A Third of the Stars of Heaven
“And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:” (Rev 12:4a KJV)
Many see this as the original fall of Satan when he persuaded a third of the angels to follow him. This could be true even is this passage is not a parenthetical account of past events. It could just be identifying what he had done. It could also refer to his destructive power against those that oppose him. If this is the case, John could be using the angels as examples of Satan’s destructive power.
To Devour Her Child
“and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” (Rev 12:4b KJV)
Satan’s goal is always to destroy everything that is God’s. Some see this as Satan’s attempt to destroy the newborn Jesus, referring to the events of Herod.
“16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”
(Mat 2:16-18 KJV)
One problem with this interpretation is that it places a past event in the future sequence of Revelation. This view would work only if chapter 12 is a parenthesis, but there’s nothing in the visions to indicate that this is a past event. This could also refer to the 144,000, which we see in heaven in chapter 14.