. However, the voice also pronounced woe to the earth and sea because the Devil was confined to the earth. Further, the Devil knew his time was short. Soon he would be confined to the bottomless pit and then to the lake of fire. So he will try to do as much damage as he can in the brief time that he has left.

Specifically, at this point in time, Satan knows he only has 1,260 days, the second half of the tribulation, to vent his fury. Although Satan is not omniscient—all knowing—he knows the Scriptures. He used them in a futile attempt to trip Jesus and cause Him to sin. He knows the Scripture foretells his appointment with eternal judgment. But how will he vent his fury in the second half of the tribulation? Revelation 12:13–17 and Revelation 13:1–18 give the answer.

Verse 13. And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Angered by his expulsion from heaven, the Devil pours out his wrath on the woman who gave birth to the male child. In other words, he relentlessly persecutes Israel. He hates Israel because Israel was instrumental in bringing Jesus, the Messiah, into the world. Micah prophesied that the “ruler in Israel” would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah in Judah (Micah 5:2), and Luke 2:1–7 reports His birth in that designated village. Matthew 2:2 refers to Him as king of the Jews.

The enmity between the Devil and Jesus began in the garden of Eden. When our first parents succumbed to the Devil’s temptation to disobey God, God told him, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he [Jesus the Messiah] shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Multiple assaults on the Jewish people throughout history attest to the fact that the Devil hates Israel. He also hates Jesus, the Messiah who came out of Israel, and whom he tried to destroy.

This verse also references the male child described earlier. Later verses will describe the other offspring of the woman, making them the fifth of seven important characters described in this part of Revelation.

Context Summary
Revelation 12:13–17 depicts the dragon pursuing Israel in an attempt to destroy her. He sends an army to devour her, but to no avail. God protects members of Israel who flee into the wilderness, where He sustains them for the second half of the tribulation. Then, the Devil focuses on the believing remnant of Israel. This passage of Scripture relates to Ezekiel and Joel’s description of an invading army from the north that troubles Israel (Ezekiel 38; Joel 1—2). It also relates to Revelation 9 that describes an invading army of demonic inspired forces. Revelation 13 reveals the two evil figures the Devil uses to persecute the believing remnant of Israel.

Verse 14. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

Satan’s end-times assault on Israel does not succeed. Many Jews will escape to the wilderness, likely the region known as Petra (Matthew 24:16). This is at least partly in response to Jesus’ warning to flee to the mountains when they “see the abomination of desolation…standing in the holy place” (Matthew 24:15). This “abomination” likely refers to defiling of the temple, such as through setting up an idol of the head of the Revived Roman Empire.

God responds to this idolatrous act by bringing about an invasion in the middle of the tribulation, most likely by Russia and her allies. Some students of prophecy believe the two wings of the great eagle mentioned in Revelation 12:14 refer to an airlift that rescues Jews from the Russian invasion. However, the use of “wings” as a reference to protection is well established in Scripture (Deuteronomy 32:11–12; Exodus 19:4).

The Jewish refugees will be sustained in their place of safety for “a time, and times, and half a time.” This equals three and a half years, the length of the second half of the tribulation. God is able to protect those who trust in Him.

Verse 15. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.

Depictions in the book of Revelation are extremely dramatic, often meant to be entirely symbolic. Others seem more literal, or a blend of poetry and plain speech. The serpent’s action in this verse might be taken literally or symbolically. It’s not entirely impossible that someone might attempt to use flooding as a weapon. It is doubtful, though, that the serpent sent a river of water to sweep escaping Jews away in a flood.

More likely, the flood represents the invading forces of the King of the North—typically identified as Russia. Ezekiel chapter 38 identifies this northern aggressor and predicts it will “go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 38:8). Addressing the northern aggressor, the Lord says, “You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you” (Ezekiel 38:9). Verse 15 identifies the northern aggressor clearly: “You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many people with you.” The next verse identifies the people targeted by the northern aggressor: “You will come up against my people Israel” (Ezekiel 38:16).

Verse 16. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

Prior verses have depicted a woman—symbolizing Israel—fleeing a dragon—symbolizing Satan. Satan’s latest attempt to destroy Israel is poetically described as a flood coming from the serpent’s mouth. According to this verse, the serpent’s attempt to sweep away the woman fails, because God helps her. Most likely, the “river” is an army intent on invading and destroying Israel. God opens the earth to swallow the flood/river—typically identified as the northern army described in Ezekiel 38 and Joel 1—that the serpent sends to destroy Israel. This apparently refers to a natural phenomenon, possibly an earthquake.

Ezekiel predicted this devastating earthquake that destroys the northern army. He wrote: “But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. … And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. …With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire, and sulfur” (Ezekiel 38:18–22).

Verse 17. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Furious that his attack on Israel failed, the Devil turns his attention to the believing remnant. These devout believers obey God’s Word and hold to the testimony of Jesus. These, collectively, are the fifth of seven important figures described in this part of Revelation.

This description of the rest of the woman’s offspring clearly identifies believers in Jesus. They may be a group of Jews, and possibly also Gentiles, who welcomed the message of the 144,000 identified in chapter 7. The tribulation period certainly leaves no room for wishy-washing professors of Christ. The severe trials of the tribulation will demonstrate genuine faith. As the apostle Peter explained, faith that is tried proves its genuineness and results in “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

It is apparent that the shorter the Devil’s time becomes the more furious his rage against God’s people grows. Revelation 12:17 concludes with a glimpse of the dragon standing on the sand of the Mediterranean Sea. This is the region from which the first beast of the next chapter emerges.

End of Chapter 12.

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