Revelation 12:3-9

12:3 Then ¹  another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. ²  12:4 Now ³  the dragon’s ⁴  tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then ⁵  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. 12:5 So ⁶  the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, ⁷  who is going to rule ⁸  over all the nations ⁹  with an iron rod. ¹⁰  Her ¹¹  child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, 12:6 and she ¹²  fled into the wilderness ¹³  where a place had been prepared for her ¹⁴  by God, so she could be taken care of ¹⁵  for 1,260 days.

War in Heaven

12:7 Then ¹⁶  war broke out in heaven: Michael ¹⁷  and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 12:8 But ¹⁸  the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, ¹⁹  so there was no longer any place left ²⁰  in heaven for him and his angels. ²¹  12:9 So ²²  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.

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

² tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate that this remark is virtually parenthetical.

⁴ tn Grk “its”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.

⁶ tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. 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, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”

⁷ tn Grk “shepherd.”

⁸ tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).

⁹ tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”

¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁷ tn Grk “and the woman,” which would be somewhat redundant in English.

⁸ tn Or “desert.”

⁹ tn Grk “where she has there a place prepared by God.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “so they can take care of her.”

⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

¹⁰ sn 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).

¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast.

¹² tn The words “to prevail” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

¹³ tn Grk “found.”

¹⁴ tn Grk “for them”; the referent (the dragon and his angels, v. 7) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the war in heaven.