Chapter 12
A woman clothed with the sun gives birth to the Messiah while a great red dragon is cast down from heaven by Michael — the cosmic battle between good and evil.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
NAB footnote:A woman: the woman is a symbol of the church, the new Israel, and also of Mary, the mother of the Messiah.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.
NAB footnote:Red dragon: Satan (Rev 12:9). Seven heads and ten horns: symbols of fullness of power.
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back,
NAB footnote:Michael: the archangel who is the heavenly patron and protector of Israel; cf Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
NAB footnote:Ancient serpent: an allusion to Genesis 3:1-15. Devil: from the Greek word meaning 'slanderer.' Satan: from the Hebrew word meaning 'adversary.'
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night."
They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death.
Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus.
NAB footnote:The rest of her offspring: individual Christians who, like Christ, must face the power of evil.