August 27, 2026
Revelation 12
New King James Version
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
12 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. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
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. 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. 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. 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.
Satan Thrown Out of Heaven
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 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.
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. 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. 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.”
The Woman Persecuted
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. 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. 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. 16 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. 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 [c]Christ.
Footnotes
- Revelation 12:8 were not strong enough
- Revelation 12:8 M him
- Revelation 12:17 NU, M omit Christ
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“12:1, 2. Chapters 12—14 are explanatory prophecies that describe some of the major personages and movements of the latter half of the Tribulation period. The woman represents Israel, and her child is Christ, the Messiah (cf. 12:5; Is. 7:14; 9:6; 66:7, 8; Mic. 5:2; Rom. 9:4, 5). The woman is not the church, since the church did not bring forth Christ, but rather He brought forth the church. Her identification as the persecuted Jewish saints clearly proves that the church is not on earth during the Tribulation period. The sun depicts her as God’s chosen nation. The moon under her feet alludes to God’s promise of dominion, and the crown of twelve stars pictures royalty and relates to the 12 tribes of Israel. The birth pains refer to the period before the birth of Christ when Israel was waiting for redemption by the Messiah (cf. Rom. 8:22, 23).’
’12:3, 4. The dragon is identified as Satan in verse 9. His red color shows his murderous character (cf. John 8:44). His seven heads and seven crowns depict the completeness and universality of his power and influence (but cf. Ps. 74:14). His ten horns show Satan’s connection with the fourth beast of Daniel 7 (vv. 7, 24) and with the Beast from the sea in chapter 13 of Revelation. The third part of the stars of heaven are probably the fallen angels who followed Satan in his original rebellion against God (cf. Is. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-16; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). At the time of the birth of Christ, Satan was ready to kill Him (cf. Matt. 2:13-18).’
’12:5, 6. The man child is Christ, destined to rule all nations as the Messiah (cf. 19:15; Ps. 2:7-9). He was caught up unto God, and to his throne at His ascension into heaven (cf. Acts 1:9; 7:55). The wilderness represents anywhere outside Palestine. During the last half of the Tribulation period (1,260 days = three-and-a-half years). Israel will take refuge among the Gentile nations, where God will care for her (perhaps through Gentile believers—cf. Matt. 25:40). Chronologically, verse 6 occurs after verses 7—12, and is equivalent to verse 14.’
’12:7-9. The vision of war in heaven anticipates Satan’s exclusion from “heaven” and his restriction to the earth during the last half of the Tribulation. Michael the archangel is the leader of God’s holy angels (cf. Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9). Satan is the chief of the fallen angels. At the middle of the Tribulation period, God will empower Michael and his forces to cast Satan and his forces out of access to heaven, so that Satan must thereafter confine his activities to the earthly sphere. He is given four designations: (1) dragon pictures his monstrous character as the enemy of God; (2) serpent connects him with the clever deception of Eve in Genesis 3; (3) Devil means “slanderer” (cf. v. 10); (4) Satan means “Adversary” (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8). He also deceiveth the whole world (cf. 20:8).’
’12:10-12. The words salvation, strength (Gr. dunamis, “power”), kingdom, and power (Gr. exousia, “authority”) all refer to the coming of the millennial kingdom of Christ. With reference to believers, Satan is most commonly a tempter and the accuser of the brethren before God (cf. Job 1:6—12; 2:1—5; Rom. 8:33, 34). Believers can and will overcome him through the blood of Christ and their witness (testimony) about Christ. The last half of the Tribulation will be a time of terrible trouble on earth (cf. Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27; 12:1; Zeph. 1:15; Matt. 24:15-22). It will be Satan’s final attempt to prevent the return and the reign of Christ. He has only a short time to try to prevent the establishment of Christ’s kingdom. Therefore he has great wrath and intensifies his persecution of Israel, God’s chosen nation (vv. 13—17), while setting up his own counterfeit kingdom through the Beast, the false messiah (13:1—17).’
’12:13, 14. Satan’s persecution of Israel is apparently an attempt to exterminate God’s chosen people, thereby preventing the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David in the messianic kingdom. But God protects Israel (cf. v. 6). The wings of a great eagle represent swift escape from persecution. The wilderness symbolizes the Gentile nations of the world (cf. Matt. 24:16-20, 31), where believers will help to hide Jews from the Antichrist’s persecution. According to Zechariah 13:7-9, however, two-thirds of the Israelites will die first. The time, and times, and half a time equals three-and-a-half times, which refers to the last three-and-a-half-years of the Tribulation period (cf. Dan. 7:25; 12:7), the time of “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21).’
’12:15-17. The flood symbolizes overwhelming evil and persecution (cf. Ps. 18:4; Is. 43:2). Satan, through the Antichrist and his forces, will persecute the Jews throughout the earth, but the Gentile believers of the earth will receive them and hide them. The remnant may be a reference either to (1) Jewish believers, who have refused to worship Satan and his Beast (cf. 13:4, 7, 15); or to (2) Gentile believers, who are the seed of Abraham through Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26, 29). The last half of the Tribulation period will see a worldwide persecution of those who genuinely believe in Jesus Christ (13:7).” (THE KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE) (KING JAMES VERSION) (THOMAS NELSON) (Since 1798)
“12:3, 4”
“His ten horns show Satan’s connection with the fourth beast of Daniel 7 (vv. 7, 24) and with the Beast from the sea in chapter 13 of Revelation.”
“Revelation 13”
(Revelation 13:1-10)
‘. . . “Revelation 12
New King James Version
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
12 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. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
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. 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. 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. 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.
Satan Thrown Out of Heaven
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 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.
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. 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. 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.”
The Woman Persecuted
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. 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. 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. 16 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. 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 [c]Christ.
Footnotes
- Revelation 12:8 were not strong enough
- Revelation 12:8 M him
- Revelation 12:17 NU, M omit Christ
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“12:1, 2. Chapters 12—14 are explanatory prophecies that describe some of the major personages and movements of the latter half of the Tribulation period. The woman represents Israel, and her child is Christ, the Messiah (cf. 12:5; Is. 7:14; 9:6; 66:7, 8; Mic. 5:2; Rom. 9:4, 5). The woman is not the church, since the church did not bring forth Christ, but rather He brought forth the church. Her identification as the persecuted Jewish saints clearly proves that the church is not on earth during the Tribulation period. The sun depicts her as God’s chosen nation. The moon under her feet alludes to God’s promise of dominion, and the crown of twelve stars pictures royalty and relates to the 12 tribes of Israel. The birth pains refer to the period before the birth of Christ when Israel was waiting for redemption by the Messiah (cf. Rom. 8:22, 23).’
’12:3, 4. The dragon is identified as Satan in verse 9. His red color shows his murderous character (cf. John 8:44). His seven heads and seven crowns depict the completeness and universality of his power and influence (but cf. Ps. 74:14). His ten horns show Satan’s connection with the fourth beast of Daniel 7 (vv. 7, 24) and with the Beast from the sea in chapter 13 of Revelation. The third part of the stars of heaven are probably the fallen angels who followed Satan in his original rebellion against God (cf. Is. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-16; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). At the time of the birth of Christ, Satan was ready to kill Him (cf. Matt. 2:13-18).’
’12:5, 6. The man child is Christ, destined to rule all nations as the Messiah (cf. 19:15; Ps. 2:7-9). He was caught up unto God, and to his throne at His ascension into heaven (cf. Acts 1:9; 7:55). The wilderness represents anywhere outside Palestine. During the last half of the Tribulation period (1,260 days = three-and-a-half years). Israel will take refuge among the Gentile nations, where God will care for her (perhaps through Gentile believers—cf. Matt. 25:40). Chronologically, verse 6 occurs after verses 7—12, and is equivalent to verse 14.’
’12:7-9. The vision of war in heaven anticipates Satan’s exclusion from “heaven” and his restriction to the earth during the last half of the Tribulation. Michael the archangel is the leader of God’s holy angels (cf. Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9). Satan is the chief of the fallen angels. At the middle of the Tribulation period, God will empower Michael and his forces to cast Satan and his forces out of access to heaven, so that Satan must thereafter confine his activities to the earthly sphere. He is given four designations: (1) dragon pictures his monstrous character as the enemy of God; (2) serpent connects him with the clever deception of Eve in Genesis 3; (3) Devil means “slanderer” (cf. v. 10); (4) Satan means “Adversary” (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8). He also deceiveth the whole world (cf. 20:8).’
’12:10-12. The words salvation, strength (Gr. dunamis, “power”), kingdom, and power (Gr. exousia, “authority”) all refer to the coming of the millennial kingdom of Christ. With reference to believers, Satan is most commonly a tempter and the accuser of the brethren before God (cf. Job 1:6—12; 2:1—5; Rom. 8:33, 34). Believers can and will overcome him through the blood of Christ and their witness (testimony) about Christ. The last half of the Tribulation will be a time of terrible trouble on earth (cf. Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27; 12:1; Zeph. 1:15; Matt. 24:15-22). It will be Satan’s final attempt to prevent the return and the reign of Christ. He has only a short time to try to prevent the establishment of Christ’s kingdom. Therefore he has great wrath and intensifies his persecution of Israel, God’s chosen nation (vv. 13—17), while setting up his own counterfeit kingdom through the Beast, the false messiah (13:1—17).’
’12:13, 14. Satan’s persecution of Israel is apparently an attempt to exterminate God’s chosen people, thereby preventing the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David in the messianic kingdom. But God protects Israel (cf. v. 6). The wings of a great eagle represent swift escape from persecution. The wilderness symbolizes the Gentile nations of the world (cf. Matt. 24:16-20, 31), where believers will help to hide Jews from the Antichrist’s persecution. According to Zechariah 13:7-9, however, two-thirds of the Israelites will die first. The time, and times, and half a time equals three-and-a-half times, which refers to the last three-and-a-half-years of the Tribulation period (cf. Dan. 7:25; 12:7), the time of “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21).’
’12:15-17. The flood symbolizes overwhelming evil and persecution (cf. Ps. 18:4; Is. 43:2). Satan, through the Antichrist and his forces, will persecute the Jews throughout the earth, but the Gentile believers of the earth will receive them and hide them. The remnant may be a reference either to (1) Jewish believers, who have refused to worship Satan and his Beast (cf. 13:4, 7, 15); or to (2) Gentile believers, who are the seed of Abraham through Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26, 29). The last half of the Tribulation period will see a worldwide persecution of those who genuinely believe in Jesus Christ (13:7).” (THE KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE) (KING JAMES VERSION) (THOMAS NELSON) (Since 1798)
“12:3, 4”
“The third part of the stars of heaven are probably the fallen angels who followed Satan in his original rebellion against God (cf. Is. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-16; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6)”
(Ezek. 28:12-16)
‘. . . “Ezekiel 28:12-16
Amplified Bible
12 “Son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God,
“You had the full measure of perfection and the finishing touch [of completeness],
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13
“You were in [a]Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your [b]settings and your sockets,
Was in you.
They were prepared
On the day that you were created.
14
“You were the anointed cherub who covers and protects,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire [sparkling jewels].
15
“You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created
Until unrighteousness and evil were found in you.
16
“Through the abundance of your commerce
You were internally filled with lawlessness and violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you out as a profane and unholy thing
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 28:13 This speech, though not addressed directly to Satan, seems to be spoken against his evil nature expressing itself in and through the human ruler who grants to himself the honors due only to God. Here may be seen also a foreshadowing of “the beast” who is to attribute to himself divine rights in the time of the end (Dan 7:8-28; 2 Thess 2:1-12; Rev 13; 19:20).
- Ezekiel 28:13 Or tambourines.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“(Dan 7:8-28; 2 Thess 2:1-12; Rev 13; 19:20)”
“Dan. 7:8-28”
(Dan. 7:11-14)
‘. . . “Daniel 7:11-14
Amplified Bible
11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the great and boastful words which the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their power was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged [for the length of their lives was fixed] for a predetermined time.
The Son of Man Presented
13
“I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, [a]on the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
14
“And to Him (the Messiah) was given dominion (supreme authority),
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language
Should serve and worship Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
Footnotes
- Daniel 7:13 As a matter of discussion, one of the ancient rabbis noted an apparent contradiction between the Messiah’s majestic return with clouds in this verse and His humble return on a donkey in Zech 9:9. The solution given was that if Israel is worthy of Him, the Messiah will return with the clouds; if not, He will return on a donkey.
Amplified Bible (AMP)”
“Zechariah 9:9
Amplified Bible
9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you;
He is righteous and endowed with salvation,
[a]Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a [b]donkey,
Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 9:9 Quoted in the NT to describe the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, see Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:14-16.
- Zechariah 9:9 As a matter of discussion, the ancient rabbis noted an apparent contradiction between the coming of the Messiah with the clouds of heaven in Dan 7:13, and his riding on a donkey as prophesied here. Their solution was that Messiah would come with the clouds if Israel was worthy, but on a donkey if Israel was not.
Zechariah 9:9 in all English translations
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“Zechariah 9:9 Quoted in the NT to describe the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, see Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:14-16.”
(Mark 11:1-11)
‘. . . “Mark 11:1-11
Amplified Bible
The Triumphal Entry
11 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the [a]village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a [donkey’s] [b]colt tied, which has never been ridden by anyone; untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it’; and immediately he will send it here.” 4 So they went away [to the village] and found a colt tied outside at a gate in the street, and they untied it. 5 Some of the people who were standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They replied to them just as Jesus had directed, and they allowed them to go. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many [of the people] spread their coats on the road [as an act of tribute and homage before a new king], and others [scattered a layer of] leafy branches which they had cut from the fields [honoring Him as Messiah]. 9 Those who went in front and those who were following [Him] were shouting [in joy and praise],
“Hosanna ([c]Save, I pray)!
Blessed (praised, glorified) is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
10
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple [enclosure]; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve [disciples], because it was already late [in the day].
Footnotes
- Mark 11:2 Probably Bethphage.
- Mark 11:2 A colt that had not been used was considered holy by the Jews and was fit to carry a king.
- Mark 11:9 Or Save now.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
Let him who has an ear, hear what The Holy Spirit says to His church. Amen.
“Adversity is the test of faith; prosperity is the test of integrity.”
(THE JEREMIAH STUDY BIBLE—DR. DAVID JEREMIAH—NEW KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE—WORTHY)”
“The Absence of Adversity, is the test of faith in YESHUA CHRIST JESUS;
The Temporary Lack of Prosperity, is the test of integrity-from YESHUA CHRIST JESUS.” (Holy Spirit)— (Minister Timothy M. Shephard.)
Have a blessed Thursday beloved of YESHUA JESUS CHRIST. Amen.
With much precious love, grace, and mercy, from our heavenly Savior-Abba-Father-GOD, our Redeemer and LORD-YESHUA CHRIST JESUS, and our Holy Spirit, to Israel and to you and I; Sincerely: Minister Timothy M. Shephard. Amen.