John describes a cosmic battle in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon. Michael and his angels prevail and Satan is thrown down to earth.
In a remarkable glimpse into the heavenly realm, we now see Michael, a chief angelic prince (Daniel 10:13), leading an angelic army against the dragon, who is later identified as Satan (v. 9):
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon (v. 7).
The book of Revelation has emphasized that God is on the throne and that all human history, whether occurring on earth or in heaven, is under His sovereign plan. This verse unveils yet another dimension of history: God’s created beings make real choices that create real impact. In this case, we see an all-out angelic war in heaven. This underscores that human history is not merely an earthly struggle. It is, in fact, part of an overarching cosmic conflict.
This chapter is part of an interlude in the midst of Revelation’s unfolding sequence of events in God’s judgement of the earth. In Revelation 4-11 we saw seven seals broken, with the seventh seal yielding seven trumpets. At the blowing of the seventh trumpet the kingdom of God was proclaimed. Beginning in Chapter 16, we will see the judgments resume, with seven bowl judgments. The judgments will culminate in the return of Jesus in Chapter 19.
In this interlude, we seem to be getting an overview of human history. The war in heaven (v. 7) likely has application in the immediate as well as the overarching context. In the immediate context, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed (Revelation 11:15). Accordingly, it is time for the sitting ruler, Satan, to be deposed. This results in a confrontation between God’s forces and Satan’s, with the devil seeking to hold his grasp on authority.
We see in John 12:31 that Satan is the ruler of this world. That is why all that is in the world is lustful and fleshly (1 John 2:16). Jesus said He would cast him out. That casting out began when Jesus died for the sins of the world and defeated death through His resurrection. It is now time for Satan’s authority to be eliminated. Satan’s removal from power will begin with eliminating his authority in the heavens.
Michael’s leadership in waging war reminds us that the angels are not passive observers. God enlists them in critical moments to carry out His purposes. They are also majestic beings who should not be disrespected or trifled with (Jude 1:9-10).
This ties back to the scriptural affirmations that heaven is not only the place of God’s dwelling, where His will is done (Matthew 6:10). It is also a strategic battleground. This war is taking place in heaven. We are not given details about this war. We see in places like Job that Satan has current access to heaven, but has limits placed on his authority (Job 1:6, 9). It might be that at this time Satan attempts to overthrow his limits through an invasion of force.
It is interesting to note that God allows His angels to do the fighting, with Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. It is inferred that the angels fight willingly. The angel Michael is mentioned in Jude 1:9 as being an “archangel,” meaning he is a prince or leader of angels. We are told his angels are the ones who do battle with the dragon. This would indicate that the godly angels in the battle are those of a company led by Michael.
We also see an angelic Michael in the Old Testament. In Daniel 10:21, the messenger angel tells Daniel that “there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.” In the Greek translation of the book of Daniel, Michael is called the “archon.” “Archon” can be translated “prince,” “chief,” or “ruler.” “Archon” is used to describe Jesus in Revelation 1:5 where He is called the ruler (“archon”) of kings.
That Michael is said to be Daniel’s prince indicates that he has a special assignment in watching over the people of Israel. While God is sovereign over all, and authorizes all that occurs, each being within His creation has a real choice, and the actions chosen by them have real consequences.
Our passage continues: And they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven (v. 8).
The phrase they were not strong enough refers to the forces of the dragon. This testifies to Satan’s ultimate weakness against God’s almighty power. However, in this case, it appears that Michael and his angels were able to subdue the dragon through their efforts in resisting him.
Though the dragon manipulates earthly kingdoms and deceives many (Matthew 24:11,Revelation 12:9), his might utterly fails when opposed by Michael and his angels under God’s command.
By declaring that there was no longer a place found for them in heaven, scripture reveals an elimination of Satan’s access to the heavenly courts. Earlier in the Bible we see Satan entering heaven to present himself before God (Job 1:6-7). Now, during this climactic phase of tribulation, he is permanently expelled from the heavenly realm.
Next, the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (v. 9).
Here, the great dragon is fully unmasked: he is the serpent of old, a direct allusion to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6). Satan deceived Eve which led to the fall of the human race (2 Corinthians 11:3). God created humanity to be “crowned” with the “glory and honor” of having authority over the earth (Psalm 8:4-6). We can infer that Satan gained authority over the earth due to the Fall (John 12:31,Matthew 4:9).
Satan was destined to lose his authority when Jesus died and was raised. Now that destiny is being fulfilled as Satan is thrown down. This appears to entail him being stripped of his authority and access to heaven. He will continue to have earthly authority for a short time.
Isaiah 14:12-15 tells us that Satan’s ambition was to usurp God’s authority and take His throne. He and his angels that joined his rebellion were thrown down at that time. They apparently later gained a measure of earthly authority, including being ruler of the earth, when Adam fell. They will now be thrown down once again. The term thrown down here appears to apply to heavenly authority, as the earth is warned that its plight is going to get worse because Satan now will only focus on earth, and he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12).
The names devil (meaning “accuser” or “slanderer”) and Satan (meaning “adversary”) underscore the identity of Satan as the prime instigator of rebellion against God. Satan’s given name is “Lucifer,” which ironically means “light-bearer.” As we are told by the Apostle Paul, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The phrase describing the serpent who deceives the whole world further highlights the root of Satan’s power: deception. Jesus said that Satan was a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). We can see from the passages where Satan directly interacts with mankind that his primary application of deception is the matter of how issues are framed.
For example, with Eve, Satan framed life as making choices by using your own knowledge. His framing might be viewed as something like: “God gave you a choice, and wants you to have knowledge: Why wouldn’t you get all the knowledge you can so you can figure out what is best for you on your own?” Of course, following our own way actually led to death, including separation from our created purpose.
Satan posed a framing to Eve where death was life, and life was death. If we accept Satan’s (or anyone’s) framing we will come to his (or their) conclusions. That is why it takes effort to resist Satan, so that he will flee from us (James 4:7). Being transformed by the renewing of our minds equips us to resist Satan’s false framing (Romans 12:1-2).
Linking back to the theme of Revelation- to be a faithful witness that does not fear loss, death, or rejection- many of the tribulations befalling humanity are authorized from the throne room, but they often manifest through Satan’s lies and manipulations. Events like the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) occur because the Antichrist arises under Satan’s influence, employing deception to gain the world’s allegiance.
In spite of all this, believers can find encouragement: the devil is thrown down to the earth, and his defeat is imminent. However, until he is completely subdued, he will continue to cause havoc. While heaven is rejoicing that he is thrown down, the people of earth are warned that this is bad news for them.
We will see in Revelation 12:12 that the people of the earth are warned that Satan being thrown out of heaven is for them a great “woe” because he will have “great wrath, knowing he has only a short time.” The idea seems to be that Satan, having been cast out of heaven, knows the end of his reign is near so he wants to cause as much destruction as possible while he is able.
Believers are being warned that the future will bring troubles. But Jesus will come as the King who rules with “a rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5). Jesus has already conquered but has not yet taken the acting seat of authority over the earth. If we overcome as He overcame, we will gain a great reward and be immensely blessed (Revelation 1:3, 3:21). This is further exhortation for each believer to be a faithful witness who does not fear loss, rejection, or death.
Revelation urges us to remember that our true citizenship is in God’s kingdom, which is a kingdom that will never end. Therefore, we can have hope and continue to persevere in being a faithful witness, believing the promise in Revelation 1:3 that there is a great blessing in store for us through enduring to the end.
God’s throne is in direct contention with Satan’s aspirations. Satan’s final eviction from heaven intensifies his wrath on earth, setting the stage for the fierce persecutions that will soon be described.
Daniel 9 and Revelation together emphasize that this eviction from heaven transpires within a final sequence of events that lead to the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom. In Matthew 24, Jesus forewarns of events that indicate “the end of the age,” and, here in Revelation 12, we witness a cosmic eviction that ties in with those earthly signs.
Satan’s angels were thrown down with him. Satan’s followers are also banned from the heavenly realm. We saw in Revelation 12:4 that the dragon “swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to earth.” This probably means that Satan convinced a third of the angels to join him in his rebellion. They all now partake in his judgment and are also evicted from heaven.
Some of the fallen angels violated the boundaries God established and were confined in the abyss as a punishment (Jude 1:6,2 Peter 2:4). It could be that some of Satan’s angels who contended against Michael and his angels are the ones released from the abyss in Revelation 9:11. In any case, it will not be long before the entire lot of them join company in the abyss, as we will soon see, in Revelation 20:1-3.
Another takeaway is the demonstration of God’s sovereign authority. The book of Revelation highlights God’s written plan for the end of the age. Everything from the seven seals to the final bowl judgments is already determined by the One seated on the throne.
Even Satan’s attempts to disrupt or devour the woman’s child (Revelation 12:4) become steppingstones to fulfill prophecy. The dragon and his allies may have power in the earthly realm for “forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5), but heaven’s door is slammed shut against them, reflecting their decisive defeat in God’s cosmic timetable.
Revelation 12:7-9
The Angel, Michael
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,
8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Set to dark mode
Revelation 12:7-9 meaning
In a remarkable glimpse into the heavenly realm, we now see Michael, a chief angelic prince (Daniel 10:13), leading an angelic army against the dragon, who is later identified as Satan (v. 9):
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon (v. 7).
The book of Revelation has emphasized that God is on the throne and that all human history, whether occurring on earth or in heaven, is under His sovereign plan. This verse unveils yet another dimension of history: God’s created beings make real choices that create real impact. In this case, we see an all-out angelic war in heaven. This underscores that human history is not merely an earthly struggle. It is, in fact, part of an overarching cosmic conflict.
This chapter is part of an interlude in the midst of Revelation’s unfolding sequence of events in God’s judgement of the earth. In Revelation 4-11 we saw seven seals broken, with the seventh seal yielding seven trumpets. At the blowing of the seventh trumpet the kingdom of God was proclaimed. Beginning in Chapter 16, we will see the judgments resume, with seven bowl judgments. The judgments will culminate in the return of Jesus in Chapter 19.
In this interlude, we seem to be getting an overview of human history. The war in heaven (v. 7) likely has application in the immediate as well as the overarching context. In the immediate context, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed (Revelation 11:15). Accordingly, it is time for the sitting ruler, Satan, to be deposed. This results in a confrontation between God’s forces and Satan’s, with the devil seeking to hold his grasp on authority.
We see in John 12:31 that Satan is the ruler of this world. That is why all that is in the world is lustful and fleshly (1 John 2:16). Jesus said He would cast him out. That casting out began when Jesus died for the sins of the world and defeated death through His resurrection. It is now time for Satan’s authority to be eliminated. Satan’s removal from power will begin with eliminating his authority in the heavens.
Michael’s leadership in waging war reminds us that the angels are not passive observers. God enlists them in critical moments to carry out His purposes. They are also majestic beings who should not be disrespected or trifled with (Jude 1:9-10).
This ties back to the scriptural affirmations that heaven is not only the place of God’s dwelling, where His will is done (Matthew 6:10). It is also a strategic battleground. This war is taking place in heaven. We are not given details about this war. We see in places like Job that Satan has current access to heaven, but has limits placed on his authority (Job 1:6, 9). It might be that at this time Satan attempts to overthrow his limits through an invasion of force.
It is interesting to note that God allows His angels to do the fighting, with Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. It is inferred that the angels fight willingly. The angel Michael is mentioned in Jude 1:9 as being an “archangel,” meaning he is a prince or leader of angels. We are told his angels are the ones who do battle with the dragon. This would indicate that the godly angels in the battle are those of a company led by Michael.
We also see an angelic Michael in the Old Testament. In Daniel 10:21, the messenger angel tells Daniel that “there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.” In the Greek translation of the book of Daniel, Michael is called the “archon.” “Archon” can be translated “prince,” “chief,” or “ruler.” “Archon” is used to describe Jesus in Revelation 1:5 where He is called the ruler (“archon”) of kings.
That Michael is said to be Daniel’s prince indicates that he has a special assignment in watching over the people of Israel. While God is sovereign over all, and authorizes all that occurs, each being within His creation has a real choice, and the actions chosen by them have real consequences.
Our passage continues: And they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven (v. 8).
The phrase they were not strong enough refers to the forces of the dragon. This testifies to Satan’s ultimate weakness against God’s almighty power. However, in this case, it appears that Michael and his angels were able to subdue the dragon through their efforts in resisting him.
Though the dragon manipulates earthly kingdoms and deceives many (Matthew 24:11, Revelation 12:9), his might utterly fails when opposed by Michael and his angels under God’s command.
By declaring that there was no longer a place found for them in heaven, scripture reveals an elimination of Satan’s access to the heavenly courts. Earlier in the Bible we see Satan entering heaven to present himself before God (Job 1:6-7). Now, during this climactic phase of tribulation, he is permanently expelled from the heavenly realm.
Next, the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (v. 9).
Here, the great dragon is fully unmasked: he is the serpent of old, a direct allusion to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6). Satan deceived Eve which led to the fall of the human race (2 Corinthians 11:3). God created humanity to be “crowned” with the “glory and honor” of having authority over the earth (Psalm 8:4-6). We can infer that Satan gained authority over the earth due to the Fall (John 12:31, Matthew 4:9).
Satan was destined to lose his authority when Jesus died and was raised. Now that destiny is being fulfilled as Satan is thrown down. This appears to entail him being stripped of his authority and access to heaven. He will continue to have earthly authority for a short time.
Isaiah 14:12-15 tells us that Satan’s ambition was to usurp God’s authority and take His throne. He and his angels that joined his rebellion were thrown down at that time. They apparently later gained a measure of earthly authority, including being ruler of the earth, when Adam fell. They will now be thrown down once again. The term thrown down here appears to apply to heavenly authority, as the earth is warned that its plight is going to get worse because Satan now will only focus on earth, and he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12).
The names devil (meaning “accuser” or “slanderer”) and Satan (meaning “adversary”) underscore the identity of Satan as the prime instigator of rebellion against God. Satan’s given name is “Lucifer,” which ironically means “light-bearer.” As we are told by the Apostle Paul, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The phrase describing the serpent who deceives the whole world further highlights the root of Satan’s power: deception. Jesus said that Satan was a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). We can see from the passages where Satan directly interacts with mankind that his primary application of deception is the matter of how issues are framed.
For example, with Eve, Satan framed life as making choices by using your own knowledge. His framing might be viewed as something like: “God gave you a choice, and wants you to have knowledge: Why wouldn’t you get all the knowledge you can so you can figure out what is best for you on your own?” Of course, following our own way actually led to death, including separation from our created purpose.
Satan posed a framing to Eve where death was life, and life was death. If we accept Satan’s (or anyone’s) framing we will come to his (or their) conclusions. That is why it takes effort to resist Satan, so that he will flee from us (James 4:7). Being transformed by the renewing of our minds equips us to resist Satan’s false framing (Romans 12:1-2).
Linking back to the theme of Revelation- to be a faithful witness that does not fear loss, death, or rejection- many of the tribulations befalling humanity are authorized from the throne room, but they often manifest through Satan’s lies and manipulations. Events like the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) occur because the Antichrist arises under Satan’s influence, employing deception to gain the world’s allegiance.
In spite of all this, believers can find encouragement: the devil is thrown down to the earth, and his defeat is imminent. However, until he is completely subdued, he will continue to cause havoc. While heaven is rejoicing that he is thrown down, the people of earth are warned that this is bad news for them.
We will see in Revelation 12:12 that the people of the earth are warned that Satan being thrown out of heaven is for them a great “woe” because he will have “great wrath, knowing he has only a short time.” The idea seems to be that Satan, having been cast out of heaven, knows the end of his reign is near so he wants to cause as much destruction as possible while he is able.
Believers are being warned that the future will bring troubles. But Jesus will come as the King who rules with “a rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5). Jesus has already conquered but has not yet taken the acting seat of authority over the earth. If we overcome as He overcame, we will gain a great reward and be immensely blessed (Revelation 1:3, 3:21). This is further exhortation for each believer to be a faithful witness who does not fear loss, rejection, or death.
Revelation urges us to remember that our true citizenship is in God’s kingdom, which is a kingdom that will never end. Therefore, we can have hope and continue to persevere in being a faithful witness, believing the promise in Revelation 1:3 that there is a great blessing in store for us through enduring to the end.
God’s throne is in direct contention with Satan’s aspirations. Satan’s final eviction from heaven intensifies his wrath on earth, setting the stage for the fierce persecutions that will soon be described.
Daniel 9 and Revelation together emphasize that this eviction from heaven transpires within a final sequence of events that lead to the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom. In Matthew 24, Jesus forewarns of events that indicate “the end of the age,” and, here in Revelation 12, we witness a cosmic eviction that ties in with those earthly signs.
Satan’s angels were thrown down with him. Satan’s followers are also banned from the heavenly realm. We saw in Revelation 12:4 that the dragon “swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to earth.” This probably means that Satan convinced a third of the angels to join him in his rebellion. They all now partake in his judgment and are also evicted from heaven.
Some of the fallen angels violated the boundaries God established and were confined in the abyss as a punishment (Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4). It could be that some of Satan’s angels who contended against Michael and his angels are the ones released from the abyss in Revelation 9:11. In any case, it will not be long before the entire lot of them join company in the abyss, as we will soon see, in Revelation 20:1-3.
Another takeaway is the demonstration of God’s sovereign authority. The book of Revelation highlights God’s written plan for the end of the age. Everything from the seven seals to the final bowl judgments is already determined by the One seated on the throne.
Even Satan’s attempts to disrupt or devour the woman’s child (Revelation 12:4) become steppingstones to fulfill prophecy. The dragon and his allies may have power in the earthly realm for “forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5), but heaven’s door is slammed shut against them, reflecting their decisive defeat in God’s cosmic timetable.