Join us as we study through Revelation verse by verse. Our Bible study guides contain discussion questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications which can help you or your small group get the most out of this book as you grow in understanding and obedience.
Revelation 12 Bible Study Guide With Questions – The Woman, The Child, And The Dragon
Podcast
Outline
I. The Woman, Child, and Dragon (1-6)
II. The War In Heaven (7-12)
III. The Dragon’s Rage (13-17)
I. The Woman, Child, and Dragon (1-6)
Discussion Questions
- Who does the woman in this passage represent? Why?
- Who does the child in this passage represent? Why?
- Who does the dragon in this passage represent? Why?
- What might the crown of 12 stars on the woman’s head refer to?
- What do the multiple heads, horns, and diadems on the dragon’s head refer to?
- Who else in Revelation will rule the nations with a rod of iron?
- What does it mean that the child “was caught up to God and to his throne?”
- What will happen to the woman in verse 6?
- What does this passage show us about the result of Satan’s long lasting scheme to thwart God’s plans?
- What can we learn from this passage about God’s sovereignty?
Cross-References
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Revelation 20:1-2 – Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended.
Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
Revelation 19:15 – From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Overview – In this chapter we get a special behind the scenes look at the epic battle between God and Satan that has been raging ever since the devil rebelled. The battle spans millennia. It also is waged across the cosmos, both in heaven and on earth.
The book of Revelation is largely a description of this war. And in it, we see exactly how the war will end and Satan will be judged. God wins. Good triumphs over evil.
However, in this passage we see that people become ensnared in this conflict. Satan attempts to use people against God just as he originally seduced many angels to join him in this fight.
He alternatively seeks to either seduce and ensnare people or outright target them for destruction. Though he can’t hurt God directly, he seeks to hurt God by hurting God’s creation. So whether we like it or not, people have become embroiled in this conflict.
The arena has expanded from heaven to earth. And in this chapter we will see how that war effects God’s people.
2. The woman – There are several clues in this passage as to the identity of the woman. But we can first start with who the woman is not. At first glance, it may appear that this woman is Mary. After all, she gave birth to the most famous child in all of Scripture.
However, verse 6 depicts this woman as fleeing into the wilderness to herself escape the wrath of the dragon for three and a half years. Historically, this did not happen to Mary. Also, the description of the woman in verses 13-17 do not fit Mary. Specifically, the dragon is not just going after Mary’s offspring (17).
A better explanation is that the woman represents the nation Israel. Israel is often referred to as a “her” in the Old Testament (Lamentations 1:1-7). The text also gives us more clues that the woman represents Israel.
The woman is mentioned as being “clothed with the sun, with the moon…and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
This is remarkably similar to Joseph’s dream that he shared with his family in Genesis 37.
The best place to go to interpret Scripture is other Scripture and Genesis 37:9 interprets Revelation 12:1 very well. The twelve stars on the woman’s head refer to the twelve tribes of Israel, just as they do in Joseph’s dream. Note that Joseph only mentions eleven stars because he himself is the twelfth. And references to the sun and moon (Jacob and Rachel in the original dream) show where the woman (the nation of Israel) came from.
The nation of Israel produced the Messiah (the child) just as God originally promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:3). And we see that throughout the Bible and throughout history Satan hates the nation of Israel. They are God’s chosen people. So they have a target on their back.
3. The child – In this passage, the child refers to the Messiah, Jesus. He is the one who is going to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27, 19:15).
Revelation 2:27 – And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
4. The dragon – There should be little doubt about who the dragon in this passage represents. If his actions are not clear enough, verse 9 names the dragon as “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan.”
The dragon has seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems. In Revelation 13 we will see that the dragon will give power to the beast (antichrist), who will hold sway politically over a number of regions or kingdoms. There will be a ten king alliance that the antichrist will rule over and through. That seems to be pictured by the ten horns. Eventually three of these will revolt and lose. The alliance will then be reduced to seven kings. The seven heads may refer to this.
Much of Satan’s influence in the world is exercised through governments. Behind the scenes he deceives, plots, and schemes. What he attempts to accomplish through subtlety now, he will accomplish through brute force and power then. The dragon will take complete control over the world government and claim the world as his domain. The seven diadems portray his prideful claim to be the ruler.
5. Satan’s scheme to thwart the Messiah –
Verse 4 tells us that Satan wanted to devour the child. He wanted to stop Jesus from ever accomplishing His mission. And Satan’s attempts to stop Jesus started long before He was born.
Let’s zoom out for a moment and look the big picture of this war.