Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 12:4

"And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child." — Revelation 12:4 (ASV)

And his tail . . .—Translate, And his tail drags (or, sweeps) away the third part of the stars of the heaven, and casts them to the earth. The stars are the light-bearers, the illustrious of the earth, whom God placed in high positions so that they might be burning and shining lights for Him.

A large proportion of these are drawn away in the current of evil. They are cast down from their high position of noble opportunities for good work and great work; they are dragged down from the height of the grandest possibilities for good to the low level of a life enslaved to evil.

And the dragon.—Translate, And the dragon stands (not “stood”) before the woman who is about to bring forth, so that when she has brought forth, he may devour her child. The spirit of evil is represented as always on the watch to destroy the first signs of better things.

Our minds go back to the hatred and fear of Pharaoh, setting a watch for the offspring of Israel and ordering their destruction. We are reminded even more of the jealous hatred of Herod seeking the life of the infant Christ.

It seems clear that the present vision is primarily built upon this last incident, but its meaning is much wider than this.

It shows us that continually, just as Herod waited to destroy Christ, the devil, the old spirit whose malignity worked through the fears of Pharaoh and Herod, is on the watch to destroy every sign of good and every resemblance to Christ in the world.

The mission of the Church is to bring forth this life of Christ in her members before others: the aim of the wicked spirit is to destroy that life. The same hostility which was shown to the infant Christ is active against His children: If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.