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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 12:1-11

Here we see that early prophecy eminently fulfilled in which God said he would put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, Gen. 3:15. You will observe, I. The attempts of Satan and his agents to prevent the increase of the church, by devouring her offspring as soon as it was born; of this we have a very lively description in the most proper images. 1. We see how the church is represented in this vision. (1.) As a woman, the weaker part of the world, but the spouse 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 12:5

And she brought forth a man child ,.... Not Christ, literally and personally considered, or Christ in his human nature, as made of a woman, and born of a virgin, which was a fact that had been years ago; but Christ mystically, or Christ in his members, who are called by his name, because he is formed in them, and they are the seed of the woman, the church; and many of these were brought forth to Christ by the church in the primitive times, who were a manly birth, hale, strong, and robust... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:5

Revelation 12:5 ; per Adam Clarke And her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne - In Yalcut Rubeni are these words: "Rachael, the niece of Methusala, was pregnant, and ready to be delivered in Egypt. They trod upon her, and the child came out of her bowels, and lay under the bed; Michael descended, and took him up to the throne of glory. On that same night the first born of Egypt were destroyed." Revelation 12:5 ; per John Edward Clarke read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:1-6

Signs. It has been wisely said, "The Revelation of St. John gives no regularly progressive disclosure of the future, advancing in unbroken series from beginning to end; but it falls into a number of groups, which, indeed, supplement each other, every successive vision giving some other aspect of the future, but which are still formally complete in themselves, each proceeding from a beginning to an end." We have but just heard the accents of the shout of final triumph. Now we are thrown... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:1-6

Social Christhood and social fiendhood. "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven," etc. What strange objects the human imagination can create, or in a passive state receive! What a remarkable dream or vision this is of the apostolic hermit on Patmos! "A woman arrayed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars around her head, brings forth a man child. A huge scarlet dragon with ten horns and seven diademed heads, whose tail sweeps after it the third part... 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 12:5

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; a son, a male— the Greek υἱόν , ἄρσεν , renders it emphatic— who is to rule , as in the Revised Version; to rule, or to govern as a shepherd (cf. the verb in Matthew 2:6 ). This reference and Psalms 2:9 leave no doubt as to the identification of the man child. It is Christ who is intended. The same expression is used of him in Revelation 19:1-21 ., where he is definitely called the "Word... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:5

And she brought forth a man child - Representing, according to the view above taken, the church in its increase and prosperity - as if a child were born that was to rule over all nations. See the notes on Revelation 12:2.Who was to rule all nations - That is, according to this view, the church thus represented was destined to reign in all the earth, or all the earth was to become subject to its laws. Compare the notes on Daniel 7:13-14.With a rod of iron - The language used here is derived from... read more

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