Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:12
12. Rejoice, ye heavens As if these rejoicing martyr-spirits called for a joyful response from all their co-celestials, human or angelic. Woe to earth and sea (as the true reading is) since they are to be the scenes of the bestial war. Devil is come down Paganism in its downfall is full of wrath, feeling that it has but a brief period for recovering the supremacy. That ended with the death of the Emperor Julian, A.D. 363. read more
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:11
11. They overcame him For Michael’s victory was their victory; since they are the literal of whom the woman was symbol. And this victory on earth Christians won by faith in the blood of the Lamb, as well as by their unshrinking testimony against the idols and for Christ. They loved not ( or, as Alford well puts it, they carried their not-love of life) unto death They so persisted in not loving life as to attain martyrdom. read more