Revelation 12:4

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.  And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

·         It is thought that the third of the stars were the third of the angels who rebelled against God

·         Devour – very vigilant to crush the Christian religion (MH)

Revelation 12:3

And another sign appeared in heaven:  behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

·         A dragon for strength and terror – a red dragon for fierceness and cruelty (MH)

·         Seven diadems – seven crowns – later expounded to be seven kings (MH)

Revelation 12:2

Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

·         As in travail and now in pain, to bring forth a holy progency  to Christ (MH)

·         To bring forth the martyrs (DP)

Revelation 12:1

Now a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

·         The church is represented as the woman (MH)

·         This is the first of seven signs that John relates, and is described as a great sign (mega semeion). (DG)

Revelation 11:19

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.  And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake and great hail.

·         This was in the holy of holies; in the ark the tables of the law were kept (MH)

·         By terrible things in righteousness God would answer those prayers that were presented in His holy temple, now opened (MH)

 

Revelation 11:16-18

And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,

The One who is and who was and who is to come,

Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,

And the time of the dead, that they should be judged.

And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,

And those who fear Your name, small and great,

And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

 

·         They rejoice that his reign shall never end (MH)

·         There are angry resentments in the world at these actings of the power of God (MH)

 

Revelation 11:15

Then the seventh angel sounded:  and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

·         Loud and joyful acclamations of the saints and angels in heaven (MH)

·         They thankfully recognize the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over all the world (MH)