1UndG2532 ein großesG3173 ZeichenG4592 erschienG3700 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772: Ein WeibG1135 bekleidetG4016 mit der SonneG2246, undG2532 der MondG4582 war unterG5270 ihrenG846 FüßenG4228, undG2532 aufG1909 ihremG846 HaupteG2776 eine KroneG4735 von zwölfG1427 SternenG792. 2UndG2532 sie istG2192 schwangerG1722 G1064 und schreitG2896 in GeburtswehenG5605 undG2532 in SchmerzenG928 zu gebärenG5088. 3UndG2532 es erschienG3700 ein anderesG243 ZeichenG4592 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772: undG2532 sieheG2400, ein großerG3173, feuerroterG4450 DracheG1404, welcher siebenG2033 KöpfeG2776 undG2532 zehnG1176 HörnerG2768 hatteG2192, undG2532 aufG1909 seinenG846 KöpfenG2776 siebenG2033 DiademeG1238; 4undG2532 seinG846 SchwanzG3769 ziehtG4951 den drittenG5154 Teil der SterneG792 des HimmelsG3772 mit sich fortG4951; undG2532 er warfG906 sieG846 aufG1519 die ErdeG1093. UndG2532 der DracheG1404 standG2476 vorG1799 dem WeibeG1135, dasG3588 im Begriff warG3195 zu gebärenG5088, auf daßG2443 er, wennG3752 sie geborenG5088 hätte, ihrG846 KindG5043 verschlängeG2719. 5UndG2532 sie gebarG5088 einen männlichenG730 SohnG5207, derG3739 alleG3956 NationenG1484 weidenG4165 sollG3195 mitG1722 eisernerG4603 RuteG4464; undG2532 ihrG846 KindG5043 wurde entrücktG726 zuG4314 GottG2316 undG2532 zu seinemG846 ThroneG2362. 6UndG2532 das WeibG1135 flohG5343 inG1519 die WüsteG2048, woselbstG3699 sie eine vonG575 GottG2316 bereiteteG2090 StätteG5117 hatG2192, auf daßG2443 man sieG846 daselbstG1563 ernähreG5142 1260G5507 G1250 G1835 TageG2250. 7UndG2532 es entstandG1096 ein KampfG4171 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772: MichaelG3413 undG2532 seineG846 EngelG32 kämpftenG4170 mitG2596 dem DrachenG1404. UndG2532 der DracheG1404 kämpfteG4170 undG2532 seineG846 EngelG32; 8undG2532 sie siegtenG2480 nichtG3756 obG2480, auchG3777 wurdeG2147 ihre StätteG5117 nicht mehrG2089 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772 gefundenG2147. 9UndG2532 es wurde geworfenG906 der großeG3173 DracheG1404, die alteG744 SchlangeG3789, welcher TeufelG1228 undG2532 SatanG4567 genanntG2564 wird, derG3588 den ganzenG3650 ErdkreisG3625 verführtG4105, geworfenG906 wurde er aufG1519 die ErdeG1093, undG2532 seineG846 EngelG32 wurdenG906 mitG3326 ihmG846 hinabgeworfenG906. 10UndG2532 ich hörteG191 eine lauteG3173 StimmeG5456 inG1722 dem HimmelG3772 sagenG3004: NunG737 istG1096 das HeilG4991 undG2532 die MachtG1411 undG2532 das ReichG932 unseresG2257 GottesG2316 undG2532 die GewaltG1849 seinesG846 ChristusG5547 gekommenG1096; dennG3754 hinabgeworfenG2598 ist der VerklägerG2723 unsererG2257 BrüderG80, derG3588 sieG846 TagG2250 undG2532 NachtG3571 vorG1799 unseremG2257 GottG2316 verklagteG2725. 11UndG2532 sie habenG3528 ihnG846 überwundenG3528 umG1223 des BlutesG129 des LammesG721 undG2532 umG1223 des WortesG3056 ihresG846 ZeugnissesG3141 willenG1223, undG2532 sie habenG25 ihrG846 LebenG5590 nichtG3756 geliebtG25 bis zumG891 TodeG2288! 12DarumG1223 G5124 seid fröhlichG2165, ihr HimmelG3772 undG2532 die ihr inG1722 ihnenG846 wohnetG4637! WeheG3759 der ErdeG1093 undG2532 dem MeereG2281! dennG3754 der TeufelG1228 istG2597 zuG4314 euchG5209 hinabgekommenG2597 und hatG2192 großeG3173 WutG2372, da er weißG1492, daßG3754 er wenigG3641 ZeitG2540 hatG2192. 13UndG2532 alsG3753 der DracheG1404 sahG1492, daßG3754 er aufG1519 die ErdeG1093 geworfenG906 war, verfolgteG1377 er das WeibG1135, welchesG3748 das männlicheG730 Kind geborenG5088 hatte. 14UndG2532 es wurdenG1325 dem WeibeG1135 die zweiG1417 FlügelG4420 des großenG3173 AdlersG105 gegebenG1325, auf daßG2443 sie inG1519 die WüsteG2048 fliegeG4072, anG1519 ihreG846 StätteG5117, woselbstG3699 sie ernährtG5142 wird eine ZeitG1563 G2540 undG2532 ZeitenG2540 undG2532 eine halbeG2255 ZeitG2540, fern vonG575 dem AngesichtG4383 der SchlangeG3789. 15UndG2532 die SchlangeG3789 warfG906 ausG1537 ihremG846 MundeG4750 WasserG5204, wieG5613 einen StromG4215, hinterG3694 dem WeibeG1135 herG3694, auf daßG2443 sie sieG5026 mit dem Strome fortrisseG4216 G4160. 16UndG2532 die ErdeG1093 halfG997 dem WeibeG1135, undG2532 die ErdeG1093 tatG455 ihrenG846 MundG4750 aufG455 undG2532 verschlangG2666 den StromG4215, denG3739 der DracheG1404 ausG1537 seinemG846 MundeG4750 warfG906. 17UndG2532 der DracheG1404 ward zornigG3710 überG1909 das WeibG1135 undG2532 ging hinG565, KriegG4171 zu führenG4160 mitG3326 den übrigenG3062 ihresG846 SamensG4690, welcheG3588 die GeboteG1785 GottesG2316 haltenG5083 undG2532 das ZeugnisG3141 JesuG2424 habenG2192. 18UndG2532 ich standG2476 aufG1909 dem SandeG285 des MeeresG2281.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Here we see that early prophecy eminently fulfilled in which God said he would
put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, Gen 3:15. You will observe,
I. The attempts of Satan and his agents to prevent the increase of the church, by devouring her offspring
as soon as it was born; of this we have a very lively description in the most proper images.
1. We see how the church is represented in this vision. (1.) As a
woman, the weaker part of the world, but the spouse of Christ, and the mother of the saints. (2.) As
clothed with the sun, the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having put on Christ, who is
the Sun of righteousness, she, by her relation to Christ, is invested with honourable rights and privileges, and shines in his rays. (3.) As having
the moon under her feet (that is, the world); she stands upon it, but lives above it; her heart and hope are not set upon sublunary things, but on the things that are in heaven, where her head is. (4.) As having on her head
a crown of twelve stars, that is, the doctrine of the gospel preached by the twelve apostles, which is a crown of glory to all true believers. (5.) As in travail, crying out, and
pained to be delivered. She was pregnant, and now in pain to bring forth a holy progeny to Christ, desirous that what was begun in the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion, that when the children were brought to the birth there might be strength to bring forth, and that she might see of the travail of her soul.
2. How the grand enemy of the church is represented. (1.) As a
great red dragon - a dragon for strength and terror - a red dragon for fierceness and cruelty. (2.) As
having seven heads, that is, placed on seven hills, as Rome was; and therefore it is probable that pagan Rome is here meant. (3.) As having
ten horns, divided into ten provinces, as the Roman empire was by Augustus Caesar. (4.) As having
seven crowns upon his head, which is afterwards expounded to be seven kings,
Revel 17:10. (5.) As drawing with his tail a
third part of the stars in heaven, and
casting them down to the earth, turning the ministers and professors of the Christian religion out of their places and privileges and making them as weak and useless as he could. (6.) As standing
before the woman, to devour her child as soon as it should be born, very vigilant to crush the Christian religion in its birth and entirely to prevent the growth and continuance of it in the world.
II. The unsuccessfulness of these attempts against the church; for, 1. She was safely delivered of a
man-child (
Revel 12:5), by which some understand Christ, others Constantine, but others, with greater propriety, a race of true believers, strong and united, resembling Christ, and designed, under him,
to rule the nations with a rod of iron; that is, to judge the world by their doctrine and lives now, and as assessors with Christ at the great day. 2. Care was taken of this child: it
was caught up to God, and to his throne; that is, taken into his special, powerful, and immediate protection. The Christian religion has been from its infancy the special care of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 3. Care was taken of the mother as well as of the child,
Revel 12:6. She
fled into the wilderness, a place prepared both for her safety and her sustenance. The church was in an obscure state, dispersed; and this proved her security, through the care of divine Providence. This her obscure and private state was for a limited time, not to continue always.
III. The attempts of the dragon not only proved unsuccessful against the church, but fatal to his own interests; for, upon his endeavour to devour the man-child, he engaged all the powers of heaven against him (
Revel 12:7):
There was war in heaven. Heaven will espouse the quarrel of the church. Here observe,
1. The seat of this war -
in heaven, in the church, which is
the kingdom of heaven on earth, under the care of heaven and in the same interest.
2. The parties -
Michael and his angels on one side, and
the dragon and his angels on the other: Christ, the great Angel of the covenant, and his faithful followers; and Satan and all his instruments. This latter party would be much superior in number and outward strength to the other; but the strength of the church lies in having the Lord Jesus for the captain of their salvation.
3. The success of the battle:
The dragon and his angels fought and prevailed not; there was a great struggle on both sides, but the victory fell to Christ and his church, and the dragon and his angels were not only conquered, but cast out; the pagan idolatry, which was a worshipping of devils, was extirpated out of the empire in the time of Constantine.
4. The triumphant song that was composed and used on this occasion,
Revel 12:10,
Revel 12:11. Here observe, (1.) How the conqueror is adored:
Now have come salvation, strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. Now God has shown himself to be a mighty God; now Christ has shown himself to be a strong and mighty Saviour; his own arm has brought salvation, and now his kingdom will be greatly enlarged and established. The salvation and strength of the church are all to be ascribed to the king and head of the church. (2.) How the conquered enemy is described. [1.] By his malice; he was
the accuser of the brethren, and
accused them before their God night and day; he appeared before God as an adversary to the church, continually bringing in indictments and accusations against them, whether true or false; thus he accused Job, and thus he accused Joshua the high priest,
Zech 3:1. Though he hates the presence of God, yet he is willing to appear there to accuse the people of God. Let us therefore take heed that we give him no cause of accusation against us; and that, when we have sinned, we presently go in before the Lord, and accuse and condemn ourselves, and commit our cause to Christ as our Advocate. [2.] By his disappointment and defeat: he and all his accusations are cast out, the indictments quashed, and the accuser turned out of the court with just indignation. (3.) How the victory was gained. The servants of God overcame Satan, [1.]
By the blood of the Lamb, as the meritorious cause. Christ by dying
destroyed him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil. [2.]
By the word of their testimony, as the great instrument of war,
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, - by a resolute powerful preaching of the everlasting gospel,
which is mighty, through God, to pull down strongholds, - and by their courage and patience in sufferings;
they loved not their lives unto the death, when the love of life stood in competition with their loyalty to Christ; they loved not their lives so well but they could give them up
to death, could lay them down in Christ's cause; their love to their own lives was overcome by stronger affections of another nature; and this their courage and zeal helped to confound their enemies, to convince many of the spectators, to confirm the souls of the faithful, and so contributed greatly to this victory.
12 We have here an account of this war, so happily finished in heaven, or in the church, as it was again renewed and carried on in the wilderness, the place to which the church had fled, and where she had been for some time secured by the special care of her God and Saviour. Observe,
I. The warning given of the distress and calamity that should fall upon the inhabitants of the world in general, through the wrath and rage of the devil. For, though his malice is chiefly bent against the servants of God, yet he is an enemy and hater of mankind as such; and, being defeated in his designs against the church, he is resolved to give all the disturbance he can to the world in general:
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and the sea, Revel 12:12. The rage of Satan grows so much the greater as he is limited both in place and time; when he was confined to the wilderness, and had but a short time to reign there, he comes with the greater wrath.
II. His second attempt upon the church now in the wilderness:
He persecuted the woman who brought forth the man-child, Revel 12:13. Observe, 1. The care that God had taken of his church. He had conveyed her as on eagles' wings, into a place of safety provided for her, where she was to continue for a certain space of time, couched in prophetic characters, taken from
Dan 7:25. 2. The continual malice of the dragon against the church. Her obscurity could not altogether protect her; the old subtle serpent, which at first lurked in paradise, now follows the church into the wilderness, and
casts out a flood of water after her, to carry her away. This is thought to be meant of a flood of error and heresy, which was breathed by Arius, Nestorius, Pelagius, and many more, by which the church of God was in danger of being overwhelmed and carried away. The church of God is in more danger from heretics than from persecutors; and heresies are as certainly from the devil as open force and violence. 3. The seasonable help provided for the church in this dangerous juncture:
The earth helped the woman, and opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, Revel 12:16. Some think we are to understand the swarms of Goths and Vandals that invaded the Roman empire, and found work for the Arian rulers, who otherwise would have been as furious persecutors as the pagan had been, and had exercised great cruelties already; but God opened a breach of war, and the flood was in a manner swallowed up thereby, and the church enjoyed some respite. God often sends the sword to avenge the quarrel of his covenant; and, when men choose new gods, then there is danger of war in the gates; intestine broils and contentions often end in the invasions of a common enemy. 4. The devil, being thus defeated in his designs upon the universal church, now turns his rage against particular persons and places; his malice against the woman pushes him on to
make war with the remnant of her seed. Some think hereby are meant the Albigenses, who were first by Dioclesian driven up into barren and mountainous places, and afterwards cruelly murdered by popish rage and power, for several generations; and for no other reason than because
they kept the commandments of God and
held the testimony of Jesus Christ. Their fidelity to God and Christ, in doctrine, worship, and practice, was that which exposed them to the rage of Satan and his instruments; and such fidelity will expose men still, less or more, to the end of the world, when
the last enemy shall be destroyed.
