Book of Revelation:
Chapter 12
Basis of the Conflict—The
Woman, Dragon, and Child
Deeper Spiritual Background
• Basic outline of Revelation:
– The church’s conflict in and with the world
• Chapters 1—11
– The inner struggle between Christ and Satan
• Chapters 12—22
Deeper Spiritual Background
• Chapter 12 begins Part 2 of the
Apocalypse.
• This part focuses on the sins of the
empire and how complete its overthrow
will be.
• Revelation was written in a recapitulation
pattern…
Deeper Spiritual Background
• First, the outcome is revealed; then scenes are
repeated to give additional information that
explains why a certain result is reached.
• We should be careful not to link the chapters in
chronological order.
• Understand that the pageantry recapitulates earlier
visions, deepening our insight.
Deeper Spiritual Background
• Part One tells about Rome’s sins against the
church.
• God offered her time and opportunity to repent—
salvation from doom and overthrow.
• First six trumpets—partial judgments against the
empire
• Sadly, instead of repentance, hearts hardened, and
repentance became impossible!
Deeper Spiritual Background
• In the first eleven chapters:
– The assured final outcome is revealed.
– Characters are introduced—the beast versus God’s
witnesses.
– Winners are announced—Christ and the saints
(church).
– Several questions remain unanswered…
• Why the hostility toward the church and persecution of
the saints?
• From whence comes the power that motivates the
persecutors?
Deeper Spiritual Background
• In the first eleven chapters:
– Christ controls the world’s destiny.
– He walks in the midst of the churches.
– He is aware of the struggles and conflicts they face.
– He has authority to carry out God’s plans.
– Book opened—it summarizes, from the gospel’s first
message, God’s dealings with those on earth.
– Men are called to repentance.
– There are warnings (trumpets). Time is running out.
– A brief summary of the result in chapter 11..stay
tuned; more details will be forthcoming!!
Deeper Spiritual Background
• The next eleven chapters will reveal:
– Does the struggle involve just the church and
Rome?
– Remaining visions that show the struggle “behind
the scenes.”
– It actually originates in heaven.
– The battle between God and Satan.
– Righteousness versus evil.
– The magnitude of the heavenly conflict.
– The intent of Satan and his agents is real—not
imagery!
Revelation 12:1
“Now a great sign
appeared in heaven: a
woman clothed with the
sun, with the moon under
her feet, and on her head a
garland of twelve stars.”
Revelation 12:2
“Then being with
child, she cried out in
labor and in pain to
give birth.”
A Great Sign in Heaven
• This struggle began in Genesis 3:15…
• The woman:
– Her appearance:
• In contrast to the great harlot, she is the “bearer of the
light.”
• “Clothed with the sun”
• “Moon under her feet”
• “On her head a crown of 12 stars” (victory crown)
• Glory and purity emanate from her.
– Light represents “righteousness.”
A Great Sign in Heaven
• This struggle began in Genesis 3:15…
• The woman:
– Appears in heavenly splendor—the moon is her
footstool.
– The sun is her robe.
– 12 stars in her crown (signifying victory)
– Figurative language—heavenly bodies that rule day
and night symbolize her exalted position in God’s order
of things!
Revelation 12:4
“His tail drew a third of the stars
of heaven and threw them to the
earth. And the dragon stood
before the woman who was ready
to give birth, to devour her Child
as soon as it was born.”
A Great Sign in Heaven
• This struggle began in Genesis 3:15…
• The woman’s condition:
– With child
– About to give birth
– At this point, she represents God’s faithful remnant.
– Micah 4:10
– Later, she represents the church—all of God’s faithful
people.
– Before the savior’s birth—a faithful remnant; following
His death, the church.
Revelation 12:3
“And another sign appeared in
heaven: behold, a great, fiery
red dragon having seven
heads and ten horns, and
seven diadems on his heads.”
Second Sign –The Dragon
• His appearance:
– Red; blood of brutality
– Seven heads—perfect vitality (hard to kill); epitome of
evil
– Ten horns—complete power (over the Roman beast); full
of intelligence
– Seven diadems—royal crowns (realm of evil), but not
victorious like the previous ones
• Ephesians 2:2; 4;14; 6:12
• John 8:44; 12:31
• 2 Corinthians 4:4
Second Sign –The Dragon
• His position and purpose:
– He is “serpent,” ”devil,” ”Satan” (12:9; 1 Peter 5:8)
– He is powerful; 1/3 of the stars (his angels) (2 Peter 2:4;
Jude 6)
– Awaiting the Child’s birth so he can devour it as soon as
it is born!
– Historical attempt by Satan to destroy the Messiah’s
“seed” line
– Many attempts to cut off the “seed of the woman”
Second Sign –The Dragon
• His position and purpose:
– Many OT examples where Satan tempted the nation to
turn away from God!
– Many did reject God, but a faithful remnant always
remained.
– Satan failed to destroy the chosen family (Israel) from
which the Messiah would come.
– In the NT, he continues through his agent Herod
(Matthew 2:16)
– During Jesus’ public ministry, he tried many times, by
using unbelieving Jews, to put Him to death.
Revelation 12:5
“She bore a male Child
who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron.
And her Child was caught
up to God and His
throne.”
Birth of the Child
• His birth: Jesus the Christ (Psalm 2:1-9)
• His status: ”to rule the nations”
• His ascension: caught up to God and His throne
• Whole period of Christ on the earth
• “Rod of iron:” He would rule with firmness;
absolute authority
• “Destiny of the nations” is in His hands!
Birth of the Child
• His death: at first, it brought sorrow to His disciples.
It seemed like evil had been the victor.
• Sorrow turned to joy when Satan was defeated by
His death!
• Death, Burial, and Resurrection; redemption for
mankind! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
• Ascended to God to rule, on His spiritual throne,
over all nations (Daniel 7:13,14; Hebrews 9:23-28;
Ephesians 1:20-23)
Revelation 12:6
“Then the woman fled into the
wilderness, where she has a
place prepared by God, that
they should feed her there one
thousand two hundred and
sixty days.”
Flight of the Woman
• To the wilderness, a place of hardship
• Statement further explained in vs.13-17…
• Satan failed in His attempt to destroy the Child—
now turns his attention to an attempt to destroy
God’s people!
• Makes war with the remnant of the woman’s “seed”
• God’s people flee; under intense hardship and
persecution
Flight of the Woman
• To a prepared place:
– A place prepared by God, a spiritual refuge
– God’s providential protection and care
– Church becomes the type of the “spiritual Israel“ of
God
– Church protected for an indefinite period of time as
God’s enemies wage war against her
– War waged by the beast and the false prophet
– Church existed in a world of sin but was protected by
God’s promise!
Revelation 12:7,8
“And war broke out in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought with
the dragon; and the dragon and his
angels fought, but they did not
prevail, nor was a place found for
them in heaven any longer.”
War in Heaven?
• The apocalyptic scene shifts from earth to heaven.
• The opponents:
– Michael and his angels (Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude
9)
– Dragon and his angels
– Not his first defeat (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Luke 8:31)
– Doesn’t stop him from accusing (Job 1,2)
War in Heaven?
• The apocalyptic scene shifts from earth to heaven.
• The opponents: (devil)
– Power begins to diminish with the ministry of Christ.
(Luke 10:18; John 14:30)
– It is further limited by the coming of the Holy Spirit.
(John 16:8-11)
– Christ removed Satan’s power over death.
(Hebrews 2:14; John 12:31; 1 John 3:8)
– We now have an advocate with the Father.
(1 John 2:1,2; James 4:7,8)
War in Heaven?
• Symbolic representation of Satan’s angry
reaction to the Messiah’s escape from his wicked
plot to destroy Him!
• Satan’s unholy army attempts to storm the “citadel
of heaven.” Michael and his fellow angels engage
them in battle!
• Michael and his angels will prevail because they
have God’s power and authority behind them!
War in Heaven?
• Spiritual warfare behind the scenes.
• Satan’s angels were “not strong enough.”
• No longer is a place “found for them in heaven”
– Resound defeat in the heavenly realm by Michael and
his angels
– Complete defeat for Satan, and complete victory for
Christ
– Satan no longer has “legal ground” to accuse God’s
people; it’s all been taken away! (Hebrews 2:14,15)
Revelation 12:9
“So the great dragon was
cast out, that serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole
world; he was cast to the
earth, and his angels were
cast out with him.”
The Dragon’s Identity Confirmed
• Story of the Garden of Eden “that old serpent”
(Genesis 3)
• Called the “devil,” “Satan”
– Slanderer
– Adversary
– Constantly opposes mankind
– Great force against God
– Against His creation
– Against His Son
– Deception of the entire world (John 8:44)
The Dragon’s Identity Confirmed
• Now the scene shifts back to earth—”cast out into
the earth”
• “Angels cast out with him”
• The devil’s adversarial role continues.
• Yet, because of Christ’s death he cannot win!
• John’s vision depicts the climax of war between the
forces of righteousness and of evil.
• This is NOT a discussion of Satan’s origin!
Revelation 12:10
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in
heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and
the kingdom of our God, and the power of
His Christ have come, for the accuser of
our brethren, who accused them before
our God day and night, has been cast
down.’”
The Response
• Praise given to God for:
– The coming of salvation (manifested)
– Power (vindicated)
– God’s Kingdom (truly established)
– Christ’s authority (revealed)
– Accomplished by His death, burial, and resurrection
• Ephesians 1:7
• Colossians 1:13,14; 2:15
• Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22
The Response
• God receives praise because:
– The accuser of the brethren has been cast down.
– The devil lost the battle in his great warfare against
God.
– He was unable to destroy the man child born on earth.
– Finally, at Christ’s death, Satan lost the spiritual battle
in heaven!
– He was unable to prevent the resurrection. (Romans
1:4)
– Powerless in any confrontation with God (Romans
8:33-39)
Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by
the blood of the Lamb and by
the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their
lives to the death.”
Formula for Victory
• WHO conquered and gained the victory and HOW
did they do it?
• The brethren, who suffered at the hands of Satan
OVERCAME!
• Three answers are given as to HOW:
– By the blood of the Lamb. God, through His grace,
provided the means of forgiveness by sacrificing Christ!
Thus, He purified our souls!
• 1 Peter 1:18-20; Ephesians 2:8,9; 1 Peter 1:22,23;Romans
6:3,4; Revelation 1:5,6.
Formula for Victory
• WHO conquered and gained the victory and HOW
did they do it?
• The brethren, who suffered at the hands of Satan
OVERCAME!
• Three answers are given as to HOW:
– And by the word of their testimony—More than
confessing their sins (1 John 1:9)—unashamed
confession of their faith shown in their faithful lives.
Unwilling to bow to Caesar as God! Committed
Christians are known by the lives they live!
• Matthew 10:32,33; Romans 10:9,10; Galatians 6:7,8.
Formula for Victory
• WHO conquered and gained the victory and HOW did
they do it?
• The brethren, who suffered at the hands of Satan
OVERCAME!
• Three answers are given as to HOW:
– And they loved not their lives unto the death. Total
commitment and love for God was seen in their willingness
to die for their faith! No worldly compromise. Understood that
men—not God--are to be feared! Obeyed the gospel and
lived it!
• Matthew 10:28; 16:26
Revelation 12:12
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and
you who dwell in them! Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth and the
sea! For the devil has come down
to you, having great wrath,
because he knows that he has a
short time.”
Cause to Rejoice!
• All who belong to God can rejoice!
• The heavenly angels and all the loyal saints who
emerged from the great tribulation celebrate
because of Satan’s defeat!
• “Woe to the earth;” he has lost in heaven, and
only the earth is left!
• Has only a “short time” to persecute God’s people!
• He Knows his time is limited, so turns his evil
arsenal on the church—God’s children!
Revelation 12:13
“Now when the dragon saw
that he had been cast to the
earth, he persecuted the
woman who gave birth to the
male Child.”
The Woman Persecuted
• Satan knows he must fight on earth.
• This antagonism originated with Satan’s hatred for
Christ!
• He turns his attention to the children of his
conqueror!
• Primary application to Revelation is the Roman
persecution, the beast’s great persecution of the
church
• Yet, to this day Satan persecutes God’s children by
encouraging them to abandon their faith!
Revelation 12:14
“But the woman was given two
wings of a great eagle, that she
might fly into the wilderness to her
place, where she is nourished for a
time and times and half a time, from
the presence of the serpent.”
Flight of the Woman
• God told the people of Israel that he carried them
on eagles’ wings. (Exodus 19:4)
• He delivered them by His power. (Deuteronomy
32:11; Psalm 36:7; Isaiah 40:31)
• He gives “similar refuge” to the church.
• “The woman flew into the wilderness to her place.”
• There, she will be nourished, away from the
presence of the serpent.
Flight of the Woman
• The woman represents those who stand for and
with God.
• She will be spiritually protected by God.
• She will be able to resist evil and the devil’s
scheme. (James 4:7,8; 1 Peter 5:8,9)
• She may suffer physical persecution, but will
ultimately be victorious. (Romans 8:35-39)
• “For a time, and times, and half times,” will be
nourished through the time of testing!
Revelation 12:15
“So the serpent spewed water
out of his mouth like a flood
after the woman, that he might
cause her to be carried away
by the flood.”
Revelation 12:15
“But the earth helped the
woman, and the earth opened
its mouth and swallowed up
the flood which the dragon
had spewed out of his
mouth.”
The Dragon’s Attempt
• Though Satan ejected from his mouth a stream of
water, as a flood to destroy her, the earth
swallowed up the current and rescued the woman!
• At one time, God used water to destroy evil. (1
Peter 3:20,21)
• Satan’s “flood” is the use of ungodly men and
methods. (Psalm 18:4; 124:4,5; Isaiah 5:5-8;
57:19,20; Ephesians 4:14)
Attempt Thwarted by God
• God caused the earth to help the woman.
• The world absorbs/drinks up the flood sent by
Satan. Mankind falls for and follows after Satan’s
lies.
• A contrast between the evil world and the church
• The earth came to the woman’s rescue by
distracting Rome’s attention—political uprisings,
local wars, and other conflicts.
• Divine providence protected and sustained the
woman and her offspring!
Revelation 12:17
“And the dragon was enraged
with the woman, and he went
to make war with the rest of
her offspring, who keep the
commandments of God and
have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.”
Rest of Her “Offspring”
• By this time the celestial woman and her offspring
are one.
• Following the persecution depicted in Revelation,
the woman now represents the faithful children of
God in the church.
• Satan will attack her children because God loves
them.
• He attacks them one by one, but to no avail.
• God’s armor protects them—Ephesians 6:10-18.
Summary…
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Key to this chapter—Genesis 3:15
Word to remember—”victory”
Satan defeated in heaven
Satan limited to final defeat on earth
– Vs.1-6: struggle between the seed (woman and dragon)
God’s people protected
– Vs.7-12: Christ’s birth, atonement, and ascension and
its effects. Satan cannot destroy the woman or her
offspring!
– Vs.13-17: persecution of the woman—God’s divine
protection!