Who’s Who in Revelation

In this cosmic war, John next presents a cast of characters as symbols in this age-old drama between good and evil, light and darkness, the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. Seven characters represent the natural and supernatural worlds. To understand the drama of Revelation, get to know these symbolic signs.

#1 The Woman—Israel (vv. 1-2)

The entire book of Revelation revolves around her. Who is this woman? Genesis 37:9 decodes her for us, with identifying marks of the sun, moon, and stars. She symbolizes the nation Israel.

The woman is being tormented. Satan knew Jesus Christ would come from Israel and has hated her from the start. (See Genesis 3:15.)

To get away from Satan, the woman runs to the wilderness, where God sustains and protects her.

#2 The Red Dragon—Satan (vv. 3-4)

The red dragon is clearly identified as Satan in Revelation 12:9 as “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” He’s “red” because he’s been a murderer from the beginning; a “dragon” describes his vicious character. Originally, he was created as Lucifer, son of the morning (see Ezekiel 28:12-19), but he is now the epitome of evil and the most dangerous being in God’s creation.

The dragon’s seven heads suggest the perfection of wisdom which characterized Satan when he was the “covering cherub” (see Ezekiel 28:14). He’s smart and clever and wise. His ten horns suggest the final division of the Roman Empire, dominated by Satan and his final effort to rule the world. The crowns represent kingly authority.

Can’t you just picture this hideous dragon, sweeping his tail across the sky and dragging away a third of the stars of heaven? This pictures the rebellion in heaven when one-third of the angelic host followed Satan to their own destruction (see Daniel 8:10; Jude 1:6).

The dragon hates Jesus Christ, because Genesis 3:15 predicts the Child would be Satan’s undoing. He waits for the woman to give birth so he can devour the child.

#3 The Child of the Woman—Jesus Christ (vv. 5-6)

The wonderful “male child” is the Lord Jesus Christ, who will “rule all nations with a rod of iron.” When Jesus Christ returns, He will put down all rebellion.

“And her Child was caught up to God and His throne” speaks of Jesus’ ascension. The Gospels emphasize the death of Christ. The Epistles emphasize the resurrection of Christ. And Revelation emphasizes His ascension.

#4 Michael the Archangel Wars with the Dragon (vv. 7-12)

It’s hard to imagine, but John tells us “war broke out in heaven.” The creature warring against God is no other than “the old serpent” from the Garden of Eden. Then up steps Michael, an archangel, whose specific ministry is to protect Israel (Daniel 10:13). Once again, a fierce struggle breaks out, but Michael and his angels prevail, and Satan and his angels are thrown out of heaven. A mighty cheer breaks out from among the redeemed.

The Dragon Persecutes the Woman (vv. 13-16)

When the dragon lands on earth, he immediately goes after the woman. This last wave of anti-Semitism will be the worst to roll over the world.

Here in the Great Tribulation, Israel can’t deliver themselves, nor will anyone help them. But God provides for them and sustains them with manna from heaven, possibly the same way He did when they wandered in Exodus.

#5 The Remnant (v. 17)

When the dragon sees how God protects the woman, he shifts his strategy to attack “the rest of her offspring”—perhaps the 144,000 who have been sealed.

#6 & 7 The Final Two (ch. 13)

Two final characters are both empowered and controlled by Satan. The wild beast out of the sea, the Antichrist, represents political power. The wild beast out of the earth, the False Prophet, is a religious leader who leads the world in worship of the Antichrist.

Now we’re at the midpoint of the Tribulation when the Antichrist sets himself up as God (see 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Next: Meet the final two of the seven players.