(This chapter is a summary of the persecution of the Body of Christ, “church,” by Satan even now until the end of time. Satan the old serpent goeth about, “like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”)
Rev 12:1
1 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:
(The “Woman” is always described as a type of the church or Body of Christ in the New Testament clothed with the sun – clothed with the Spirit of Christ.)
Mal 4:2
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
(Malachi saw Christ as the “Sun of Righteousness.”)
(So the description here in Revelation fits perfectly. The “moon” is the type of the marred, scarred Body of Christ. Christ’s earthly body is done away with and his heavenly body reigneth now.)
(The crown of twelve stars in verse one is the foundation of the apostles and prophets which are the chief corner stones or foundation upon which the true and living church is built.)
Rev 12:2
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
(The “Woman” right now is travailing in birth, for souls and pained to be delivered or raptured.)
Rev 12:3
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.
(Satan’s substitute for Christ’s body.)
Rev 12:4
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.
(Happening exactly today. Satan stands ready to devour newborn souls as soon as they are born.)
Rev 12:5
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.
Gen 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
(Speaking of Christ and his resurrection to God and to the throne.)
Rev 12:6
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.
(The “wilderness” is the world or present time earth where God’s saints must occupy until He comes. “Day” mentioned as a figment of God’s time.)
Rev 12:7-8
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.
Jude 1:6
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
(Summarizes the final end of Satan and his angels.)
Rev 12:9
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.
(Also depicts the final judgment of all God’s enemies. Note that Satan was already cast out and his angels, demons. Jesus saw him as lightening falling from heaven. If he was already cast out, why should he try to destroy heavenly places that we are walking in? This clearly shows us that we are above Satan and his works spiritually and should take our authority over him now. He has a lower place – the lowest pit and why should he contend with the saints?)
Rev 12:10
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.
II Cor 10:4-5
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(How is Satan the accuser of the brethren cast down? Through you and I; this is the way he is cast down daily; through exercising our Power in the Spirit.)
Rev 12:11
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.
(This is living the Bible daily.)
Rev 12:12-13
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.
Eph 2:2
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
II Tim 2:26
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
(“Woe” means destruction to the inhabitants of the earth and sea – those who are not converted. Satan has taken captive those who know not Christ. Some have to be recovered out of Satan’s hand at times and some don’t want to be recovered.)
Rev 12:14
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.
(“The two wings of a great eagle” are the Word and the Holy Spirit given to the church as her means of nourishment from the face of the serpent.)
Rev 12:15
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.
(Flood – Wickedness, oppositions, demons invading every phase of life here on earth.)
Rev 12:16
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.
(The “earth” helped the woman “the fleshly body filled with the Holy Ghost is the earth” referred to here. It is the temple of the Holy Ghost mentioned in the New Testament. The “fleshly body” is the helper of the church as it is the vessel through which the Holy Ghost works to carry on and operate the church. Our vessels standing full of the Holy Ghost are what swallows up the flood of dragons.)
Rev 12:17
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.