Charles Spurgeon Commentary Revelation 12

This is that woman of whom the promise runs, The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head.

John saw this in a vision in the heavenly places. He saw the Church of God, enthroned and made glorious. She was clothed with the sun, having the brightness of divine light about her. With her was all that is variable and changeable, comparable to the moon under her feet. And upon her head was the crown that her Lord had given her—twelve patriarchs, twelve prophets, twelve apostles, a complete number of glorious lights kindled from heaven.

That child who is born of her, that seed of the woman, who shall bruise the serpent's head is: first, Christ, and then all the firstborn, of whom He is the great representative.

The spirit of evil in the heavenly realms, fighting against the power of light, goodness, and grace, is a mysterious being with great power, high intelligence, seven heads, and ten horns. He wields mighty influence over multitudes of people, so that there were seven crowns upon his seven heads. Scripture says, And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.

The crocodile, which I suppose was the earthly figure from which John's dream sprang, has great force in its tail; and Satan doubtless long ago drew from heaven a number of its stars—other angels fell with him. And there are times in the heavens of the church when ministers fall; they seem to fall in groups.

Those who should be lights for God fall into darkness and become teachers of heresy. As Scripture says, He did cast them down to the earth. They lost their brightness; they betrayed their earthly origin.

Furthermore, the Scripture states, And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Remember how he sought to slay Jesus; and the same is true for all the man-children born to God, who will be of service in the kingdom of God.

The main attack of the dragon was against the child; indeed, the main attack of the power of evil is against Christ and everything Christly. If he could destroy the gospel, he would not care about the church at all: the woman might go if the man-child could be destroyed.

That is the brief history of the birth of Christ, and of his going from us. He was caught up unto GOD, and to his throne. God will take care of the great principle of truth. If it cannot have a refuge on earth, he will find it a refuge in heaven.

The church of God was long in obscurity. You can hardly find it among the Albigenses and Waldenses. It was hidden away among the mountains. The Wycliffites, and the Lollards, and others, held fast the truth; but history scarcely records their names.

The woman was in the wilderness, hidden away for many days. And there was war in heaven. You are not to think of heaven as a place, but among the heavenlies.

John, in a vision, saw the great contending powers of evil. He was like the prophet when he saw a mountain full of horses of fire and chariots of fire.