Revelation 12:8-9 NIV,NKJV

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:7-12

War and triumph. The heavenly things ("in heaven") are again represented by a battle—a war. There is ever contention on the earth between those forces that are evil and those that are Divine. The history of the human race is the history of an undying struggle—a struggle between the heavenly and the earthly elements; the good and the bad; the flesh and the spirit. Here the whole contending forces are leagued under two great captains , "Michael" and "the dragon." "Michael and his angels... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; cast down (Revised Version); the whole inhabited earth . "The dragon:" so called, because he is the destroyer (see on Revelation 12:3 ). "The ancient serpent," as he was revealed in Genesis 3:1-24 . So in John 8:44 he is "the destroyer from the beginning." "The devil" ( διάβολος ) is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Satan, נמָשָׂ , "the accuser, the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:8

And prevailed not - Satan and his angels failed in their purpose.Neither was their place found any more in heaven - They were cast out, and were seen there no more. The idea is, that they were defeated and driven away, though for a time they were suffered to carry on the warfare elsewhere. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out - See the notes on Revelation 12:3. That there may be an allusion in the language here to what actually occurred in some far distant period of the past, when Satan was ejected from heaven, there can be no reason to doubt. Our Saviour seems to refer to such an event in the language which he uses when he says Luke 10:18, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven”; and Jude, perhaps Revelation 12:6, may refer to the same event. All that we know on the subject... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 12:7-12

Revelation 12:7-12. And there was war in heaven, &c. It might reasonably be presumed that all the powers of idolatry would be strenuously exerted against the establishment of Christianity, and especially against the establishment of a Christian on the imperial throne: and these struggles and contentions between the heathen and the Christian religions are here represented by war in heaven, between the angels of darkness and angels of light. Michael was (Daniel 10:21; Dan 12:1 ) the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

12:1-14:20 PICTURES OF CONFLICT AND TRIUMPHThe woman, the child and the dragon (12:1-17)In this vision the woman who gives birth to a son seems to symbolize Israel who produced the Messiah, Jesus. But it is the true Israel, the true people of God, who are pictured here. The faithful of old Israel were those who began the Christian church, and in the church there is no distinction on the basis of nationality. All Christians are now God’s people (12:1-2).Then appears a dragon (identified in verse... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 12:8

prevailed. Greek. ischuo, as Acts 19:16 , Acts 19:20 . Only here in Rev. Compare App-172 . neither. Greek. oude. more. First occurance: Matthew 5:13 (thenceforth). read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 12:9

cast out = cast down, as Revelation 12:10 . that = the old = ancient. serpent. See Revelation 20:2 .Genesis 3:1 , and App-19 . Devil. Literally slanderer. See Revelation 12:10 and Matthew 4:1 . Satan = Adversary. Compare Matthew 4:10 . See App-19 . which deceiveth. Literally the one deceiving. App-128 . See Revelation 20:3 . world. App-129 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 12:7-12

Revelation 12:7-12. And there was war in heaven, &c.— It might reasonably be presumed, that all the powers of idolatry would be strenuously exerted against the establishment of Christianity, and especially against the establishment of a Christian on the imperial throne; and the struggles and contentions between the Heathen and Christian religions are represented by war in heaven, between the angels of darkness and the angels of light, Michael the archangel being at the head of the latter.... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:8

8. prevailed not—A and Coptic read, "He prevailed not." But B and C read as English Version. neither—A, B, and C read, "not even" (Greek, "oude"): a climax. Not only did they not prevail, but not even their place was found any more in heaven. There are four gradations in the ever deeper downfall of Satan: (1) He is deprived of his heavenly excellency, though having still access to heaven as man's accuser, up to Christ's first coming. As heaven was not fully yet opened to man (John 3:13), so it... read more