Revelation 12 9

Revelation 12:9 kjv

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:9 nkjv

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:9 niv

The great dragon was hurled down?that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 12:9 esv

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world ? he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Revelation 12:9 nlt

This great dragon ? the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world ? was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Revelation 12 verses

Revelation 12 9 Meaning

Revelation 12:9 details the definitive expulsion of the great spiritual adversary from his position of accusing the saints before God. He is identified as the primeval tempter, the devil, and Satan, characterized by his deceitful nature that affects the entire world. This expulsion signifies a decisive victory in the cosmic war, relocating the devil and his demonic forces to the earthly realm, where their malicious activity is now confined, leading to intensified conflict on earth for a finite period.

Revelation 12 9 Context

Revelation 12 presents a pivotal cosmic drama, beginning with the heavenly sign of a woman (Israel, representing God's people) giving birth to a male child (Christ), pursued by a great red dragon (Satan). The male child is caught up to God's throne, signifying Christ's ascension and reign. The woman then flees into the wilderness, protected by God during a period of intense persecution. Verses 7 and 8 describe a literal or symbolic "war in heaven" where Michael and his angels battle the dragon and his angels, resulting in the dragon's defeat and expulsion from heaven. Revelation 12:9 is the direct culmination and declaration of this cosmic banishment, stating who was thrown down and revealing his multifaceted identity and character. This event precedes and directly precipitates the dragon's intensified wrath and persecution against God's people on earth, as detailed in the subsequent verses. Historically, the text likely served to affirm to early Christians, facing Roman persecution and imperial cult worship, that their ultimate adversary, despite appearances, had already suffered a decisive defeat.

Revelation 12 9 Word analysis

• And the great dragon (Greek: kai eblēthē ho drakōn ho megas)

  • And: Connects this verse to the preceding action, the "war in heaven" in Rev 12:7-8, where Michael defeats the dragon. It marks the result of that conflict.
  • the great: Denotes the immense power, influence, and significance of this being. It underscores his formidable nature, yet he is overcome.
  • dragon: (drakōn) Symbolizes raw, destructive power and a fearsome, beastly nature. In ancient Near Eastern mythology, dragons were often primeval forces of chaos. Here, it is personified and given a clear identity, indicating a created (not eternal) evil force under God's ultimate dominion, unlike chaotic, uncreated beings in other myths. This term also appeared in Rev 12:3 as the red dragon.

• was thrown down, (Greek: ekblēthē)

  • was thrown down: (ekblēthē, from ekballō) Implies a forceful, decisive, and irreversible expulsion or casting out. It's a completed action, not a gradual decline. This is not merely a fall from grace, but a juridical eviction from heaven's presence as the "accuser."

• that ancient serpent, (Greek: ho ophis ho archaios)

  • that ancient: (ho archaios) Points to his eternal enmity against God and humanity, signifying his long-standing history from the very beginning.
  • serpent: (ophis) A direct and unmistakable allusion to Gen 3:1-15, identifying the dragon with the deceiver in the Garden of Eden. This links the ultimate cosmic adversary with the source of humanity's fall. It emphasizes his cunning and deceitful nature rather than sheer power.

• who is called the Devil and Satan, (Greek: ho kaloumenos diabolos kai Satanas)

  • who is called: Emphasizes that these are his well-known names, universally recognized by their implications.
  • the Devil: (diabolos) Greek term meaning "slanderer," "accuser," "adversary." This title highlights his primary activity in heaven—accusing God's people (Rev 12:10) and seeking to undermine faith.
  • Satan: (Satanas, transliteration of Hebrew śāṭān) Meaning "adversary," "opponent." This Hebrew term emphasizes his role as the arch-enemy of God and His kingdom, actively opposing divine will and human well-being. Both titles reveal his malicious intent and methods.

• the deceiver of the whole world— (Greek: ho planōn tēn oikoumenēn holēn)

  • the deceiver: (ho planōn, from planē) Literally "the wanderer" or "one who leads astray," implying active delusion and misleading. He aims to cause humanity to stray from truth, godliness, and worship of God.
  • of the whole world: (tēn oikoumenēn holēn) Indicates the universal scope and breadth of his deceptive influence. No part of humanity or earth is immune to his attempts to mislead, demonstrating his pervasive power until Christ's ultimate victory. This distinguishes him as a singular, globally influential evil.

• he was thrown down to the earth, (Greek: eblēthē eis tēn gēn)

  • he was thrown down: Repetition of eblēthē emphasizes the finality and totality of his expulsion from heaven, confirming its decisive nature.
  • to the earth: (eis tēn gēn) Defines his new sphere of operation. No longer can he stand in God's presence as accuser. This prepares for the intense tribulation and persecution against believers on earth (Rev 12:13, 17) in the "short time" before his final doom.

• and his angels were thrown down with him. (Greek: kai hoi angeloi autou met’ autou eblēthēsan)

  • and his angels: Reveals that he is not a solitary being but commands a host of fallen, demonic beings who share his fate and assist in his agenda of opposition and deception. This shows a hierarchical organization of evil.
  • were thrown down with him: They share in his decisive expulsion and his present location of activity on earth. Their common judgment highlights the unity of this evil host with their leader.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent...": This opening powerfully establishes the identity of the defeated entity, combining imagery of primal, monstrous power ("great dragon") with cunning historical deception ("ancient serpent"), drawing an explicit link to Genesis 3 and setting the stage for his multifaceted evil nature.
• "...who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—": This clarifies the precise names and central activity of this adversary. "Devil" and "Satan" convey his roles as slanderer and adversary, while "deceiver of the whole world" underscores his global reach and modus operandi, revealing the true nature of evil behind all false teachings and corrupt systems.
• "...he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.": The repetition of "thrown down" underscores the definitive and forceful nature of this divine judgment. His expulsion to "the earth" signifies a new phase in cosmic conflict, concentrating his evil operations there, and confirms that his demonic forces share his defeat and earthly confinement.

Revelation 12 9 Bonus section

This expulsion described in Revelation 12:9 is understood by many scholars as a post-crucifixion event, resulting from Christ's completed work on the cross and resurrection, which definitively "triumphed over them [principalities and powers] by exposing them in triumph by it" (Col 2:15). Prior to this, Satan had access to heaven as an accuser, as seen in Job 1-2 and Zechariah 3. Christ's victory stripped him of this access and authority in the heavenly realm, though he retains a limited sphere of influence on earth until his final judgment. This shift in Satan's operational base from the heavenlies (as accuser) to earth (as tempter and persecutor) is key to understanding the increased tribulation mentioned later in Revelation. It clarifies that Satan's power is always subordinate to God's ultimate plan, serving ultimately to fulfill divine purpose even in his evil. The verse also underscores that Satan is a defeated, finite, created being, not an eternal equal to God, standing in direct contradiction to any dualistic worldview where evil is co-eternal with good.

Revelation 12 9 Commentary

Revelation 12:9 serves as the climax of the cosmic battle between good and evil, specifically the defeat and expulsion of Satan from his position in the heavens. This expulsion is a pivotal moment, marking a shift in the theatre of conflict from a heavenly one where he acted as an accuser, to an earthly one where his malevolence is concentrated.

The verse definitively identifies the spiritual adversary by multiple names and descriptions:

1. "The great dragon": Emphasizes his formidable, destructive power, often symbolizing pagan idolatry and oppressive empires.
2. "That ancient serpent": Links him directly to the tempter in the Garden of Eden, revealing his long history of subtle deception against humanity.
3. "Who is called the Devil and Satan": These are not merely titles but describe his very character and function: "Devil" (Gk. diabolos) as the slanderer and accuser of believers before God, and "Satan" (Heb. śāṭān) as the adversary of God and His people.
4. "The deceiver of the whole world": Highlights his primary tactic and global reach, leading humanity astray from truth and God.

His being "thrown down" signifies a decisive, divinely ordained expulsion. This event is a consequence of Christ's triumph on the cross and subsequent ascension, which broke Satan's power of accusation (Rev 12:10). The expulsion of "his angels" demonstrates the collective nature of spiritual evil. Though confined to earth, his wrath intensifies because he knows his time is short (Rev 12:12). For believers, this verse offers profound reassurance of Satan's ultimate defeat by Christ, while also underscoring the reality of spiritual warfare on earth, now intensified by his proximity and finite remaining time.