Daniel 12:1. 164. If, therefore, the ten horns of Daniel's fourth beast point out as many kingdoms, for the very same reason must the horns of the dragon have a similar meaning. Having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time - The Christian religion, the pagan party see with great regret, is rapidly gaining ground everywhere; and, if not timely checked, must soon brave all opposition. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him - This is very like a saying in the book Bahir, in Sohar Gen., fol. The woman Virgo symbolizes the kingdom of God. 21, fol. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! Chapter 12 is another inset chapter, in which John sees another wondrous vision. At the rising of the sun the night is ended, and the lunar light no longer necessary, as the sun which enlightens her shines full upon the earth; exactly in the same way has the whole Jewish system of types and shadows has been superseded by the birth, life, crucifixion, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of Jesus Christ. And the very same word κατηγορος, accuser, or, as it is in the Codex Alexandrinus, κατηγωρ, is used by them in Hebrew letters, קטיגור katigor; e. That she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, etc. As the woman's husband, that is, the holy and blessed God. (14-17). ", And she brought forth a man child - The Christian Church, when her full time came, obtained a deliverer, who, in the course of the Divine providence, was destined: -. "If men strive, i.e. Before I introduce the comment mentioned at the close of the preceding chapter, I think it necessary to state that the phraseology of the whole chapter is peculiarly rabbinical, and shall insert a few selections which may serve to illustrate some of the principal figures. The kingdom of the Heruli, Rugii, Scyrri, and other tribes which composed the Italian kingdom of Odoacer; And seven crowns upon his head - In the seven Roman forms of government already enumerated, heathenism has been the crowning or dominant religion. These were exactly seven, and are enumerated by Tacitus (Annal., lib. 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. She was clothed with the sun, justified, sanctified, and shining by union with Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. A crown of twelve stars - A very significant representation of the twelve apostles, who were the first founders of the Christian Church, and by whom the Gospel was preached in great part of the Roman empire with astonishing success. As having ten horns, divided into ten kingdoms. Commentary on Revelation 9:1-12 (Read Revelation 9:1-12) Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. It was farther reduced by the great zeal of Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens; and was finally suppressed by the edicts of Gratian, Theodosius I., and his successors. A description of the church of Christ and of Satan, under the figures of a woman and of a great red dragon. Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. "If," says Dr. Robertson, in the introduction to his History of Charles V., vol. The Greek word semeion, which is translated as wonder, sign, or miracle, is used to describe a "woman clothed with the sun". 129, 2, are these words; "If a man observes the precepts, and is a son of the law, and lives a holy life, then Satan stands and accuses him.". In what sense then can it be said that the different kingdoms into which the Roman empire was divided by the barbarous nations are horns of the dragon? The word translated fled is not to be taken in that peculiar sense as if the woman, in the commencement of her flight, had been furnished with wings, for the original word is εφυγεν. Many were the snares that, according to Eusebius, were laid for him by Maximin and Galerius: he relates the frequent and dangerous enterprises to which they urged him, with the design that he might lose his life. It is the dragon's tail that draws the third part of the stars of heaven, therefore it was during the dominion of his last form of government that Christianity was introduced into the world; for in the time of the six preceding draconic forms of government, the world was divided religiously into only two grand branches, Jews and Gentiles. Thus the wo which was denounced, Revelation 12:12, against the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, came upon the whole Roman world; for, in consequence of the excitement and malicious misrepresentations of the pagans of the empire, "a transmigration of a great swarm of nations" came upon the Romans, and ceased not their ravages till they had desolated the eastern empire, even as far as the gates of Byzantium, and finally possessed themselves of the western empire. But in no other sense can they be considered the same than by understanding a time to signify a year; times, two years; and half a time, half a year; i.e., three years and a half. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man. Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Revelation 12 ← Back to Matthew Henry's Bio & Resources. The dragon and his angels are said to be cast out, which is more than was said in the preceding verse. Revelation 12 chapter study is one of rich understanding if we're able to pull it all in. View Revelation 12:13-16. About this commentary: IVP New Testament Commentaries are made available by the generosity of InterVarsity Press. They were so because it was the Roman monarchy, in its seventh Draconic form of government, which was dismembered by the barbarians. A dragon is a known emblem of Satan, and his chief agents, or those who govern for him on earth, at that time the pagan empire of Rome, the city built upon seven hills. Neither had Cinna nor Sylla a long domination: the power of Pompey and Crassus was also soon absorbed in that of Caesar; and the arms of Lepidus and Antony finally yielded to those of Augustus." The expulsion of Satan and his angels from heaven, Revelation 12:7-12 iii. VERSE BY VERSE COMMENTARY ON THE REVELATION "A TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST" by Tony Garland. We must not understand the phrase flying into her place of her removing from one part of the habitable world into another, but of her speedy declension from a state of great prosperity to a forlorn and desolate condition. iii. © 2020 Christianity.com. Eccles., lib. Consequently, it differed entirely from the imperial power, which was the entire conversion of the Roman state from a republic to a monarchy. It was not till a.d. 388 that Rome itself, the residence of the emperor, was generally reformed from the absurdities of paganism; but the total suppression of paganism soon followed the conversion of the metropolitan city, and about a.d. 395 the dragon may be considered, in an eminent sense, to have been cast into the earth, that is, into a state of utter subjection to the ruling dynasty of Christian emperors. Having seven heads - As the dragon is an emblem of the heathen Roman power, its heads must denote heathen forms of government. And the dragon fought and his angels - Or ministers. For the triumvirate consisted in the division of the Roman republic into three parts, each governed by an officer possessed with consular authority in his own province; and all three united together in the regulation of the whole Roman state. The words of the prophecy are very remarkable, The Christian Church is said to be supported by the eastern and western empires, two mighty denominations; and at the same time situated in the wilderness, strongly denoting that, though many professed Christianity, there were but very few who "kept the commandments of God, and had the testimony of Jesus Christ. The church and all her friends might well be called to praise God for deliverance from pagan persecution, though other troubles awaited her. He is filled with fury , because he knows that his time is short." With a rod of iron - A strong figure to denote the very great restraint that should be put upon paganism, so that it should not be able longer to persecute the Christian Church. (1-6) Michael and his angels fight against the devil and his angels, who are defeated. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. As watchful to crush the Christian religion; but in spite of the opposition of enemies, the church brought forth a manly issue of true and faithful professors, in whom Christ was truly formed anew; even the mystery of Christ, that Son of God who should rule the nations, and in whose right his members partake the same glory. Sam. Inset: Personages of the great tribulation, Revelation 12:1-14:20 a. Introduction The Church is composed of believing Jews and believing Gentiles. Revelation 12:14 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Revelation 12:14, NIV: "The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach." All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. To rule all nations - The heathen Roman empire. The servants of God overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb, as the cause. Revelation 12 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. The woman and the dragon, Revelation 12:1-17 i. But this view of the passage cannot be correct, from the circumstance that it is the dragon which is thus called. - This is a song of triumph of the Christian Church over the heathen idolatry, and is very expressive of the great joy of the Christians upon this most stupendous event. As in pain to bring forth a holy family; desirous that the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion. See much more in Schoettgen. As Israel had its time of first bridal love, on its first going out of Egypt into the wilderness, so the Christian Church's wilderness-time of first love was the apostolic age, when it was separate from the Egypt of this world, having no city here, but seeking one to come; having only a place in the wilderness prepared of God ( Revelation 12:6 Revelation 12:14). Bible Gateway Recommends. "They leave the ensigns of Caesar; they choose the standard of the cross; and instead of the dragon flags which they carried, moved about with the wind, they bring forward the illustrious wood that subdued the dragon.". There mention is made of his being found no longer in heaven, or on the throne of the Roman empire, here he is entirely cast out from all offices of trust in the empire; his religion is first only tolerated, and then totally abolished, by the imperial power. That old serpent - The rabbins speak much of this being, sometimes under the notion of יצר הרע yetser hara, the evil principle, and sometimes Samael. See on Revelation 13:13 of the following chapter (note) for an illustration of this remarkable passage. And the great dragon was cast out, etc. Chapter 12 is another inset chapter, in which John sees another wondrous vision. Having on her head a crown of twelve stars; the doctrine of the gospel, preached by the twelve apostles, is a crown of glory to all true believers. The attempts of the dragon proved unsuccessful against the church, and fatal to his own interests. The flood of water is explained by many to mean the invasions of barbarians, by which the western empire was overwhelmed; for the heathen encouraged their attacks, in the hope of destroying Christianity. The Revelation of St. John the Divine Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET CHAPTER 12 Rev 12:1-17.VISION OF THE WOMAN, HER CHILD, AND THE PERSECUTING DRAGON. By the word of their testimony: the powerful preaching of the gospel is mighty, through God, to pull down strong holds. Moreover, a picture of Constantine was set up over the palace gate, with the cross over his head, and under his feet the great enemy of mankind, who persecuted the Church by means of impious tyrants, in the form of a dragon, transfixed with a dart through the midst of his body, and falling headlong into the depth of the sea." Lond. This dynasty is represented by Michael, because he is "the great prince which standeth for the children of God's people." See Ezekiel 26:3. (Read Revelation 12:7-11) The attempts of the dragon proved unsuccessful against the church, and fatal to his own interests. And there was war in heaven - As heaven means here the throne of the Roman empire, the war in heaven consequently alludes to the breaking out of civil commotions among the governors of this empire. But the subtle design which the serpent or dragon had in view, when he vomited out of his mouth a flood of waters, was most providentially frustrated; for: -. Revelation 3:12 Commentaries: 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. empire. The Woman and the Dragon. See Eusebius de Vita Constantini, lib. Thus the heathen Imperial government is doubly represented, first, by one of the seven draconic heads, to show that it was one of those seven heathen forms of government which have been successively at the head of the Roman state; and secondly, by the dragon's tail, because it was the last of those seven. The church, under the emblem of a woman, the mother of believers, was seen by the apostle in vision, in heaven. Or, this may be meant of a flood of error, by which the church of God was in danger of being overwhelmed and carried away. And by the word of their testimony - By constantly testifying against the errors and follies of mankind. Chapter 12: The Woman in the Wilderness "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:" A "great wonder in heaven" (12:1) appears. 101, 3. for the devil is come down unto you - By the inhabiters of the earth are meant the people in subjection to the Roman empire; and by the sea, those parts of the Roman dominions appear to be intended that were reduced to a state of anarchy by the incursions of the barbarous nations. It is said here that the period for which the woman should be nourished in the wilderness would be a time, times, and a half; consequently this period is the same with the twelve hundred and sixty days of Revelation 12:6. The moon was under her feet; she was superior to the reflected and feebler light of the revelation made by Moses. 12:1-2 The Bible portrays the great controversy between Christ and Satan in terms of three characters: the Dragon, the Woman, and the Man Child. "It is very remarkable," as Bishop Newton observes, "that Constantine himself, and the Christians of his time, describe his conquests under the image of a dragon, as if they had understood that this prophecy had received its accomplishment in him. But the Roman empire was not divided into several independent kingdoms till a considerable time after it became Christian. 5. The contemporary authors who beheld that scene of desolation, labor and are at a loss for expressions to describe the horror of it. i., in principio) in words to the following effect: "The city of Rome was originally governed by kings. Commentary on Revelation — [Chapter 12] Posted on December 16, 2019 December 16, 2019. - Constantius Chlorus, the father of Constantine, abandoned the absurdities of paganism, and treated the Christians with great respect. The rage of Satan grows so much the greater as he is limited both in place and time; when he was confined … Upon the head of the woman is: -. The accuser of our brethren - There is scarcely any thing more common in the rabbinical writings than Satan as the accuser of the Israelites. 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. All Scripture quotations are from the 1901 American Standard Version unless otherwise noted. They trod upon her, and the child came out of her bowels, and lay under the bed; Michael descended, and took him up to the throne of glory. For a justification of this method of interpretation, see on the angel's double explanation of the heads of the beast, Revelation 17:9 (note), Revelation 17:10 (note), Revelation 17:16 (note). 27, Colossians 107:"And God cast out Samael and his troops from the place of their holiness.". "The holy blessed God said to the seventy princes of the world, Have ye seen him who always accuses my children?" As drawing with his tail a third part of the stars in heaven, and casting them down to the earth; persecuting and seducing the ministers and teachers. He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child - The heathens persecuted the Christian Church in the behalf of which Divine Providence had raised up a dynasty of Christian Roman emperors. The consular power of the military tribunes; It is singular that commentators in general, in their citation of this passage, have taken no notice of the triumvirate, a form of government evidently as distinct from any of the others as kings are from consuls, or consuls from emperors. - By the terms Devil and Satan mentioned in this verse, Pareus, Faber, and many other commentators, understand literally the great spiritual enemy of mankind. Proque ventosis Draconum, quae gerebant, palliis. The heathen power is called that old serpent which deceived the whole world, from its subtlety against the Christians, and its causing the whole Roman world, as far as it was in its power, to embrace the absurdities of paganism. The dragon and the man-child, Revelation 12:1-6 ii. ... Next commentary: The Dragon's Departure to the Sea . « Revelation 12:7-12. 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