Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

So great is the dragon’s power that his tail can even sweep away a large number of the stars and cast them down to the ground (for “a third,” see comment on 8:7). This probably represents the dragon’s power, not over some of the angels (sometimes called stars), but over the saints of God (cf. Daniel 8:10, 24). Satan has placed himself before the woman, thus expecting certain victory over the messianic child. Through this figure the church shows her awareness that Satan is always threatening the purposes of God. Although the attack of Herod against the children of Bethlehem and many incidents during the life of Jesus (cf. Lk 4:28-39) must also be included, the greatest attempt to devour the child must certainly be the Crucifixion.