^12:1Then¹ a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.²^12:2She³ was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling⁴ to give birth. ^12:3Then⁵ another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns.⁶^12:4Now⁷ the dragon’s⁸ tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then⁹ the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. ^12:5So¹⁰ the woman gave birth to a son, a male child,¹¹ who is going to rule¹² over all the nations¹³ with an iron rod.¹⁴ Her¹⁵ child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, ^12:6and she¹⁶ fled into the wilderness¹⁷ where a place had been prepared for her¹⁸ by God, so she could be taken care of¹⁹ for 1,260 days.

War in Heaven

^12:7Then²⁰ war broke out in heaven: Michael²¹ and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ^12:8But²² the dragon was not strong enough to prevail,²³ so there was no longer any place left²⁴ in heaven for him and his angels.²⁵^12:9So²⁶ that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. ^12:10Then²⁷ I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

“The salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God,

and the ruling authority²⁸ of his Christ,²⁹ have now come,

because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,³⁰

the one who accuses them day and night³¹ before our God,

has been thrown down.

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Footnotes

1 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
2 Sun … moon … stars. This imagery is frequently identified with the nation Israel because of Joseph’s dream in Gen 37.
3 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
4 Grk “and being tortured,” though βασανίζω (basanizō) in this context refers to birth pangs. 2.b states, “Of birth-pangs (Anth. Pal. 9, 311 βάσανος has this mng.) Rv 12:2.” The καί (kai) has not been translated.
5 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
6 For the translation of διάδημα (diadēma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196. Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.
7 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate that this remark is virtually parenthetical.
8 Grk “its”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
10 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.
11 On this term ἄρσην states: “male … The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”
12 Grk “shepherd.”
13 Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
14 Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rhabdos) can mean either “rod” or “scepter.” An allusion to Ps 2:9 (see also Rev 2:27; 19:15).
15 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
16 Grk “and the woman,” which would be somewhat redundant in English.
17 Or “desert.”
18 Grk “where she has there a place prepared by God.”
19 Grk “so they can take care of her.”
20 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
21 The archangel Michael had a special role in protecting the nation of Israel in the OT (Dan 10:13, 21; 12:1; see also Jude 9).
22 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast.
23 The words “to prevail” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
24 Grk “found.”
25 Grk “for them”; the referent (the dragon and his angels, v. 7) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
26 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the war in heaven.
27 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
28 Or “the right of his Messiah to rule.” See L&N 37.35.
29 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
30 Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” (cf. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelphoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The translation “fellow believer” would normally apply (L&N 11.23), but since the speaker(s) are not specified in this context, it is not clear if such a translation would be appropriate here. The more generic “brothers and sisters” was chosen to emphasize the fact of a relationship without specifying its type.
31 Or “who accuses them continually.”