Tyndale Open Study NotesRevelation 12

The people of God are pictured as a woman who gives birth to the Messiah. Even though the devil has already been defeated, he continues to attack her and her children (Revelation 12:1–17). With his two followers, the beast and the false prophet, Satan tries to keep controlling the world (Revelation 13:1–18) before the final battle with the Lord (14:1–20).

Satan is shown as a dragon. He plots to oppose God's plans but fails. After losing a direct battle with God and Christ, he tries to harm God's followers. Three short scenes summarize the story (Revelation 12:1–6), followed by details of the war in heaven (12:7–9) and the war on earth (12:13–17).

The number twelve suggests that the woman represents God's people (compare Revelation 12:15–17; see Jeremiah 2:32; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:32), from whom the Messiah came. This woman is marked by God's glory, unlike the prostitute (see Revelation 17:1–6), who faces destruction.

The symbolic woman experiencing the pain of labor represents Christ’s birth. This reflects the biblical theme of Israel’s struggle while waiting for deliverance (see Isaiah 26:16–18; Jeremiah 4:31; Micah 4:9–10; John 16:21).

• The large red dragon symbolizes Satan (see Revelation 12:9).

• seven heads, ten horns: These numbers symbolize a mix of divine and created powers (see Revelation 17:7–14).

• The historic battle between evil and God's people occurs on a cosmic scale (see Genesis 3:1–7, 14–15; Job 1:9–12).

• Herod’s wish to kill Jesus showed Satan’s attempt to destroy her baby after birth (see Matthew 2:7–8, 16).

• Jesus was the son who was to rule all nations (see Luke 1:31–33; 2:30–32; compare Psalm 2:6–12).

• Although agents of evil killed Jesus, God saved him from the dragon and raised him from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Mark 10:33–34; 16:6; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4). This scene summarizes the life of Jesus on earth, from his birth to his death and resurrection.

• caught up to God and to His throne: See Acts 1:9–11.

• Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hosea 2:14–15; Acts 7:38–45) and in exile in Babylon (see Isaiah 5:13; Ezekiel 12:1–3), the Christian church must face its own challenges. Revelation shares messages of endurance and perseverance during difficult times and shows that God provides places of refuge and ways to escape for his people (compare 1 Corinthians 10:13).

• 1,260 days: See study note on Revelation 11:2–3.

• This scene reveals the dragon’s identity and power.

• God sends Michael, the warrior archangel (see Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:9), to face the dragon and his angels. God does not need to fight the battle himself (see Matthew 26:53), and Satan is defeated.

Satan's defeat encourages Christians who, like those in Revelation, do not fear death (see John 12:24–26).

when the dragon saw: The scene continues from Revelation 12:9.

• two wings of a great eagle (see Exodus 19:4–6; Deuteronomy 32:10–11; Isaiah 40:29–31): God strengthens his people but does not promise they will avoid persecution or death.

• a time, and times, and half a time: This is usually understood as three and a half years (see Revelation 11:2–3).

John imagines Satan as Leviathan, a great sea monster (compare Job 41:1), trying to destroy God's people (the woman; see study note on Revelation 12:1). In the vision, the earth protects the woman, and the dangerous waters are held back. This is similar to the way God contained the waters of chaos at creation (compare Genesis 1:2, 6–7, 9–10).

The dragon becomes hostile towards the woman's children, who are believers. They follow God's commandments and continue to testify about Jesus.

on the shore of the sea: By contrast, the lamb stands on the rock of Zion (Revelation 12:17).

John shows that the dragon carries out his war (Revelation 12:17) through two beasts. Together with Satan, these three form an evil trinity, meaning three evil beings acting together as one group.