Revelation 12 and 13, rich in imagery and symbolism, require careful study to uncover their meaning. The seven signs of Revelation take center stage in these chapters, each revealing key aspects of the ultimate showdown between good and evil.
These seven signs include the woman, the dragon, the male child, Michael, the remnant, the beast from the sea, and the beast from the earth. We will explore each of these signs in detail, but first, let’s recap where we are:
Previously, in chapters 4 through 11, John revealed the Tribulation from Heaven’s perspective. Now, in chapters 12 and 13, we see the Tribulation from Satan’s vantage point.
In these chapters, the cosmic battle between good and evil reaches its climax. Satan and his demons engage Michael and the holy angels in a final battle in Heaven. Ultimately, God casts them down to earth in defeat. Knowing his time is short, Satan makes the earth his battleground, unleashing an evil the likes of which the world has never seen. His mission is clear- deceive, destroy, and drag as many souls as possible with him to Hell.
Let’s examine these seven signs and their prophetic significance, beginning with the woman.
The First Sign: The Woman of Revelation 12
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth (Revelation 12:1-2).
The woman of Revelation 12 represents Israel. John describes her as clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and wearing a crown of twelve stars on her head.
The Connection to Joseph’s Dream
We see this same imagery in Genesis 37:9-11 where Joseph dreams that the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow down to him. In his dream, the sun and moon symbolize Joseph’s father Jacob and his mother Rachel. The stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
Israel’s Labor Pains: From the Birth of the Messiah to His Return
John continues describing the woman as with child, crying out, and about to give birth. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is often depicted as pregnant (Isaiah 26:17-18), suffering, and always waiting to give birth to the Messiah, her Savior.
During the Tribulation, Israel will finally recognize that the Messiah they rejected is the one they’ve been anticipating—fulfilling the prophecies they misunderstood.
When Israel sees the One they pierced coming on the clouds (Revelation 1:7), they will recognize him as their Messiah and mourn in deep sorrow, fulfilling Zechariah 12:10.
Just as Israel endured suffering before Christ’s first coming, Israel will face unparalleled tribulation before His return—until they cry out for their long-rejected Messiah.
The Second Sign: The Sign of the Red Dragon
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. Revelation 12:3-4.
Revelation 12:3 introduces the second sign in Revelation, the red dragon. Verse 9 identifies the red dragon as the “serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan.” John describes him as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads, a terrifying image that represents Satan’s power and influence over earthly kingdoms.
The Seven Heads and Ten Horns: Symbolism in Prophecy
This imagery parallels Daniel’s vision of the fourth beast in Daniel 7, with 10 horns representing future kings who would rule under the Antichrist. The seven heads represent the seven Gentile empires that Satan used to rule Israel: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the future Antichrist kingdom.
The ten horns align with the final ten kings who will rule under the Antichrist (Daniel 7:24, Revelation 17:12). In the last days, these rulers will ultimately submit their power to the Antichrist.
Satan’s Rebellion and the Fallen Angels
Next, we see the dragon’s tail sweep away a third of the stars of Heaven, casting them to the earth. This represents Satan’s original rebellion when he led a third of Heaven’s angels in defiance against God, and as a result, they were thrown down to Earth as fallen angels. These fallen angels, now demons, serve Satan in his war against God’s people (Ephesians 6:12).
John tells us in the second half of verse 4 that this dragon, this serpent of old, awaits the birth of the woman’s child so he can devour it. This vivid and disturbing imagery ties to Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus after His birth. Satan, unable to prevent the virgin birth of Jesus, used Herod to try to kill him (Matthew 2:16-18) and stop what God had promised long ago, Satan’s defeat at the hand of the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).
The Third Sign: The Sign of the Male Child
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Revelation 12:5-6).
The Male Child: Who is He?
Revelation 12:5-6 reveals the third sign of Revelation, a male child. The woman, Israel, gives birth to a male child who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.
Psalm 2:9 prophecies of a future ruler of the nations who will govern with a rod of iron. Later, we see this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, who will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).
Caught Up to God: What Does This Mean?
Verse 5 describes the woman, Israel’s child, as caught up to God and His throne. The Greek verb ἁρπάζω (harpazō) means “to snatch away”, the same word used for the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This imagery fulfills Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14, where Daniel saw in a vision “one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven” approaching the “Ancient of Days” and being “led into his presence.”
John’s vision of the child ruling with a rod of iron and then the snatching away of the child directly connect to Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man in Daniel 7. In this vision, the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days to receive “dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him” (Daniel 7:13-14). Revelation 12:5 fulfills Daniel’s prophecy and highlights Christ’s divine authority and ultimate reign over all nations.
The Woman’s Flight: Israel’s Protection in the Great Tribulation
Next, we are told that the woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, and she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days, or 3.5 years. There are a couple of things to note here: First, the 3.5 years tie directly to the 70th or final week of Daniel’s prophecy set out in Daniel 9. Daniel says of the Antichrist:
And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” Daniel 9:27
Second, Jesus in Matthew 24:15-21 connects the abomination of desolation spoken about in Daniel’s prophecies to this woman’s flight into the wilderness to a place prepared and protected by God.
Petra: A Possible Refuge for Israel?
Finally, some scholars suggest that the wilderness refuge mentioned in Revelation 12 is the rock city of Petra, which is south of the Dead Sea. Reportedly, Christian businessmen have stocked the place with food and evangelistic tracts written in Hebrew (Enduring Word). While Petra is a strong candidate, the exact location of this final place of refuge remains uncertain.
The Fourth Sign – Michael the Archangel and the War in Heaven
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole [d]world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9
Michael the Archangel Defeats Satan
Revelation 12:7 introduces Michael, the archangel, the fourth sign, who, with his angels, is waging war against the dragon- Satan and his demons. Daniel prophesied this event in Daniel 12:1 when he said of Michael and the time of Tribulation, “Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred…” Revelation 12:8 confirms that Satan and his demons lost the battle in Heaven and are cast out of Heaven.
Satan’s Defeat and the Response in Heaven
Revelation 12:10-12 shows Heaven anticipating the future millennial reign of Christ, and the redeemed rejoicing over Satan’s final expulsion. Here, we learn the three ways that the Tribulation believers overcome Satan: the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and their willingness to lay down their lives rather than compromise.
John F. Walvoord, theologian, educator, and author, explains how the blood, testimony, and dedication work together to defeat Satan: “The accusations of Satan are nullified by the blood of the Lamb, which renders the believer pure and makes possible his spiritual victory. The word of the saints’ testimony opposes the deceiving work of Satan in that the preaching of the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The saints’ dedication to their task in which many of them die as martyrs is recognized by the statement, “They loved not their lives unto the death.” (The Conflict in Heaven and Earth).
This principle applies to Tribulation saints and to us today: we overcome Satan through Christ’s victory through His blood, our testimony, and rejecting the evil influence of the world.
The Fifth Sign – The Woman’s Persecution and the Remnant
And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. Revelation 12:13-14
Satan Turns His Wrath on Israel
Satan was just tossed from Heaven with no ability to accuse the brethren before God. Yes, he is defeated but dangerous, like a wounded, cornered animal. Knowing his time is short, he begins to persecute the woman (Israel) who gave birth to the male child (Jesus). This marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:15-22: “There will be a great tribulation, such as that which has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, or never will.”
God Protects the Woman in the Wilderness
During this unparalleled suffering, God protected Israel. He gave the woman two wings of the great eagle to fly into the wilderness where He keeps her safe from Satan for the second half of the Tribulation. (Revelation 12:13-14).
Satan’s Final Assault on the Remnant
Refusing to give up, in Revelation 12:15-17, Satan pours water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, intending to kill her. However, the earth helps the woman by opening its mouth and drinking the river. Whether or not this as a literal flood or just an image of Satan’s wrath, the result is the same: God protects Israel from Satan, and Satan becomes even more enraged. In fact, at this point, he goes to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (v. 17). These children include both Jews and Gentiles who come to Jesus during the Tribulation and keep the commandments
The Sixth Sign: The Beast from the Sea and the Rise of the Antichrist
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Revelation 13:1-2
The Beast from the Sea: Who is He?
In Revelation 13:1-2, John introduces us to the sixth sign, the beast from the sea. As the dragon is standing on the seashore, a beast comes out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names (v. 1). The beast out of the sea is similar to the dragon (Satan), but he is not Satan. He gets his power, throne, and great authority from Satan (v.3).
Many believe that at this point- the midpoint of the Tribulation- Satan fully empowers or even possesses the Antichrist, much like he did with Judas (John 13:27).
This beast out of the sea is none other than the Antichrist.
The Ten Horns and Seven Heads: What Do They Represent?
Both the dragon (Satan) and the beast (Antichrist) have seven heads and ten horns (representing seven consecutive world empires under Satan’s control and ten kings who will simultaneously rule under the Antichrist). The difference between the dragon and the beast is that the dragon’s crowns are on his seven heads, but the beast’s crowns are on his horns. “This reveals the shift in power from the 7 world empires to the 10 kings under the final antichrist” (MacArthur).
John describes the beast as a leopard, his feet like a bear, and his mouth like a lion. The three characteristics of the beast align with Daniel’s description in Daniel 7:3-7 of the world empires that would reign over Israel. The amalgamation of these characteristics into one beast, the revived Roman Empire, makes this beast dangerous. Daniel describes this final world empire as dreadful, terrifying, and extremely strong. “This final world empire will have the catlike vigilance of a leopard, the slow and crushing power of a bear, and the authority and ferociousness of a lion” (Enduring Word).
The Antichrist’s False Resurrection
John then sees one of the beast’s heads as if it had been slain and was now healed (v. 3). The Antichrist’s apparent resurrection is a deception designed to mimic Christ’s true resurrection, drawing worship from the world. It works – the whole earth and the world follow after the beast, worshiping the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast.
The Persecution of the Saints and God’s Sovereignty
As we read verses 4 through 7, we realize God is still in control. Satan does not act without God’s permission. The beast is given a mouth to speak arrogant words and blasphemies (see also Daniel 7:8, 11) and authority to act for forty-two months, making war against the saints and ruling the entire earth. “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (v. 8). John emphasizes that Tribulation believers must endure suffering with perseverance, trusting that God’s sovereign plan will ultimately prevail.
The Seventh Sign: The Beast from the Earth and the Rise of the False Prophet
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast [j]in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. Revelation 13:11-12
The Beast from the Earth: Who Is He?
Revelation 13:11 introduces us to the seventh sign, the beast from the earth. This beast is the false prophet, the final religious leader of the Tribulation (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10). He is the servant of Satan, like other false prophets ahead of him, disguising himself as a servant of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Two Horns Like a Lamb, Voice of a Dragon: What Does This Symbolize?
This beast is described as having two horns like a lamb and speaking like a dragon. Compared to the Antichrist’s ten horns, his two horns indicate likely indicate a different type of authority–one of religious deception rather than military or political dominance. His lamblike appearance suggests he will be mild, more gentle than the Antichrist. However, this gentleness is a ruse because he will be the mouthpiece of the dragon (Satan).
We are told that he exercises the first beast’s authority (Antichrist) and makes the world worship the first beast (v.12). This Antichrist worship replaces the apostate one-world religious system developed during the first half of the Tribulation.
False Miracles and Global Deception
The beast from the earth (the false prophet) deceives the world into worshiping the first beast through signs that counterfeit Christ’s miracles. Just as Pharaoh’s magicians mimicked Aaron’s miracles in Exodus (Exodus 7:10-12), the false prophet uses demonic power to perform signs and wonders, deceiving the world into worshiping the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
In Deuteronomy 13:1-5, God foretells supernatural works on behalf of false prophets and warns to judge miracle-workers not only by their works but their message. Jesus also warned us that in the end times, false prophets would emerge and show great signs and wonders to mislead (Matthew 24:24).
The Abomination of Desolation and the Image of the Beast
Through these great signs and wonders, the false prophet convinces the world to make an image of the beast, and then through Satan, he makes the image appear to come to life so that it speaks and causes those who do not worship the image to be killed. Jesus, Daniel, and Paul spoke of this as the abomination of desolation.
We know that not all will be killed, as some Gentiles and Jews who refuse the mark will survive and enter the millennial kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46, Zechariah 14:16).
The Mark of the Beast: What Does it Mean?
Next, the beast from the earth causes all men to be given a mark on their right hand or forehead. Satan, once again, is imitating God. In Revelation 7:3-4, God gave his people a mark on their foreheads. Without this mark, people can’t buy or sell. This mark will be either the name of the beast or the number of his name. For more information on the mark of the beast, see https://www.bibleref.com/Revelation/13/Revelation-13-16.html.
666-The Number of the Beast and Its Meaning
Lastly, we are told that the beast’s number is that of a man, whose number is sixty-six. While speculation about the meaning of 666 abounds, one truth remains: six is the number of man, always falling short of God’s perfect number, seven. No matter what Satan schemes, his defeat is inevitable.
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