Revelation 12 in the early church

[Vulgate: Apocalypse]

141 passages quote, allude to, or echo Revelation 12, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17

Revelation 12:1

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:1	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:1	On Christ and Antichrist 61 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:1	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 4 (on Apok Jeh312. 1) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:1	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 5 (on Rev 12, 1) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:1–6	Symposium 8.4 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:1–2	Symposium 8.5 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:1	Symposium 8.6 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:1	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 12:2

She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:2	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:2	On Christ and Antichrist 61 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:2	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.1 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 12:3

Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:3	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:3	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 6 (on Rev 12, 3. 4) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:3	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 49 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Rev 12:3–5	Symposium 8.10 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:3	Symposium 8.13 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:3	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:3	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.3 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:3	Catechetical Lecture 15.15 · Cyril of Jerusalem	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 350
Rev 12:3	Eleven Tractates 1.20 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–385

Revelation 12:4

His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:4	Against Heresies 2.31.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 12:4	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:4	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 49 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Rev 12:4	12 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	250 (the text may be later)
Rev 12:4	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.2 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:4	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.7 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:4	The Conferences 8.8 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 426–429

Revelation 12:5

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:5	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:5	On Christ and Antichrist 61 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:5	Symposium 8.7 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:5	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.3 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 12:6

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:6	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:6	On the Computation of Easter 14 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	243
Rev 12:6	Symposium 8.11 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:6	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.4 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:6	Epitome of the Divine Institutes 66.9 · Lactantius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 314–320
Rev 12:6	Part 4, chapter 13 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 12:7

Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:7	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.6 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:7	Against Arius 3.17 · Marius Victorinus	quotation, high confidence	ca. 357–362
Rev 12:7	Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:52 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Rev 12:7–9	Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 366–384
Rev 12:7	Commentary on Ephesians 1:9–10 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Rev 12:7	Question 113, section 4 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:7	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 39.20.1 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 387-397
Rev 12:7	Part 4, chapter 4 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 12:8

But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:8	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.6 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:9	Papias, Fr. 7 · Papias of Hierapolis	echo, medium confidence	ca. 110-140
Rev 12:9	First Apology 28 · Justin Martyr	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 150–155
Rev 12:9	Dialogue with Trypho 39.6 · Justin Martyr	echo, medium confidence	ca. 155–160
Rev 12:9	Oration to the Greeks 20 · Tatian	echo, low confidence	ca. 165–172
Rev 12:9	To Autolycus 2.28 · Theophilus of Antioch	echo, medium confidence	ca. 180–185
Rev 12:9	The Instructor 3.2.5 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, low confidence	ca. 190–200
Rev 12:9	Exhortation to the Greeks 1.7 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, medium confidence	ca. 190–200
Rev 12:9	Against Heresies 4 pref. 4 · Irenaeus of Lyons	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 180–190
Rev 12:9	Hortatory Address to the Greeks 28 · Anonymous	echo, medium confidence	2nd–3rd century (disputed)
Rev 12:9	On the Shows 16 · Tertullian	allusion, low confidence	ca. 197–202
Rev 12:9	Letters to Virgins 1.5.3 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	3rd century
Rev 12:9	Fragment 33 on Genesis (Gen. 49, 16) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 202-235
Rev 12:9	The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity 2 · Anonymous	echo, low confidence	203
Rev 12:9	Homilies on Ezekiel 6.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Rev 12:9	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.6 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:9	On Free Will 18 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, medium confidence	late 3rd cent. (disputed)
Rev 12:9	Prophetic Extracts 3.7 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	before 325 (probably ca. 310–320)
Rev 12:9	Apology for Origen 10.1 · Pamphilus of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 308–310 (Rufinus's Latin about 397)
Rev 12:9	Preparation for the Gospel 7.10.15 · Eusebius of Caesarea	echo, medium confidence	ca. 313–324
Rev 12:9	Preparation for the Gospel 7.16.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea	echo, medium confidence	ca. 313–324
Rev 12:9	Epitome of the Divine Institutes 22.6 · Lactantius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 314–320
Rev 12:9	On the Witch of Endor 30 · Eustathius of Antioch	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 324–337
Rev 12:9	Life of Constantine 2.46.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea	echo, low confidence	ca. 337–339
Rev 12:9	Catechetical Lecture 4.37 · Cyril of Jerusalem	echo, medium confidence	ca. 350
Rev 12:9	Long recension, Philadelphians 6 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	later 4th century (probable)
Rev 12:9	Tractates on the Psalms 57.3 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 12:9	Oration 4.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 362–383
Rev 12:9–12	Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:8–9 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Rev 12:9	Question 31, section 2 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:9	Question 84, section 3 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, low confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:9	Question 113, section 4 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:9	Question 113, section 7 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:9	Letter 21.11 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 12:9	Letter 78.37 · Jerome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 12:9	Letter 88.1 · Jerome	echo, low confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 12:9	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 37.1.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis	echo, medium confidence	374-377
Rev 12:9	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 37.2.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, medium confidence	374-377
Rev 12:9	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 37.5.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	echo, low confidence	374-377
Rev 12:9	Eleven Tractates 1.20 · Priscillian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–385
Rev 12:9	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 39.17.5 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 387-397
Rev 12:9–10	Tractates on Matthew 8.2 · Chromatius of Aquileia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 388–407
Rev 12:9	Homily 5 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 390–394
Rev 12:9	Sermon 73.2 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 12:9	Poem 15, lines 126–160 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 393–431
Rev 12:9	Poem 19, lines 129–163 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 393–431
Rev 12:9	Letters 1.8 · Paulinus of Nola	echo, medium confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 12:9	Letters 13.15 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 12:9	Letters 18.7 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 394–413
Rev 12:9	Literal Commentary on Genesis 7.10 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 401–415
Rev 12:9	Homilies on the First Epistle of John 6.7 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 407
Rev 12:9	Book 4, lines 76–98 · Sedulius	echo, medium confidence	ca. 425-450
Rev 12:9	Book 4, section 8 · Sedulius	echo, medium confidence	ca. 425-450
Rev 12:9	Part 4, chapter 3 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 12:10

And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:10	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 7 (on Rev 12, 10) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, low confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:10	Fragment 33 on Genesis (Gen. 49, 16) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 202-235
Rev 12:10	On the Soul 35 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 210
Rev 12:10	Homily on 1 Samuel 1.15 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Rev 12:10	Homilies on Leviticus 3.4 · Origen	allusion, low confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Rev 12:10	Homilies on Psalms 36-38 9.5 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Rev 12:10	Divine Institutes 2.8.6 · Lactantius	allusion, low confidence	ca. 303–311
Rev 12:10	Tractates on the Psalms 118.16.7 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Rev 12:10	Question 116, section 2 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:10	Letter 46.7 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Rev 12:10	Exposition of Psalm 118 4.11.1 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386-397
Rev 12:10	Sermon 385.5 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Rev 12:10	Confessions 9.36 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 397–401
Rev 12:10	Apology against Rufinus 2.6 · Jerome	echo, low confidence	ca. 401–402
Rev 12:10	Apology against Jerome 1.19 · Rufinus of Aquileia	echo, low confidence	ca. 401

Revelation 12:11

They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:11	Poem 19, lines 1–33 (XVIIII) · Paulinus of Nola	echo, low confidence	ca. 393–431
Rev 12:11	Part 2, chapter 18 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	echo, low confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 12:12

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:12	Question 115, section 48 · Ambrosiaster	echo, low confidence	ca. 370–384
Rev 12:12	Exposition of Psalm 118 12.10.1 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386-397
Rev 12:12	Tractates 18 · Gaudentius of Brescia	allusion, high confidence	ca. 397-410
Rev 12:12	Part 4, chapter 3 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 12:13

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:13	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:13	On Christ and Antichrist 61 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215

Revelation 12:14

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:14	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:14	On Christ and Antichrist 61 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:14	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 8 (on Rev 12, 14) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:14	Symposium 8.11 · Methodius of Olympus	allusion, medium confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:14	Symposium 8.12 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:14	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.4 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:14	Book of Rules 5 · Tyconius	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 380
Rev 12:14	Part 1, chapter 1 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450
Rev 12:14	Part 2, chapter 28 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, low confidence	ca. 445-450

Revelation 12:15

Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:15	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:15	Against Novatian 14 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	after 251 (disputed)
Rev 12:15	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.5 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 12:16

But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:16	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:16	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 9 (on Rev 12, 16) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:16	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.5 · Victorinus of Pettau	allusion, high confidence	late 3rd century

Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was enraged at the woman and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Rev 12:17	On Christ and Antichrist 60 · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200–215
Rev 12:17	Arabic commentary on the Apocalypse, fragment 10 (on Rev 12, 17) · Hippolytus of Rome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 200-235
Rev 12:17	Commentary on the Apocalypse 12.7 · Victorinus of Pettau	quotation, medium confidence	late 3rd century
Rev 12:17	Letters 29.10 · Paulinus of Nola	echo, low confidence	ca. 394–413