From Behind The Veil (16)

The Woman, the Dragon, and the War in Heaven

Primary Text: Revelation 12:1–17

Revelation 12:1–17 NKJV

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Introduction

The seventh trumpet has sounded.

The kingdoms of this world are being claimed by Christ.

Now Revelation pulls the veil back further than ever before.

Chapter 12 is not merely earthly prophecy—it is a revelation of the spiritual conflict behind history itself.

This chapter explains:

Why Satan hates Israel Why the Messiah was opposed Why the saints are persecuted Why the dragon wages war

Behind the veil we finally see:

Earthly conflict is rooted in heavenly rebellion.

The Great Wonder in Heaven – The Woman Clothed With the Sun

Scripture: Revelation 12:1

“…a woman clothed with the sun…”

“Wonder” – Greek: sēmeion (Strong’s G4592)

Meaning:

• sign • symbolic revelation • supernatural indicator

This chapter immediately tells us we are dealing with prophetic signs.

Who is the woman?

Interpretation 1 – Mary

Why some believe this:

• she gave birth to Christ • the child rules nations

Why this interpretation falls short:

The woman continues beyond Christ’s birth and flees into the wilderness for 1260 days.

That does not fit Mary historically.

Interpretation 2 – The Church

Why some believe this:

• the church brings Christ to the world spiritually

Why this interpretation struggles:

The church did not give birth to Christ.

Christ birthed the church.

Interpretation 3 – Israel (Strongest Interpretation)

This best aligns with Scripture.

Why?

Genesis 37:9

Joseph saw:

Sun Moon Twelve stars

Representing:

Jacob Rachel The twelve tribes of Israel

The imagery matches Revelation 12 directly.

The Messiah came through Israel.

Romans 9:5

“…of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came…”

Behind the veil we see:

The woman represents covenant Israel through whom the Messiah came.

The Man Child

Scripture: Revelation 12:5

“…a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron…”

This clearly refers to Christ.

Psalm 2:9

“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron…”

Revelation 19:15 applies this directly to Jesus.

“…her child was caught up unto God…”

This references:

Christ’s resurrection and ascension.

Behind the veil we see:

The dragon failed to stop the Messiah.

The Great Red Dragon

Scripture: Revelation 12:3

“…a great red dragon…”

“Dragon” – Greek: drakōn (Strong’s G1404)

Meaning:

• serpent • monstrous enemy • destroyer

The dragon is explicitly identified later.

Revelation 12:9

“…that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan…”

“Red”

Represents:

Bloodshed Violence Destruction

The seven heads and ten horns connect to:

Daniel 7 Revelation 13

Representing:

Kingdoms Power systems Authority structures

Behind the veil we see:

Satan works through both spiritual rebellion and earthly kingdoms.

The Third of the Stars

Scripture: Revelation 12:4

“…his tail drew the third part of the stars…”

“Stars” can symbolize angels.

Job 38:7

“…the morning stars sang together…”

Many interpret this as referring to fallen angels joining Satan’s rebellion.

Why this interpretation makes sense:

Revelation 12 later describes angels cast from heaven.

Why some caution against being dogmatic:

The text does not explicitly say this happened before Genesis.

Some place this at a future heavenly conflict.

Behind the veil we see:

Satan’s rebellion affected more than himself.

War in Heaven

Scripture: Revelation 12:7

“…there was war in heaven…”

Michael and his angels fight the dragon.

Michael appears in:

Daniel 10 Daniel 12 Jude 1:9

He is connected with protecting Israel.

This war results in Satan being cast down.

Interpretation Question: When does this happen?

View 1 – Primordial Past

Some believe Satan fell before Eden.

Why?

Isaiah 14 Ezekiel 28 Luke 10:18

Why this view exists:

These passages describe Satan’s pride and fall.

Why Revelation 12 may indicate something future:

The text connects this casting down to intensified end-time wrath.

Revelation 12:12

“…the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath…”

This suggests a final expulsion tied to the tribulation period.

Best synthesis according to Scripture:

Satan fell positionally long ago, but Revelation 12 describes a future removal from heavenly access and intensified earthly activity.

Behind the veil we see:

The enemy’s time grows short.

The Woman Flees – 1260 Days

Scripture: Revelation 12:6

“…they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

Again:

1260 days = 3½ years.

This connects directly to:

Daniel’s final week The Great Tribulation

Many believe this refers to God preserving Israel during intense persecution.

Jesus referenced this in:

Matthew 24:15–21

“…let them which be in Judaea flee…”

Behind the veil we see:

God preserves a remnant even during judgment.

The Dragon’s Wrath Against the Remnant

Scripture: Revelation 12:17

“…the remnant… which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Notice the progression:

The dragon attacks:

The child (Christ) The woman (Israel) The remnant (believers)

Satan’s war has always been against:

God’s covenant God’s Messiah God’s people

Behind the veil we see:

Spiritual warfare is covenant warfare.

Connection to the Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 11 announced:

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord…”

Now Revelation 12 explains why the dragon rages.

Satan understands:

His authority is collapsing.

This chapter is heaven’s explanation for earth’s chaos.

Behind the veil we see:

The closer the Kingdom comes openly, the more violently darkness reacts.

Application

Spiritual warfare is real.

Earthly conflict often has spiritual roots.

2. God preserves His people.

The woman was protected in the wilderness.

3. Satan’s wrath increases because his time is short.

Darkness intensifies near the end.

4. Christ already overcame the dragon.

The war is fierce—but the outcome is settled.

Closing Insight

Revelation 12 reveals one of the greatest truths in prophecy:

The conflict on earth is the manifestation of a war that began in heaven.

Behind the veil we see:

History is not random.

There is a dragon. There is a war. There is persecution.

But above all—

There is a throne.

Next Session Preview

In the next session, we will study Revelation 13 and the rise of the Beast.

A global system will emerge. Authority will be given by the dragon. The mark of the beast will be introduced.

And the world will move toward unified rebellion against God.

But remember this:

No matter how powerful the beast appears, its authority is temporary.