Introduction

In this chapter, two periods of persecution are brought to view. The former is the persecution of God’s people during the Dark Ages (1260 years of papal supremacy). The latter is the persecution of God’s people during the final conflict.

Revelation 12

Revelation 12:1: "And 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:"

John was on the isle of Patmos when he received the visions of the Revelation. He had been banished to this prison colony because of his faithful testimony for Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:9). Imagine John seated there on a boulder looking out across the sea on a Sabbath morning, the sun warming his face and body after a chilling night. Suddenly, God brings the wonderful visions of Revelation to him. He watched as these scenes passed in quick succession before his eyes on something like a big cinema screen, but instead of a big screen, he viewed the entire sky. When "there appeared a great wonder in heaven," it isn’t talking about where God’s throne is. In the story of creation, "…God created the heaven and the earth." (Gen. 1:1) It’s talking about our sky.

The "woman clothed with the sun," appeared radiant and beautiful, fully clothed with the gospel light and the glory of God. (James 1:17, Rev. 21:23) What a beautiful symbolism God is giving to help make a Bible truth even more clear and meaningful! When God refers to this beautiful woman, He is referring to His church, or His people. In both the Old and New Testament, Scripture applies the symbolism of a woman to represent a church (Ephesians 5:24-32; Isaiah 54:5,6). In Jeremiah 6:2, God says, "I have likened the daughter of Zion to a delicate and comely woman." By illustrating His relationship to His people as between a husband and this pure woman, it becomes even more plain and meaningful.

The merging of the Old and New Testament churches is symbolized by the woman with "the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." From the creation of the world to the cross, the sacrificial system pointed to Christ. It symbolized Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. As the moon borrows light from the sun so the sacrificial system derived its significance from the Son of Righteousness. Here a strong connection is made between the Son of Righteousness and the moon under the feet of this woman representing type and anti-type which met at the cross. The crown composed "of twelve stars" is a symbol of the twelve apostles of Jesus recognized as the foundation of the early Christian church.

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

It was time for Jesus to appear. The 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel 9 tells the exact year the Messiah was to appear. Micah 5:2 tells the place Jesus was to be born. Had the leaders of the Old Testament church been studying the prophecies, they would have known the fullness of time had come and it was time for Christ to appear. Students of Bible prophecy today may know that Christ will soon return.

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

Verse 9 positively identifies this dragon-like creature with seven heads and ten horns as "that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan." Notice the last phrase in verse 3, "…and seven crowns upon his heads." When Bible prophecy is studied, much of the research needed is simply to compare scripture with scripture and then apply the reasoning power that God has given. A crown in Bible prophecy symbolizes connection with civil power. Why would there be a crown unless there is a king to wear the crown? Why would there be a king unless the king has subjects and a domain? (In Revelation 13:1, 2 fulfilled prophecy fully establishes this point.) The symbol of the crown is consistent and the "seven crowns upon his (seven) heads" represent seven universal attempts of Satan to control the world working through civil governments. These are distinct and identifiable heads. Verse 4, last part, identifies the power through which Satan would exercise control during the time period of this prophecy.

Verse 4 (last part): "And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."

Satan sought to put an end to the contest before it began. Herod ordered "all male children that were in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under," slain in an attempt to kill Christ at His birth (Matthew 2:16). It was Roman soldiers that eventually nailed Jesus to the cross. In this chapter, it was the Roman government through which Satan worked. Primarily this dragon represents Satan, verse 9 tells us that. But, in a secondary sense, this dragon represents Pagan Rome because that is the power through which Satan worked during this period of history. Thus, Pagan Rome is one of the crowned heads of the dragon.

The ten horns represent the nations of the divided Roman Empire and have special significance in Revelation chapters 13 and 17.

Verse 5: "She brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up unto God and to His throne."

Scripture reveals the child that was born was caught up unto God and to His throne where He sits on the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2, Mark 16:19, Eph. 2:20, Rom. 8:34). There is no doubt that the child referred to here is Jesus Christ (Compare Jer. 25:30-34). In Rev.19:15 there is an aspect of Christ’s kingship the nations haven’t yet known. When He returns to have a controversy with the nations, He will "rule them with a rod of iron."

Verse 6: "The woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred and threescore days."

When Satan realized he could not destroy Christ at His birth, and Christ was victorious at the cross, he turned his rage upon the woman. Previous chapters have identified the 1260 prophetic days, or literal years of fierce papal persecution. Here the woman fled into the wilderness during the same 1260 days, or prophetic years. During this awful time (538 AD-1798 AD) God’s true church went into solitary places "where she had a place prepared of God." It is an interesting thought that during the great flood of Noah’s day, God in His infinite wisdom knew what the future would hold for His people. As the water subsided huge jagged cliffs, caves and fertile valleys were left to provide a place of refuge during the 1260 years. (See comment on Daniel 7:25.)

Verse 7: "There was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels."

It is evident that Michael is one of the many titles applied to Christ. It was actually Jesus Christ and His angels who fought against the dragon, Satan, and his angels.

Compare: Jude 9 – Michael the Archangel

1 Thess. 4:16 - Voice of the Archangel calls forth the dead.

John 5:28 - Voice of Christ calls forth the dead.

Applying the title of Archangel to Christ in no way altars the fact that Christ is Deity and has had eternal existence with the Father. Many titles have been applied that help us to understand the infinite aspects of Christ: Son of Man, Son of David, Lamb, Great High Priest, Prince of Peace, Shepherd, Rock, Bright and Morning Star, Cornerstone, etc. Many of these titles would seem to place Him within the realm of creation, which has never been the case. John 1:1-3, 14 states that Christ is the Creator of all things "and without him was not anything made that was made."

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

It is evident that Satan and his host were unsuccessful in that war because they were cast out of heaven.

Verse 9: " And 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."

A large number of angels sided with Satan in his rebellion in heaven and were consequently cast out of heaven with him. "And his tail drew a third of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth" (Rev. 12:4, first part).

Verse 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 brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

Any time Satan had the opportunity he had claimed ruler ship of the world. (Matt. 4:8, 9; Luke 4:5-7) At the cross Christ’s victory over Satan assured that the kingdom belongs to Christ.

Verse 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."

Here is pictured the faithfulness of a people who would rather die than disobey God. It is because of the blood of Christ, because of Christ’s victory on the cross, that they were able to overcome. It is through Christ’s strength, victory and shed blood that we may overcome today.

Verse 12: "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants 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."

Why would those who dwell in heaven "rejoice?" Because the source of discord and rebellion has been eliminated. At every opportunity Satan was on hand to accuse the brethren (Job. 1:8-12). Finally, at the cross, heavenly beings could fully see his true nature. There is great rejoicing in heaven because his destruction is now assured. On the other hand, "Woe to the inhabitants 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." The reason for his "great wrath" is because he knows that from the time of his defeat at the cross, it will be a comparatively "short time" until his complete destruction. Praise God for that! (Heb. 2:14; Ezekiel 28:17-19).

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

After the cross Satan could not directly war against Christ, therefore, he turned his efforts against the woman (church). Thus, the church entered 1260 years of the fiercest persecution in history.

Verse 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."

Verse 6 said, she had "a place prepared of God." Now the woman is given wings "that she might fly…into her place." If the time should come for God’s people to flee, it is a comforting thought to know that God has a place already prepared.

In verse 6 of this chapter, this same woman "fled into the wilderness that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Here in verse 14, the woman "is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time." This is the same time period: "a thousand two hundred and threescore (1260) days" = "time, and times, and half a time." Because a day represents a year in Bible prophecy (Ezekiel 4:6), the church was nourished in the wilderness for 1260 years. (See Year/Day Principle.)

This time period is first brought to view in connection with the little horn power of Daniel 7:25. "And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Each instance this time period is mentioned in Scripture, it refers to the 1260 years of papal supremacy known as the Dark Ages. God’s church "was given into his hand" during this time.

Verse 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."

Historically, the ancient dragon has been considered a sea beast, so it would seem fitting for him to throw out huge amounts of water "as a flood" (See Psalms 74:13, Ezekiel 29:3). Not only did he cast out a flood of persecution, but he also spewed out false doctrines and teachings. In this chapter "the dragon" and "the serpent" are used interchangeably. Satan’s two great avenues of work are "destroyer" and "deceiver." As the "dragon" he destroys, as the "serpent" he deceives (Gen. 3:1-4). With this "flood" he seeks to do both. Throughout mainstream religions today, many doctrines that are taught are handed down as tradition and are not founded in the word of God. Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9). In Rev. 17:2, "the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication (false teachings)."

Verse 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."

As the woman flees into the wilderness, Satan spews out after her a flood of persecution so large he intends to engulf and totally sweep her away. This tidal wave follows the woman. Suddenly, it reaches the place where there are huge valleys, cliffs, and mountains and the flood dissipates. Though sorely persecuted, God’s church was kept pure through the Dark Ages. Verses 6 and 14 portray her as she went into caves and dens where God hid her. In those fertile valleys and solitary places God’s people were preserved for more than 1000 years.

In addition, as the Protestant Reformation began to weaken the papacy, the entire Western Hemisphere opened to civilization. "The earth helped the woman" as people fled to the New World to escape persecution. Satan was unable to destroy God’s church during that dreadful time.

Verse 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."

In its fullest sense, this war is yet future, because it says the dragon "went to make war with the remnant (the last part) of her seed." When Satan makes his final war with the remnant of her seed, he will be making war with God’s people who are living on the earth when Christ returns. These are the people who "keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

There are two things that enrage Satan about the final generation of God’s people:

1. They "keep the commandments of God." The last great conflict will be between the laws of man and the law of God (Rev. 12:17, Rev. 14:12). We are entering that last great battlefield. God’s people are identified with and will proclaim God’s law. Satan’s argument since Adam and Eve is that no one should be expected to keep the commandments. These people "keep the commandments of God," not as a means of salvation, as that is a free gift (Rom. 6:22, 23), but because of their loyalty and love for God. They are able to do it because of the blood of Christ and Christ’s victory on the cross. At the end of time, in a generation of lawlessness (2 Tim. 3:1-5), Satan’s wrath will be against those who are obedient to God.
2. They "have the testimony of Jesus Christ." According to Rev. 19:10, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Satan is enraged that anyone could reveal his plans through a clear understanding of Bible prophecy. He intends to deceive "the whole world" (verse 9) and makes war with those who unmask his final deception.

Summary

In Revelation 12, the dragon is a symbol of persecution in all ages. Since John saw crowns upon the seven heads of the dragon, the seven heads represent seven political powers through which Satan will work. In this chapter, Pagan Rome is identified as one of the crowned heads of the dragon.

The last great battle will not be between rival churches contending for supremacy, but between the law of God and the traditions of men. God’s remnant will choose to be obedient to Him. They hear and follow Christ’s voice, "If ye love me, keep my commandments…He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:15, 21).