Bible Groups - Digests of Bible Commentaries

The Revelation to John - Chapter 12

Revised 2013

Chaps 12-14 - central section of Rev: shows power of evil (dragon) in opposition to God & his people. The strange visions are interpretations of the real world of the Christians - they point to real truth about the powers at work in their world. Throughout Rev victories shown as won in heaven, but still to be won on earth.
1 Woman, symbolically adorned (Gen 37:9-10) symbolises God’s people in OT & NT. Seen as antitype to whore of Babylon. High goddesses adorned in this way, eg Isis. 12 stars: fullness or perfection; zodiac, but also 12 tribes of Israel, and in Joseph’s dream (Gen 37:9). Stars studied & read closely in ancient world: needed for knowing when to plough, sow & harvest, &c, but also stars seen as controlling events on earth. Each constellation is a still shot of mythical story. Part of surrounding culture, could not be ignored by Christian writers. In period of Virgo, when sun rises in this constellation, moon rises in same place as sun. Python, a dragon, tried to kill sun-god Apollo’s (Zeus’ son, the sun-god) mother, Leto, but north wind & Poseidon rescued her. Nero claimed rescued from a serpent as infant. John thought of this mythical virgin as “daughter Zion”, the personification of an idea, the Judeans and the ideal of society urged by the prophets. One day they - or a remnant - would be fully obedient to God, and so worthy of God’s promises to Israel. Cf Micah 4:10, as Jews carried off into exile. But if child born of this suffering (Isa 66:7-9), suffering would be process which would create the community of the future. Woman is personified Israel, spouse of God (Hos 1:2; 2:2-3; 2:14-15; Isa 50:1; 54:5-8). Later Christians identified the woman with Mary, and the church was this new community, the true Israel. Christians could see their own tribulations as these birth pangs, symbolised by the sign of Virgo, daughter Zion. Hence Matt expressing conjunction of stars over Bethlehem. John sees it as conflict between Virgo & dragon. But “Virgo” still represents the people of God, the church, to be persecuted in the wilderness.
2 Giving birth is painful & distressing. Because of Eve’s sin (Gen 3:16; Isa 66:7-14)? Or because it is usually so for all nature, & god made us “of nature” as well as in his own image: “male & female he made them” (Gen 1:27). Pains reflect those of daughter of Zion (Mic 4:9-10; Isa 26:17), crying out before Zion gives birth to Messiah (Isa 66:6-8), who shepherds Israel with rod of iron (Isa 66:8; 7:14).
3 But Messianic age still delayed. Final showdown not yet. In Jewish apocalypses conquest of the beast signals final destruction of world and beginning of new creation. Red dragon: red, violence & bloodshed, links to destroyers in earlier chaps; Devil or Satan (9; 20:2; 12:9)) ancient symbol of forces of chaos, evil, mythical monster also known as Leviathan (Ps 74:13-14) & Rahab (Job 26:12-13; Ps 89:11). 10 horns symbolises Greeks who perseuted Jews (Dan 7:1-28). 7 diadems symbols of fullness of dragon’s sovereignty over all kingdoms of this world (7:7), later identified as Babylon (17:1-6). Christ also adorned similarly (19:12).
4 (Dan 8:10). Destruction limited to one-third of stars. Dragon is last of heavenly signs: rest of mythic creatures from seas or earth.
5 Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah, then became the new Israel, the church, which persecuted by the dragon (6:13-17) (cf Isa 50:1, 66:7, Jer 50:12). A myth widespread in ancient world of a goddess pregnant with a savior & pursued by a horrible monster, miraculously saved & bore a son who killed the monster. Cf Moses. Cf Matt 2:13-15). “Rod of iron”: fulfilled in 19:15 (cf Ps 2:7-9). Taken up to God - the Ascension, when Jesus snatched from power of Devil and of death, and exalted & established as ruler. The woman finds safety but is not exalted. Christians reasonably identified woman and her child with Mary & Jesus.
6 Desert traditional OT place of refuge from persecution, as in Exod. 1260 days as in 11:2-3 - a fairly short time (Cf Dan 7:25; 12:7). Elijah fled to desert (1 Kgs 17:1-7). Christians protected temporarily while awaiting God’s full manifestation of his kingdom.
7 Story of woman & dragon interrupted by cosmic battle & song of celebration. Only mention in Rev of Michael, who defeats the dragon, leading to hymn of praise. Dragon has many heads/kingdoms (7:7). Michael guardian & champion of Israel (Dan 10:10-21; 13:21; 12:1-4; Jude 9). In Hebrew Michael means “Who can compare with God?” (cf 13:4). John sees events on earth as signalled by events in Heaven, and final contest between church and pagan world is not being fought only on earth: the source of this battle on earth is the cosmic battle between these supernatural forces in heaven. Reassures persecuted Christians of fundamental victory of order over chaos.
9 Ancient serpent, Devil who seduced Eve (Gen 3:1-6) & Satan (Job 1). This battle also described in a Dead Sea Scroll. “Was thrown down” = expelled from heaven (Lk 10:18), so faithful on earth now vulnerable to Devil’s attacks. Original fall of Devil from heaven only a rehearsal for final battle & overthrow in last days. But why this prolongation: decisive victory, but more fighting, defeated yet still working? Because sin & error are still in the world, and seen as at least partly caused by the Devil. Partly defeated by the Cross, so protecting those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb, and by the witness of martyrs. But final defeat yet to come, when Devil will be imprisoned in the abyss (20:2-3).
10 A song of celebration, probably from the glorified martyrs (6:11), since “the accuser of our comrades”, rather than by angels. In Hebrew Satan = “the accuser”, ie prosecting attorney in heavenly court (Job 1-2; Zech 3:1; 1 Chron 21:1). Christians are acquitted in heavenly court because of death of Jesus (1:5). Contrasts with condemnation in Roman courts leading to execution (12:11). He continues to accuse Christ’s disciples. Victory attributed to God & Messiah, on same level.
11 Focus on martyrs’ victory, rather than Michael’s: victory attributed to “blood of the Lamb” - Jesus’ death and witness. of faithful martyrs.
12 All creation called to join in this celebration. But warning to earth that devil now has power to inflict evil there, and is especially intense because knows it is only for a short time. The ultimate victory over evil & Satan has been won, but Satan has some limited power to harm God’s people on earth - but only for a short time, so God’s people must continue their faithful witness. Devil driven out of Heaven, but still to be driven out of earth & sea.
13 Woman’s flight first seen in heaven (12:6) now repeated on earth. Dragon pursues mother of Messiah and the church, people of God.
14 But God gives church means of escape for this limited period of the struggle. Eagle is symbol of the power & swiftness of divine help (Exod 19:4; Deut 32:11; Isa 40:31). Could say Virgo rescued from claws of Scorpio by Aquila, the eagle.
15 And the earth itself fights on behalf on the woman, swallowing the water sent by the dragon. Serpent now depicted as sea monster (cf 13:1; Isa 27:1; Ezek 32:2; Ps 74 13-14), like Leviathon.
16 Cf crossing red sea.
17 So dragon turns on the woman’s children, the church, defined as those “who keep God’s commandments & bear witness to Jesus”. Hence ‘woman’ personifies people of God. Church is protected by God’s special providence (v 16), but church members must expect persecution & suffering, the last spasms of the Devil’s fury, for a limited time 3.5 years, hence reason for hope in difficult times of suffering. This inner vision explains source of persecution on earth. Jewish saying: “As in heaven, so on earth”. Believers’ persecutors on earth will be defeated as dramatically as were the dragon & his angels in heaven. And the letters to the churches made it clear that some Christians have compromised with Roman imperial power, rather than seeing it as satanic.
18 Many mss read “I took my position”, connecting to next vv, in which John sees the Devil calling assistants from the sea (13:1) & from the earth (13:11). Woman can be seen as Eve, because links to Gen, promise of enmity between Eve & offspring & devil, and coming of pain in childbirth; Mary because child snatched to heaven & Lamb whose blood saved believers; the church, whose offspring are the persecuted believers. None fit exactly, all relate in multi-layed story of salvation.