Revelation 12:13 Study Bible: When the serpent saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.

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◄ Revelation 12:13 ►

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Study Bible

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth
This phrase refers to the aftermath of a celestial battle described earlier in Revelation 12, where the dragon, identified as Satan, is defeated and cast out of heaven. This event signifies a pivotal moment in the cosmic struggle between good and evil. The dragon's expulsion from heaven is a fulfillment of prophetic imagery found in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-17, where the fall of a proud, rebellious figure is depicted. The dragon's presence on earth indicates a shift in his focus and activity, now targeting humanity more directly.

he pursued the woman
The woman in this passage is often interpreted as representing Israel, the people of God, or the faithful remnant. This imagery draws from Old Testament symbolism, where Israel is frequently depicted as a woman or bride (e.g., Isaiah 54:5-6, Jeremiah 3:20). The dragon's pursuit of the woman signifies Satan's ongoing hostility towards God's covenant people, reflecting historical patterns of persecution and spiritual warfare against those who follow God.

who had given birth to the male child
The male child is widely understood to symbolize Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who is prophesied to rule all nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 12:5). This imagery connects to Psalm 2:7-9, where the Messiah is depicted as a king with authority over the nations. The birth of the male child represents the incarnation of Christ and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The dragon's pursuit of the woman and the child echoes Herod's attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:13-16), highlighting the spiritual opposition to God's salvific work throughout history.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Dragon
Symbolic of Satan, the adversary of God and His people. The dragon's expulsion from heaven signifies his defeat and limited power on earth.

2. The Earth
Represents the realm where the dragon operates after being cast out of heaven. It is the battleground for spiritual warfare.

3. The Woman
Often interpreted as a symbol of Israel or the faithful remnant of God's people. She is depicted as the mother of the male child, representing the community from which the Messiah comes.

4. The Male Child
Represents Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who is destined to rule all nations with an iron scepter. His birth and ascension signify the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

5. The Pursuit
The dragon's pursuit of the woman symbolizes Satan's ongoing persecution of God's people throughout history.

Teaching Points

Spiritual Warfare Awareness
Recognize that spiritual warfare is a reality, and Satan actively seeks to oppose God's people. Believers must be vigilant and equipped with the armor of God.

God's Sovereignty and Protection
Despite Satan's efforts, God's sovereignty ensures the protection and ultimate victory of His people. Trust in God's providence and His plan for deliverance.

The Role of the Church
The church, as the body of Christ, is called to stand firm in faith and witness to the world, even amidst persecution and trials.

Hope in Christ's Victory
The male child's victory over the dragon assures believers of their future hope and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

Perseverance in Faith
Believers are encouraged to persevere in faith, knowing that trials are temporary and God's promises are eternal.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the imagery of the dragon in Revelation 12:13 help us understand the nature of spiritual warfare in our lives today?

2. In what ways can we see God's protection over His people, both in biblical times and in our current context?

3. How does the pursuit of the woman by the dragon reflect the challenges faced by the church throughout history?

4. What practical steps can we take to remain steadfast in our faith amidst spiritual opposition?

5. How do the connections to other scriptures, such as Genesis 3:15 and Matthew 2:13-18, enhance our understanding of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 3:15
The enmity between the serpent and the woman, and her offspring, is a foundational prophecy of the conflict between Satan and God's redemptive plan.

Isaiah 66:7-8
The imagery of a woman in labor and giving birth connects to the prophetic anticipation of the Messiah and the birth of a new era for God's people.

Matthew 2:13-18
The flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt with Jesus parallels the woman's escape from the dragon, highlighting God's protection over His redemptive plan.

Revelation 12:5
The earlier verse in the same chapter provides context for the male child, emphasizing His divine mission and authority.

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

Attacks, Birth, Bore, Borne, Bring, Cast, Child, Cruel, Dragon, Forced, Forth, Hurled, Male, Male-child, Persecuted, Pursued, Pursuit, Thrown

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Revelation 12:13

8483 spiritual warfare, causes
8787 opposition, to God

Revelation 12:13-14

4121 Satan, enemy of God

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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