Revelation 12

Revelation 12:1-6

2. THE WOMAN AND DRAGON

Revelation 12:1-6

 

1 And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; –A “sign” is something to represent or signify something else. This very word shows that the vision John saw in heaven was a symbol of something. Sign is often used to indicate future events as Matthew 16:3 clearly shows. The very language of this paragraph proves that its meaning here applies to the future.

 

The commentators generally agree that the woman in the vision represents the church. The relationship of a wife to her husband symbolically refers to the relationship of the saved to God or Christ. Of national Israel Isaiah said: “For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name.” (Isaiah 54:5.) Concerning Christ’s relationship to the church Paul said: “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church.” (Ephesians 5:23.) In verse 32 he declares plainly that in using the illustration of husband and wife he spoke of Christ and the church. Changing the figure slightly, Paul refers to Sarah and Hagar as being the two covenants–one from Mount Sinai, the other from Jerusalem–and says that Christians are children of the free woman. (Galatians 4:23-24; Galatians 4:31.) There is no room for doubt here that the woman represents the church. Paul told the Corinthians that he had espoused them unto one husband. (2 Corinthians 11:2.)

 

The description of the woman shows that she represents the true apostolic church, as it was originally established, not the corrupt church that was developed later. Sun, moon, and stars constitute the sum of material light; so through the word of God is given to the church all the spiritual light there is. Hence, indirectly Christ’s disciples are the “light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14.) Since Christ is the “sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2), and the source of all our spiritual light, “arrayed with the sun” probably means the church clothed with Christ. As those in Christ have put him on, arrayed with Christ is a most natural meaning for the expression. The suggestion made by some commentators that the moon represents the Jewish covenant or law seems the most probable explanation for this expression. The moon is an inferior light-shining body–reflects its light; such were the Jewish scriptures.

Seeing the moon under her feet would imply their inferiority. Crowned with twelve stars most likely represents the apostles, who next to Christ occupied the most honorable position in the church as leaders. Twelve indicates perfection, and the apostles were the perfect mediums through which the church received her light. The word “crown” here–Greek stephanos–means a crown of victory, not a ruling crown. The apostles victoriously revealed the truth.

 

2 and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.–The peculiar condition of the woman indicates a time when the church was to increase its membership, and implies that this vision takes us back to an early day in her history, if not to the very beginning. The success of the church in the first century is found in the New Testament. From that time on, of course, we are dependent on secular history.

 

3 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.–There is no need to worry about the seeming incongruity of a dragon being “in heaven,” or just what is meant by heaven, as some interpreters do; for what John saw is only a picture to indicate certain facts or events. This should be kept constantly in mind as the symbols are studied. The word “sign,” as in verse 1, shows that something in the future is indicated. The word “dragon” is used thirteen times in the New Testament and all are in this book. In verse 9 he is called “the old serpent” and “the Devil and Satan.” Literally, it seems to denote some fabulous, serpent-form creature. Since the dragon is represented here as the deadly enemy of the woman and her offspring, the language appears as an allusion to Eve and the serpent in the Eden tragedy. (Genesis 3:1-6.) But the description here indicates that Satan figures in the events only as an instigator of fight on the church, the dragon being some earthly agency or medium through which the actual opposition was to be made. Plainly stated, the spirit of the dragon is the devil he inspires the dragon’s acts.

 

The dragon is described as being great and red in color. This implies that his fight against the true church would be terrific and characterized with bloodshed. It is not unusual for fabulous creatures in mythology to be given some unnatural appearance, but there must have been significant reasons for picturing an enemy of the church in such hideous form. Seven symbolically represents completeness and heads indicate power or authority, but there is probably some additional reason why that number is used in this emblem. The full significance of this symbol will be seen only when compared with similar ones in Revelation 13:1 and Revelation 17:3. The word “horn” is an emblem of power and the number “ten” indicates its general or universal exercise.

Some expositors explain “heads” to be symbolic of wisdom and the “horns” to indicate power. That, of course, is true in fact as applied to the dragon, and the numbers show the complete and extensive use of such powers. The diadems upon the seven heads show that the dragon was some kind of ruling institution.

 

It is a matter of common knowledge that the church was established within the Roman Empire, and was therefore politically subject to Roman law. That the church passed through many persecutions and suffered much from the Roman rulers is also a known fact. The natural conclusion, then, is that the first great power against the church was pagan Rome. Elliott’s commentary (Vol. III, p. 15) gives documentary evidence that the dragon became a Roman ensign near the close of the second century. If so, it is another indication pointing to the Roman Empire as the church’s first enemy–in the texts using the word dragon.

Another proof that pagan Rome was that first enemy is that John later saw a beast to which the dragon gave his authority (Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:4), and this beast had seven heads. Diadems upon the heads would indicate at least that ruling authority was claimed. In Revelation 17:12 the ten horns of the beast are said to be “ten kings.” Horns, therefore, signify the power to rule. “Ten” may only mean the universal rule of the Roman Empire or different divisions of the empire that supplied this power. The leading facts are sufficient to identify the dragon as pagan Rome. John saw a monster in the picture, and there is no more necessity for every detail to represent some specific thing than for every item in a parable to indicate something definite in the application.

 

4 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:–In the vision John apparently sees the dragon passing through the heaven sweeping down one-third of the stars with his tail. Perhaps all that was intended by this part of the symbol was to indicate what a terrific and powerful enemy the church would have to meet in the Roman Empire. This feature of the symbol harmonizes with the idea that the dragon is represented as a serpent. Since this work of the dragon seems to have occurred before the exaltation of the “man child” (verse 5), it may indicate different rulers that had been subjected to Rome when nations had been conquered by Roman arms, or it could refer to religious leaders who were killed or who apostatized. If this be the proper application, then the stars falling to earth indicated that rulers would lose their places of authority or deny the faith. The third part means not all, but a great number.

 

and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.–As the woman represents the church, the birth of a child indicates increase in the church by the addition of members. Of course, there had been a growth of the church since its establishment at Pentecost. The emblem here then must mean some time when there was about to be a great increase of the church, or when the increase became so influential that Rome felt the necessity of its destruction. The persecution under Diocletian, the emperor, began in A.D. 303. The evident purpose was the destruction of Christianity. Gibbon says it was perhaps represented to Diocletian that “the glorious work of the deliverance of the empire was left imperfect, as long as an independent people was permitted to subsist and multiply in the heart of the provinces.” (Decline and Fall, Vol. II, p. 62.) The twenty-third of February was the day appointed “to set bounds to the progress of Christianity,” doors of church houses were broken open and volumes of the holy scriptures committed to the flames. (Ibid., p. 63.) Gibbon further says that Diocletian was at length transported beyond bounds of moderation and declared “his intention of abolishing the name Christian.” (Ibid., p. 69.) In A.D. 311 Maximin, the Eastern Roman emperor, spoke of the “obstinate impiety of Christians” and readily consented to their banishment. (Ibid., p. 78.) The dragon really stood ready to prevent the increase of the church.

 

5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron:–In the symbol John now sees not only the woman, but also the son that was born. For reasons already presented the woman represents the church. Who or what is meant by the man-child has occasioned much disagreement among noted expositors. Some apply the words to Christ largely because the man-child was said to be caught up to God and to rule the nations with a rod of iron. The following reasons satisfactorily show that the words do not refer to Christ: (1) After Christ’s ascension to heaven there was no occasion for his being rescued from the dragon. (2) The theory would make the church produce Christ, whereas the Bible makes him the founder of the church. (3) In verse 17 of this chapter the dragon is said to “make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God.” This language can only refer to members of the church. Then the man-child symbolically represents the increase of the church–those who through the church’s activities became Christians.

If there is an apparent lack of harmony in the man-child representing members of the church and the woman the church, it is not a serious objection. Mother and child are of the same nature, and increase in the church leaves it the same institution. However, to use Paul’s allegory (Galatians 4:24-31), the woman may be said to represent the covenant and members the children of the covenant.

 

The expression “rule them with a rod of iron” in Revelation 19:15 clearly refers to Christ, but the same expression in Revelation 2:27 just as clearly refers to saints that keep Christ’s commandments. This text, Revelation 12:5, is unquestionably synonymous with Revelation 2:27 and not with Revelation 19:15. The word “rule” in all these texts (Greek poimaino) means to “shepherd,” not the word (Greek basileuo) which means “reign.” The thought is that those who keep Christ’s commands will be able to shepherd or lead with God’s word. A “rod. of iron” would indicate that their dominion would be strong and dependable. Such is the nature of God’s word.

 

and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. –Since this cannot refer to Christ’s ascension, it must mean some kind of glorious exaltation for Christians who had safely come through the persecutions. That this exaltation came soon after the decrees of Diocletian and Maximin that Christianity should be abolished is carat the facts indicate as necessary to fulfill the symbol. In the vision the child appeared to John as ascending to the very throne of God to escape the wrath of the dragon. This means that the church with its increase in membership was to be exalted to a position where it would be protected instead of persecuted.

 

Gibbon says that “the defeat and death of Maximin soon delivered the church from the last and most implacable of her enemies.” (Decline and Fall, Vol. II, p. 78.) He means the last of the enemy rulers in that age, for the beast to which the dragon was to give its authority was yet to arise. (Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:4.) The sorrows as of a woman in travail had ceased. In A.D. 310 Galerius, the Eastern Emperor, issued his Edict of Toleration by which Christians were granted the right to worship God and conduct their own religious services. In A.D. 308 the Roman Empire was divided among six contending emperors. In A.D. 313 two of them, Constantine and Licinius, issued the celebrated Edict of Milan in which Christians were given complete liberty. By a victory over Licinius in A.D. 323 Constantine became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

By laws and edicts which he issued that were favorable to Christianity, and the calling of the church council at Nice in A.D. 325, he accepted Christianity as the true religion. It is even claimed he became a member of the church. Gibbon says the church considered Constantine as a “generous patron, who seated Christianity on the throne of the Roman world.” (Vol. II, p. 273.) Surely the exaltation of the man-child symbol finds its appropriate fulfillment in this acknowledgment of Christianity.

 

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.–John here, by anticipation, briefly refers to what he describes in verses 14-17. See those verses for comments.

Revelation 12:7-12

3. THE WAR IN HEAVEN

Revelation 12:7-12

 

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; –After mentioning the flight of the woman, we have in this paragraph a statement of the sources of power, both wicked and good, with which this war was to be carried on. The words describe what John saw in the picture; they symbolically represent the efforts to destroy the true church. According to Daniel 10:13; Daniel 12:1, Michael is an angel of heaven that assists the righteous. Symbolically this indicates that in the struggles the church would be under the providence of God and led by those holding the testimony or words of Jesus. This evidently was designed to encourage the Christians to endure faithfully in spite of all persecutions. Verse 9 plainly says the dragon is the devil or Satan.

Just as Jesus operates through his followers, so Satan operates through human agents. In this case pagan Rome is the instrumental dragon, the devil the influencing dragon. Hence, the visible war refers to the conflict between pagan Rome and the church.

8 and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.–This means that pagan Rome was to fail in her war on the church. In spite of bloody persecutions and a multitude of martyrs, the church still survived and won imperial recognition early in the fourth century. The decrees by Roman emperors to banish the Christian name from the earth had failed, as we have already seen. The devil through paganism continued to war against the church. Some forty years after Constantine recognized Christianity as the true religion, the Roman Emperor Julian withdrew privileges conferred by Constantine and was considered by the church as a tyrant. Gibbon says that “the genius of Paganism, which had been fondly raised and cherished by the arts of Julian, sunk irrevocably in the dust” under his successor Jovian; that under Jovian’s reign “Christianity obtained an easy and lasting victory.” (Vol. II, p. 521.)

 

9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.–Here we have the direct statement that the devil is the indirect but real power that operated through paganism. John in the vision sees him and his angels cast down from heaven to earth. That represents the fact that paganism, which formerly ruled in the Roman Empire, had lost its seat of authority; Christianity had so prevailed as to overcome that influence. When the Christian religion became so influential as to affect the ruling house, all the agencies that were angels or helpers of paganism also lost place and power.

 

10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ:–John heard a great voice coming from the place where he saw the dragon cast down. Verses 10-12 are a song of thanksgiving for the victory the saints gained over the pagan enemies. The word “brethren” in the next clause probably indicates that the rejoicing was done by the martyrs who had, under the fifth seal, inquired how long they must wait. See notes on 6 :9-11. Those exalted sing a song in celebration of victory. For other examples, see Exodus 15 and Judges 5. The victory over paganism was enough to cause rejoicing by the spirits of the martyrs as well as living saints.

 

The expression now is come “the kingdom” does not mean that the kingdom had not existed before that time. It can only be that it had come in the sense of prevailing over its enemies–come to its rightful position of authority to exist by permission of the empire. The saints had been saved a tong time, yet the text speaks of salvation coining. Their Christianity had been preserved through persecutions. The authority; of Christ had existed since Pentecost (Matthew 28:18 Acts 1:6-8), yet the passage says it now is come. These blessings had all come in the sense they were permitted to enjoy them in spite of all sacrifices they had made.

 

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.–Satan is here called an accuser of the brethren. This shows that through his agents he makes false charges against the true people of God. Seeing the dragon cast down indicates that paganism as the devil’s agency lost its authority to persecute the church because Rome became, at least, nominally Christian. Day and night shows that Satan’s work against righteousness is constant.

 

11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.–Clearly this refers to a time of martyrs. “Our brethren” who were accused by Satan are the ones indicated. The blood of Christ was not only the ground of their justification, but that which stimulated them to a victorious struggle. The victory of Jesus even in giving his life was, by their faithfulness, made their victory. The word of their testimony means that in spite of their persecutions their testimony to Christ’s words had not failed. They had not loved their lives so much that they would refuse to die for the truth. The supreme sacrifice was made for the church.

 

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.–The great voice in heaven which John heard was exhorting those who dwell in the heavens to rejoice. It is true that “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God” even over one that repents (Luke 15:10), but another application seems more probable for the verse iii hand. The preceding facts represented by the woman-dragon symbols indicate things that happened to the church and pagan Rome. This is presumptive evidence that this part of the symbol should be so applied. In verse 5 the man-child (seed of the woman, verse 17) was caught up to God.

This occurred when the church gained recognition from the Roman Empire. This was the “heavens” to which the church was exalted and furnished to them the occasion for the rejoicing here mentioned. Elliott (Vol. III, p. 33) quotes from Eusebius as follows: “Formerly we used to sing, ‘We have heard what thou didst in our fathers’ day.’ But now we have to sing a second song of victory; our own eyes have seen his salvation.” This is almost the language of verse 10.

 

Woe for earth and sea is what the voice announced would take place, not that it was asking for a woe to fall upon them. In these visions the world probably means the Roman world ; earth and sea would mean the woe would come upon the whole Roman Empire. It would happen because the devil had come down–that is, paganism was operating under his influence. Satan was wroth–instigating the Roman Empire to engage in the most cruel measures–because he knew that his time was limited. There are three ways in which he knew his time for action was limited: He would soon cease to operate, primarily through pagan Rome; under the reign of the beast his power was to he restrained for a thousand years ; and at the judgment his influence over the righteous is to end. His career, then, is strictly a limited one.

Revelation 12:13-17

4. THE WOMAN IN THE

Revelation 12:13-17

 

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child.–In the symbol John saw the dragon persecute the woman because he was cast down to earth. When Satan saw that his war on the church through the pagan empire was not effective because Christianity had been accepted by the emperor, he persecuted the church through other means. This fact will appear evident from the following verses.

 

14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.–Whatever uncertainty there may be about the historical fulfillment of the symbols in this book, no position can be safe that conflicts with events known to have transpired already. The end of pagan Rome’s persecution of the church, the establishment of the church in the empire, the rise of the papacy and the Protestant Reformation are plain facts that must be considered in interpreting prophetic symbols.

 

In the symbolic vision John sees the woman given two wings of an eagle by which she might fly into the wilderness. Similar words–“on eagles’ wings”–are used regarding God’s bringing Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 19:3-4.) A wilderness would mean a place of safety, as was used by David and Elijah. (1 Samuel 23:14-15; 1 Kings 19:4.) The woman here refers to the true church in its apostolic purity. The simple idea seems to be that the church, in spite of the opposition, would be preserved as an institution. Hidden in the wilderness indicates that she would not appear as a visible body in congregational organizations, but the truth would still remain. Christ, as the head, could not be destroyed, and the New Testament, as its law, God would providentially preserve. Hence, though hidden from public view, the institution would remain.

This is indicated in the expression that during the time in the wilderness the church would be “nourished”–that is, sustained. All that is necessarily meant here is that during the long period of obscurity the apostolic church would not become extinct. This is in accord with Daniel’s statement that God would set up a “kingdom which shall never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2:44.) That means that no other kingdom would succeed it, or be built upon its ruins, as was the case of the four universal empires described by Daniel.

 

A careful comparison of Rev 11:2-3; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 13:5 will show that twelve hundred sixty days, forty-two months, and time, times, and a half time all refer to the same period; hence, must all mean the same. But verse 6, when compared with verse 14, will show definitely that they do mean the same. That the expression is to be understood symbolically–a day for a year–and means 1,260 years seem certain. For reasons already given the probable time for the beginning of the 1,260 years was A.D. 533. See notes on Revelation 11:3-4.

 

From Christianity’s exaltation by Constantine till the bishop of Rome was declared universal bishop was a period of 208 years. During that time Satan, called the dragon or serpent, continued to make war on the church–largely through the introduction of false doctrines and the exercise of human authority in religion. Gradually the church was corrupted until at the beginning of the 1,260 years the organization became the fully developed “man of sin” and the true church began its wilderness experience–lost to view as a visible organization.

 

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.–The woman “nourished” during 1,260 years means that the church was providentially kept alive in spite of Satan’s persecutions, which in the symbol here are represented as a flood of waters being cast out of the serpent’s mouth. David in referring to God’s help in troubles said “He drew me out of many waters.” (Psalms 18:16.) Jeremiah spoke of warring enemies as “an overflowing stream.” (Jeremiah 47:2.) This is a bold figure to represent the relentless hatred of Satan against the true church, and the fact that at no time will he cease his efforts to destroy it.

 

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.–The vision John saw was an onrushing flood about to overwhelm the woman when the earth with an open chasm swallowed up the water. The dragon is represented as the source of these floods of persecution. As already learned, the dragon is only the agent through which Satan operates. The lesson presented in this part of the symbol appears to be this: The true church, for the 1,260-year period, would be in obscurity–unseen as an organized body–during which time Satan would continue his efforts for its annihilation; but from unseen sources, like the earth swallowing up a flood, its complete destruction would be prevented. Jesus would still remain its head in spite of all pretenders; the gospel would be its law regardless of all false teaching; hence, as an institution, it would continue ready to appear in visible congregations, when the long period designated had come to an end. This verse guarantees that the church, as an institution, would not become extinct, though its true character and teaching would remain obscured for centuries. It is useless to try to point out certain events that prevented the annihilation of the church, for we now know from history that it was not annihilated.

 

17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:–The first general effort to destroy the church was made through the dragon beast–paganism. Failing to accomplish this result, the wrath and indignation of idol worshipers against the church would reach extreme limits. Satan being repulsed in his efforts to blot out the church as an institution changed his plans of attack. Evidently his method from that time on was to persecute the individual members of the church, here referred to as the “seed” of the woman. The statement of the woman being in the wilderness and the dragon “went away to make war” would indicate this change of method. This war was to be waged against “the rest” of her seed–that is, against individual followers of Christ who were trying to keep faithfully the commandments of God ; those who in persecutions would not deny Christ’s words those martyred because they would not renounce their faith.

Multitudes of these, during this long night of spiritual darkness, are solemn witnesses that what this symbol declares actually came to pass. The things here symbolically predicted are presented in detail in the following chapter.

 

This paragraph presents unmistakable evidence that the Catholic church cannot be the one here represented by the woman, for the woman being in the wilderness indicates that the true church was, as an institution, in obscurity during this 1,260-year period. The Catholic church claims a continued visible existence during that period; hence, cannot be the true church symbolized by the woman.

 

LESSON 17.

THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON

Read Rev. 12

 

1. Describe the woman arrayed with the sun. Ans. Revelation 12:1-2.

2. Describe the great red dragon. Ans. Revelation 12:3.

3. How did the dragon cast down a third part of the stars? Ans. Revelation 12:4.

4. Why did he stand before the woman? Ans. Revelation 12:4.

5. Who was born of the woman? Ans. Revelation 12:5.

6. How was the child saved from the dragon? Ans. Revelation 12:5.

7. Where did the woman flee? Ans. Revelation 12:6.

8. How long was she nourished there? Ans. Revelation 12:6.

9. Between whom was there war in heaven? Ans. Revelation 12:7.

10. Who was victorious in this conflict? Ans. Revelation 12:8-9.

11. To what place were the dragon and his angels cast down? Ans. Revelation 12:9.

12. Give four other names applied to the dragon. Ans. Revelation 12:9.

13. What did a great voice in heaven say had now come? Ans. Revelation 12:10.

14. How was the dragon overcome? Ans. Revelation 12:11.

15. Why was this an occasion for rejoicing in heaven and for sorrow on earth? Ans. Revelation 12:12.

16. Whom did the dragon persecute after he was cast down to earth? Ans. Revelation 12:13.

17. How did the woman escape the dragon? Ans. Revelation 12:14.

18. How then did the dragon attempt to destroy the woman? Ans. Revelation 12:15.

19. How did the woman escape this attempt of the serpent? Ans. Revelation 12:16.

20. Upon whom did the dragon then make war? Ans. Revelation 12:17.