Revelation 12
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And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
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Commentary
Revelation 12 presents the Great Controversy’s theme from Genesis 3. Note that there is a woman in labor and suffering (v. 2; Gen 3:16), the child of the woman will overcome the dragon (v.4, Gen 3:15) and the ancient serpent (v.9; Gen 3:15). Revelation 12 reminds us of the promise given to our first parents and assures us that it will be fulfilled. But until the serpent`s final defeat, the church would be persecuted (v.13). Yet God stood by the church`s side, protecting the people of Israel in the wilderness. He also protected His church in the 1260 prophetic days (v.14) and He’ll protect it in the final days.
Today we look at this world in which the ancient serpent exercises its power, a world that for many offers no hope. Revelation 12 is telling us that God has not forgotten the promise given to our first parents. The Rescuer has already come, has defeated Satan on the cross and will very soon squelch the old serpent and sin. But in the meantime He cares for you. As difficult as it is today, even if it looks like a journey through the desert, remember, God is by your side.
Flávio da Silva de Souza
Professor of Systematic Theology
Latin American Adventist Theology Seminary
Brazil
