AND THERE APPEARED A GREAT WONDER IN HEAVEN - In that heavenly world thus disclosed, in the very presence of God, he saw the impressive and remarkable symbol which he proceeds to describe. The word “wonder” - σημεῖον sēmeion - properly means something extraordinary, or miraculous, and is commonly... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE BEING WITH CHILD CRIED, TRAVAILING IN BIRTH ... - That is, there would be something which would be properly represented by a woman in such circumstances. The question now is, what is referred to by this woman? And here it need hardly be said that there has been, as in regard to almost every... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE APPEARED ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN - Represented as in heaven. See the notes on Revelation 12:1. That is, he saw this as occurring at the time when the church was thus about to increase. AND BEHOLD A GREAT RED DRAGON - The word rendered “dragon” - δράκων drakōn - occurs, in the New Testam... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS TAIL DREW THE THIRD PART OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN - The word rendered “drew” - συρω surō - means to “draw, drag, haul.” Prof. Stuart renders it “drew along”; and explains it as meaning that “the danger is represented as being in the upper region of the air, so that his tail may be supposed to... [ Continue Reading ]
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 thu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WOMAN - The woman representing the church. See the notes at Revelation 12:1. FLED - That is, she fled in the manner, and at the time, stated in Revelation 12:14. John here evidently anticipates, by a summary statement, what he relates more in detail in Revelation 12:14. He had referred Revel... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN - There was a state of things existing in regard to the woman and the child - the church in the condition in which it would then be - which would be well represented by a war in heaven; that is, by a conflict between the powers of good and evil, of light and darkness. Of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PREVAILED NOT - Satan and his angels failed in their purpose. NEITHER WAS THEIR PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN - They were cast out, and were seen there no more. The idea is, that they were defeated and driven away, though for a time they were suffered to carry on the warfare elsewhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT - See the notes on Revelation 12:3. That there may be an allusion in the language here to what actually occurred in some far distant period of the past, when Satan was ejected from heaven, there can be no reason to doubt. Our Saviour seems to refer to such an event... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE SAYING IN HEAVEN - The great enemy was expelled; the cause of God and truth was triumphant; and the conquering hosts united in celebrating the victory. This representation of a song, consequent on victory, is in accordance with the usual representations in the Bible. See the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY OVERCAME HIM - That is, he was foiled in his attempt thus to destroy the church. The reference here, undoubtedly, is primarily to the martyr age and to the martyr spirit; and the meaning is, that religion had not become extinct by these accusations, as Satan hoped it would be, but lived and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE REJOICE, YE HEAVENS - It is not unusual in the Scriptures to call on the heavens and the earth to sympathize with the events that occur. Compare the notes on Isaiah 1:2. Here the heavens are called on to rejoice because of the signal victory which it was seen would be achieved over the gre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE DRAGON SAW THAT HE WAS CAST UNTO THE EARTH - That is, when Satan saw that he was doomed to discomfiture and overthrow, as if he had been cast out of heaven; when he saw that his efforts must be confined to the earth, and that only for a limited time, he “persecuted the woman,” and was m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO THE WOMAN WERE GIVEN TWO WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE - The most powerful of birds, and among the most rapid in flight. See the notes on Revelation 4:7. The meaning here is, that the woman is represented as prepared for a rapid flight; so prepared as to be able to outstrip her pursuer, and to reach... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SERPENT CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH WATER AS A FLOOD - This is special and uncommon imagery, and it is not necessary to suppose that anything like this literally occurs in nature. Some serpents are indeed said to eject from their mouths poisonous bile when they are enraged, in order to annoy their... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EARTH HELPED THE WOMAN - The earth seemed to sympathize with the woman in her persecutions, and to interpose to save her. The meaning is, that a state of things would exist in regard to the church thus driven into obscurity, which would be well represented by what is here said to occur. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DRAGON WAS WROTH WITH THE WOMAN - This wrath had been vented by his persecuting her Revelation 12:13; by his pursuing her; and by his pouring out the flood of water to sweep her away Revelation 12:15; and the same wrath was now vented against her children. As he could not reach and destroy t... [ Continue Reading ]