Revelation

Chapter 12

17 verses — switch translations with the toolbar below.

Scripture

KJV

1And 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:

2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

4And 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.

5And 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.

6And 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.

7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11And 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.

12Therefore 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.

13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14And 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.

15And 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.

16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17And 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.

Key VerseRevelation 12:11

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.

Overview

A great sign appears in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun gives birth to a male child destined to rule all nations. A great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns stands ready to devour the child, but the child is caught up to God and His throne. War breaks out in heaven — Michael and his angels cast the dragon down to earth. The dragon, identified as Satan, pursues the woman, but God protects her in the wilderness.

Key Themes

1

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

This cosmic drama portrays the age-old conflict between God's redemptive purpose — embodied in the male child who will rule the nations — and Satan's relentless opposition to that purpose.

2

Satan Cast Down

The war in heaven results in Satan's defeat and expulsion, demonstrating that his power is broken even as he rages against the earth in the time he has remaining.

3

Overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb

The saints overcome the accuser not by their own strength but by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, revealing the true source of spiritual victory.

Study Questions

1.

Who does the woman clothed with the sun represent, and how does her story connect to the broader biblical narrative?

2.

What does the dragon's attempt to devour the child at birth reveal about Satan's strategy throughout history?

3.

How does knowing that Satan has been 'cast down' and has only 'a short time' change the way we understand spiritual warfare?

4.

What does it mean to overcome the devil 'by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony'?

5.

How does the protection of the woman in the wilderness reflect God's pattern of preserving His people throughout Scripture?

Connection to Christ

The male child caught up to God's throne is unmistakably Jesus Christ, destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron. This chapter reveals the cosmic backstory of the gospel — Satan's war against Christ and His people. Yet the victory is already won: believers overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and Satan's ultimate defeat is certain because Christ has already conquered.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Revelation 12. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

Revelation

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