Previous Verse       Revelation Chapter 12 Verse 17 (God's WordTM)       Next Verse

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   17The serpent became angry with the woman. So it went away to fight with her other children, the ones who keep God's commands and hold on to the testimony of Jesus.
    The SERPENT became angry with the WOMAN.
As much as the SERPENT is angry with the WOMAN, God still doesn't want to see the devil perish (2 Peter 3:8-13). If only the SERPENT would humble himself and repent. Present day boastings from Arab leaders and terrorists to "get the Jews" are but a precursor to the wrath the SERPENT shows at this mid-tribulation point.
    So it went away to FIGHT with the HER OTHER CHILDREN,
Some scholars believe this refers to the final battle of Har-Magedon (Armageddon). If the "river" in verse 15 was against Jerusalem, then the rest of her offspring could have fled elsewhere like the plains of Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:20-27). Megiddo is somewhere between Egypt and the Euphrates River. Most maps place it west of the Jordan River and north of Jerusalem.
    the ones who

    • keep GOD'S COMMANDMENTS and
    • HOLD ON TO THE TESTIMONY of JESUS.
Note the interesting paradox here. The WOMAN (nation of Israel) in the previous verse is protected, while the OFFSPRING (Jews in other countries and/or all other believers) are at WAR with the SERPENT.
Likewise to those who ignore the Old Testament teachings because we are not under LAW but under the New Testament GRACE should understand the conjunction here is "and". The Old Testaments contains ten COMMANDMENTS not SUGGESTIONS. This makes KEEPING the COMMANDMENTS of GOD part of the TESTIMONY of JESUS. This just reinforces the "I AM" foreverness of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Exodus 3:13-14; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; and Revelation 21:6). 		GOD'S WORD is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations Bible Society. Quotations are used by permission.

References to the Revelation of Jesus Christ are in bold italics. All other references are in bold only. Return from cross-references by using the BACK button.