Revelation 12 bible commentary matthew henry concise. Perhaps no passage in revelation is more controversial than chapter 11. Christ is consistently represented as a lamb throughout revelation a parallel with the unblemished lamb of old testament sacrifices. Biblical studiesnew testament commentariesrevelation. The wilderness is a desolate place, and full of serpents and scorpions, uncomfortable and destitute of provisions. The great red dragon waiting to devour the child as soon as born, 3,4. The woman clothed with the sun, and in travail, 1,2. Revelation chapter 12 is highly symbolic and centers around israel.
In my group jesus wants to give you ever lasting life i post different scripture on different subjects and devotionals of the same as i said before these things dont just happen over night well some can because anything is possible with god but some things. Revelation 12, new international version niv the bible app. God hits him with a doozy of a revelation hey, thats not a bad idea for a title. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. The events described occur over a wide variety of eras, including past, present, and future. The book of revelation is full of mysterious details, that christians have pondered and argued about for centuries.
Revelation 12 is the twelfth chapter of the book of revelation or the apocalypse of john in the new testament of the christian bible. A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. The centrality and importance of chapter 12 to revelation is perhaps the most important. The fall of satan, the rise of the antichrist, the rejoicing of the church in heaven, the persecution of israel, and the escape of jewish christians. Is it the summary of chapter 11 or the introduction of chapter 12. So also the sixteenth through twentieth chapters are the.
The temple, the two witnesses, and the seventh trumpet. This chapter begins with a pregnant woman clothed with the sun, with the moon. Personages of the great tribulation, revelation 12. Revelation 12 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this versebyverse commentary contain gems of information found nowhere outside the ancient jewish writings. Revelation 11 commentary wesleys explanatory notes. Christmas and the cosmic battle revelation 12 december 23, 2007. This chapter contains the accounts about the woman, the dragon and the child, followed by the war between michael and the dragon. In this chapter, we learn about events that took place in heaven, before adam. Introduction conflict in heaven and earth a great wonder greek. A hundred and fortyfour thousand virgins verse 1 1 and i looked, and a lamb stood on mount zion, and with him 144,000 having his fathers name written on their foreheads commentary. In this chapter is shown how it will fare with the holy city, till the mystery of god is fulfilled.
A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 12 the woman. Only the tenth, with part of the eleventh chapter, was a kind of introduction to the trumpet of the seventh angel. However, when the reader understands that revelation 12. Frustrated in his attempt to devour the womans child v. David guzik commentary on revelation 12 explains the woman, the child, and the dragon, and the conflict in heaven between michael and the dragon. From the earth to bondage in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years revelation 20. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 12. Now his vision continues with a panorama of events starting in heaven but running their full. Seven trumpets are sounded seen in chapters 8, 9, and 12. Douayrheims bible, apocalypse revelation chapter 12. The divine origin, the design, and the importance of this book. As the trumpet series ended, john was looking into the very temple of god in heaven 11. In revelation chapter 12 god throws satan out of heaven.
The book of revelation chapter thirteen objectives in studying this chapter 1 to notice two beasts satan would use in making war against the saints 2 to offer an explanation consistent with the context in which the revelation was written as to the identity of the two beasts summary this chapter reveals two agents the dragon satan would. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the. Revelation chapter 12 coffmans commentary of the new. A description of the church of christ and of satan, under the figures of a woman and of a great red dragon. This, they argue, adds support to their claim that the book of revelation either. And i saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
The only true god is the god in the bible, the kjv the god who created the heavens and the earth. They are first introduced in eden where the dragon won an initial engagement with the woman. This explains her flight to the desert described in verse 6. The book of revelation identifies itself both as apocalypse or revelation, 1. There is a wide diversity of viewpoints regarding the interpretation of this chapter, but most of this occurs because men try to symbolize or spiritualize the city, the temple, and the events that are portrayed here. Starting in chapter 12, revelation takes a detour from the stepbystep narrative of the end times. Now, years later, alexander said, we will go up against the great fort on the rock and. The revelation of jesus christ, which god gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.
The expulsion of satan and his angels from heaven, revelation 12. In the course of these visions, seven main figures are described. The book is traditionally attributed to john the apostle, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. Revelation 12 commentary wesleys explanatory notes. The many commentaries on the book of revelation show.
Revelation 1 bible commentary matthew henry concise. The dragon and his angels are overcome and cast down to the earth. The war in heaven between michael and the dragon, 7,8. Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. The fascinating woman of revelation 12 ecommons university. Revelation chapter 12 verse by verse high time to awake. Revelation chapter 12 contains a description of a woman, who is clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars atop her head. Ken bowers, hiding in plain sight, cedar fort, 2000 p. What you do with chapter 12 determines what you will do not only with chapter. The book of revelation is not a book of empty symbols as is often supposed. Ultimate victory comes through a single seed of the woman, who crushes. This distinction gives credence to the literal interpretation of all. A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 12 the.
The greek word for wonder teras, contrary to expectation, does not occur in revelation. Once again when the passage is taken in its normal or literal meaning much of the diversity immediately. A great sign in heaven, a pregnant woman chapter outline top. The great vision of this book goes straight forward, from the fourth to the twenty second chapter. Anybody that has ever read the book of the revelation knows that it is full of the appearance of animals. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven,this vision begins a new account of things, and represents the church in the apostles times, and purer ages of christianity, and under the heathen and arian persecutions. Revelation 12 commentary john gills exposition on the. Many years ago, when first studied this chapter is when understood gods big game plan for mankind. Understanding characteristics of the 144,000 spoken of in revelations 14. The vision of the woman clothed with the sun and of the great dragon her persecutor. Revelation 12, new king james version nkjv the bible app. The dragons persecution of the woman and her seed, revelation 12. Moreover, it never stands alone, and in its 16 occurrences in the new testament it is always associated with the word for. This lesson is called, understanding gods game plan.
It existed before the birth of christ revelation 12. She is being pursued by a great red dragon, whose tail has swept a third of the stars from heaven and cast them to earth. In revelation chapter 12, john sees a vision of a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars revelation 12. John is told to write down everything god shows him, and boy is god going to show him some strange things. So perhaps, the commentary is unique in that regard. The greek word semeion, which is translated as wonder, sign, or miracle, is used to describe a woman clothed with the sun. To order prints visit her revelation illustrated site. Through a series of visions given to the apostle john, the curtain that separates the physical from the spiritual world is pulled back. This is particularly so with the book of revelation or prophecy in general. The resumption of the womans rescue in revelation 12. We are now introduced to a new prophecy dealing with gods church in conflict with the powers of evil. Bitter conflict ensues between the serpent and the woman, between his seed, and her seed.
Here begins the second and final great division of revelation. This battle is seen throughout chapter 12 through 15, with chapter 16 through 19 dealing with the judgments of. Note the similarity between this description and the description that joseph gave of his father jacob israel and his mother and their children genesis 37. The woman is delivered of a son, who is caught up unto god. He that has an ear, let him hear comes from a command from the gospels matthew 11. This is the first time that the terms wonder or sign are given in the book of revelation. The key to understanding the placement of this verse is the reference to the temple and the ark. The woman in the wilderness 1 and there appeared a great wonder in heaven.