Revelation 12:12-14 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 12:12-17

We have here an account of this war, so happily finished in heaven, or in the church, as it was again renewed and carried on in the wilderness, the place to which the church had fled, and where she had been for some time secured by the special care of her God and Saviour. Observe, I. The warning given of the distress and calamity that should fall upon the inhabitants of the world in general, through the wrath and rage of the devil. For, though his malice is chiefly bent against the servants of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 12:1-17

It is necessary to read this chapter as a whole before we examine it in detail. 12:1-17 A great sign appeared in the sky--a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon beneath her feet, and with a crown of twelve stars on her head; and she was with child, and she cried aloud in her labour and in her agony to bear the child. And another sign appeared in heaven--lo! a great flame-coloured dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and with seven royal diadems upon its heads. Its tail... read more

John Gill

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

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them ,.... So in the prophetic language, at times, and upon occasions of rejoicing, the heavens are called upon to join, and bear a part therein, Psalm 96:10 ; and by these may be meant here the angels of heaven, who rejoice at every advance of Christ's kingdom and interest; they rejoiced at his incarnation, and so they do at the conversion of every single sinner; and much more may they be thought to do so at such a time as this, when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:13

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth ,.... When the devil perceived he had not the power in the Roman empire he formerly had; and that his influence was only over the common and meaner sort of people, or over the earthly part of the church, and the barbarous nations in the world: he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child : he was enraged at the church, and pursued her with great wrath, who had brought forth a Christian emperor, by whom the kingdom of... read more

John Gill

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:13

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth - When the heathen party saw that they were no longer supported by the civil power: - He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child - The heathens persecuted the Christian Church in the behalf of which Divine Providence had raised up a dynasty of Christian Roman emperors. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:14

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle - Του αετου του μεγαλου· Of The great eagle. The great eagle here mentioned is an emblem of the Roman empire in general, and therefore differs from the dragon, which is a symbol of the Heathen Roman empire in particular. The Roman power is called an eagle from its legionary standard, which was introduced among the Romans in the second year of the consulate of C. Marius; for before that time minotaurs, wolves, leopards, horses, boars,... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 12:12-17

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 12:1-17

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:13

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

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