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Offenbarung 12
Hoffnung für Alle

Die Frau und die beiden Tiere (Kapitel 12–14)

Die Frau und der Drache

12 Am Himmel sah man jetzt eine gewaltige Erscheinung: eine Frau, die mit der Sonne bekleidet war und den Mond unter ihren Füßen hatte. Auf dem Kopf trug sie eine Krone aus zwölf Sternen. 2 Sie war hochschwanger und schrie unter den Geburtswehen vor Schmerz. 3 Dann gab es noch eine Erscheinung am Himmel: Plötzlich sah ich einen riesigen, feuerroten Drachen mit sieben Köpfen und zehn Hörnern. Auf jedem seiner Köpfe trug er eine Krone. 4 Mit seinem Schwanz fegte er ein Drittel aller Sterne vom Himmel und schleuderte sie auf die Erde. Der Drache stellte sich vor die Frau; denn er wollte ihr Kind verschlingen, sobald es geboren war. 5 Die Frau brachte einen Sohn zur Welt, der einmal mit eisernem Zepter über die Völker der Erde herrschen sollte. Das Kind wurde zu Gott entrückt und vor seinen Thron gebracht. 6 Die Frau aber floh in die Wüste, wo Gott selbst einen Zufluchtsort für sie vorbereitet hatte. 1260 Tage sollte sie dort versorgt werden.

7 Dann brach im Himmel ein Krieg aus: Michael und seine Engel griffen den Drachen an. Der Drache schlug mit seinem Heer von Engeln zurück; 8 doch sie verloren den Kampf und durften nicht länger im Himmel bleiben. 9 Der große Drache ist niemand anders als der Teufel oder Satan, die listige Schlange, die schon immer die ganze Welt verführt hat. Er wurde mit allen seinen Engeln aus dem Himmel auf die Erde hinuntergestürzt.

10 Jetzt hörte ich eine gewaltige Stimme im Himmel rufen:

»Nun hat Gott den Sieg errungen,
er hat seine Stärke gezeigt
und seine Herrschaft aufgerichtet!
Alle Macht liegt in den Händen dessen,
den er als König auserwählt und eingesetzt hat:
Jesus Christus[a]! Denn der Ankläger ist gestürzt,
der unsere Brüder und Schwestern
Tag und Nacht vor Gott beschuldigte.
11 Sie haben ihn besiegt durch das Blut des Lammes
und weil sie sich zu dem Lamm bekannt haben.
Für dieses Bekenntnis haben sie ihr Leben
eingesetzt und den Tod nicht gefürchtet.
12 Darum freu dich nun, Himmel,
freut euch alle, die ihr darin wohnt!
Aber wehe euch, Erde und Meer!
Der Teufel ist zu euch herabgekommen.
Er schnaubt vor Wut, denn er weiß,
dass ihm nicht mehr viel Zeit bleibt.«

13 Als der Drache merkte, dass er auf die Erde hinabgeworfen worden war, verfolgte er die Frau, die den Sohn geboren hatte. 14 Doch Gott gab der Frau die starken Flügel eines Adlers. So konnte sie an ihren Zufluchtsort in der Wüste fliehen. Dreieinhalb Jahre[b] wurde sie hier versorgt und war vor den Angriffen des Drachen, der bösen Schlange, sicher. 15 Doch die Schlange gab nicht auf. Sie ließ eine gewaltige Wasserflut aus ihrem Rachen schießen, mit der die Frau fortgerissen werden sollte. 16 Aber die Erde half der Frau. Sie öffnete sich und verschlang die Wassermassen, die der Drache ausspuckte. 17 Darüber wurde der Drache so wütend, dass er jetzt alle anderen Nachkommen dieser Frau bekämpfte. Das sind die Menschen, die nach Gottes Geboten leben und sich zu Jesus bekennen. 18 Und der Drache begab sich an den Strand des Meeres.

Footnotes

  1. 12,10 Wörtlich: (in den Händen) seines Christus. – »Christus« ist die griechische Übersetzung des hebräischen »Messias« (= der gesalbte König). Vgl. »salben/Salbung« in den Sacherklärungen.
  2. 12,14 Wörtlich: Eine Zeit und (zwei) Zeiten und eine halbe Zeit. – Vgl. Daniel 7,25; 12,7.
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Revelation 12
New English Translation

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

12 Then[a] a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.[b] 2 She[c] was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling[d] to give birth. 3 Then[e] another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns.[f] 4 Now[g] the dragon’s[h] tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then[i] the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 So[j] the woman gave birth to a son, a male child,[k] who is going to rule[l] over all the nations[m] with an iron rod.[n] Her[o] child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and she[p] fled into the wilderness[q] where a place had been prepared for her[r] by God, so she could be taken care of[s] for 1,260 days.

War in Heaven

7 Then[t] war broke out in heaven: Michael[u] and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But[v] the dragon was not strong enough to prevail,[w] so there was no longer any place left[x] in heaven for him and his angels.[y] 9 So[z] that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. 10 Then[aa] I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

“The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the ruling authority[ab] of his Christ,[ac] have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,[ad]
the one who accuses them day and night[ae] before our God,
has been thrown down.
11 But[af] they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives[ag] so much that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them!
But[ah] woe to the earth and the sea
because the devil has come down to you!
He[ai] is filled with terrible anger,
for he knows that he only has a little time!”

13 Now[aj] when the dragon realized[ak] that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But[al] the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness,[am] to the place God[an] prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time.[ao] 15 Then[ap] the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to[aq] sweep her away by a flood, 16 but[ar] the earth came to her rescue;[as] the ground opened up[at] and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 17 So[au] the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children,[av] those who keep[aw] God’s commandments and hold to[ax] the testimony about Jesus.[ay] 18 And the dragon[az] stood[ba] on the sand[bb] of the seashore.[bc]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 12:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  2. Revelation 12:1 sn Sun…moon…stars. This imagery is frequently identified with the nation Israel because of Joseph’s dream in Gen 37.
  3. Revelation 12:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  4. Revelation 12:2 tn Grk “and being tortured,” though βασανίζω (basanizō) in this context refers to birth pangs. BDAG 168 s.v. 2.b states, “Of birth-pangs (Anth. Pal. 9, 311 βάσανος has this mng.) Rv 12:2.” The καί (kai) has not been translated.
  5. Revelation 12:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  6. Revelation 12:3 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadēma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.sn Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.
  7. Revelation 12:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate that this remark is virtually parenthetical.
  8. Revelation 12:4 tn Grk “its”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  9. Revelation 12:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  10. Revelation 12:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.
  11. Revelation 12:5 tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἄρσην states: “male…The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”
  12. Revelation 12:5 tn Grk “shepherd.”
  13. Revelation 12:5 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
  14. Revelation 12:5 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rhabdos) can mean either “rod” or “scepter.” sn An allusion to Ps 2:9 (see also Rev 2:27; 19:15).
  15. Revelation 12:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  16. Revelation 12:6 tn Grk “and the woman,” which would be somewhat redundant in English.
  17. Revelation 12:6 tn Or “desert.”
  18. Revelation 12:6 tn Grk “where she has there a place prepared by God.”
  19. Revelation 12:6 tn Grk “so they can take care of her.”
  20. Revelation 12:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  21. Revelation 12:7 sn The archangel Michael had a special role in protecting the nation of Israel in the OT (Dan 10:13, 21; 12:1; see also Jude 9).
  22. Revelation 12:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast.
  23. Revelation 12:8 tn The words “to prevail” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
  24. Revelation 12:8 tn Grk “found.”
  25. Revelation 12:8 tn Grk “for them”; the referent (the dragon and his angels, v. 7) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  26. Revelation 12:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the war in heaven.
  27. Revelation 12:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  28. Revelation 12:10 tn Or “the right of his Messiah to rule.” See L&N 37.35.
  29. Revelation 12:10 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
  30. Revelation 12:10 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelphoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The translation “fellow believer” would normally apply (L&N 11.23), but since the speaker(s) are not specified in this context, it is not clear if such a translation would be appropriate here. The more generic “brothers and sisters” was chosen to emphasize the fact of a relationship without specifying its type.
  31. Revelation 12:10 tn Or “who accuses them continually.”
  32. Revelation 12:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.
  33. Revelation 12:11 sn They did not love their lives. See Matt 16:25; Luke 17:33; John 12:25.
  34. Revelation 12:12 tn The word “But” is not in the Greek text, but the contrast is clearly implied. This is a case of asyndeton (lack of a connective).
  35. Revelation 12:12 tn Grk “and is filled,” a continuation of the previous sentence. Because English tends to use shorter sentences (especially when exclamations are involved), a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  36. Revelation 12:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” because the clause it introduces is clearly resumptive.
  37. Revelation 12:13 tn Grk “saw.”
  38. Revelation 12:14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
  39. Revelation 12:14 tn Or “desert.”
  40. Revelation 12:14 tn The word “God” is supplied based on the previous statements made concerning “the place prepared for the woman” in 12:6.
  41. Revelation 12:14 tc The reading “and half a time” (καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ, kai hēmisu kairou) is lacking in the significant majuscule C. Its inclusion, however, is supported by P47 א A and the rest of the ms tradition. There is apparently no reason for the scribe of C to intentionally omit the phrase, and the fact that the word “time” (καιρὸν καὶ καιρούς, kairon kai kairous) appears twice before may indicate a scribal oversight.sn The parallel statement in Rev 12:6 suggests that the phrase a time, times, and half a time equals 1,260 days (three and a half years of 360 days each).
  42. Revelation 12:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  43. Revelation 12:15 tn Grk “so that he might make her swept away.”
  44. Revelation 12:16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
  45. Revelation 12:16 tn Grk “the earth helped the woman.”
  46. Revelation 12:16 tn Grk “the earth opened its mouth” (a metaphor for the ground splitting open).
  47. Revelation 12:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the woman’s escape.
  48. Revelation 12:17 tn Grk “her seed” (an idiom for offspring, children, or descendants).
  49. Revelation 12:17 tn Or “who obey.”
  50. Revelation 12:17 tn Grk “and having.”
  51. Revelation 12:17 tn Grk “the testimony of Jesus,” which may involve a subjective genitive (“Jesus’ testimony”) or, more likely, an objective genitive (“testimony about Jesus”).
  52. Revelation 12:18 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  53. Revelation 12:18 tc Grk ἐστάθη (estathē, “he stood”). The reading followed by the translation is attested by the better mss (P47 א A C 1854 2344 2351 lat syh) while the majority of mss (051 M vgmss syph co) have the reading ἐστάθην (estathēn, “I stood”). Thus, the majority of mss make the narrator, rather than the dragon of 12:17, the subject of the verb. The first person reading is most likely an assimilation to the following verb in 13:1, “I saw.” The reading “I stood” was introduced either by accident or to produce a smoother flow, giving the narrator a vantage point on the sea’s edge from which to observe the beast rising out of the sea in 13:1. But almost everywhere else in the book, the phrase καὶ εἶδον (kai eidon, “and I saw”) marks a transition to a new vision, without reference to the narrator’s activity. On both external and internal grounds, it is best to adopt the third person reading, “he stood.”
  54. Revelation 12:18 tn Or “sandy beach” (L&N 1.64).
  55. Revelation 12:18 sn The standard critical texts of the Greek NT, NA28 and UBS5, both include this sentence as 12:18, as do the RSV and NRSV. Other modern translations like the NASB and NIV include the sentence at the beginning of 13:1; in these versions chap. 12 has only 17 verses.
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