Revelation 12:3-5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon,[a] with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.(A) 4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.(B) 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.[b] Her child was caught up to God and his throne.(C)
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- 12:3 Huge red dragon: the Devil or Satan (cf. Rev 12:9; 20:2), symbol of the forces of evil, a mythical monster known also as Leviathan (Ps 74:13–14) or Rahab (Jb 26:12–13; Ps 89:11). Seven diadems: these are symbolic of the fullness of the dragon’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world; cf. Christ with many diadems (Rev 19:12).
- 12:5 Rule…iron rod: fulfilled in Rev 19:15; cf. Ps 2:9. Was caught up to God: reference to Christ’s ascension.
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