The Woman. The Dragon. The Child. - Revelation 12:1-4

So we go back to the "beginning" even before a time prior to the Advent of Christ, in this cycle of visions.   John saw two great signs in heaven: a woman and a dragon. "The woman’s description as a great sign in heaven and her clothing with sun, moon, and twelve stars show that she symbolizes Israel (cf. Joseph’s dream, Gen. 37:9)." [1]  "Who is this sky woman? The only answer that fits is, “the redeemed people of God as God sees them, glorious and splendid.” Only sporadically did Old Testament Israel appear splendid and complete, for example in the days of David and Solomon. Only from time to time in the history of Christianity have God’s people been acknowledged publicly as a mighty force for good, for example in the days of the Reformation. God has always seen his redeemed people collectively as sun-clothed and star-crowned. Thus John—and we—meet the first character in the sky-drama." [2]

Verse 6 gives immediate indication that this is Israel in her glory, the true Israel. This is the believing covenant community.  These are those who have the faith of Abraham. This is the Israel of God, the Church, so to speak. Verse 2 describes the agony of Her birth pangs.  Perhaps this distils the years and years of struggle that the nation of Israel went through. “Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.” (Revelation 12:3, NIV).

This second sign is Satan.  His attire symbolizes great power.  “Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth . . .."” (Revelation 12:4a, NIV). Some take this image as of a time when Satan and his rebellious cohorts rebelled against God in the beginning of time.  But "the picture of the dragon’s tail sweeping away a third of the stars and casting them to the earth is taken from Dan. 8:10, which describes an end-time enemy persecuting the forces of God." [3]  "This should probably be understood simply as a figure to represent the dragon's power and not as a reference to Satan's victory over some of the angels. In any event, the stars cast down would, after the analogy of Daniel 8:10, 24, refer to the saints of God who were trampled by Satan and not to fallen angels." [4]

"The picture which John sees is fully explained by the words which he hears. The battle in heaven and the hurling down of the dragon are not to be understood literally. Satan is ‘hurled down from heaven’ in this sense, namely that he has lost his place as an accuser of the brethren. Whereas Christ was born and rendered satisfaction for sin, Satan has lost every semblance of justice for his accusations against believers." [5]

"The second part of v 4 explains that the dragon wants to complete his persecution of the covenant community by readying himself to exterminate the Messiah at the time of his birth. This refers to all the devil’s efforts to tempt Christ during his ministry and to kill him, from his birth until the end of his ministry (e.g., Herod’s massacre of the infants and Luke 4:28–30). At the cross it appeared that the devil had finally succeeded, but the resurrection snatched Jesus from the power of death wielded by the serpent." [6]

Because we know the story there is an anticipation here.  It's like watching a fight where we know the end.  The Cross will empty Satan of his power.   Indeed persecution continues but it does so as an event of conquered defeated foes fighting against an already, but not yet victors!  

Father, again the drama takes on reality.  The mighty tail of Satan has harmed many.  His hatred of Your Son and our Saviour is unbelievable. Yet the Cross has removed all right that he ever had to accuse the people of God.  All of us who have trusted in You are forgiven; are justified; and are made righteous.  Satan fights as a defeated enemy in the last throws of his dying antagonism.  


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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2479). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (208–209). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
3. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (635). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.
4. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Revelation/Exposition of Revelation/III. Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Signs, and the Seven Bowls (4:1-19:10)/C. The Seven Signs (12:1-14:20)/1. The woman and the dragon (12:1-17), Book Version: 4.0.2
5. Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 141). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
6. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (637). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press