Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 12:5

"And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne." — Revelation 12:5 (ASV)

This verse records the first element of the story. The messianic child comes, finishes his mission, is delivered from the dragon, and is enthroned in heaven. John again refers to the destiny of the child by alluding again to Ps 2:9: “Who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter” (Revelation 2:27; Revelation 19:15). Some exegetes, using passages such as Da 7:13–4, 27 (which seems to fuse the individual son of man with the people of God) and Rev 1:5-6; 2:26–27; 11:15 (which alternates between the rule of Christ and the rule of the saints), see a collective identity in the birth of the male child. It is, however, difficult to see how the child as well as the woman could be a group of believers. Through Christ’s resurrection and ascension, the dragon’s attempt to destroy God’s purposes through the Messiah have been decisively defeated.