啓示錄 12 章 Revelations 12
- 馬克牧師
- Jul 12
- 12 min read
Updated: Aug 8
各位平安，這一講我們繼續來默想《啟示錄》第十二章的經文。上一章提到大災難，第十二章的內容則更加精彩，甚至可以說是光怪陸離。
在這一章中，約翰描繪了一個異象：他看見天上有一個婦人，披著太陽、腳踏月亮、頭戴十二星的冠冕，而且她懷孕了。
這位婦人要生一個孩子，而這個孩子一出生，就受到一條大紅龍的威脅。這條龍有七頭十角，頭上戴著七個冠冕，象徵著權勢與逼迫。這段經文其實有很多種解釋，其中一種認為這個孩子是彌賽亞，也就是耶穌，而生祂的婦人就是馬利亞。但仔細看，這位婦人的描寫極具象徵性，更像是一種超自然的存在，因此不太可能僅僅是指馬利亞。
另一種解釋是，這條龍代表魔鬼，而婦人所象徵的就是教會。那麼問題來了，教會怎麼會成為彌賽亞的“母親”呢？其實，這裡的孩子不一定只代表彌賽亞本人，也可能象徵上帝的選民。因為到了第17節，我們看到這婦人還有其他的兒女。
這也讓我們理解成可能有雙重意涵：一方面，這個男孩子代表耶穌，祂是長子；另一方面，其他兒女則是信徒——教會中的弟兄姐妹們。耶穌作為首先的，成為我們的榜樣與盼望，我們則因祂而成為上帝的兒女。而那條龍，就是上帝的敵人。在猶太傳統中，龍是混亂的象徵，也象徵創世以來與上帝對立的勢力，如今要被擊敗。
第四節提到，那龍的尾巴拖拉天上三分之一的星辰摔在地上。這很可能是暗指撒但，他原本是天使、是晨星，但因為驕傲與悖逆，想要取代上帝的位置，結果被摔下天，並且連帶帶走了三分之一的天使，也就是墮落的天使，成為魔鬼的軍團。這一段出自但以理書8:10，也提到了那自高自大的魔鬼。
第五節說，那孩子被提到神寶座那裡去，這正呼應了耶穌升天，坐在上帝右邊的畫面。
這段經文其實蘊含了非常豐富的神學與象徵意義。我們在解讀這些經文的時候，不應該過於武斷地說“一定”是什麼。就像之前提過的，約翰用了很多象徵性的語言與圖像，目的是讓當時的信徒在艱難環境中仍然能夠感受到安慰、理解與盼望。
整章的主題其實是有脈絡可循的，我們待會兒繼續往下讀就會明白，為什麼他要用這些故事與形象來表達。這也提醒我們，有時候需要有歷史與信仰背景，才能真正讀懂約翰想說什麼；對於不熟悉舊約或沒有信仰背景的人來說，這封信可能就像天書一樣，難以理解。
後來有一些人在解釋這段經文的時候，會比較亂講——特別是關於“大紅龍”代表的是誰。有些人會把龍直接對應到某個國家、某個民族，說這就是敵對上帝的勢力。所以每當經文提到“龍”，就有人跳出來說：“你看，就是那個國家，是那個民族在抵擋上帝！”
但其實，我們不需要硬套這些象徵到特定的國家或民族身上。我們知道撒但的存在，也知道有抵擋上帝的權勢存在，可是這並不代表我們就可以隨便指控哪個民族是哪條“龍”。
要記得，萬國萬民都是在上帝的掌權之下。歷史中我們看到，無論是怎樣的政府體系，都是由上帝所容許、掌管的。就像巴比倫曾經被上帝用來懲罰以色列一樣，每一個國家都可能在上帝的計劃中被使用，成為祂旨意的工具。
第六節提到，婦人逃到曠野，在那裡有上帝為她預備的地方，可以讓她被養活一千二百六十天——也就是三年半。這個數字我們之前已經多次看過了。
“逃到曠野”這個主題，也在聖經裡多次出現。舊約中的以利亞曾經逃到曠野三年半；新約裡，約瑟和馬利亞也曾帶著嬰孩耶穌逃到埃及，為了躲避希律王的追殺。甚至在上一章我們提到，敘利亞王安提阿哥屠殺猶太人的時候，也有許多信徒為了保守信仰，逃到曠野去。
歷史上，當早期教會遭到破壞和逼迫時，信徒也常常逃到曠野、磐石之中，甚至藏身於地下城。有些教會在土耳其的洞穴裡聚會，藏身多年。
所以“逃到曠野”不只是逃避逼迫，更是一種信仰上的保護與預備。它代表著教會在困境中，仍然有上帝親自看顧與供應。
回到約翰寫作的那個時代，耶路撒冷在主後70年被羅馬人毀滅，整個猶太人社群四散，各地的教會也遭遇劇烈逼迫。但也是因著這些逼迫，使徒與信徒們被迫分散，他們反而將福音帶到了更遠的地方——敘利亞、希臘、歐洲，最終傳遍整個羅馬帝國。
所以每當我們看見一個看似災難性的事件時，也要學習去思想：上帝是否正在其中掌權？祂的美意可能遠遠超過我們當下所能理解的。
接下來我們會看到第七節：天上有了爭戰。我們接下來看到的，是一場靈界裡的交戰。
在天上的戰場上，米迦勒和他的使者與龍爭戰，龍也帶著他的使者一起應戰。這場爭戰，是對應到魔鬼叛變上帝時所引發的那場天上大戰爭。聖經說，那條龍的尾巴拖拉了三分之一的星辰——象徵著三分之一的天使被牽連，一同墮落到地上，成為撒但的勢力。
米迦勒是誰呢？他是站在上帝面前的大天使，是守護人類、捍衛上帝子民的戰將。這場爭戰的結果是什麼？第八節說：龍沒有得勝，天上再也沒有牠的地方。大龍——又稱古蛇、魔鬼、撒但，那個迷惑普天下的，從此被摔在地上，連帶著牠的使者也一同被摔下來。
這場天上的大戰爭，象徵著撒但權勢的徹底失敗。
而接著經文宣告：「我神的救恩、能力、國度，並祂基督的權柄，現在都來到了！」那個日夜在神面前控告我們弟兄的，已經被摔下去了！
耶穌來，就是為了要徹底打敗那位控告者。撒但對我們原本就沒有真正的權柄，他的“武器”就是不斷地控訴、提醒我們的罪、挑起我們內心的恐懼、孤單、羞愧 —— 但現在，這些控訴已經失效了，因為耶穌的寶血已經遮蓋了我們一切的過犯。
我們怎麼勝過牠呢？第十一節說得很清楚：是靠著羔羊的血，和我們所見證的道。我們可以勝過牠，甚至到了一個地步，就算肉體的生命被奪去，也不再懼怕，因為我們知道真正能掌管我們靈魂的，是耶穌基督。
耶穌也說過：「那殺身體卻不能殺靈魂的，不要怕他；惟有能把靈魂和身體都滅在地獄裡的，才要怕他。」這話正是在提醒我們，我們真正的安全，不在於地上的安逸，而在於靈魂屬於基督。
第十二節說：「所以，諸天和住在其中的，你們都快樂吧！」但地與海有禍了，因為魔鬼知道自己的時候不多，就氣憤憤地下到你們那裡去。
換句話說，魔鬼現在的作為，是因為牠知道自己已經輸了。牠只是想盡可能拖多一個人下水，多帶一個“墊背”的，讓人失去盼望就是牠的勝利，所以為何這就是盼望是何等重要的一個訊息啊。
但我們要記住，我們已經得勝了！靠著耶穌基督的寶血，我們不需要再害怕牠，我們也不需要讓牠的控告得逞
接著看到，這場天上的爭戰延燒到了地上。龍發現自己被摔到地上，就開始逼迫那位婦人。在這裡，這位婦人的身份變得更明顯——她代表的，是教會。從廣義上來解釋，這個婦人象徵著屬神的群體，也就是上帝的子民。
經文接著描述，蛇——也就是那條龍，仍然緊追不放，想要攻擊這位婦人。但奇妙的是，大地竟然幫助了婦人，張開口吞下龍所吐出的水流，這象徵著神的保守與介入。
這一幕非常有象徵性：即使仇敵設下網羅、興起逼迫，上帝總會為祂的教會開出一條出路。龍見自己無法傷害婦人，就轉而向她其餘的兒女爭戰。這些兒女是誰？經文說得很清楚：就是那些「遵守神誡命、為耶穌作見證的人」。
看到了嗎？這裡指的就是我們——耶穌的弟兄姊妹。耶穌是長子，我們則是在祂裡面成為神的兒女。我們既是屬神的兒女，自然也會成為仇敵攻擊的對象。
但在這段經文中，有一個核心的鼓勵：即便龍發怒、逼迫臨到，上帝依然會親自介入、保護祂的子民。
無論是透過大地象徵的自然力量，或是上帝的奇妙安排，我們都可以確信：神不會讓我們孤單面對試煉。
所以弟兄姊妹，不要懼怕。雖然我們可能會面對屬靈的攻擊，面對從世界來的壓力，但我們知道：我們有主，有神的保守，有耶穌基督已經得勝的權柄！
所以你會發現，《啟示錄》第十二章的充滿了光怪陸離的意象，但當我們一一去理解、去解開這些象徵時，就會發現，原來這一切背後都有深層的屬靈含義。整章的信息其實圍繞著一個核心主題：就是那惡者——撒但，不斷地在攻擊我們。
但感謝主，這場屬靈的爭戰我們並不是孤單面對的。上帝一直與我們同在，一直為我們爭戰。我們有天使天軍的保護，有上帝的靈在我們心中運行，有上帝的道作為我們的劍，更重要的是——我們有羔羊的血和見證的道成為我們得勝的根基。
所以，這場爭戰還在持續。當我們進入第十三章時，我們會看到有一個獸從海中上來，繼續挑戰神的子民，這是屬靈戰爭的一部分，也會帶給我們更多的提醒與啟發。
感謝各位今天的聆聽，願上帝祝福你們。
Peace to you all. In this session, we continue our meditation on Revelation chapter 12.The previous chapter spoke of great tribulation. Chapter 12 is even more dramatic — one might even say fantastical or surreal.
In this chapter, John describes a vision:He sees a woman in heaven, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She is pregnant and about to give birth.
This child is immediately threatened by a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on its heads — symbolizing power and persecution.
There are many interpretations of this passage.One common view is that the child represents the Messiah, Jesus, and the woman is Mary, His mother. But if we look more closely, the description of the woman is highly symbolic, seemingly more like a supernatural figure, not merely Mary.
Another interpretation suggests that the dragon is Satan, and the woman symbolizes the Church. But then comes the question: How could the Church give birth to the Messiah?This is where symbolism gives us a layered meaning:
· On one hand, the male child represents Jesus — the firstborn Son.
· On the other hand, in verse 17, we learn that the woman has other children, which represent believers, the brothers and sisters in the Church.
So the child may symbolize both the Messiah and, by extension, the people of God. Jesus is the forerunner and our hope. Through Him, we become children of God.And the dragon is the enemy of God.In Jewish tradition, the dragon symbolizes chaos and opposition to God's order since the creation of the world — now finally to be defeated.
Verse 4 says the dragon's tail swept a third of the stars from heaven and flung them to the earth.This likely alludes to Satan, who was originally an angel — the "morning star" — but due to pride and rebellion, attempted to usurp God’s throne and was cast out of heaven, taking a third of the angels with him. These became the fallen angels — the demonic host.This idea echoes Daniel 8:10, where the arrogant enemy casts down the heavenly stars — a reference to Satan’s fall.
Verse 5 says the child was caught up to God’s throne, clearly pointing to Jesus’ ascension and His place at God’s right hand.
This passage is rich with theological depth and symbolic meaning. When interpreting it, we should avoid being overly dogmatic or rigid. As mentioned before, John uses symbolic language and images to convey comfort, understanding, and hope to believers under persecution.
There is a narrative flow to this whole chapter, which we’ll see more clearly as we keep reading. It reminds us that understanding Revelation often requires historical and biblical background.To those unfamiliar with the Old Testament or without a faith context, Revelation may seem utterly incomprehensible — like a sealed book.
Sadly, some people have misinterpreted this chapter — especially when it comes to the “great red dragon.” Some have tried to equate the dragon with specific countries or ethnic groups, saying things like, “See! That nation is the dragon fighting against God!”
But that is not how we should handle Scripture.The dragon is a symbol of Satan, not a particular nation or people. Yes, we believe Satan exists. Yes, we believe there are spiritual forces that oppose God. But that doesn’t give us the right to label any nation as “the dragon.”
Remember: all nations and peoples are under God's sovereign rule.Throughout history, even godless governments have been used by God to fulfill His purposes — just as He used Babylon to discipline Israel. Every nation can be used by God as an instrument of His will.
In verse 6, the woman flees into the wilderness, where God has prepared a place for her — she is nourished there for 1,260 days, or three and a half years.We’ve seen this number several times already.
The theme of “fleeing into the wilderness” also appears often in Scripture:
· In the Old Testament, Elijah fled to the wilderness for three and a half years.
· In the New Testament, Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus and fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution.
· In the last chapter, we spoke about Antiochus Epiphanes, who massacred Jews,
prompting many believers to flee into the wilderness to preserve their faith.
In early church history, believers under persecution also fled to deserts, caves, and underground cities. Some Christian communities in Turkey met in underground cave churches for years.
So "fleeing to the wilderness" is not only an escape from persecution, but a divine strategy for preservation — a sign of God’s care even in hardship.
In John’s time, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. The Jewish community was scattered, and the churches suffered severe persecution. Yet it was precisely through this suffering that the gospel spread farther — to Syria, Greece, Europe, and eventually throughout the entire Roman Empire.
That’s why we must learn to see beyond disaster and ask, Is God working even here? His purpose may far exceed what we can comprehend in the moment.
Then in verse 7, we see war in heaven — a battle in the spiritual realm.
Michael and his angels fight against the dragon, who also has his army. This reflects Satan’s rebellion and the heavenly war that ensued. As we saw earlier, a third of the stars were cast down — symbolizing fallen angels joining Satan.
Who is Michael?He is the archangel who stands in God’s presence — a warrior and defender of God’s people.
What is the result of this war?Verse 8 says:“The dragon was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.”The great dragon, also called the ancient serpent, the devil, or Satan, who deceives the whole world, is thrown down to the earth — and his angels with him.
This war symbolizes the complete defeat of Satan's power.
Then comes the declaration:“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Messiah!”The accuser who stood before God day and night has been thrown down!
Jesus came to defeat the accuser once and for all.Satan never had true authority over us. His only weapon was accusation — constantly reminding us of our sins, stirring up fear, shame, and despair.
But now, those accusations are powerless, because Jesus’ blood has covered all our sins.
How do we overcome him?Verse 11 gives the answer:“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”Even if it costs us our lives, we no longer fear death — because we know that Jesus holds our souls.
Jesus Himself said:“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”Our true safety is not in earthly comfort — but in belonging to Christ.
Verse 12 says:“Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
In other words, Satan is raging because he knows he’s already lost. He’s just trying to drag as many people down with him as possible.That’s why hope is such a powerful and essential message.
But we must remember: we have already won!Through the blood of Jesus, we no longer need to fear him, nor give in to his accusations.
The heavenly war now extends to the earth. The dragon, cast down, begins to persecute the woman — and it becomes clearer now that the woman represents the Church — God’s people.
The dragon continues to pursue the woman, but then we read something miraculous:The earth helps the woman — it opens its mouth to swallow the flood the dragon spews out. This symbolizes God’s divine protection and intervention.
Even when the enemy sets traps or stirs up persecution, God makes a way of escape.When the dragon realizes he cannot defeat the woman, he turns to her other children — those who “keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”
Who are they? That’s us.We are the brothers and sisters of Jesus, the children of God.And as His children, we also become the targets of the enemy.
But here lies the encouragement:Even though the dragon is furious and persecution comes, God will personally intervene to protect His people.
Whether through natural means or supernatural provision, we can trust: God will not leave us to face the trial alone.
So, brothers and sisters, do not be afraid.Yes, we may face spiritual attacks.Yes, we may experience pressure from the world.But we know we have the Lord.We have God’s protection, and we stand under the victory of Jesus Christ!
So while Revelation chapter 12 is filled with strange and powerful imagery, once we interpret these symbols properly, we see that it carries deep spiritual truths.
The central message is this:The enemy — Satan — is constantly attacking us.But thanks be to God, we are not fighting this battle alone.
God is with us, fighting for us.We have the heavenly hosts, the Holy Spirit at work within us, and the Word of God as our sword. Most importantly, we have the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony as our foundation for victory.
This war continues — and as we move into Revelation chapter 13, we will see a beast rise from the sea, continuing to challenge God’s people. This is all part of the ongoing spiritual warfare, and it will offer us even more insight and warning.
Thank you all for listening.May God bless you abundantly.
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