Revelation 12:17 Study Bible: The serpent grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. [18] And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Bible > Revelation > Chapter 12 > Verse 17

◄ Revelation 12:17 ►

And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.

Study Bible

And the dragon
The "dragon" in this context is a symbolic representation of Satan, the adversary of God and His people. The Greek word used here is "drakōn," which conveys a sense of a great, fearsome serpent. In the ancient world, dragons were often seen as chaotic forces opposed to divine order. This imagery is consistent with the biblical portrayal of Satan as a deceiver and accuser, as seen in Revelation 12:9, where the dragon is explicitly identified as the devil.

was enraged
The Greek word "orgizō" is used here, meaning to provoke or to be angry. This intense anger of the dragon signifies the deep-seated hatred Satan has towards God's people. Historically, this reflects the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil, where Satan's fury is directed at those who align themselves with God. This rage is not just an emotional response but a calculated opposition to God's redemptive plan.

at the woman
The "woman" symbolizes God's faithful people, often interpreted as Israel or the Church. In the broader context of Revelation 12, the woman represents the community from which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came. This imagery draws from Old Testament symbolism, where Israel is often depicted as a woman or bride (e.g., Isaiah 54:5-6). The woman's protection and preservation by God highlight His covenant faithfulness.

and went to make war
The phrase "make war" indicates a deliberate and ongoing campaign against God's people. The Greek word "polemeō" suggests not just a single battle but a sustained conflict. This reflects the spiritual warfare that believers face, as described in Ephesians 6:12, where the struggle is against spiritual forces of evil. Historically, this has been seen in the persecution of Christians and the trials faced by the Church throughout the ages.

with the rest of her children
"Her children" refers to the followers of Christ, those who are spiritually born of the woman. This phrase emphasizes the collective identity of believers as part of God's family. The "rest" implies that while some have been protected or taken to safety, others remain to face the dragon's wrath. This highlights the reality of suffering and persecution in the Christian life, as Jesus Himself warned in John 15:18-20.

who keep the commandments of God
This phrase underscores the defining characteristic of true believers: obedience to God's commandments. The Greek word "tēreō" means to guard or keep watch over, indicating a diligent and faithful adherence to God's laws. This obedience is not merely legalistic but stems from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit, as seen in John 14:15, where Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

and hold to the testimony of Jesus
The "testimony of Jesus" refers to the witness or proclamation of the gospel of Christ. The Greek word "martyria" implies a testimony that may lead to martyrdom, reflecting the cost of discipleship. Holding to this testimony means steadfastly proclaiming and living out the truth of Jesus Christ, even in the face of opposition. This is a call to perseverance and faithfulness, as echoed in Revelation 14:12, which speaks of the endurance of the saints.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Dragon
Symbolic of Satan, the adversary of God and His people. The dragon's rage signifies the ongoing spiritual battle against believers.

2. The Woman
Represents God's people, often interpreted as Israel or the Church. She is a central figure in the cosmic conflict depicted in Revelation 12.

3. The Rest of Her Children
Refers to the faithful followers of Christ who adhere to God's commandments and maintain their testimony of Jesus. They are the target of the dragon's wrath.

4. The War
Symbolizes the spiritual warfare between Satan and the followers of Christ. This conflict is both a present reality and a future expectation for believers.

Teaching Points

Spiritual Warfare Awareness
Believers must recognize that they are engaged in a spiritual battle. Understanding the nature of this conflict helps Christians remain vigilant and prepared.

Faithfulness to God's Commandments
The passage highlights the importance of obedience to God's commandments as a defining characteristic of true believers.

Testimony of Jesus
Holding to the testimony of Jesus is crucial. This involves both proclaiming the gospel and living a life that reflects Christ's teachings.

Endurance in Persecution
The dragon's war against the woman's children serves as a reminder that persecution is a reality for believers. Christians are called to endure and remain steadfast in their faith.

Victory in Christ
Despite the dragon's rage, believers have assurance of victory through Jesus Christ. This hope should encourage and strengthen believers in their daily walk.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the identity of the dragon in Revelation 12:17 help us comprehend the nature of spiritual warfare today?

2. In what ways can we, as modern believers, "keep the commandments of God" in our daily lives?

3. How does holding to the testimony of Jesus impact our interactions with others, especially in a world that may be hostile to Christian beliefs?

4. What practical steps can we take to prepare ourselves for spiritual battles and potential persecution?

5. How do other scriptures, such as Ephesians 6:12 and 1 John 5:3-5, enhance our understanding of the themes presented in Revelation 12:17?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 3:15
The enmity between the serpent and the woman's offspring is a foundational prophecy that finds its fulfillment in Revelation 12, highlighting the ongoing spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:12
This verse emphasizes the spiritual nature of the warfare believers face, aligning with the conflict described in Revelation 12:17.

1 John 5:3-5
These verses discuss the importance of keeping God's commandments and the victory that comes through faith in Jesus, echoing the characteristics of the woman's children.

Sermons

How They Conquered the Dragon	C. H. Spurgeon.	Revelation 12:10-17
Love Triumphant		Revelation 12:10-17
Missionary Conflict and Victory	R. H. Roberts, B. A.	Revelation 12:10-17
Overcoming the Accuser	D. Fraser, D. D.	Revelation 12:10-17
The Accuser of the Brethren	D. Roberts, D. D.	Revelation 12:10-17
The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon	C. H. Spurgeon.	Revelation 12:10-17
The Church's Victory	John Aldis.	Revelation 12:10-17
The Encouragement to Increased Missionary Effort to be Derived from the Assurance of Final Victory	Bp. Daniel Wilson.	Revelation 12:10-17
The Evidence of Christianity from the Persecution of Christians	J. Priestley, LL. D.	Revelation 12:10-17
The Heavenly Song of Victory	H. Bonar, D. D.	Revelation 12:10-17
Victory	Wm. Guild, D. D.	Revelation 12:10-17
Victory Over the Foe	Dean Vaughan.	Revelation 12:10-17
Satan in a Rage	C. H. Spurgeon.	Revelation 12:12-17
The Defeatability of the Devil	D. Thomas	Revelation 12:12-17
The Defeatibility of the Devil	D. Thomas, D. D.	Revelation 12:12-17
Victorious Rejoicing	William Guild, D. D.	Revelation 12:12-17
Woe on the Earth	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Revelation 12:12-17
Safety in Satanic Persecution	R. Green	Revelation 12:13-17

People

John, Michael

Places

Patmos

Topics

Angry, Bear, Christ, Commandments, Commands, Dragon, Elsewhere, Enraged, Fast, Furiously, God's, Grew, Hold, Keeping, Obey, Offspring, Orders, Remnant, Rest, Sand, Seed, Stood, Testimony, War, Waxed, Witness, Wroth

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Revelation 12:17

     5724   offspring
     6157   fall, of Satan
     8405   commands, in NT
     8483   spiritual warfare, causes
     8484   spiritual warfare, enemies
     8787   opposition, to God
     9155   millennium

Library

Prevailing Prayer.
Text.--The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.--James v. 16. THE last lecture referred principally to the confession of sin. To-night my remarks will be chiefly confined to the subject of intercession, or prayer. There are two kinds of means requisite to promote a revival; one to influence men, the other to influence God. The truth is employed to influence men, and prayer to move God. When I speak of moving God, I do not mean that God's mind is changed by prayer, or that his …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

The Third
refers to Exodus. The promise is, "I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it" (ii. 17). It is in this third Epistle, which refers to the wilderness period and Balaam's counsel, that we have a special reference to the manna, the wilderness sustenance, of which Exodus contains the record. "Bread from Heaven" and "Angels' food" (Ps. lxxviii. 24,25) are set over against the lusts of the …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Glory of Jesus and Mary.
Before entering upon the contemplation of the excellent glory which surrounds the blessed in heaven, we must endeavor to form a correct idea of God's grace, which enabled them to perform the great and noble actions we are now to consider. They were all, except Jesus and Mary, conceived in sin, and, therefore, subject to the same temptations that daily assail us. They never could have triumphed and reached the supernatural glory which now surrounds them, had they been left to their own natural strength, …
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

The Work of Christ.
The great work which the Lord Jesus Christ, God's well beloved Son, came to do was to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. This finished work of the cross is the basis of His present work and His future work. What mind can estimate the value and preciousness of that work in which the Holy One offered Himself through the eternal Spirit without spot unto God! He procured redemption by His death on the cross. In His present work and much more in the future work, He works out this great redemption …
A. C. Gaebelein—The Work Of Christ

A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Voluntary Suffering
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. T hat which often passes amongst men for resolution, and the proof of a noble, courageous spirit, is, in reality, the effect of a weak and little mind. At least, it is chiefly owing to the presence of certain circumstances, which have a greater influence upon the conduct, than any inherent principle. Thus may persons who appear to set death and danger at defiance in the hour …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Fourth vision "In Heaven"
H^4, chap. xii. 1-12. A Great Sign. We now come, not only to the great central subject of the whole Book, but to the central pair of the seven Visions, and to the actual literary centre of the Book. All this shows us that we are on the threshold of an important part of Scripture which relates to the actual Revelation or Unveiling of the glorious Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole section (chaps. xii.--) is not only Episodal in subject and Parenthetical in form, but is a good example of historical, …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Apostles To-Day?
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work in the Lord?"--1 Cor. ix. 1. We may not take leave of the apostolate without a last look at the circle of its members. It is a closed circle; and every effort to reopen it tends to efface a characteristic of the New Covenant. And yet the effort is being made again and again. We see it in Rome's apostolic succession; in the Ethical view gradually effacing the boundary-line between the apostles and believers; …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' A kingdom is held the acme and top of all worldly felicity, and this honour have all the saints'; so says our Saviour, Theirs is the …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished; …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Protevangelium.
As the mission of Christ was rendered necessary by the fall of man, so the first dark intimation of Him was given immediately after the fall. It is found in the sentence of punishment which was passed upon the tempter. Gen. iii. 14, 15. A correct understanding of it, however, can be obtained only after we have ascertained who the tempter was. It is, in the first place, unquestionable that a real serpent was engaged in the temptation; so that the opinion of those who maintain that the serpent is only …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher, …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Love
The rule of obedience being the moral law, comprehended in the Ten Commandments, the next question is: What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' Deut 6: 5. The duty called for is love, yea, the strength of love, with all …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising
'If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.' - Col 1:23. Intending next Lord's day to enter upon the work of catechising, it will not be amiss to give you a preliminary discourse, to show you how needful it is for Christians to be well instructed in the grounds of religion. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.' I. It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith. II. The best way for Christians to be settled is to be well grounded. I. It is the duty of Christians …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Its Meaning
Deliverance from the condemning sentence of the Divine Law is the fundamental blessing in Divine salvation: so long as we continue under the curse, we can neither be holy nor happy. But as to the precise nature of that deliverance, as to exactly what it consists of, as to the ground on which it is obtained, and as to the means whereby it is secured, much confusion now obtains. Most of the errors which have been prevalent on this subject arose from the lack of a clear view of the thing itself, and …
Arthur W. Pink—The Doctrine of Justification

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

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