Revelation 12:3 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

3 And G2532 there appeared G3700 another G243 wonder G4592 in G1722 heaven; G3772 and G2532 behold G2400 a great G3173 red G4450 dragon, G1404 having G2192 seven G2033 heads G2776 and G2532 ten G1176 horns, G2768 and G2532 seven G2033 crowns G1238 upon G1909 his G846 heads. G2776

Cross Reference

Revelation 17:12 STRONG

And G2532 the ten G1176 horns G2768 which G3739 thou sawest G1492 are G1526 ten G1176 kings, G935 which G3748 have received G2983 no G3768 kingdom G932 as yet; G3768 but G235 receive G2983 power G1849 as G5613 kings G935 one G3391 hour G5610 with G3326 the beast. G2342

Revelation 12:9 STRONG

And G2532 the great G3173 dragon G1404 was cast out, G906 that old G744 serpent, G3789 called G2564 the Devil, G1228 and G2532 Satan, G4567 which G3588 deceiveth G4105 the whole G3650 world: G3625 he was cast out G906 into G1519 the earth, G1093 and G2532 his G846 angels G32 were cast out G906 with G3326 him. G846

Revelation 20:2 STRONG

And G2532 he laid hold on G2902 the dragon, G1404 that old G744 serpent, G3789 which G3739 is G2076 the Devil, G1228 and G2532 Satan, G4567 and G2532 bound G1210 him G846 a thousand G5507 years, G2094

Revelation 17:16 STRONG

And G2532 the ten G1176 horns G2768 which G3739 thou sawest G1492 upon G1909 the beast, G2342 these G3778 shall hate G3404 the whore, G4204 and G2532 shall make G4160 her G846 desolate G2049 and G2532 naked, G1131 and G2532 shall eat G5315 her G846 flesh, G4561 and G2532 burn G2618 her G846 with G1722 fire. G4442

Revelation 12:4 STRONG

And G2532 his G846 tail G3769 drew G4951 the third part G5154 of the stars G792 of heaven, G3772 and G2532 did cast G906 them G846 to G1519 the earth: G1093 and G2532 the dragon G1404 stood G2476 before G1799 the woman G1135 which G3588 was ready G3195 to be delivered, G5088 for G2443 to devour G2719 her G846 child G5043 as soon as G3752 it was born. G5088

Revelation 12:1 STRONG

And G2532 there appeared G3700 a great G3173 wonder G4592 in G1722 heaven; G3772 a woman G1135 clothed G4016 with the sun, G2246 and G2532 the moon G4582 under G5270 her G846 feet, G4228 and G2532 upon G1909 her G846 head G2776 a crown G4735 of twelve G1427 stars: G792

Daniel 7:20 STRONG

And of H5922 the ten H6236 horns H7162 that were in his head, H7217 and of the other H317 which came up, H5559 and before H4481 H6925 whom three H8532 fell; H5308 even of that horn H7162 that H1797 had eyes, H5870 and a mouth H6433 that spake H4449 very great things, H7260 whose look H2376 was more H4481 stout H7229 than H4481 his fellows. H2273

Isaiah 27:1 STRONG

In that day H3117 the LORD H3068 with his sore H7186 and great H1419 and strong H2389 sword H2719 shall punish H6485 leviathan H3882 the piercing H1281 serpent, H5175 even leviathan H3882 that crooked H6129 serpent; H5175 and he shall slay H2026 the dragon H8577 that is in the sea. H3220

Revelation 17:9-10 STRONG

And here G5602 is the mind G3563 which G3588 hath G2192 wisdom. G4678 The seven G2033 heads G2776 are G1526 seven G2033 mountains, G3735 on G1909 which G846 the woman G1135 sitteth. G2521 G3699 And G2532 there are G1526 seven G2033 kings: G935 five G4002 are fallen, G4098 and G2532 one G1520 is, G2076 and the other G243 is G2064 not yet G3768 come; G2064 and G2532 when G3752 he cometh, G2064 he G846 must G1163 continue G3306 a short space. G3641

Revelation 19:12 STRONG

G1161 His G846 eyes G3788 were as G5613 a flame G5395 of fire, G4442 and G2532 on G1909 his G846 head G2776 were many G4183 crowns; G1238 and he had G2192 a name G3686 written, G1125 that G3739 no man G3762 knew, G1492 but G1508 he himself. G846

Revelation 17:7 STRONG

And G2532 the angel G32 said G2036 unto me, G3427 Wherefore G1302 didst thou marvel? G2296 I G1473 will tell G2046 thee G4671 the mystery G3466 of the woman, G1135 and G2532 of the beast G2342 that carrieth G941 her, G846 which G3588 hath G2192 the seven G2033 heads G2776 and G2532 ten G1176 horns. G2768

Revelation 16:13 STRONG

And G2532 I saw G1492 three G5140 unclean G169 spirits G4151 like G3664 frogs G944 come out of G1537 the mouth G4750 of the dragon, G1404 and G2532 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 of the beast, G2342 and G2532 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 of the false prophet. G5578

Daniel 7:24 STRONG

And the ten H6236 horns H7162 out of H4481 this kingdom H4437 are ten H6236 kings H4430 that shall arise: H6966 and another H321 shall rise H6966 after H311 them; and he shall be diverse H8133 from H4481 the first, H6933 and he shall subdue H8214 three H8532 kings. H4430

Isaiah 9:15 STRONG

The ancient H2205 and honourable, H6440 H5375 he H1931 is the head; H7218 and the prophet H5030 that teacheth H3384 lies, H8267 he is the tail. H2180

Revelation 17:3-4 STRONG

So G2532 he carried G667 me G3165 away G667 in G1722 the spirit G4151 into G1519 the wilderness: G2048 and G2532 I saw G1492 a woman G1135 sit G2521 upon G1909 a scarlet coloured G2847 beast, G2342 full of G1073 names G3686 of blasphemy, G988 having G2192 seven G2033 heads G2776 and G2532 ten G1176 horns. G2768 And G2532 the woman G1135 was G2258 arrayed G4016 in purple G4209 and G2532 scarlet colour, G2847 and G2532 decked G5558 with gold G5557 and G2532 precious G5093 stones G3037 and G2532 pearls, G3135 having G2192 a golden G5552 cup G4221 in G1722 her G846 hand G5495 full of G1073 abominations G946 and G2532 filthiness G168 of her G846 fornication: G4202

Daniel 7:7-8 STRONG

After H870 this H1836 I saw H1934 H2370 in the night H3916 visions, H2376 and behold H718 a fourth H7244 beast, H2423 dreadful H1763 and terrible, H574 and strong H8624 exceedingly; H3493 and it had great H7260 iron H6523 teeth: H8128 it devoured H399 and brake in pieces, H1855 and stamped H7512 the residue H7606 with the feet H7271 of it: and it H1932 was diverse H8133 from H4481 all H3606 the beasts H2423 that were before H6925 it; and it had ten H6236 horns. H7162 I considered H1934 H7920 the horns, H7162 and, behold, H431 there came up H5559 among H997 them another H317 little H2192 horn, H7162 before H6925 H4481 whom there were three H8532 of H4481 the first H6933 horns H7162 plucked up by the roots: H6132 and, behold, H431 in this H1668 horn H7162 were eyes H5870 like the eyes H5870 of man, H606 and a mouth H6433 speaking H4449 great things. H7260

Daniel 2:42 STRONG

And as the toes H677 of the feet H7271 were part H4481 of iron, H6523 and part H4481 of clay, H2635 so the kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 partly H4481 H7118 strong, H8624 and partly H4481 H7118 broken. H8406

Isaiah 51:9 STRONG

Awake, H5782 awake, H5782 put on H3847 strength, H5797 O arm H2220 of the LORD; H3068 awake, H5782 as in the ancient H6924 days, H3117 in the generations H1755 of old. H5769 Art thou not it that hath cut H2672 Rahab, H7294 and wounded H2490 the dragon? H8577

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 12

Commentary on Revelation 12 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 12

It is generally agreed by the most learned expositors that the narrative we have in this and the two following chapters, from the sounding of the seventh trumpet to the opening of the vials, is not a prediction of things to come, but rather a recapitulation and representation of things past, which, as God would have the apostle to foresee while future, he would have him to review now that they were past, that he might have a more perfect idea of them in his mind, and might observe the agreement between the prophecy and that Providence that is always fulfilling the scriptures. In this chapter we have an account of the contest between the church and antichrist, the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.

  • I. As it was begun in heaven (v. 1-11).
  • II. As it was carried on in the wilderness (v. 12-18).

Rev 12:1-11

Here we see that early prophecy eminently fulfilled in which God said he would put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, Gen. 3:15. You will observe,

  • I. The attempts of Satan and his agents to prevent the increase of the church, by devouring her offspring as soon as it was born; of this we have a very lively description in the most proper images.
    • 1. We see how the church is represented in this vision.
      • (1.) As a woman, the weaker part of the world, but the spouse of Christ, and the mother of the saints.
      • (2.) As clothed with the sun, the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having put on Christ, who is the Sun of righteousness, she, by her relation to Christ, is invested with honourable rights and privileges, and shines in his rays.
      • (3.) As having the moon under her feet (that is, the world); she stands upon it, but lives above it; her heart and hope are not set upon sublunary things, but on the things that are in heaven, where her head is.
      • (4.) As having on her head a crown of twelve stars, that is, the doctrine of the gospel preached by the twelve apostles, which is a crown of glory to all true believers.
      • (5.) As in travail, crying out, and pained to be delivered. She was pregnant, and now in pain to bring forth a holy progeny to Christ, desirous that what was begun in the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion, that when the children were brought to the birth there might be strength to bring forth, and that she might see of the travail of her soul.
    • 2. How the grand enemy of the church is represented.
      • (1.) As a great red dragon-a dragon for strength and terror-a red dragon for fierceness and cruelty.
      • (2.) As having seven heads, that is, placed on seven hills, as Rome was; and therefore it is probable that pagan Rome is here meant.
      • (3.) As having ten horns, divided into ten provinces, as the Roman empire was by Augustus Caesar.
      • (4.) As having seven crowns upon his head, which is afterwards expounded to be seven kings, ch. 17:10.
      • (5.) As drawing with his tail a third part of the stars in heaven, and casting them down to the earth, turning the ministers and professors of the Christian religion out of their places and privileges and making them as weak and useless as he could.
      • (6.) As standing before the woman, to devour her child as soon as it should be born, very vigilant to crush the Christian religion in its birth and entirely to prevent the growth and continuance of it in the world.
  • II. The unsuccessfulness of these attempts against the church; for,
    • 1. She was safely delivered of a man-child (v. 5), by which some understand Christ, others Constantine, but others, with greater propriety, a race of true believers, strong and united, resembling Christ, and designed, under him, to rule the nations with a rod of iron; that is, to judge the world by their doctrine and lives now, and as assessors with Christ at the great day.
    • 2. Care was taken of this child: it was caught up to God, and to his throne; that is, taken into his special, powerful, and immediate protection. The Christian religion has been from its infancy the special care of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
    • 3. Care was taken of the mother as well as of the child, v. 6. She fled into the wilderness, a place prepared both for her safety and her sustenance. The church was in an obscure state, dispersed; and this proved her security, through the care of divine Providence. This her obscure and private state was for a limited time, not to continue always.
  • III. The attempts of the dragon not only proved unsuccessful against the church, but fatal to his own interests; for, upon his endeavour to devour the man-child, he engaged all the powers of heaven against him (v. 7): There was war in heaven. Heaven will espouse the quarrel of the church. Here observe,
    • 1. The seat of this war-in heaven, in the church, which is the kingdom of heaven on earth, under the care of heaven and in the same interest.
    • 2. The parties-Michael and his angels on one side, and the dragon and his angels on the other: Christ, the great Angel of the covenant, and his faithful followers; and Satan and all his instruments. This latter party would be much superior in number and outward strength to the other; but the strength of the church lies in having the Lord Jesus for the captain of their salvation.
    • 3. The success of the battle: The dragon and his angels fought and prevailed not; there was a great struggle on both sides, but the victory fell to Christ and his church, and the dragon and his angels were not only conquered, but cast out; the pagan idolatry, which was a worshipping of devils, was extirpated out of the empire in the time of Constantine.
    • 4. The triumphant song that was composed and used on this occasion, v. 10, 11. Here observe,
      • (1.) How the conqueror is adored: Now have come salvation, strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. Now God has shown himself to be a mighty God; now Christ has shown himself to be a strong and mighty Saviour; his own arm has brought salvation, and now his kingdom will be greatly enlarged and established. The salvation and strength of the church are all to be ascribed to the king and head of the church.
      • (2.) How the conquered enemy is described.
        • [1.] By his malice; he was the accuser of the brethren, and accused them before their God night and day; he appeared before God as an adversary to the church, continually bringing in indictments and accusations against them, whether true or false; thus he accused Job, and thus he accused Joshua the high priest, Zec. 3:1. Though he hates the presence of God, yet he is willing to appear there to accuse the people of God. Let us therefore take heed that we give him no cause of accusation against us; and that, when we have sinned, we presently go in before the Lord, and accuse and condemn ourselves, and commit our cause to Christ as our Advocate.
        • [2.] By his disappointment and defeat: he and all his accusations are cast out, the indictments quashed, and the accuser turned out of the court with just indignation.
      • (3.) How the victory was gained. The servants of God overcame Satan,
        • [1.] By the blood of the Lamb, as the meritorious cause. Christ by dying destroyed him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil.
        • [2.] By the word of their testimony, as the great instrument of war, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,-by a resolute powerful preaching of the everlasting gospel, which is mighty, through God, to pull down strongholds,-and by their courage and patience in sufferings; they loved not their lives unto the death, when the love of life stood in competition with their loyalty to Christ; they loved not their lives so well but they could give them up to death, could lay them down in Christ's cause; their love to their own lives was overcome by stronger affections of another nature; and this their courage and zeal helped to confound their enemies, to convince many of the spectators, to confirm the souls of the faithful, and so contributed greatly to this victory.

Rev 12:12-17

We have here an account of this war, so happily finished in heaven, or in the church, as it was again renewed and carried on in the wilderness, the place to which the church had fled, and where she had been for some time secured by the special care of her God and Saviour. Observe,

  • I. The warning given of the distress and calamity that should fall upon the inhabitants of the world in general, through the wrath and rage of the devil. For, though his malice is chiefly bent against the servants of God, yet he is an enemy and hater of mankind as such; and, being defeated in his designs against the church, he is resolved to give all the disturbance he can to the world in general: Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and the sea, v. 12. The rage of Satan grows so much the greater as he is limited both in place and time; when he was confined to the wilderness, and had but a short time to reign there, he comes with the greater wrath.
  • II. His second attempt upon the church now in the wilderness: He persecuted the woman who brought forth the man-child, v. 13. Observe,
    • 1. The care that God had taken of his church. He had conveyed her as on eagles' wings, into a place of safety provided for her, where she was to continue for a certain space of time, couched in prophetic characters, taken from Dan. 7:25.
    • 2. The continual malice of the dragon against the church. Her obscurity could not altogether protect her; the old subtle serpent, which at first lurked in paradise, now follows the church into the wilderness, and casts out a flood of water after her, to carry her away. This is thought to be meant of a flood of error and heresy, which was breathed by Arius, Nestorius, Pelagius, and many more, by which the church of God was in danger of being overwhelmed and carried away. The church of God is in more danger from heretics than from persecutors; and heresies are as certainly from the devil as open force and violence.
    • 3. The seasonable help provided for the church in this dangerous juncture: The earth helped the woman, and opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, v. 16. Some think we are to understand the swarms of Goths and Vandals that invaded the Roman empire, and found work for the Arian rulers, who otherwise would have been as furious persecutors as the pagan had been, and had exercised great cruelties already; but God opened a breach of war, and the flood was in a manner swallowed up thereby, and the church enjoyed some respite. God often sends the sword to avenge the quarrel of his covenant; and, when men choose new gods, then there is danger of war in the gates; intestine broils and contentions often end in the invasions of a common enemy.
    • 4. The devil, being thus defeated in his designs upon the universal church, now turns his rage against particular persons and places; his malice against the woman pushes him on to make war with the remnant of her seed. Some think hereby are meant the Albigenses, who were first by Dioclesian driven up into barren and mountainous places, and afterwards cruelly murdered by popish rage and power, for several generations; and for no other reason than because they kept the commandments of God and held the testimony of Jesus Christ. Their fidelity to God and Christ, in doctrine, worship, and practice, was that which exposed them to the rage of Satan and his instruments; and such fidelity will expose men still, less or more, to the end of the world, when the last enemy shall be destroyed.