Revelation 12:1-17 The Woman and the Dragon “The main purpose of the Revelation is to encourage Christians to be steadfast in the midst of persecutions. The first half of the book indicates dire judgments which are to befall the enemies of Christ. Now John is able to write of the real struggle behind the scenes going on between God vs. Satan, Truth vs. Error – or as man saw it, Rome vs. the Church.” -- Robert Harkrider

The Woman Revelation 12:1-2 John sees a “sign” in heaven (12:1, 3) A woman is clothed with the sun, the moon is under her feet and she wears a garland of 12 stars which indicates that she represents the people of God. She is about to give birth and her child will be the Christ (12:2, 5, 19:15)

The Dragon Revelation 12:3-6 The dragon is fiery red; he has 7 heads, 10 horns and 7 crowns on its heads. His tail drew 1/3 of the stars and threw them to the earth. He stood ready to devour the woman’s child, but the child is caught up to God and the woman flees to the wilderness.

The Woman and the Dragon

War in Heaven Revelation 12:7-12 War breaks out in heaven between Michael and his angels and the Devil and his angels. (12:7) Satan and his forces are cast down to the earth (12:8-9) By virtue of this victory, salvation, strength, the Kingdom of God and the power of Christ have come (12:10-11) Their victory was empowered by the blood of the Lamb, the word of His testimony, and the total commitment of His followers. Woe is pronounced on the inhabitants of the earth and sea because the devil has come down (12:12)

The Dragon & the Woman on Earth Revelation 12:13-17 When the dragon sees that he is cast down, in “great wrath” he seeks to persecute the woman (12:12-13) But the woman is given help to flee into the wilderness where she is protected time, times and a ½ time [or 3 and ½ , or 1,260 days or 42 months] (12:14, see 12:6; 11:2-3)

The Dragon & the Woman on Earth Revelation 12:13-17 The serpent spews water out of his mouth to cause the woman to be carried away in a flood, but the earth swallows up the flood (12:15-16) Satan’s first attempts to harm the church were thwarted by the world. This might represent the early Jewish persecution of the church, which was blunted by the Romans (e.g. Acts 21:31-32). The enraged dragon goes off to make war with the woman’s offspring. (12:17)