Revelation 12:7-11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:10

Revelation 12:10 ; per Adam Clarke The accuser of our brethren - There is scarcely any thing more common in the rabbinical writings than Satan as the accuser of the Israelites. And the very same word κατηγορος , accuser, or, as it is in the Codex Alexandrinus, κατηγωρ , is used by them in Hebrew letters, קטיגור katigor ; e. gr., Pirkey Eliezer, c. 46, speaking of the day of expiation; "And the holy blessed God hears their testimony from their accuser, הקטיגור מן min hakkatigor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb - Here is given the reason why the followers of Christ prevailed at this time against all their adversaries. It was because they fought against the dragon in the armor of God. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb - by proclaiming salvation to sinners through Christ crucified, and by their continual intercession at the throne of grace for the conversion of the heathen world. And by the word of their testimony - By constantly testifying... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

The following analysis will help to make clear the relation of the several parts of the vision. I. THE ORIGIN OF THE ENMITY BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE WORLD . ( Revelation 12:7-13 .) II. THE PROGRESS OF THE WARFARE . 1. The assaults of the devil. 2. The overthrow and punishment of the devil. ( Revelation 20:1-10 .) 3. The victory of the faithful. ( Revelation 14:13 ; Revelation 19:1-10 ; Revelation 21:1-27 .; 22.) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

The foes of God and of his Church. "That old serpent." In previous chapters of this book there have been hints of sundry evil forces which would at divers times harass the Church of God. Who they would be, or what, or how they would work, has not yet been shown to us. This is done, however, in chapters which we have yet to consider. Of them there are several. Of each one we have a representation in the form of allegory or parable. In this chapter the first of them is shown us. We can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-8

And there was war in heaven . The passage Revelation 12:7-13 is an interruption of the narrative of the persecution of the woman by Satan. It is caused, apparently, by a desire to account in some degree for the relentless hostility of the devil towards God and his Church. Two explanations of the passage may be referred to. (a) It accounts for the insertion of the passage (see above). (b) The war is directly between the devil and Michael, not between the devil and Christ, as at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-11

The great campaign. "And there was war in heaven," etc. There is undoubtedly "war in heaven"—in the heaven of our being. War in the soul individually, war in the soul collectively, war within and war without. We "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of this world; against wickedness in high places." The vision brings to our notice the contending armies and the contending issues. I. THE ARMIES IN THE CONTEST . Who are the armies?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-12

War and triumph. The heavenly things ("in heaven") are again represented by a battle—a war. There is ever contention on the earth between those forces that are evil and those that are Divine. The history of the human race is the history of an undying struggle—a struggle between the heavenly and the earthly elements; the good and the bad; the flesh and the spirit. Here the whole contending forces are leagued under two great captains , "Michael" and "the dragon." "Michael and his angels... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; cast down (Revised Version); the whole inhabited earth . "The dragon:" so called, because he is the destroyer (see on Revelation 12:3 ). "The ancient serpent," as he was revealed in Genesis 3:1-24 . So in John 8:44 he is "the destroyer from the beginning." "The devil" ( διάβολος ) is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Satan, נמָשָׂ , "the accuser, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:10

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven. The "great voice" is characteristic of all the heavenly utterances (cf. Revelation 5:2 ; Revelation 6:1 , Revelation 6:10 ; Revelation 16:17 , etc.). The personality of the speaker is not indicated. From the following chorus the voice would seem to proceed from many inhabitants of heaven. Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; the salvation and the power, and the kingdom of our God,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him (cf. the frequent references to those who overcome, and the promises made to them, Revelation 2:1-29 .; 3.; Revelation 21:7 , etc.). The reference "they" is to "our brethren," the accused ones of Revelation 12:10 . By the blood of the Lamb; because of the blood, etc. (Revised Version). That is, "the blood of the Lamb" is the ground or reason of their victory, not the instrument. So in Revelation 1:9 , "1 John … was in the island called Patmos, because of ... read more

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