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Revelation 12

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:

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What does Revelation 12:8 mean?

Explanation

Revelation 12:8 speaks of a cosmic struggle where the dragon (often interpreted as Satan or an embodiment of evil) and its angels fought but did not prevail against Michael and his angels.

The phrase "neither was their place found any more in heaven" indicates that as a result of this defeat, the dragon and its followers were cast out or lost their place in the heavenly realm.

This can be seen both literally, as a spiritual battle in the heavens, and metaphorically, reflecting a victory of good over evil and the loss of influence or authority by the forces of the dragon.

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Historical Context

The Book of Revelation was written around 95 A.D., traditionally by John the Apostle during his exile on the island of Patmos.

The early church was facing intense persecution primarily from the Roman Empire.

The content is apocalyptic, using vivid imagery and symbolism to convey messages of comfort and hope to the persecuted Christians, as well as warning and prophecy about the future judgment and the ultimate triumph of God.

Theological Insights

Various theological perspectives interpret this verse:

Dispensationalism: sees this event as prophetic, awaiting future fulfillment during the end times.
Historicism: interprets this as symbolizing historical events, such as changes in power and authority within the universe and the ultimate defeat of evil.
Preterism: might propose that this passage had immediate relevance to the original audience, symbolizing the vindication of the martyrs and the fall of their oppressors.
Spiritualism: considers this battle indicative of the eternal struggle between good and evil that plays out within the spiritual life of individuals.

Practical Applications

Revelation 12:8 can offer several applications:

It encourages believers to remain steadfast, knowing that evil does not have the last word.
It can serve as a reminder of the spiritual warfare believers face and the importance of seeking divine aid.
The verse may also call readers to self-examination, ensuring that their actions align with the victorious side of good and heaven.

Cross-References

Revelation 12:7: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,"
Revelation 12:9: "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."
Luke 10:18: "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
Isaiah 14:12: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text are:

"prevailed" (Greek: ἴσχυσαν, "ischysan") meaning "to have power" or "be strong."
"place" (Greek: τόπος, "topos") often implies locality, opportunity, or condition.
"found" (Greek: εὑρέθη, "heurethē") denotes discovery or recognition.
"any more" (Greek: οὐκέτι, "ouketi") signifies cessation or no longer existing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of a battle in heaven is found in various cultures:

In Greek mythology, the Titans were overthrown by the Olympian gods.
In Norse mythology, Ragnarok describes the final battle and fall of gods.

By comparing these narratives, it is evident that many cultures and religions grapple with the concept of cosmological conflict and the struggle between order and chaos.

Scientific Perspectives

Science does not typically address spiritual or metaphysical realms.

However, the concepts of chaos and order can be related to physical laws like thermodynamics, where systems move from ordered to disordered states (entropy) unless energy is input to maintain them.

Commentaries

Commentary on Revelation 12:8 varies:

Matthew Henry Commentary: notes the continuous nature of spiritual combat and the definitive expulsion of evil forces from heaven as a sign of God's reign.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible: suggests that Satan had certain levels of access to heaven which were revoked after this defeat, symbolically representing a loss of power and influence.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: interprets the battle as illustrative, symbolizing the overthrow of all obstacles to the establishment of God's kingdom.

Revelation 12

Revelation 12

What does Revelation 12:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

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What does Revelation 12:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?