New life biblical seminary

Cheruvakkal, Ayoor, Kollam, Kerala 2015-16

Title: an exegetical study on Chapter 12
Submitted by: - B. Jagadeesh (B. Th) Submitted to: - Rev. Dr. raju m. Thomas
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1.1 Introduction

In this paper present writer is going to do an exegetical study on chapter 12. The chapter 12 is
one of the important chapters where it talks about the victory over the Satan and God’s revenge towards
Satan and great dragon which where the Dragon to throw down to earth from the heaven. Dragon was
running after the woman who is traditionally believed as the Israelites to take revenge but they were
preserved in the hands of God.

1.2 BACKGROUND

As the first century A.D. drew to a close, the churches of Asia Minor were confronting
persecution and heresy. Due to that first century believer were in great danger, and many of them were
going backsliding from the faith. In this juncture these churches needed a renewed vision of God and a
revelation of his glorious plans for their future. It is fitting that Revelation comes last in the biblical
canon, for it is the climax of all that has gone before as it foretells the ultimate fulfillment of God's
efforts to redeem lost humanity.1

1.3 The Author

There are very strong internal and external evidence to prove that this book was written by the
Apostle John the Disciple of Jesus Christ. The church fathers such Justin Martyr Polycarp and Irenaeus
citied from this and attributed to John the apostle. There are many argument have been raised from the
modern scholar concern the authorship but still traditionally it is believed that John the apostle is the
author of this book.2

1.4 Date and Place

There are two opinions are there among the scholars concerning the date of this book. Some says
this book had been written A.D. 54-68 during the reign of Nero. And so me other says that it had been
written A.D. 81 - A.D. 96 during the reign of roman emperor Domitian who’s time the Christians got
comfort. John wrote this book while he was in exile on the island of Patmos (1:9), which is in the
Aegean sea (eastern Mediterranean), some 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Ephesus.3

1.5 Recipients

1
Harold L. Willmington, “Revelation” Willmington's Bible Handbook by Harold ed., by Harold L. Wilmington.
(Chicago:Tyndale House Publishers, 1997),
2
Alan F. Johnson, “Revelation”, The Expositors Bible Commentary ed., by Frank E. Garbelein, Vol. 12 (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan Publishing house, 181), 510.
3
Irving L. Jensen, Simply understanding the New Testament, (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1988),
112.

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 From the book itself it is clear that this book have been written to the "Seven churches" in the
Roman province of Asia (1:4, 11; 2:1-3:22).

1.6 Purpose

There are mainly three purposes

1. To give believers a renewed vision of the risen, ascended, and ruling Lord (1)

2. To call for repentance and renewal (2-3)

3. To reveal God's future plans for his church (4-22). 4

1.7 Style

Like the Old Testament Books of Daniel and Ezekiel, Revelation uses symbolic and apocalyptic forms
of revelation extensively. The fact that symbols must be interpreted has led to many diverse
interpretations. In most cases, however, the meaning of the symbolic revelation is found by comparing
it with previous prophetic and apocalyptic revelation in the Old Testament. This has led many
interpreters to view the Book of Revelation as presenting realistic predictions of the future. Its
apocalyptic and symbolic character sharply contrasts with books of similar nature written outside the
Bible which are classified as Pseudepigrapha. While many of these extra biblical books are almost
impossible to understand, Revelation, by contrast, presents a sensible view of the future in harmony
with the rest of Scripture. 5

1.8 Structure

After the introduction (chaps. 1-3), the book is dominated by three series of judgments (seals,
trumpets, bowls), probably concurrent (they all culminate in the end of the age), and snapshots of
worship in heaven (chaps. 4-16), then oracles against Rome (chaps. 17-18) and prophecies of the end
(chaps. 19-22).6

1.9 Key theme: Jesus Christ is Victor

Key verse: Rev 1:19; 17:14

1.10 Outline

 THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN - chapter 1

John's vision of the exalted Christ.
 THE THINGS WHICH ARE - chapters 2-3
the messages to the seven churches.
 THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER - chapters 4-22
o The throne in heaven - 4-5
o The Tribulation on earth - 6-19
 The first half - 6-9
4
Joseph S Ewell, “Revelation”, The Biblical illustrator, Vol. 23 (Grand Rapids: Bakers Book House, 1973), 337.
5
Han Tae Rang, Introduction to the New Testament (Korea: Yuk-il Publishing Company, 2006), 220.
6
Irving L. Jensen, Simply understanding the New Testament …,112.

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  The middle - 10-14
 The last half - 15-19
o The kingdom of Christ - 20
o The new heavens and earth - 21-227

1.11 An exegetical study of the chapter

1.11.1 Immediate Context

Chapter 12 is the starting of the last half of the Tribulation: Satan the Dragon, the false Christ, the
false prophet and women. This three are in the sense of evil trinity opposing the true God and his people
on earth.

In this chapter we see that Satan is the great enemy of the church, and he fights against God and
His people by accusing the saints in heaven and attacking them on the earth. However, the Christ has
overcome the old serpent. And He gave victory to His People.8

1.11.2 The activities of Satan and dragon’s fight against the male child 12:1-6

In verse 1-2 one can see the great and wondrous sign that is women who clothed with sun. Some
commentaries give an idea that the sun is the centre of the solar system. Divine love is the centre of the
spiritual system. The sun warms all nature; Divine love warms all heaven, and every heaven-seeking
spirit in the world. They say that he was clothed with glory. And the moon is the represents the victory,
so one can believe that had victory under feet. The crown also represents the victory and honor, which
means she had honor and glory. 9

There are many decision concern the women who is she: some believe that this is Mary, the
mother of our Lord, but vv. 6 and 13-17 make this impossible. And some other says the according to
Gen 37:9 indicates that the woman represents the nation of Israel. Verse 5 informs us that the woman
gives birth to Christ, and this symbolism points again to Israel (Rom 1:3; 9:4-5). In the OT, Israel is
pictured as a woman and mother (Isa 54:5; jet. 3:6-10). The woman is in travail, and the Child that is
born is Christ (v. 5 with Ps 2:9; Mic 5:2-3; Rev 19:14ff). This opinion is mostly accepted.10

3-4. As we see in the verse 1-2 there is a sign of women and in verse 3-4 we see another sing appeared
in heave that he an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his
heads. The dragon may not literally the animal but it may the weapons or false teachings against the
Christianity which would make darkness in the life of the people to not know the truth of the light of the
gospel.11

5-6. As the some say women may the church who bread the persecution in the tribulation time. The
child may the Christ. The godly of the Christian Church brought forth by the pains of the apostles and

7
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary ed., by Bruce M. Metzger, Vol. 52b (Nashville:
Thomas Nelsons Publishers, 1998), 632.
8
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary ed., by Bruce M. Metzger…, 648.
9
Robert W. Wall, “Revelation”, New International Biblical commentary, ed., Robert W. Wall, Vol. 18 (U.S.A
Hendrickson Publishers, 1991), 157-158.
10
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary…, 650.
11
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary…, 650.

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their successors, are called but one man child: which teaches, that all the true members of Christ's
Church should be in a holy unity but as one man (Acts 4:32); and of masculine courage for the truth (Jer
9:3) against all opposition.12

The dragon’s throwing down from heaven 12:7-9

12:7-9 Michael the archangel who is the leader of God’s army fought with the great dragon and
Satan who is leader of devils and demon and the evil as well as who led the world astray from the
God’s way, with their followers they were thrown down from heaven to earth. This indicates that there
will be no part to Satan to exit in heaven. Why because we see many reference from the Bible that Satan
was presented in the heaven when there was a meeting with the angels and so on. 13

The praise in heaven 12: 10-12

12:10-12 after this John heard another voice that is praise in heaven. This seems to have come
from the tribulation martyrs. The believer or the tribulation martyrs are praising God due to His revenge
towards to Satan, Because Satan or the Dragon was persecuting them. 14

The dragon’s revenge on the woman 12:13-17

12:13-17 some scholars says that the women would be the Israel if it so Satan will continue to
vengeance on Israelites during the Great Tribulation, under the sovereign control of God, since
antagonize Christ. The Israelites will flee from Satan in the future as they fled from Pharaoh in the past.
But in verse 14 we see the God’s protection to the Israelites He had given a place to safeguard
themselves from the hands of the Satan.

Some scholars have said that mountainous Petra in Edom is a place where all that God predicted
here could take place. However the Jews could flee to any mountains. Not only that the earth and the
heaven will help the Israelites to safeguard themselves from the Dragon and Satan.15

Conclusion

This chapter mainly teaches that the ultimate victory of God over the Satan and the great dragon,
and the punishment of the Satan their followers who do evil and leads other to do evil. Instructing thing
in this chapter is the woman who represents Israelites gave birth to the child who has taken to heaven
and the Satan try to revenge against the woman who gave birth to the child. So says this child is Jesus
Christ and other says they are 1, 4000 people who were selected in the tribulation time. The woman was
protected from the hands of Satan and the Dragon. The woman run to dessert and refuge and the earth
also helped her to safeguard herself. It shows that finally the Satan will be defeated by God and people
of God will be protected by God.

Bibliography

12
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary…, 651.
13
Simon J. Kistemaker, ed., “Revelation”, New Testament commentary, Vol. 14 (Grand Rapids: Bakers Books
House, 2001), 351.
14
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary…, 652.
15
David E. Aune, “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary…, 652.

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E. Aune, David. “Revelation”, Word Biblical Commentary ed., by Bruce M. Metzger, Vol. 52b.
Nashville: Thomas Nelsons Publishers, 1998.

J. Kistemaker, Simon. ed., “Revelation”, New Testament commentary, Vol. 14. Grand Rapids:
Bakers Books House, 2001.

Johnson, Alan F. “Revelation”, The Expositors Bible Commentary ed., by Frank E. Garbelein,
Vol. 12. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing house, 181.

L. Jensen, Irving. Simply understanding the New Testament. Minneapolis: World Wide
Publications, 1988.

Rang, Han Tae. Introduction to the New Testament. Korea: Yuk-il Publishing Company, 2006.

S. Ewell, Joseph. “Revelation”, The Biblical illustrator, Vol. 23. Grand Rapids: Bakers Book
House, 1973.

W. Wall, Robert. “Revelation”, New International Biblical commentary, ed., Robert W. Wall,
Vol. 18.U.S.A Hendrickson Publishers, 1991.

Wilmington, Harold L. “Revelation” Wilmington’s Bible Handbook by Harold ed., by Harold L.

Wilmington. Chicago: Tyndale House Publishers, 1997.