1 And there appeared a great sign in heaven, in the likeness of things on the earth;< [ So John sees something in heaven that is like something that will be on the earth. A type or shadow of what will happen. ] a woman [ Who is defined in JST 12:7 as the church of God. ] clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. [ Servants or angels. See JST Rev 1:20 "This is the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand…The seven stars are the servants [KJV angels] of the seven churches" ]

2 And the woman [ The church of God. ] being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And she brought for a man child, [ The kingdom of God and his Christ. For definition see JST 12:7. ] who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; [ The word of God as defined by Lehi in his vision of the Tree of Life. For definition see 1 Ne 11:25 "the rod of iron… was the word of God…" ] and her child was caught up unto God and his throne. [ In summary the church is brought forth in glory and on her head are seven angels or servants similar to the church that has 12 apostles. The church is in embryo and is about to be born, and it cry’s to be brought forth. Then the child or kingdom of God is brought forth. Why so that it could rule with the word of God, and this kingdom that was raised up was acceptable to God such that they were given place on his throne. We see also in this scripture that the child would rule all nations with a rod of iron or the word of God as we noted above. We might ask ourselves what then is the word of God as applied here. May I suggest that it is the Law of God also known as the Ten Commandments which are also called the Torah or the law. It is also interesting to note that George Albert Smith said "The Constitution is as much from God as the Ten Commandments" (General Conference April 1948) The Torah contained the moral and civic laws of the nation of Israel. The U.S. Constitution is God’s political law. Doctrine & Covenants 101:77 says “the laws and constitution of the people… should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh” so the question becomes. Is the constitution of the United States of America currently being used to protect the rights of all flesh through out the world? The answer is no, it is not. It is the destiny of the Constitution of the United States to protect the freedoms of all flesh. ]

4 And there appeared another sign in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, [ Satan As defined in verse 8. ] , having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars [ Angels or servants. ] of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And the dragon [ Satan ] stood before the woman [ The church. ] which was delivered, ready to devour her child [ The kingdom of God. ] after it was born. [ So Satan here seeks to destroy the kingdom of God right after it is created. ]

5 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore years.

6 And there was war in heaven; Michael [ Adam. Definition is found in D&C 107:54 “And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.” So Michael is Adam in the pre-existance. ] and his angels [ Those who were on the same side as Adam, the who was to represent man first on earth. ] fought against the dragon; and the dragon [ Satan ] and his angels fought against Michael;< [ Adam ] [ Summary of Verses 4-6 When and where did this sign take place? It has been identified that this is something that happened in heaven. So it would have been something that happened before Adam was created on this earth because he is referred to here as Michael, suggesting that it happened in the preexistence. ]

7 And the dragon [ Satan ] prevailed not against Michael, [ Adam ] neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, [ So the woman is defined here as the church of God. ] who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ.< [ So we have her delivery or the child birthed at her delivery defined as the kingdom of God and his Christ. ]

8 Neither was there place found in heaven for the great dragon, [ Satan is identified here as the dragon. ] , who was cast out; that old serpent called the devil, and also called Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into earth; and his angels were cast out with him.

9 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; [ So a quick recap here. Satan fights against Michael [ Adam ], the woman [ the church ] and the man child [ the kingdom of God ]. Satan looses as such he is cast out of heaven along with his angels. Remember from JST 12: 1 that this whole scene of the church and kingdom that John saw of the war that took place in the pre-existence was a “sign in heaven in the likeness of things on the earth”. It is a sign, a type, or a pattern of something that will repeat here on the earth. The next thing John sees in this revelation is the same war on earth that Nephi saw. The vision of the war in heaven was given to John as an introduction to the vision of the war on earth, so that John could have a better frame of reference. Understanding what happen in the war in heaven give John more context of what this war is and what it is all about. For the sake of time continue the vision in Rev 13:1. ]

10 For the accuser [ The Hebrew word שטן (satan) means “accuser” or “opponent.” So therefore the word "accuser" also meanst "satan". ] of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 For they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death. Therefore, rejoice O heavens, and ye that dwell in them.

12 And after these things I heard another voice saying, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, yea, and they who dwell upon the islands of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 For when the dragon [ Satan ] saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [ The church. ] which brought forth the man child. [ The kingdom of God and his Christ. ]

14 Therefore, to the woman [ The church. ] were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent casteth out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, [ The church. ] that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helpeth the woman, [ The church. ] and the earth openeth her mouth, and swalloweth up the flood which the dragon [ Satan ] casteth out of his mouth.

17 Therefore, the dragon [ Satan ] was wroth with the woman, [ The church. ] and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.