Revelation 12:7-9 NIV

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:7

And there was war in heaven - There was a state of things existing in regard to the woman and the child - the church in the condition in which it would then be - which would be well represented by a war in heaven; that is, by a conflict between the powers of good and evil, of light and darkness. Of course it is not necessary to understand this literally, anymore than the other symbolical representations in the book. All that is meant is, that a vision passed before the mind of John as if there... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:8

And prevailed not - Satan and his angels failed in their purpose.Neither was their place found any more in heaven - They were cast out, and were seen there no more. The idea is, that they were defeated and driven away, though for a time they were suffered to carry on the warfare elsewhere. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out - See the notes on Revelation 12:3. That there may be an allusion in the language here to what actually occurred in some far distant period of the past, when Satan was ejected from heaven, there can be no reason to doubt. Our Saviour seems to refer to such an event in the language which he uses when he says Luke 10:18, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven”; and Jude, perhaps Revelation 12:6, may refer to the same event. All that we know on the subject... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 12:7-12

Revelation 12:7-12. And there was war in heaven, &c. It might reasonably be presumed that all the powers of idolatry would be strenuously exerted against the establishment of Christianity, and especially against the establishment of a Christian on the imperial throne: and these struggles and contentions between the heathen and the Christian religions are here represented by war in heaven, between the angels of darkness and angels of light. Michael was (Daniel 10:21; Dan 12:1 ) the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

12:1-14:20 PICTURES OF CONFLICT AND TRIUMPHThe woman, the child and the dragon (12:1-17)In this vision the woman who gives birth to a son seems to symbolize Israel who produced the Messiah, Jesus. But it is the true Israel, the true people of God, who are pictured here. The faithful of old Israel were those who began the Christian church, and in the church there is no distinction on the basis of nationality. All Christians are now God’s people (12:1-2).Then appears a dragon (identified in verse... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 12:7

was = came to be. heaven = the heaven. See Revelation 3:12 . A particular sphere above earth which is dwelt in by, or accessible to, the dragon and his evil powers. Compare Job 1 and Job 2:0 .Zechariah 3:6 . See Luke 10:18 . Michael. See Daniel 10:13 , Daniel 10:21 ; Daniel 12:1 .Jude 1:9 , and App-179 . fought against. The texts read "(going forth) to war with". against. Greek. meta. App-104 . read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 12:7-12

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 12:7

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