1And there appeared a great sign (wonder) in heaven - a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2And she, being with Child, cried out from her labor pains as she was about to give birth. 3And there appeared another sign (wonder) in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Dan.7:20) 4And its tail swept a part of the stars out of heaven, and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her Child as soon as It was born. 5And she gave birth to a male Child, Who was to rule all nations with an iron scepter; and her Child was snatched up to God, and to His throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, to care for her for a thousand, two hundred sixty days. 7And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back, 8But the dragon lost the battle; and he and his angels lost their place in heaven. (Dan.12:1) 9And the dragon, that old serpent - called the Devil, or Satan, the deceiver of the whole world - was thrown down to the earth, along with his angels. 10And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now have come salvation, power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ (Messiah); for the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accused them before our God, day and night, has been thrown out of heaven, and hurled down.” 11And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and all you that dwell in them. But woe to those who inhabit the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down to you, and is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short. 13And when the dragon realized that he was thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male Child. 14And the woman was given two wings like those of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be nurtured and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time (3½ years or 1,260 days) (Dan.7:25). 15And the dragon spewed a flood of water out of his mouth after the woman, that she might be swept away by the flood. 16But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth, and swallowing the flood that came out of the dragon’s mouth. 17And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and declared war against the rest of her children - those who keep the commandments of God, and hold to the testimony about Jesus Christ. The “woman” in chapter 12, verses 1 - 6 is representative of Israel (God‘s chosen people), and then in verse 14, the church (the bride of Christ). Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |