Revelation 12 7

Revelation 12:7 kjv

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Revelation 12:7 nkjv

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,

Revelation 12:7 niv

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

Revelation 12:7 esv

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

Revelation 12:7 nlt

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.

Revelation 12 verses

Revelation 12 7 Meaning

Revelation 12:7 describes a momentous celestial conflict that erupted in the spiritual heavens. The primary belligerents were Michael, one of God's chief angels, and his loyal angelic forces, pitted against the great dragon, explicitly identified as Satan or the Devil, and his rebellious angels. This war signifies a definitive turning point in the cosmic struggle between divine authority and demonic rebellion, resulting in a decisive outcome.

Revelation 12 7 Context

Revelation chapter 12 introduces a grand celestial panorama featuring a pregnant woman, a red dragon, and a male child. This imagery is highly symbolic, representing God's faithful people (Israel/the Church), Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and Satan respectively. Verse 7, "And there was war in heaven," details a critical event within this vision, which unfolds following the dragon's failed attempt to devour the newborn male child who is then caught up to God's throne. This heavenly war provides the cosmic background for the subsequent earthly persecution detailed in the remainder of the chapter. It describes the decisive moment when the Devil and his angels are cast out of their previous access to the heavenly sphere, setting the stage for their intensified but ultimately futile assault on God's people on Earth.

Revelation 12 7 Word analysis

• And: (Greek: Kai - Καὶ) Connects this momentous event to the preceding narrative of the woman, child, and dragon, signifying a continuation or consequence within the apocalyptic vision.
• there was: (Greek: egeneto - ἐγένετο) An aorist verb, indicating a specific event that took place in time, rather than an ongoing process. It marks the commencement of the decisive conflict.
• war: (Greek: polemos - πόλεμος) Denotes a direct, intense, and hostile confrontation. It is not merely a dispute or struggle but a literal, violent conflict within the spiritual realm.
• in heaven: (Greek: en tō ouranō - ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ) Specifies the location of the conflict. This is not God's ultimate throne room but a higher spiritual realm or atmospheric heaven where Satan previously had some access to accuse believers before God (Job 1:6-12, Zech 3:1-2). This battle expels him from even that sphere.
• Michael: (Greek: ho Michael - ὁ Μιχαὴλ) A proper name from Hebrew (Mikha'el), meaning "Who is like God?" He is an archangel (Jude 1:9) and is depicted in Daniel (10:13, 21; 12:1) as Israel's chief angelic protector, signifying God's ultimate champion against evil. His very name is a rhetorical challenge and repudiation of Satan's prideful desire to be "like the Most High."
• and his angels: (Greek: kai hoi angeloi autou - καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ) Indicates that Michael leads a host of heavenly, loyal angels, forming a unified divine army. This highlights the hierarchical nature of spiritual forces on both sides.
• fought against: (Greek: polemēsai meta - πολεμῆσαι μετὰ) Explicitly states the combative action Michael and his angels took. The term signifies a determined engagement in battle.
• the dragon: (Greek: tou drakontos - τοῦ δράκοντος) The direct adversary. Revelation 12:9 explicitly identifies this figure as "that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world." It embodies primeval evil, rebellion, and destructive power.
• and the dragon and his angels: (Greek: kai ho drakōn kai hoi angeloi autou - καὶ ὁ δράκων καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ) Highlights the reciprocity of the conflict. The dragon is not passive but leads his own demonic forces in opposition to Michael.
• fought back: (Greek: epolemēsan - ἐπολέμησαν) A direct response, indicating their active participation in the conflict, not just a defensive stance. It reiterates the full engagement of both sides.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And there was war in heaven": This phrase immediately establishes the setting and nature of the ensuing cosmic struggle, a dramatic shift in the visionary narrative to a definitive conflict above the earthly sphere.
• "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon": Clearly identifies the two primary warring parties: God's loyal angelic forces led by Michael against the ancient adversary, the Dragon (Satan). It signals that this is not merely a theological debate but a forceful, decisive spiritual confrontation.
• "and the dragon and his angels fought back": Underscores the intensity and opposition of the battle, portraying the resistance of the forces of evil. However, it also sets up the narrative for the subsequent and immediate outcome, which is the defeat and expulsion of the dragon.

Revelation 12 7 Bonus section

The definite article "the" preceding "heaven" in the Greek (τῷ οὐρανῷ) indicates a specific heavenly sphere where this battle occurs, not necessarily the ultimate abode of God's unapproachable light but a spiritual dimension accessible to these warring entities. This cosmic expulsion marks a shift in the dragon's sphere of operation, intensifying his focus on persecuting believers on Earth, as described in Rev 12:13, recognizing that "he has but a short time." This highlights a direct consequence for human history stemming from this decisive heavenly encounter. The symbolic richness of Michael's name, "Who is like God?", inherently challenges Satan's prideful attempt to usurp divine authority (Isa 14:14), establishing Michael as the fitting agent of God's will to cast down the usurper.

Revelation 12 7 Commentary

Revelation 12:7 portrays a pivotal spiritual event: a conclusive war in the heavens between Michael and his angelic forces against Satan and his fallen angels. This battle is not merely a skirmish but a decisive confrontation, culminating in the complete expulsion of the dragon and his host from their celestial vantage point, as revealed in subsequent verses. While commentators debate the precise timing—whether it's the primordial fall of Satan, a recap of Christ's victory on the cross (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14) definitively breaking Satan's accusatory power, or a future event prior to tribulation—the theological consensus links it directly to the victory secured by Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Satan, as the "accuser of our brothers" (Rev 12:10), loses his right to present himself before God, signaling a major diminishment of his influence. The brief description of the war itself, without elaborate detail of blows or strategies, underscores its inevitable outcome: God's power, exercised through Michael, ensures triumph over cosmic evil. This victory in heaven foreshadows the ultimate triumph over evil on Earth and the final judgment awaiting the Devil.