Revelation 12:7-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:14

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle ,.... By which are meant, not the two testaments, by which she was supported under afflictions, trials, and persecutions, and against Satan and all his efforts; nor the two graces of faith and hope, by which she rose, and dwelt on high, in the view of invisible things, and with contempt of the world, its frowns or flatteries; nor, as others think, prayer and good works, by the former of which she flew to God for supplies of grace and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:15

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood ,.... Which cannot design any persecution before the fall of Paganism, either of the Jews, or of the Romans; nor indeed the Arian persecution, since the casting out of this flood is distinguished from the above persecution, and was after the church began to flee upon that persecution; though it is not unusual for wicked persecutors, and violent persecutions, to be expressed by waters, and they are called proud waters, Psalm 124:1 ; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:16

And the earth helped the woman ,.... By opening itself, and taking in what the serpent cast out, so that it could not reach the woman, and annoy her, as follows: and the earth opened her mouth ; as it did when it swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Numbers 16:30 ; to which history this may have some respect: and swallowed up the flood which the dragon east out of his mouth ; if the flood refers to the Arian persecution, then the earth helping the woman, the church, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman ,.... The devil was very angry with the church, because he could not destroy her by the Arian persecution he had raised; and because he could not carry her away with the flood, either of errors and heresies, or of the barbarous nations; and because he could not, by any means, come at her, and indeed did not well know where she was, a place being prepared for her of God in the wilderness, where she was taken care of: wherefore he took another method as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:7

Revelation 12:7 ; per Adam Clarke There was war in heaven - In the same treatise, fol. 87, 2, on Exodus 14:7 , Pharaoh took six hundred chariots, we have these words: "There was war among those above and among those below, בשמים חזקה היתה והמלחמה vehammilchamaĥ hayethah chazakah bashshamayim , and there was great war in heaven." Of Michael the rabbins are full. See much in Schoettgen, and see the note on Judges 1:9 . The dragon - and his angels - The same as Rab. Sam. ben... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:8

And prevailed not - Against the cause of Christianity. Neither was their place found any more in heaven - The advocates of the heathen idolatry were prevented from having any farther share in the government of the empire. The wonderful success of Constantine over all his enemies, and his final triumph over Licinius, correspond exactly to the symbolical language in this verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:9

Revelation 12:9 ; per Adam Clarke That old serpent - The rabbins speak much of this being, sometimes under the notion of הרע יצר yetser hara , the evil principle, and sometimes Samael. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him - This is very like a saying in the book Bahir, in Sohar Gen., fol. 27, col. 107: "And God cast out Samael and his troops from the place of their holiness." Revelation 12:9 ; per John Edward Clarke read more

Adam Clarke

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

Adam Clarke

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

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them - Let the Christians, who are now partakers of the present temporal prosperity, and advanced to places of trust in the empire, praise and magnify the Lord who has thus so signally interfered in their behalf. But it is added: - Wo to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you - By the inhabiters of the earth are meant the people in subjection to the Roman empire; and by the sea, those parts of... read more

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