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Revelation 12:8

in Revelation 12

But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.

KJV

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

This verse in Revelation 12

Commentary

13 notes on this verse

A commentator

Alcuin of York

COMMENTARY ON REVELATION · Written before 804.

And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. How can it be said that evil spirits prevail not, while they deceive many people, and people who used to be the Redeemer's dwelling become the deceiver's place? Therefore by the whole …

This site's exposition

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon

on Revelation 12:7-9

War breaks out in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon and his angels, and the dragon does not prevail; his place is found in heaven no more. The great dragon is cast out, identified now by four names at once, that old serpent, the Devil, and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, and he is cast down to the earth with his angels cast out alongside him. The unseen world is real and active throughout this scene: an archangel commands armies, a third of the angelic host followed the dragon in his fall, and the outcome of a battle fought entirely out of human sight determines what happens next on earth. Michael's role here answers Daniel 12:1, where he stands up for Israel in the time of trouble, the same prince fighting the same enemy in the same book's own pattern.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

"There was a battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon warred, and his angels, and they prevailed not; nor was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast forth, that old serpent: he was cast forth into the earth." This is the beginning of Antichrist yet previously Elias must prophesy, and there must be times of peace. And afterwards, when the three years and six months are completed in the preaching of Elias, he also must be cast down from heaven, where up till that time he had had the power of ascending; and all the apostate angels, as well as Antichrist, must be roused up from hell. Paul the apostle says: "Except there come a falling away first, and the man of sin shall appear, the son of perdition; and the adversary who exalted himself above all which is called God, or which is worshipped."

A commentator

Primasius of Hadrumetum

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12:7-8 · Written before 560.

proposed

We must not think that the devil and his angels dared to fight in heaven, since he could not even tempt Job without God's permission. Rather by "heaven" he quite manifestly indicates the church, where each one of the faithful constantly contends against spiritual evils. …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

But Satan did not prevail in the war against him; nor was there found a place of refuge or even a dwelling for him in heaven.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12:7-8 · Written before 614.

proposed

These words can refer to the first fall of the devil from his angelic rank because of his pride and envy, or it can refer to his destruction through the cross of the Lord, when, as the Lord says, "the ruler of this world is …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And they did not prevail. That is, throughout all time.
6 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

Nor was their place found anymore in heaven. That is, in holy men, who have now become heaven through his expulsion, and who, once believing, do not accept him again.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

And he prevailed not - The dragon himself is principally mentioned; but his angels, likewise, are to be understood. Neither was this place found any more in heaven - So till now he had a place in heaven.
And prevailed not,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Not only did they not prevail, but not even their place was found any more in heaven. There are four gradations in the ever deeper downfall of Satan: (1) He is deprived of his heavenly excellency, though having still access to heaven as man's accuser, up to Christ's first coming.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

And prevailed not - Against the cause of Christianity. Neither was their place found any more in heaven - The advocates of the heathen idolatry were prevented from having any farther share in the government of the empire. The wonderful success of Constantine over all his enemies, and his final triumph over Licinius, correspond exactly to the symbolical language in this verse.
And prevailed not - Satan and his angels failed in their purpose. Neither was their place found any more in heaven - They were cast out, and were seen there no more. The idea is, that they were defeated and driven away, though for a time they were suffered to carry on the warfare elsewhere.

The words behind it

11 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Revelation 12:11

    They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

      For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

    • John 16:33

      I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

    • 1 John 5:5

      Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

    • 1 Corinthians 15:57

      But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

    • Romans 16:20

      The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

  • Through

    Jeremiah 1:19

    They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

    it leads to

    • Joshua 1:9

      Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    • Jeremiah 1:8

      Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

  • Through

    Jude 1:6

    And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.

    it leads to

    • 2 Peter 2:4

      For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Transfiguration, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
The Transfiguration, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12:7-8; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12:7-8 and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.