War in Heaven

12:7 Then20 war broke out in heaven: Michael21 and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 12:8 But22 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 12:9 So26 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. 12:10 Then27 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.

12:11 But32 they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony,

and they did not love their lives33 so much that they were afraid to die.

12:12 Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them!

But34 woe to the earth and the sea

because the devil has come down to you!

He35 is filled with terrible anger,

for he knows that he only has a little time!”

12:13 Now36 when the dragon realized37 that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 12:14 But38 the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness,39 to the place God40 prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time.41 12:15 Then42 the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to43 sweep her away by a flood, 12:16 but44 the earth came to her rescue;45 the ground opened up46 and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 12:17 So47 the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children,48 those who keep49 God’s commandments and hold to50 the testimony about Jesus.51 12:18 And the dragon52 stood53 on the sand54 of the seashore.55