Bible Commentaries
Revelation 12

Verse 1

And . . . heaven = And a great sign was seen in heaven.

appeared = was seen. App-133 .

wonder. App-176 . What follows is a sign.

heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .

woman. i.e. Israel. See John 16:21 .

twelve stars. Probably the zodiacal signs, representing the Israel nation in embryo. See App-12 .

Verse 2

cried = crieth out.

travailing, &c. Greek. odino. Only here and Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:19 , Gal 1:27 . See Micah 5:3 .

pained. Literally tormented. See Revelation 9:5 .

Verse 3

another. App-124 .

behold. App-133 .

dragon. Greek. drakon. First of thirteen occurances in Rev. only. ( App-10 and App-197 ) See Revelation 12:9 .

seven heads . . . heads. "Signs" of universality of earthly power.

crowns. Greek. diadema. Only here, Revelation 13:1 ; Revelation 19:12 .

Verse 4

And his, &c. Refers to Satan's first rebellion and to those who followed him.

drew = draggeth. See John 21:8 .

did. Read "he".

earth. App-129 .

stood = is standing. Perf. tense, indicating abiding action.

was . . . delivered = is about to bring forth.

for = in order. Greek. hina.

devour. Same word as Revelation 10:9 , Revelation 10:10 (eat up); Revelation 20:9 . From Genesis 3:15 till now Satan stands ready to devour the promised "seed",

child. App-108 .

Verse 5

man child = a son ( App-108 .) a male (as Luke 2:23 ).

was = is about.

nations = the nations. Compare Psalms 2:9 .

rod. See Revelation 2:27 .

up = away.

unto. App-104 .

God. App-98 .

to. The texts add pros, as above. An interval of years occurs after this verse.

Verse 6

Anticipatory, the flight being consequent on the war in heaven (Revelation 12:14 ).

into. App-104 .

wilderness. Compare Ezekiel 20:33-38 .

that. Greek. hina , as Revelation 12:4 .

Verse 7

was = came to be.

heaven = the heaven. See Revelation 3:12 . A particular sphere above earth which is dwelt in by, or accessible to, the dragon and his evil powers. Compare Job 1 and Job 2:0 .Zechariah 3:6 . See Luke 10:18 .

Michael. See Daniel 10:13 , Daniel 10:21 ; Daniel 12:1 .Jude 1:9 , and App-179 .

fought against. The texts read "(going forth) to war with".

against. Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 8

prevailed. Greek. ischuo, as Acts 19:16 , Acts 19:20 . Only here in Rev. Compare App-172 .

neither. Greek. oude.

more. First occurance: Matthew 5:13 (thenceforth).

Verse 9

cast out = cast down, as Revelation 12:10 .

that = the

old = ancient.

serpent. See Revelation 20:2 .Genesis 3:1 , and App-19 .

Devil. Literally slanderer. See Revelation 12:10 and Matthew 4:1 .

Satan = Adversary. Compare Matthew 4:10 . See App-19 .

which deceiveth. Literally the one deceiving. App-128 . See Revelation 20:3 .

world. App-129 .

Verse 10

The central verse in Revelation.

loud = great.

salvation = the salvation.

strength = the power. App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .

kingdom. See App-114 .

power. App-172 .

Christ. App-98 .

accuser. Greek. kategoros. Only here in Rev.

is = was.

cast down. As "cast out", Revelation 12:9 , with the texts.

accused = accuseth. First occurance: Matthew 12:10 ; last, here.

Verse 11

word. App-121 .

testimony. See Revelation 1:2 .

loved. App-135 .

lives = life.

the. Omit.

Verse 12

Therefore = For this cause.

heavens. In Rev. only here in plural, while fifty-one occurences in singular. See Revelation 3:12 and Matthew 6:10 .

dwell. Literally tabernacle. See Revelation 7:15 and Revelation 13:6 .

Woe. Third and most terrible of the three woes (Revelation 8:13 ).

the . . . of. The texts omit.

come = gone.

wrath. Greek. thumas. First of ten occurrences in Rev.

because . . . that = knowing ( App-132 .) that.

time. Greek. kairos. App-195 .

Verse 13

saw. App-133 .

east = east down, Revelation 12:9 .

man child = male. See Revelation 12:5 .

Verse 14

two = the two.

a = the.

great eagle. Great is emph. Compare Deuteronomy 32:11 , Deuteronomy 32:12 .

might = may.

fly. Greek. petomai. See Revelation 12:6 . Compare Exodus 14:5 .Psalms 35:1-5 .Isaiah 11:16 . Ezekiel 20:33-38 . Hosea 2:14 , Hosea 2:15 .Zephaniah 2:3 .Matthew 24:15-28 . Mark 13:14-23 .

time, &c. See Revelation 11:2 and App-195 .

from, &c. See Septuagint of Judges 9:21 for same Figure of speech Idioma ( App-6 ).

Verse 15

out of. App-104 .

flood = river.

carried . . . flood. Greek. potamophoretos. Only here.

Verse 16

opened, &c. See Numbers 16:30 .

swallowed up. Greek. katapino. Occurs seven times in N.T. See 1 Corinthians 15:54 . Compare Isaiah 59:19 .

Verse 17

went = went away, as in John 11:46 .

remnant. App-124 .

seed. Believers, Jew and Gentile, who are seen Revelation 7:9 .

and have = holding.

Jesus. App-98 .

Christ. The texts omit. They add here the first clause of Revelation 13:1 , altering to "he stood".