Philippians 2:10-11 ESV
Revelation Chapter 12 - Woman, Child, Fall of Satan
Celestial bodies signal in Revelation chapter 12, the birth of Jesus, war in heaven and the Fall of Satan, who was cast from heaven down to earth. John describes the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in terms describing a specific alingnment of the stars, sun, moon and planets. This specific alignment fulfills Old Testament prophecy of a coming Messiah to save the Jewish nation from their enemies. Jewish and other Ancient Near Eastern, wise men, who were constantly watching the heavens for the celestial signs of the coming of this Messiah. John uses this astronomical knowledge in Revelation chapter 12.
Revelation 12:1-2,5 English Standard Version
The Woman and the Dragon
12 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.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,
The woman is the constellation Virgo, which means “the virgin”. Clothed in the “sun” means the sun is visual within Virgo. The “moon” at her feet means, the moon appears below her feet, viewing Virgo as she traveled along the ecliptic, as it was seen on 9-11, 2 B.C., from Jerusalem. On her head, a crown of twelve stars referring to the constellation Leo and its twelve stars.
Revelation Chapter 12 reveals the birth of the Messiah
The sun, moon and stars are aligned is such a way, as to convey God's fulfillment of prophecy of the birth of the Messiah. Jewish, Christian and other Ancient Near Eastern "wise men" would have been watching for and understood this alignment of celestial bodies, to be signaling the birth of the Jewish Messian, Jesus Christ.
The image at the left is a conventional post-12th century depiction of the Biblical Magi, (Adoração dos Magos by Vicente Gil). Balthasar, the youngest magus, bears frankincense and represents Africa. To the left stands Caspar, middle-aged, bearing gold and representing Asia. On his knees is Melchior, oldest, bearing myrrh and representing Europe.
The woman and child of Revelation 12
Revelation 12:5 English Standard Version
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,
2 Kings 19:21 English Standard Version
21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: “She despises you, she scorns you - the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you - the daughter of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 7:14 English Standard Version
The sign of Immanuel
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The "woman" is the key figure for interpreting Revelation chapter 12. The "woman" of Rev 12:5, symbolizes faithful Israel, the church, consisting of believers in Jesus Christ, the "child", comprised of both Jewish and non-Jewish believers.
Old Testament prophecy often refers to faithful Israel as the “virgin of Zion”, which produces the promised Messiah.
The phrase in Rev 12:5, " caught up to God and to his throne" symbolizes the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This is a key phrase explaining the Fall of Satan, later in Revelation 12.
Another sign appears in heaven, the Great Red Dragon, Satan
Revelation 12:3-4 English Standard Version
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.
Daniel 8:9-10 English Standard Version
9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them.
Remember, Revelation chapter 12:5, above, told us that the risen Jesus, the Messiah, had ascended into heaven and the throne of God. So Satan's plan to thwart God's plan for God the Son, Jesus failed. Jesus completed his mission on earth and now reigned in heaven, aongside God the Father.
A quick note on the phrase "his tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to earth", in Rev 12:4. The word "stars" means Jewish saints killed, by the thousands, during the reign of Antiochus IV Ephiphanes, 175-164 B.C. He was a Selecucid ruler of the Greek empire after the death of Alexander the great, described in Daniel 8:10.
In Revelation chapter 12:4, the word "stars" refers to Murdered Jewish believers, not to any spiritual being like angels, and alludes to how the dragon, satan, empowers the Beast of Revelation to war on earth, against believers in Jesus Christ. This conflict between believers in Jesus Christ and satan will be discussed more later in this Bible study on Revelation chapter 12.
War in Heaven - The Fall of Satan
Revelation 12:7-9 English Standard Version
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.
The image at right, War in Heaven, Archangel Michael casts the rebel angels out of Heaven, 1866. Illustration by Gustave Doré.
Revelation 12:5 tells about Satan's failed efforts to thwart God's plan for Jesus' incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension. A war in heaven ensues, after the ascension of Christ. Satan and his angels lost that battle.
Satan and his Angels Thrown Out of Heaven Down to Earth
Revelation 12:10-11 English Standard Version
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. 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.
The devil had a title, within the divine council before God's throne in the heaven of heavens. His title was "The Accuser" of the saints, pointing out their sins, among the Host of Heaven, standing around the Creator's throne.
Ephesians 1:19-20 ESV
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Romans 8:33-34 ESV
33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
The Messiah defeated Satan at the cross and resurrection. Jesus' ascension to heaven and God's throne, where He intercedes, against Satan's accusations, before God, makes the devil's title of "The Accuser", completely unnecessary. The Satan, was as it were, downsized and his title, his position, before God the Father, eliminated, which resulted in Satan's fall from heaven.
Revelation chapter 12:11, describes how the church, under the power of the Holy Spirit, witnesses to salvation for all who believe in Jesus. The saints participating in the suffering of Christ, by their faithful witness, even to the point of death, engaging in Jesus' battle and eventual elimination of Satan and his evil followers, even completely eliminating the existence of sin and even death, the final enemy.
Satan, now banned from God's throne, wages war on the woman, the Church
Revelation 12:12-13 ESV
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.
The heavenly host rejoice because Satan has been banned from the divine council's presence before God, but a warning is issued to humanity, because the devil could only now operate on earth and its air. The former accuser, now waged fierce war against the church, knowing his time and existence was limited.
John continues his allusion to the Exodus being a major theme in Revelation. God defeated the gods of Israel in the Exodus, and then destroyed their human enemy, the Egyptian army.
Witnessing Believers will be persecuted, but God protects their salvation
Revelation 12:14-17 ESV
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 on the sand of the sea.
Exodus 19:4 ESV
4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
Exodus 15:1-2 Tree of Life Version
Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and Bnei-Yisrael sang this song to Adonai: I will sing to Adonai, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea. 2 Adonai is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Psalm 18:1,1,4-5,6-18 Tree of Life Version
Adonai lives! Blessed Be My Rock
1 For the music director: a psalm of David the servant of Adonai. He chanted the words of this song to Adonai on the day Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 4 I called upon Adonai, worthy of praise, and I was rescued from my enemies. 5 Cords of death entangled me. Torrents of Belial overwhelmed me.16 Then ravines of water appeared. The foundations of earth were exposed, at Your rebuke, Adonai, at a blast of breath from Your nostrils. 17 He reached down from on high and took hold of me. He drew me out of mighty waters. 18 He saved me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me—for they were much stronger than me.
Exodus 15:1-2 Tree of Life Version
Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and Bnei-Yisrael sang this song to Adonai: I will sing to Adonai, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea. 2 Adonai is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Revelation chapter 12 through chapter 16, reveal how the Beast will be defeated by a joint effort of the Holy Spirit and the witness of believers.