Revelation 12

The Woman and the Dragon

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman e clothed with f the sun, with f the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and g was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great h red dragon, i with seven heads and j ten horns, and on his heads k seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down l a third of the stars of heaven and m cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child n he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, o one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was p caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for q 1,260 days.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

7 Now war arose in heaven, r Michael and s his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And t the great dragon was thrown down, u that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, v the deceiver of the whole world - w he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now x the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers 1 has been thrown down, y who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And z they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for a they loved not their lives b even unto death. 12 Therefore, c rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But d woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because e he knows that his time is short!"

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued f the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two g wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent h into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished i for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water j like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off k to make war on the rest of l her offspring, m on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to n the testimony of Jesus. And he stood 2 on the sand of the sea.

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 104:2
    Covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
  2. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 6:10
    "Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?"
  3. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 6:10
    "Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?"
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 66:7 - 10
    Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.
    Micah 4:10
    Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
  5. Cross References
    Revelation 17:3
    And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
    Isaiah 27:1
    In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.
  6. Cross References
    Revelation 13:1
    And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
    Revelation 17:9
    This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.
    Revelation 17:12
    And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 7:7
    After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
  8. Cross References
    Revelation 19:12
    His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
  9. Cross References
    Revelation 8:7
    The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
  10. Cross References
    Daniel 8:10
    It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them.
  11. Cross References
    Matthew 2:16
    Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 2:6
    "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
    Revelation 2:27
    And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:2
    I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
  14. Cross References
    Revelation 11:2
    But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
    Revelation 13:5
    And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
  15. Cross References
    Jude 1:9
    But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 25:41
    Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
  17. Cross References
    Luke 10:18
    And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
    John 12:31
    Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
  18. Cross References
    Revelation 20:2
    And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
    Genesis 3:1
    Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?
  19. Cross References
    Revelation 20:3
    And threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
    Revelation 20:10
    And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
    Revelation 13:14
    And by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
    John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
  20. Cross References
    Revelation 9:1
    And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.
  21. Cross References
    Revelation 7:10
    And crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!
    Revelation 19:1
    After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
  22. Cross References
    Job 1:9
    Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason?
    Job 2:5
    But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.
    Zechariah 3:1
    Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
  23. Cross References
    Revelation 15:2
    And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire - and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.
    Romans 16:20
    The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
    John 16:33
    I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
  24. Cross References
    Luke 14:26
    If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
    John 12:25
    Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
  25. Cross References
    Revelation 2:10
    Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  26. Cross References
    Revelation 18:20
    Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!
    Psalms 96:11
    Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it.
    Isaiah 44:23
    Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.
    Isaiah 49:13
    Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
  27. Cross References
    Revelation 8:13
    Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!
  28. Cross References
    Matthew 8:29
    And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?
    Revelation 10:6
    And swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay.
  29. Cross References
    Revelation 12:5
    She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
  30. Cross References
    Exodus 19:4
    You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
  31. Cross References
    Revelation 12:6
    And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
  32. Cross References
    Daniel 7:25
    He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
    Daniel 12:7
    And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.
    Revelation 12:6
    And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
  33. Cross References
    Isaiah 59:19
    So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.
  34. Cross References
    Revelation 11:7
    And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.
    Revelation 13:7
    Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 3:15
    I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
  36. Cross References
    Revelation 14:12
    Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
    1 John 2:3
    And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
  37. Cross References
    Revelation 1:2
    Who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
    Revelation 6:9
    When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
    Revelation 19:10
    Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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