She brought forth a male child: the Greek text says “She gave birth to a son, a male,” which is quite redundant. New Revised Standard Version has “She gave birth to a son, a male child,” an expression that sounds odd in English. Most translations are like Good News Translation; New Jerusalem Bible is able to make it fairly natural, “The woman was delivered of a boy, the son who was…,” and in other languages one may translate in a manner similar to Good News Bible and say “The woman gave birth to a son who will….”

One who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: this uses the language of Psa 2.9 and portrays the child as the Messiah, the one who is chosen by God to rule the world (see also Rev 2.27; 19.15). The Greek auxiliary verb translated is to may indicate that this will happen soon, or that this is in accordance with God’s will; so Revised English Bible “who is destined to rule” (see comments on the verb translated “are about to” in 2.10). The expression to rule … with a rod of iron means to rule with complete authority, ruthlessly defeating all enemies. For the verb translated to rule see 2.27. All the nations may be expressed as “all the people on the earth.”

But: instead of being devoured by the dragon, the newborn child was snatched up to heaven. It may be necessary to state this quite explicitly: “But the dragon did not devour the child (or, boy); instead it (or, he) was snatched up to God.”

Was caught up to God: the passive is used quite deliberately. If an active form must be used, something like “an angel carried the child up…” or “an angel snatched up the child and took him to God…” may be said; or else, with God as agent, “God caused the child to go up….” This same verb in the passive is used in similar contexts in Acts 8.39; 2 Cor 12.2-3; 1 Thes 4.17.

To God and to his throne: not only is the child taken up to God, but to God as the supreme ruler of the universe, to share God’s power. For throne see 1.4b.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule with complete authority over all the people on the earth. But an angel snatched the child (or, boy) up and took him to God and his throne.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .