Revelation 12 (July 22, 2025)

The Woman and the Dragon

12:1 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. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 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. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule[a] all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 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.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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. 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[b] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 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. 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!”

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. 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. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 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. 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[c] on the sand of the sea.

Footnotes

Revelation 12:5 Greek shepherd

Revelation 12:10 Or brothers and sisters

Revelation 12:17 Some manuscripts And I stood, connecting the sentence with 13:1

Revelation 12

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Summary

Revelation 12 opens a new visionary cycle with a sweeping cosmic drama that reinterprets redemptive history from a heavenly perspective. A “great sign” appears in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars (v. 1). She is pregnant and crying out in labor (v. 2), symbolizing the faithful people of God from whom the Messiah comes. This radiant woman likely represents Israel, but more broadly, she signifies the covenant people of God—both Old and New Testament saints—who longed for and bore the promised Savior.

In contrast, a “great red dragon” appears (v. 3), identified later as Satan (v. 9). He attempts to devour the male child as soon as he is born (v. 4–5), but the child is caught up to God and His throne, summarizing His resurrection and ascension. The woman flees into the wilderness (v. 6), where she is nourished by God, echoing the theme of divine preservation during tribulation.

Verses 7–12 depict a heavenly war, in which Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his forces. The dragon is decisively cast down to earth (v. 9), and a loud voice in heaven proclaims that “now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God… have come” (v. 10). Though Satan is defeated in heaven, he rages on earth, persecuting the woman and her offspring—those who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (v. 17). This chapter reminds us that the Christian life is lived in the tension of already accomplished victory and not yet final peace.

Who is God

God is sovereign over redemptive history. He ordains the birth of the Messiah, protects the woman in the wilderness, and defeats Satan through the blood of Christ (v. 11). God is not distant from the cosmic battle but orchestrates its outcome for His glory. His sovereignty ensures that the church, though pressed, will never be crushed.

God is also sovereign over tribulation. The wilderness, while a place of danger, becomes a place of provision and protection under God’s care (v. 6, 14). He nourishes His people spiritually even in exile, just as He did with Israel during their wanderings.

What is our Guilt

Our guilt is indifference, which is revealed in our tendency to forget the nature of spiritual warfare. We often live as if we are in peacetime when we are on a battleground. Satan, though defeated, is still dangerous—seeking to “make war” on those who belong to Christ (v. 17). We fall into spiritual complacency and neglect the armor God has provided for us.

Our guilt is also in fearing the "dragon" more than trusting the risen King. When tribulations come, we are too eager to panic or compromise, rather than hold to the testimony of Jesus. The church sometimes forgets her identity as the radiant woman, beloved and guarded by God.

How does Grace Shine

Grace shines in the victory of the Lamb and the endurance of His people. As verse 11 declares, “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Satan’s accusations have no power over those who are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Just as the dragon could not destroy the child, he cannot destroy those united to Him. Even in the wilderness—a place not of abandonment but of refinement—God nourishes His people daily with His Word, presence, and promise. His sustaining grace preserves the church through every assault until the final day when the dragon is cast down forever.

Prayer

Father in heaven,

You are the King who rules history and the Savior who guards Your people. We praise You for giving us a victorious Savior, born from the line of promise, who conquered the "dragon" and ascended to Your throne.

Forgive us for forgetting the nature of the battle and for living in fear rather than in faith. Remind us daily that Satan is a defeated foe, and Christ has won the war. Help us to stand firm, nourished by Your grace, and to testify to Jesus even when threatened by the world boldly.

Strengthen our hearts in the wilderness, and help us cling to the promise that we are safe in Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.