Revelation 12:7
New International Version
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

New Living Translation
Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.

English Standard Version
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

Berean Standard Bible
Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

Berean Literal Bible
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels warred against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels warred back.

King James Bible
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

New King James Version
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,

New American Standard Bible
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

NASB 1995
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

NASB 1977
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war,

Legacy Standard Bible
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

Amplified Bible
And war broke out in heaven, Michael [the archangel] and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought,

Christian Standard Bible
Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought,

American Standard Version
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;

Contemporary English Version
A war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels were fighting against the dragon and its angels.

English Revised Version
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels had to fight a war with the serpent. The serpent and its angels fought.

Good News Translation
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels;

International Standard Version
Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels fought back.

Majority Standard Bible
Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

NET Bible
Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

New Heart English Bible
There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the serpent. The serpent and his angels made war.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Weymouth New Testament
And war broke out in Heaven, Michael and his angels engaging in battle with the Dragon.

World English Bible
There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there came war in Heaven: Michael and his messengers warred against the dragon, and the dragon and his messengers warred,

Berean Literal Bible
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels warred against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels warred back.

Young's Literal Translation
And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers,

Smith's Literal Translation
And war was in heaven; and Michael and his angels waged war against the dragon; and the dragon waged war and his angels,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there was a great battle in heaven. Michael and his Angels were battling with the dragon, and the dragon was fighting, and so were his angels.

New American Bible
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back,

New Revised Standard Version
And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon; and the Dragon and its Angels fought
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,

Godbey New Testament
And there was war in the heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.

Haweis New Testament
Then was there war in the heaven: Michael and his angels warred against the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels,

Mace New Testament
Then there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; on the other side fought the dragon with his angels: but these were defeated,

Weymouth New Testament
And war broke out in Heaven, Michael and his angels engaging in battle with the Dragon.

Worrell New Testament
And there was war in the heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to war with the dragon. And the dragon made war, and his angels;

Worsley New Testament
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon: and the dragon fought, and his angels;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The War in Heaven
6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days. 7Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels.…

Cross References
Daniel 10:13
However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Jude 1:9
But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Luke 10:18
So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Isaiah 14:12-15
How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. / You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ...

Ezekiel 28:12-17
“Son of man, take up a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. / You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation. / You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for I had ordained you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. ...

Matthew 24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Job 1:6-12
One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. / “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.” / Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” ...

Job 2:1-7
On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him. / “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.” / Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” ...

Zechariah 3:1-2
Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.


Treasury of Scripture

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

war.

Revelation 13:7
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Revelation 19:11-20
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…

Isaiah 34:5
For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

Michael.

Isaiah 55:4
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

Daniel 10:13,21
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia…

Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

and his.

Matthew 13:41
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew 24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

the dragon.

Revelation 12:3,4
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…

Revelation 20:2
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

his angels.

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Psalm 78:49
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

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Revelation 12
1. A woman clothed with the sun travails.
4. The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child;
6. when she is delivered she flees into the desert.
7. Michael and his angels fight with the dragon, and prevail.
13. The dragon, being cast down into the earth, persecutes the woman.














Then a war broke out in heaven
The phrase "Then a war broke out in heaven" introduces a cosmic conflict of immense spiritual significance. The Greek word for "war" is "πόλεμος" (polemos), indicating not just a physical battle but a spiritual struggle of principles and powers. This heavenly war signifies the ongoing battle between good and evil, reflecting the spiritual warfare that believers face on earth. The setting in "heaven" underscores the celestial nature of this conflict, reminding us that the struggles we face have their roots in a larger, unseen spiritual realm.

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon
"Michael" is a significant figure in biblical texts, often depicted as a warrior angel and protector of God's people. The name "Michael" means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew, emphasizing his role as a defender of divine authority. In this context, Michael leads "his angels," indicating a structured and purposeful resistance against evil. The "dragon" is a symbol of Satan, representing chaos, deception, and opposition to God's order. This battle is not just a clash of beings but a confrontation of divine truth against satanic falsehood.

and the dragon and his angels fought back
The phrase "and the dragon and his angels fought back" highlights the resistance and rebellion of Satan and his followers. The dragon's "angels" are fallen beings who have aligned themselves with evil, showcasing the organized opposition against God's kingdom. This resistance is a reminder of the persistent nature of evil and its attempts to thwart God's plans. However, the ultimate outcome of this battle is not in doubt, as Scripture assures us of God's ultimate victory over all forms of evil.

THE WAR IN HEAVEN.

(7) And there was war . . .--Translate, And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels. This is one of those passages which has ever been regarded as more or less perplexing. It has afforded material for many poetic fancies, and has been the occasion of much speculative interpretation. We shall fail to catch the spirit of its meaning if we insist upon detaching the passage from its context; and the more so that the structure of the chapter seems to give an express warning against doing so. The narrative of the woman's flight into the wilderness is suspended that this passage may be inserted. Could we have a clearer indication of the anxiety of the sacred writer to connect this war in heaven with the birth and rapture of the man child? The man child is born; born a conqueror. The dragon is His foe, and the powers of the foe are not confined to the material and historical world: he is a power in the world spiritual; but the man child is to be entirely a conqueror. His rapture into heaven is the announcement that there, in the very highest, He is acknowledged victor; and His victory is won over the power of the dragon, the old serpent, whose head is now bruised. "The prince of this world cometh," said Jesus Christ, "and hath nothing in Me." "Now is the judgment of this world; now is the prince of this world cast out. And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." Do we need more? There is mystery--unexplained mystery, perhaps--about this war in heaven, but there need be none about the general occasion referred to; it is the overthrow of the evil one by Christ: the death-blow given by the Lord of Life to him who had the power of death; it is the victory of Bethlehem, Calvary, and Olivet which is commemorated, and the effects of which are seen to transcend the sphere of the things seen. But why have we Michael and his angels introduced? This may be one of those unexplained mysteries referred to above. Some, indeed, think that this Michael is a designation of our Lord Himself, and of Him alone; but a consideration of the other passages in which Michael is mentioned (notably, Daniel 10:13, where Michael is called "one of the chief princes") leaves this limited meaning doubtful, and almost suggests conflict among the spiritual hierarchies. It may, however, be the case that the name Michael--the meaning of which is, "who is like unto God"--is a general name applied to any who for the moment represent the cause of God in the great conflict against evil. It may thus belong, not to any one angel being, but be a kind of type-name used for the champion and prince of God's people, and so employed in this passage to denote Him who is the Captain of our salvation.

Verses 7, 8. - And there was war in heaven. The passage vers. 7-13 is an interruption of the narrative of the persecution of the woman by Satan. It is caused, apparently, by a desire to account in some degree for the relentless hostility of the devil towards God and his Church. Two explanations of the passage may be referred to.

(1) Vers. 7-13 relate to the period anterior to the Creation, concerning which we have a slight hint in Jude 1:6. This, on the whole, seems to agree best with the general sense of the chapter, and to present fewest difficulties. Thus:

(a) It accounts for the insertion of the passage (see above).

(b) The war is directly between the devil and Michael, not between the devil and Christ, as at the Incarnation and Resurrection. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

a war
πόλεμος (polemos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4171: A war, battle, strife. From pelomai; warfare.

broke out
ἐγένετο (egeneto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

heaven:
οὐρανῷ (ouranō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

Michael
Μιχαὴλ (Michaēl)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3413: Michael, an archangel. Of Hebrew origin; Michael, an archangel.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

angels
ἄγγελοι (angeloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

fought
πολεμῆσαι (polemēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4170: To make war, contend, fight, battle. From polemos; to be in warfare, i.e. To battle: -fight, war.

against
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dragon,
δράκοντος (drakontos)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1404: A dragon or huge serpent; met: Satan. Probably from an alternate form of derkomai; a fabulous kind of serpent.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dragon
δράκων (drakōn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1404: A dragon or huge serpent; met: Satan. Probably from an alternate form of derkomai; a fabulous kind of serpent.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

angels
ἄγγελοι (angeloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

fought [back].
ἐπολέμησεν (epolemēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4170: To make war, contend, fight, battle. From polemos; to be in warfare, i.e. To battle: -fight, war.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 12:7 There was war in the sky (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 12:6
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