Revelation 12:9
Bible Verses. Also called Revelation 12:9, Rev. 12:9, Rev 12:9.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
Revelation 12:9 belongs to the vision of war in heaven in Revelation 12. In it the great dragon is cast down to the earth and identified as "that old serpent," the Devil, and Satan. The verse is frequently cited in discussions of the Devil's identity and origin and of when Satan was cast out.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
The Book of Revelation records the visions John received on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Chapter 12 opens with a woman clothed with the sun giving birth to a son. A great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns seeks to devour the child, but the child is caught up to God. In verses 7–8, war breaks out in heaven. Michael and his angels fight against the dragon, and the dragon is defeated.
Verse 9 describes the outcome of this war. The dragon is cast out into the earth, and his identity is revealed through four designations: "that old serpent," "the Devil," "Satan," and the one "which deceiveth the whole world." In verses 10–12, a loud voice in heaven then proclaims that "the accuser of our brethren" has been cast down.
Interpretation
Most interpreters understand "that old serpent" as the serpent that tempted Eve in Genesis 3. For this reason, the verse is often cited as grounds for identifying the serpent of Genesis with the Devil. "His angels" are understood to be fallen angels, and the phrase is also drawn upon in explanations of demons.
Interpreters differ on when the dragon was cast out.
- A primordial rebellion: This reading holds that the passage depicts Satan's rebellion against God and his expulsion from heaven before creation or before the human Fall. Together with Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, the passage has traditionally been cited to explain the origin of the Devil.
- The work of Christ: This reading appeals to the child being caught up in verse 5 and to "the blood of the Lamb" in verse 11. It holds that the passage symbolically portrays Satan's defeat through Christ's cross, resurrection, and ascension. Many commentators in the Reformed tradition are reported to adopt this reading.
- A future event: Futurist interpretations, such as dispensationalism, read the scene as an event that will take place during the Great Tribulation at the end of the age.
Debates and Issues
The disagreement over timing is not confined to this one verse. It is bound up with how various denominations and scholars understand the millennium and eschatology. Nevertheless, there is little disagreement among denominations that the dragon is the Devil.
The phrase "which deceiveth" translates a Greek term meaning "one who deceives," and "the whole world" refers to the entire inhabited world. Among Korean Bible translations, the Revised Korean Version (New Revised) changed the older Korean Revised Version's spelling "Sadan" to "Satan."
Some interpreters map the symbols of chapter 12 directly onto particular modern individuals or groups. Major denominations have criticized such readings as interpretation divorced from context.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant preaching on spiritual warfare, the verse is commonly cited to explain the identity of the Devil. It is also used to emphasize that the Devil is already a defeated foe. It is often read together with Ephesians 6:10–18 and James 4:7.
Related Passages
See also 8
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