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.
9. cast out ] “Out” is not expressed the sense is rather “cast down.”
that old serpent ] Gen 3:1. This is the only place in canonical Scripture (see, however, Wis 2:24 ) where we are told that the Tempter in Eden was the Devil: but it cannot be doubted that we are so told here.
the Devil and Satan ] The Greek word from which the former name is derived is regularly used in the LXX. as the representative of the latter: though the two are not quite synonymous, the Hebrew name meaning “the Adversary,” and the Greek “the Slanderer” (e.g. the same word is used in a general sense in 1Ti 3:11). “Satan” has the article here, as always in the O. T., except in the Book of Job; it is still rather a designation than a proper name. In Enoch xl. 7 we have it used in the plural in a passage very like this: “The fourth voice I heard expelling the Satans, and prohibiting them from coming into the presence of the Lord of spirits, to prefer accusations against the inhabitants of the earth.” The voice is afterwards explained to be that of Phanuel, the angel of penitence and hope.
he was cast out into the earth ] St Luk 10:18, St Joh 12:31 throw light on what must be meant a breaking of the power of the Devil by that of the Incarnate Lord: but we cannot be quite sure that our Lord speaks of the same fall of Satan in both passages, or in either of the same that St John describes.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the great dragon was cast out – See the notes on Rev 12:3. That there may be an allusion in the language here to what actually occurred in some far distant period of the past, when Satan was ejected from heaven, there can be no reason to doubt. Our Saviour seems to refer to such an event in the language which he uses when he says Luk 10:18, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven; and Jude, perhaps Rev 12:6, may refer to the same event. All that we know on the subject leads us to suppose that at some time there was a revolt among the angels, and that the rebellious part were cast out of heaven, for an allusion to this is not infrequent in the Scriptures. Still the event here referred to is a symbolical representation of what could occur at a later period, when the church would be about to spread and he triumphant, and when Satan would wage a deadly war against it. That opposition would be as if he made war on Michael the archangel, and the heavenly hosts, and his failure would be as great as if he were vanquished and cast out of heaven.
That old serpent – This doubtless refers to the serpent that deceived Eve (Gen 3:1-11; Rev 20:2; compare the notes on 2Co 11:3); and this passage may be adduced as a proof that the real tempter of Eve was the devil, who assumed the form of a serpent. The word old here refers to the fact that his appearance on earth was at an early stage of the worlds history, and that he had long been employed in the work which is here attributed to him – that of opposing the church.
Called the devil – To whom the name devil is given. That is, this is the same being that is elsewhere and commonly known by that name. See the notes on Mat 4:1.
And Satan – Another name given to the same being – a name, like the other, designed to refer to something in his character. See it explained in the notes on Job 1:6.
Which deceiveth the whole world – Whose character is that of a deceiver; whose agency extends over all the earth. See the Joh 8:44 note, and 1Jo 5:19 note.
He was cast out into the earth – That is, he was not suffered to pursue his designs in heaven, but was cast down to the earth, where he is permitted for a time to carry on his warfare against the church. According to the interpretation proposed above, this refers to the period when there were indications that God was about to set up his kingdom on the earth. The language, however, is such as would be used on the supposition that there had been, at some period, a rebellion in heaven, and that Satan and his followers had been cast out to return there no more. It is difficult to explain this language except on that supposition; and such a supposition is, in itself, no more improbable than the apostasy and rebellion of man.
And his angels were cast out with him – They shared the lot of their leader. As applicable to the state of things to which this refers, the meaning is, that all were overthrown; that no enemy of the church would remain unsubdued; that the victory would be final and complete. As applicable to the event from which the language is supposed to have been derived – the revolt in heaven – the meaning is, that the followers in the revolt shared the lot of the leader, and that all who rebelled were ejected from heaven. The first and the only revolt in heaven was quelled; and the result furnished to the universe an impressive proof that none who rebelled there would be forgiven – that apostasy so near the throne could not be pardoned.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Rev 12:9
The great dragon.
., that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.
The foes of God and of His Church
I. Our For Is A Personal One (Rev 12:9).
II. He Is An Old One. The devil sinneth from the beginning (1Jn 3:8; Joh 8:44).
III. He Is A Daring One.
IV. His Attempts Are Often Failures. The dragon warred and his angels, and they prevailed not (Rev 12:8).
V. He Is An Angry Foe. He hath great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time (Rev 12:12).
VI. He Is A Malicious One (Rev 12:13).
VII. He Is A Watchful And Crafty One (Rev 12:4; Rev 12:13; Rev 12:15), varying his methods according to the case in hand.
VIII. He Is A Circumscribed Foe. This chapter tells us of three limits put to him and to his power.
1. One, of space. He is cast down to earth. He is the God of this world (2Co 4:4).
2. A second, of time. A time, and times, and half a time.
3. There is yet a third limit, that of force. The earth helped the woman, etc. (Rev 12:16). We are taught in Scripture that there are five ways by which his power is restricted and his intention foiled.
(1) There is providential dispensation (Rev 12:6; Rev 12:14; Rev 12:16; 1Co 10:13).
(2) There is angelic ministry (Rev 12:7).
(3) There is the direct exertion of Christs commanding word (Mat 17:18).
(4) There is the counteracting power of Divine grace (2Co 12:9).
(5) There is the intercession of our Redeemer (Luk 22:31-32).
IX. He is a foe with whose devices we have to reckon in fighting the battle of life (Rev 12:17). Note–
1. He is one at whom we cannot afford to laugh, and whose existence we cannot afford to deny.
2. He is a foe before whom we need not quail.
3. He is a foe to whom not an inch of room should be given (Eph 4:27).
4. He is a foe for whose onsets we should prepare by a survey and appropriation of heavenly forces.
5. He is a foe on whose ultimate defeat and complete discomfiture we may surely and confidently reckon if we look to Jesus. (C. Clemance, D. D.)
Satan the great dragon
In calling him the dragon, the Holy Spirit seems to hint at his mysterious power and character. To us a spirit such as he is must ever be a mystery in his being and working. Satan is a mysterious personage though he is not a mythical one. We can never doubt his existence if we have once come into conflict with him; yet he is to us all the more real because so mysterious. If he were flesh and blood it would be far easier to contend with him; but to fight with this spiritual wickedness in high places is a terrible task. As a dragon he is full of cunning and ferocity. In him force is allied with craft; and if he cannot achieve his purpose at once by power, he waits his time. He deludes, he deceives; in fact, he is said to deceive the whole world. What a power of deception must reside in him, when under his influence the third part of the stars of heaven are made to fall, and myriads of men in all ages have worshipped demons and idols! He has steeped the minds of men in delusion, so that they cannot see that they should worship none but God, their Maker. He is styled the old serpent; and this reminds us how practised he is in every evil art. He was a liar from the beginning, and the father of lies. After thousands of years of constant practice in deception he is much too cunning for us. If we think that we can match him by craft we are grievous fools, for he knows vastly more than the wisest of mortals; and if it once comes to a game of policies, he will certainly clear the board, and sweep our tricks into the bag. To this cunning he adds great speed, so that he is quick to assail at any moment, darting down upon us like a hawk upon a poor chick. He is not everywhere present; but it is hard to say where he is not. He cannot be omnipresent; but yet, by that majestic craft of his, he so manages his armies of fallen ones that, like a great general, he superintends the whole field of battle, and seems present at every point. No door can shut him out, no height of piety can rise beyond his reach. He meets us in all our weaknesses, and assails us from every point of the compass. He comes upon us unawares, and gives us wounds which are not easily healed. But yet, powerful as this infernal spirit certainly must be, his power is defeated when we are resolved never to be at peace with him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. That old serpent] The rabbins speak much of this being, sometimes under the notion of yetser hara, the evil principle, and sometimes Samael.
He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.] This is very like a saying in the book Bahir, in Sohar Gen., fol. 27, col. 107: “And God cast out Samael and his troops from the place of their holiness.”
NOTES ON CHAP. XII., BY J. E. C.
Ver. 9. And the great dragon was cast out, c.] By the terms Devil and Satan mentioned in this verse, Pareus, Faber, and many other commentators, understand literally the great spiritual enemy of mankind. But this view of the passage cannot be correct, from the circumstance that it is the dragon which is thus called. Now, if by the dragon be meant the devil, then use are necessarily led to this conclusion, that the great apostate spirit is a monster, having seven heads and ten horns and also that he has a tail, with which he drags after him the third part of the stars of heaven. The appellations, old serpent, devil, and Satan, must, therefore, be understood figuratively. The heathen power is called that old serpent which deceived the whole world, from its subtlety against the Christians, and its causing the whole Roman world, as far as it was in its power, to embrace the absurdities of paganism. It is called the devil, from its continual false accusations and slanders against the true worshippers of God, for the devil is a liar from the beginning; and it is also called Satan, , which is a Hebrew word signifying an adversary, from its frequent persecutions of the Christian Church. The dragon and his angels are said to be cast out, which is more than was said in the preceding verse. There mention is made of his being found no longer in heaven, or on the throne of the Roman empire, here he is entirely cast out from all offices of trust in the empire; his religion is first only tolerated, and then totally abolished, by the imperial power. This great event was not the work of a reign; it took up many years, for it had to contend with the deep-rooted prejudices of the heathen, who to the very last endeavoured to uphold their declining superstition. Paganism received several mortal strokes in the time of Constantine and his sons Constans and Constantius. It was farther reduced by the great zeal of Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens; and was finally suppressed by the edicts of Gratian, Theodosius I., and his successors. It was not till A.D. 388 that Rome itself, the residence of the emperor, was generally reformed from the absurdities of paganism; but the total suppression of paganism soon followed the conversion of the metropolitan city, and about A.D. 395 the dragon may be considered, in an eminent sense, to have been cast into the earth, that is, into a state of utter subjection to the ruling dynasty of Christian emperors.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the great dragon was cast out; the dragon mentioned Rev 12:3, which typified the pagan emperors. In casting them out,
the devil who influenced them, was cast out, who is here called the
old serpent, with reference to the form in which he seduced Eve, as well as his malignity to man.
The devil, that is, the accuser of the brethren, (of which we have an instance in Job 1:1-22),
and Satan, which name he hath from his opposition to Christ and all Christians.
Which deceiveth the whole world; by seducing them to idolatry and superstition.
He was cast out into the earth; cast down from his former state.
And his angels were cast out with him; the instruments he used in persecuting the church, were put out of power. Mr. Mede understands it of the demons which the heathens worshipped as inferior gods. John, being in his trance still, thought he saw a great red dragon, (which he judged to be the devil), and Christ, or the good angels, fighting with and overcoming him; and that he saw the devil, and those evil angels assisting him, thrown down to the earth. This prophetically and typically signified; that though the Roman emperors, being pagans, should persecute the church upwards of three hundred years, yet they should be overthrown, and paganism, with all its idolatry and superstition, should be rooted out; which occasioned a great deal of glory to God from the praises and thanksgivings of his people, expressed in the next three verses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. that old serpentalludingto Gen 3:1; Gen 3:4.
Devilthe Greek,for “accuser,” or “slanderer.”
Satanthe Hebrewfor “adversary,” especially in a court of justice. Thetwofold designation, Greek and Hebrew, marks thetwofold objects of his accusations and temptations, the electGentiles and the elect Jews.
worldGreek,“habitable world.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the great dragon was cast out,…. From heaven, or from power and authority in the Roman empire, namely, the devil, where he had long presided; it is observable that Constantine himself speaks of “the dragon” being removed from the government of the commonwealth by the providence of God, and by the ministry, or means of him m; and he had his own effigies on a table placed before the porch of his palace, with the cross over his head, and a dragon under his feet thrust through with darts, and falling headlong n;
the old serpent; who is so called, because, of old, from the beginning, almost as soon as the world was, he appeared in the form of a serpent, or rather made use of it as an instrument and means, by which he seduced Eve, and so brought on the ruin of mankind, it is very usual with the Jews to call the devil , “the old serpent” o; wherefore John uses this phrase as a known one, to explain who was meant by the great dragon:
called the devil and Satan; the first of these names signifies an accuser, and a forger of calumnies, and such is the old serpent; he accuses God to men, as if he was envious of their happiness, as in the case of our first parents, and of men to God, of which there is an instance in the case of Job; and hence he is in Re 12:10 called the accuser of the brethren; and the latter of them signifies an enemy, one that is filled with hatred and enmity to God and Christ, and to his church and people, whose adversary he is said to be, and at whose right hand he stands to resist, as he did Joshua the high priest:
which deceiveth the whole world; which he did by deceiving our first parents, from whom all mankind spring, and in whose loins they were when they were deceived; so the Jews say p of the old serpent, that , “he deceives the whole world”; and so he deceived and corrupted the old world before the flood; and so he seduces every age and generation of men in the world; but here the Roman empire, sometimes called all the world, as in Lu 2:1, is meant, whom Satan deceived by drawing it into idolatry and superstition;
he was cast out into the earth; he was cast out of the Roman empire, from the rule of it, and worship in it, the Heathen gods and Heathen emperors being no more; when he possessed and instigated, and influenced the Huns, Goths, and Vandals, a meaner and baser sort of people, hereafter in this chapter called the earth, which is said to help the woman, contrary to the intention of Satan; the phrase denotes the greatness of the fall of Satan, his loss of power, and the meanness and low estate of the persons he afterwards had the power of, both the savage people before mentioned, and the antichristian party:
and his angels were cast out with him; the Heathen emperors, magistrates, priests, and other votaries of his, which he made use of as instruments to do his will.
m Euseb. de Vita Constantini, l. 2. c. 46. n Ib. l. 3. c. 3. o T. Bab. Sota, fol. 9. 2. & Sanhedrin, fol. 29. 1. Imre Binah in Zohar in Gen. fol. 3. 1. & 15. 2. & passim, Raya Mehimna in Zohar in Exod. fol. 50. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 7. 3. & 8. 2. & 26. 3. & 46. 1. & Caphtor, fol. 101. 2. p Tzeror Hammor, fol. 13. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was cast down (). Effective first aorist passive indicative of , cast down for good and all, a glorious consummation. This vision of final victory over Satan is given by Jesus in Luke 10:18; John 12:31. It has not come yet, but it is coming, and the hope of it should be a spur to missionary activity and zeal. The word megas (great) occurs here with as in 12:3, and the whole picture is repeated in 20:2. The dragon in both places is identified with the old serpent (Ge 3:1ff.) and called (from , beginning), as Jesus said that the devil was a murderer “from the beginning” (Joh 8:44). Both (slanderer) and Satan () are common in N.T. for this great dragon and old serpent, the chief enemy of mankind. See on Matt 4:1; Rev 2:10 for and Lu 10:18 for .
The deceiver of the whole world ( ). This is his aim and his occupation, pictured here by the nominative articular present active participle of , to lead astray. For “the inhabited world” see Luke 2:1; Rev 3:10; Rev 16:14. Satan can almost “lead astray” the very elect of God (Mt 24:24), so artful is he in his beguilings as he teaches us how to deceive ourselves (1Jo 1:8).
He was cast down to the earth ( ). Effective aorist repeated from the beginning of the verse. “The earth was no new sphere of Satan’s working” (Swete).
Were cast down (). Triple use of the same verb applied to Satan’s minions. The expulsion is complete.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The great dragon [ ] . Lit., the dragon, the great (dragon).
That old serpent [ ] . Lit., the serpent, the old (serpent). For this habitual construction in John, see on 1Jo 4:9. For ajrcaiov old, see on 1Jo 2:7, and compare “he was a murderer ajp’ ajrchv from the beginning,” Joh 8:44; ajrch beginning being etymologically akin to ajrcaiov old.
The Devil. See on Mt 4:1.
Satan. See on Luk 10:18.
The deceiver [ ] . Lit., he that deceiveth. See on 1Jo 1:8. World [] . See on Luk 2:1 The world with all its inhabitants. Down to [] . Lit., into.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the great dragon was cast out,” (kai eblethe ho drakon ho megas) “and the great dragon was thrown (cast or tossed), by divine power, out of heaven.” God’s chief antagonist, Satan, Rev 20:2; Rev 20:7; Rev 20:10.
2) “That old serpent,” (ho ophis ho archaios) “the ancient or old serpent,” whose approach to man began in Eden, with ulterior and destructive motives, and has continued on earth and before the throne of God the same way, Gen 3:1.
3) “Called the Devil, and Satan,” (ho kaloumenos diaboloskai ho satanos) “who is called (referred to as) the Devil and Satan,” Gen 3:1; Gen 3:4; Rev 20:2; Rev 20:10.
4) “Which deceiveth the whole world,” (ho planon ten oikoumenen holen) “who continually deceives or deludes the whole inhabited earth,” seeking whom he may devour, 1Pe 5:8-9; Job 1:7; Job 2:2.
5) “He was cast out into the earth,” (eblethe eisten gen) “that one, it was he who was cast out into the earth,” as when he first rebelled against God, as described below, Luk 10:18; Jud 1:6.
6) “And his angels were cast out with him,” (kai hoi angeloi met’ autou eblethesan) “and his angels with him were (also) cast or tossed out (down) into the earth,” to do his bidding, as his demon-puppets, as they were in their origin, Eze 28:11-19; Isa 14:12-16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(9) And the great dragon . . .Better, And he was thrown down, the great dragon, the ancient serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan: he who deceives the whole world was thrown to the earth, and his angels were thrown with him. Thus the victory of Christ is marked by the overthrow of the great adversary. The stronger than the strong one has come, and taken away his armour (Luk. 11:21-22). The death-blow is given. The prince of this world (who found nothing in Christ) is judged (Joh. 16:11). The adversary is described as the dragon, the fierce and cruel foe who is ever ready to devour (1Pe. 5:8). The ancient serpent. The serpent was used as an emblem of the evil principle. (Comp. Gen. 3:1). But the head of the ancient foe of man is now bruised: he is the devil, the accuser and calumniator. He is called the accuser of the brethren in the next verse; he is Satan, the adversary, and he is the seducer, the deceiver, as he is a liar, and the father of it (Joh. 8:44).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Great dragon was cast out As if with exultant feeling the seer reiterates the fact of his expulsion, giving his name in full, and making sure that we know that he is the very ancient devil. And when he emerges from his long concealment at Rev 20:2, he is identified with the same list of titles.
Cast out into the earth From being a supreme ruler he is humbled to be an angry, groveling, earthly persecutor. Paganism ceased to be the religion of the Roman empire by the edict of Milan, under Constantine, A.D. 313, and its rites were prohibited by Theodosius the Great, A.D. 392. This was the completed downfall of the pagan dragon.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And the great monster was cast down, the old Serpent, he who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was cast down to the earth and his angels were cast down with him.’
As a result of the exaltation of the male child as the slain Lamb, the Devil and his angels have no further place in the heavens. Their activities there are no longer to be permitted. They are defeated. And while their presence on earth is not good news for the world, it is good news for Christians (v. 10).
Now we know for certain who this great monster is, it is the Satanas (Satan) – ‘the Adversary’, it is Diabolos (the Devil) – ‘the Slanderer’, it is the old Serpent who beguiled man into sin (Genesis 3), it is the one who deceived the whole world. As Jesus said, he is the father of lies (Joh 8:44). But his forcible descent from the heavens means that, when the time is right, he, or one of his angels, will be allowed to receive the key of the Abyss (Rev 9:1). Meanwhile he will exercise his wrath on the woman and her seed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rev 12:9 . . After the circumstantial designation of the subject has been given, the verb is repeated, and then receives also the more accurate determination, . . The aggregation of designations describe the nature and activity of the enemy as completely as possible; which is appropriate for the reason that thereby it is, on the one hand, indicated what believers have to expect from this enemy now working against them on earth, [3106] and, on the other hand, it is said that this enemy, even though his hostile activity be so various, yet is already a thoroughly conquered adversary. [3107] First stands the designation , as that of the subject given by Rev 12:3 sqq., with which the other designations are connected as appositives: , with an allusion to Gen 3 , [3108] whence also the rabbinical expressions and [3109] are derived.
, . . . The stands here with the in a like manner as an appellative, just as in Rev 20:3 with ; while, on the other hand, the , because of the art., [3110] appears in both places as a proper noun, like also in, e.g., Rev 20:10 . The definition added to . , viz., . . . , which is not altogether intelligible from what is said in Rev 12:1 , but refers to the antichristic activity of Satan [3111] described in ch. 13, shows us on its part that the entire present account has its peculiar intention and meaning, not so much in itself, as rather in its connection with what follows. [3112]
[3106] Cf. Rev 12:12 sqq.
[3107] Cf. Rev 12:10 sqq.
[3108] Cf. 2Co 11:3 .
[3109] Cf. Schttgen.
[3110] Which Ew. incorrectly wants to remove.
[3111] Cf. especially Rev 13:14 , Rev 20:8 ; Rev 20:10 .
[3112] Rev 12:17 sqq.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
9 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.
Ver. 9. Was cast out ] Full sore against his will. If the enemies had but as much power as malice, the Church should never rest. But they shall be utterly routed and outed, as at this day they are here to our great comfort.
That old serpent ] When he was young he outwitted our first parents, 2Co 11:3 , then when their reason was not depraved. Now that he is old, and we but children, Eph 4:14 , had we not need look to him, and not be ignorant of his wiles?
Which deceiveth the whole world ] Having for that purpose his set and composed machinations,2Co 2:112Co 2:11 , his methods artificially moulded, Eph 6:11 , his depths, sleights, coggings of dice, &c. And herein he is incessantly exercised, as the participle of the present tense noteth, .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 12:9 . and are in the LXX interchangeable terms for the leviathan or sea-monster of mythology, who is here defined as the old serpent (a rabbinical expression, cf. Gfrrer, i. 386 389); so Timat, the primaeval rebel, as dragon and serpent ( cf. Rohde’s Psyche , 371) had been identified in JE’s paradise-story with the malicious and envious devil (Sap. 2:24; En. xx. 7; Test. Reub. 5). The opponent of God was the adversary of man ( cf. Oesterley’s [917] vol. of Mess. Idea , 176 f.). Two characteristic traits of Satan are blended here: ( a ) cunning exercised on men to lure them into ruin ( , . . ., cf. 2Co 2:11 ; 2Co 11:3 ), and ( b ) eagerness to thwart and slander them before God (Rev 12:10 , cf. En. xl. 7; Zec 3:1 f.). The second is naive and archaic, of course, in a Christian apocalypse.
[917] Codex Sangermanensis (sc. ix.), a Grco-Latin MS., now at St. Petersburg, formerly belonging to the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prs. Its text is largely dependent upon that of D. The Latin version, e (a corrected copy of d), has been printed, but with incomplete accuracy, by Belsheim (18 5).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
cast out = cast down, as Rev 12:10.
that = the
old = ancient.
serpent. See Rev 20:2. Gen 3:1, and App-19.
Devil. Literally slanderer. See Rev 12:10 and Mat 4:1.
Satan = Adversary. Compare Mat 4:10. See App-19.
which deceiveth. Literally the one deceiving. App-128. See Rev 20:3.
world. App-129.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 12:9. , , … The devil and Satan are exactly synonymous, as Druse teaches, and Raphel, in his Annot. from Polybius, p. 719; for both , and mean to place one self between for the purpose of resistance; wherefore also the Septuagint frequently has for , which is retained at 1Ki 11:14; 1Ki 11:23; 1Ki 11:25. Therefore there is no more difference between them than between gladius, in ordinary appellation, and ensis in poetic usage. The only difference lies in the Hebrew and Greek idiom; and the adversary is pointed out, who harasses the Gentiles, as the devil, and the Jews, as Satan; in this place, indeed, saints of both classes. Even Andreas of Csareia saw, that there was force in the double appellation; and lest I should be accused of refining too nicely, Grotius refers this double appellation to the Jews and Gentiles. But the observation appertains to this text, in which both the Hebrew and the Greek names are joined together: in other texts, even the appellation of the devil, inasmuch as it is alone, may no doubt appertain to the Jews.- , which deceiveth) The devil is a liar and a murderer, Joh 8:44; a seducer, in this passage, and raging, Rev 12:12, where despair, in consequence of the shortness of the time, inflames his rage. But the saints, who overcome him, have faith, love, and hope.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
world “oikoumene” = inhabited earth. (See Scofield “Luk 2:1”).
angels (See Scofield “Heb 1:4”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the great: Rev 12:3, Rev 12:7, Luk 10:18, Joh 12:31
that: Rev 12:14, Rev 12:15, Rev 20:2, Gen 3:1, Gen 3:4, Gen 3:13, Isa 27:1, Isa 65:25
the Devil: Rev 9:20, Rev 16:14, Rev 18:2, Mat 4:1, Mat 4:5, Mat 4:8, Mat 13:39, Luk 8:12, Joh 8:44, 1Ti 3:6, 1Ti 3:7, Heb 2:14, 1Jo 3:8-10, Jud 1:9
and Satan: Rev 2:9, Rev 2:13, Rev 2:24, Rev 3:9, 1Ch 21:1, Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1, Psa 109:6, Zec 3:1, Zec 3:2, Mat 4:10, Luk 13:16, Luk 22:3, Luk 22:31, Act 5:3, Act 26:18, Rom 16:20, 2Co 2:11, 2Co 11:14, 2Co 12:7, 2Th 2:9
deceiveth: Rev 13:14, Rev 18:23, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:3, Rev 20:8, Rev 20:10, Mat 24:24, Rom 16:18, 2Co 11:3, Eph 4:14, 2Th 2:3, 2Th 2:9-11, 1Ti 2:14, 2Ti 3:13, 1Jo 5:19
he was: Rev 9:1, Eze 28:16, Luk 10:18, Joh 12:31
into: Job 1:7, Job 2:2, Isa 14:12, Isa 65:25, Joh 14:30, Joh 16:11, 2Co 4:4, 1Pe 5:8
Reciprocal: Gen 3:15 – thou Num 23:23 – no enchantment Deu 11:16 – your heart Deu 13:6 – entice 1Ki 22:22 – a lying spirit 2Ch 18:21 – General Job 26:13 – the crooked serpent Psa 44:19 – in the Psa 91:13 – the dragon Psa 129:2 – yet they have Pro 12:26 – but Isa 13:11 – I will punish Isa 35:7 – in the Isa 44:20 – a deceived Isa 51:9 – the dragon Eze 13:23 – for I Eze 22:9 – men that carry tales Dan 3:7 – all the people Mat 3:7 – O generation Mat 4:3 – the tempter Mat 7:13 – for Mat 12:26 – his Mat 13:25 – enemy Mat 23:33 – serpents Mar 4:15 – Satan Luk 4:6 – All Luk 21:8 – Take Luk 22:53 – the power Joh 15:19 – because Joh 17:9 – pray for Rom 8:39 – depth Rom 12:2 – be not 1Co 2:12 – not 1Co 5:10 – for 1Co 15:33 – Be 2Co 2:17 – which Gal 1:7 – pervert Eph 2:2 – the prince Eph 6:11 – the wiles Col 2:4 – lest Col 2:15 – having Col 2:18 – no 1Th 2:18 – Satan 1Ti 3:11 – not 1Ti 5:15 – General 2Ti 2:26 – out Tit 3:3 – deceived Jam 1:22 – deceiving Jam 3:6 – it is Jam 3:8 – full Jam 3:15 – devilish Jam 4:7 – Resist 2Pe 2:2 – many 2Pe 2:14 – beguiling 1Jo 2:2 – for the 1Jo 4:5 – are 2Jo 1:7 – who Rev 2:10 – the devil Rev 9:11 – they had Rev 13:2 – dragon Rev 16:13 – come out of
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 12:9. Satan was cast out and his angels were cast out with him. This agrees with 2Pe 2:4 and Jud 1:6, and also explains why Jesus speaks of the devil’s angels in Mat 25:41. Satan is called that old serpent because he used that beast as his agent in Gen 3:1-4. Deceiveth the whole world does not mean that every person in the world is deceived for there are exceptions. The thought is that all deception that is in the world is to be attributed to him.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Rev 12:9
Verse 9.
[See notes on Rev 12:8 for discussion of the “fall” of Satan]
3. And the great dragon was cast out . . . which deceiveth the whole world . . . he was cast out into the earth– Rev 12:9. The dragon and his evil agents “prevailed not” against Michael’s protection of the woman, which he accomplished by the diversion of the emperor’s diplomacy to employ his armies to quell the revolutions in many parts of the imperial world.
The context of this section was a diversion from the main scene due to the side effects of the involvement of the Roman rulers in the revolutions in their far-flung tributaries.
So the statement neither was their place found any more in heaven was a reference to the final outcome, and is not chronological, or in the order of sequence here. The dragon prevailed not–the cause of the woman (the church) which Michael represented triumphed, in the war with heathenism which the dragon represented, and he eventually “prevailed not” but lost his own place in heaven –that is, in the governments which had been used to persecute the church. And, he was cast down to the earth–that is, Satan was cast out of his sphere of influence through the government authorities against the church. He was cast down to the earth–the place of the inhabitants of the nations as distinguished from the children of the woman, the church. The woman had appeared in the same sphere with the dragon in the war in heaven, as antagonists and was represented by Michael against the dragon. In the final outcome of this struggle the dragon lost his place of power and influence–hence, cast down from his high position in which he had been able to deceive the world. Dethroned from his dominion he went in search of other prey, as mentioned in 1Pe 5:8 –“the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
The dragon in the end was seen as having lost “the war in heaven” against the woman. Jesus anticipated this defeat of Satan in Joh 12:31 : “Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” This judgment was pronounced upon the dragon in the war against the woman. He lost his place of dominion, but continued to deceive the world, as declared by Paul in Eph 2:2 : “According to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” The phrase “prince of the power of the air” denotes a sphere of influence only. Satan has no longer a dominion of power. He is only an influent being who exerts a deceptive influence, an infiltration insensibily affecting the mind and conscience –an inflow of evil.
In Revelation the term earth, as previously stated, designated the place of nations, distinguished from the realm of the church. And air refers to the sphere of life and influence.
Thus having lost his power of dominion, he is now prince of the power of the air–that is, having only an exercise of influence which only operates through “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
Jesus Christ through the gospel destroyed Satan’s power –he holds no power of dominion over any one. He can operate only through the sphere of influence. The one who serves Satan is a willing servant “through the spirit of disobedience.” God has the power to destroy both soul and body of one who refuses to serve him (Mat 10:28), but Satan has no power over any one (Heb 2:14); if one does not choose to follow Satan, he can do nothing; he has no power to conscript, and no power to punish.
And the great dragon was cast out into the earth. Satan “prevailed not” against the woman, the church, and was “cast out into the earth,” the place of the nations, where he would again in a broader effort seek to deceive the whole world, as distinguished from the church.
And his angels were cast out with him. These Satanic angels included all of the combined forces of heathenism which he had employed against the church, and as “prince of the power of the air,” he continued to operate in the sphere of life and influence through the spirit of disobedience.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Here God identified the dragon as Satan. He called him the "great dragon" because he is fierce and cruel in nature. The title "serpent of old" stresses his crafty and subtle character (cf. Rev 20:2; Gen 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3). The name "Devil" means accuser or slanderer.
"This name for the evil one would have made a specially strong impact in the first century, for there was a well-known and well-hated figure called the delator, the paid informer. He made his living by accusing people before the authorities." [Note: Morris, p. 161. Cf. Barclay, 2:102.]
"Satan" means adversary. He is the one who deceives the whole world because he is consummately deceptive. [Note: See Gregory H. Harris, "Satan’s Work as a Deceiver," Bibliotheca Sacra 156:622 (April-June 1999):190-202.] God cast Satan’s angels out of His presence with him. The threefold repetition of "thrown down" in this verse stresses the ignominious fate of Satan and these angels.
Satan is in the heavens now; he has access to God (Job 1:6; Eph 2:2; Rev 12:10). His being thrown down to the earth with his angels will evidently take place toward the end of the Tribulation. This conclusion harmonizes with the evidence of unusual Satanic activity on earth, including heart hardening, described in the revelation of the Great Tribulation (chs. 6-11 and 13-18).