A sign appears in heaven of a woman about to give birth. The woman represents Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as Israel. Israel will ultimately bloom into a Messianic kingdom. Both are prophesied and are part of God’s plan, and both came or will come about through the birth pangs of labor.
In Revelation 12:1-2Revelation 12:1-2 commentary, commentary John begins to recount his vision by saying, A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (v. 1).
The previous chapter concluded the seven trumpet judgments. With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, “the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” was proclaimed (Revelation 11:15Revelation 11:15 commentary). We are told that John now sees a great sign.
The Greek word translated sign is also used in Matthew 16:4Matthew 16:4 commentary when Jesus refers to His future resurrection as “the sign of Jonah.” Jonah being in a whale for three days is a picture of Jesus being in the grave for three days. The great sign will be a picture that foreshadows future events.
Chapter 12 provides an interlude that appears to provide a context for a telling of the history of the kingdom of God. The scene shifts from a vision of unfolding future events on earth to events in heaven, where John observes a woman clothed with the sun.
This woman we see in heaven will soon be described as representing Israel, the chosen nation through whom the Messiah comes (Isaiah 66:7-8Isaiah 66:7-8 commentary). Her crown of twelve stars can be seen as symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel, hearkening back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9Genesis 37:9 commentary, commentary where the sun, moon, and stars represented his family, with one star, minus the one for Joseph, for each of Jacob’s twelve sons, who in time became the twelve tribes of Israel.
In God’s grand design for His creation, Israel holds a central place in history, woven into the fabric of prophecy. This includes the “seventy weeks” prophecy in Daniel 9:20-27Daniel 9:20-27 commentary which covers a 490-year period. It also includes Jesus’s discourse in Matthew 24Matthew 24 commentary about the end of the age.
Daniel’s prophecy ends with God’s kingdom being proclaimed and the initiation of a time of “everlasting righteousness” on the earth:
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.” (Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:24 commentary)
This prophecy of Daniel will reach its ultimate fulfillment in the last chapters of Revelation.
The “times of the Gentiles” spoken of in Luke 21:24Luke 21:24 commentary represent the current era (as of this writing). This is a time between the end of Daniel’s 69th week and the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week.
The prophesied events of Revelation will largely take place during the seventieth week of Daniel, which will lead up to the end of the age which precedes the inauguration of the kingdom of God. This is the kingdom of God that fills the earth, predicted in Daniel 2:44Daniel 2:44 commentary.
This woman who appears clothed with the sun reminds us that the Messiah is the light of the world (John 8:12John 8:12 commentary). This is true even though a dark period of tribulation is prophesied. Jesus Himself points to Daniel’s “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15Matthew 24:15 commentary) as the triggering sign of the Great Tribulation’s intense three-and-a-half years.
That the woman is clothed with the sun and has the moon under her feet might indicate that the woman not only represents Israel but also Israel’s fullness, which will occur when Christ reigns in His kingdom. This will be the kingdom made without human hands prophesied in Daniel 2:44Daniel 2:44 commentary.
In Jewish tradition, it is held that everything that occurs to Israel also occurs to the Messiah. For example, both Israel and Jesus were called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15Matthew 2:15 commentary). Israel was tested in the wilderness for forty years, and Jesus was tested for forty days. Israel was exiled but will return and have all promises fulfilled, and Jesus ascended to heaven and will return and fulfill all prophecies. Therefore, we can interpret this great sign as both a historical reality (what was) as well as a future prediction (what is to come).
The culmination of this age, the ushering in of the kingdom of God, can only take place because of the advent of Jesus coming to earth. We now are reminded of the centrality of Christ’s coming by the story that is represented by the great sign that appeared in heaven.
John relays that he saw the woman, and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth (v. 2).
Historically, the child is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, born into the lineage of Israel around 4 BC. The woman can be viewed not only as representing Israel, but also Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary was a human, and this signals that she suffered labor pains like any other woman. The story of her giving birth and the miraculous events that followed are recorded in Luke 2Luke 2 commentary. We know she also suffered to see her son persecuted, as was foretold to her (Luke 2:35Luke 2:35 commentary).
With respect to the forward-looking application to the woman as representing Israel, the labor pains (the pains a woman has when giving birth) symbolize a pattern of painful trials which get closer together and stronger as time goes along. We can recall Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:8Matthew 24:8 commentary describing the last days as the “beginning of birth pangs.”
These birth pangs can be connected to the final “week” (7 years) of Daniel 9:27Daniel 9:27 commentary, commentary where the Antichrist’s covenant with Israel will be broken halfway through, resulting in 42 months (Revelation 13:5Revelation 13:5 commentary) of intense conflict—appropriately called by Jesus a time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21Matthew 24:21 commentary). Just as literal birth pains intensify before new life emerges, so spiritual birth pains will intensify before the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom on earth.
In the next section, we will see Satan’s furious attempts to consume the woman’s child in a monumental clash between the throne/authority of God and the throne/authority of Satan.
We are reminded throughout Revelation that no matter how tumultuous earthly events become, God is on the throne. The word “throne” appears thirty-seven times in Revelation, and most often refers to God’s seat of power. One of the primary themes of Revelation is that God is always in control. All the events of Revelation are authorized by God; nothing happens unless He authorizes it to be allowed to happen. Several examples follow:
God granted a crown (authority) to the white horse in the judgement of Revelation 6:2Revelation 6:2 commentary.
He granted authority to the red horse to judge the earth in Revelation 6:4Revelation 6:4 commentary.
Authority was given to the ashen horse to bring judgment upon the earth in Revelation 6:8Revelation 6:8 commentary.
The key to open the abyss was granted to the angel who fell from heaven in Revelation 9:1Revelation 9:1 commentary.
In Revelation 7:2-3Revelation 7:2-3 commentary, commentary four angels are “granted” to harm the earth, but are restrained until the servants of God are sealed.
This reassurance should give hope that when the world is in chaos, believers should look to the throne room of God for hope (Hebrews 4:16Hebrews 4:16 commentary). The imagery of the sun, and the moon under her feet indicates that the Messiah of Israel will reign over the cosmos. And, in fact, Jesus stated that all authority was given unto Him in heaven and in earth. He will reign not only over Israel; He will reign over all (Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18 commentary).
In the midst of these painful labor contractions, foreshadowing the darkest times of tribulation, God’s servants’ hope remains anchored in the knowledge that God’s scroll (Revelation 5:1-5Revelation 5:1-5 commentary) is being unsealed only by the worthiness of Jesus. Because He is worthy, this age is able to come to an end and a full restoration can begin.
Even the tribulation is part of God’s plan to bring all things to completion (Daniel 9:24-27Daniel 9:24-27 commentary). In this way, believers of every generation can trust that though the world’s turmoil may escalate, the outcome is secure: God will vanquish evil, redeem Israel, and usher in His kingdom where every tear is wiped away (Revelation 7:17Revelation 7:17 commentary).
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Revelation 12:1-2 meaning
In Revelation 12:1-2Revelation 12:1-2 commentary, commentary John begins to recount his vision by saying, A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (v. 1).
The previous chapter concluded the seven trumpet judgments. With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, “the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” was proclaimed (Revelation 11:15Revelation 11:15 commentary). We are told that John now sees a great sign.
The Greek word translated sign is also used in Matthew 16:4Matthew 16:4 commentary when Jesus refers to His future resurrection as “the sign of Jonah.” Jonah being in a whale for three days is a picture of Jesus being in the grave for three days. The great sign will be a picture that foreshadows future events.
Chapter 12 provides an interlude that appears to provide a context for a telling of the history of the kingdom of God. The scene shifts from a vision of unfolding future events on earth to events in heaven, where John observes a woman clothed with the sun.
This woman we see in heaven will soon be described as representing Israel, the chosen nation through whom the Messiah comes (Isaiah 66:7-8Isaiah 66:7-8 commentary). Her crown of twelve stars can be seen as symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel, hearkening back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9Genesis 37:9 commentary, commentary where the sun, moon, and stars represented his family, with one star, minus the one for Joseph, for each of Jacob’s twelve sons, who in time became the twelve tribes of Israel.
In God’s grand design for His creation, Israel holds a central place in history, woven into the fabric of prophecy. This includes the “seventy weeks” prophecy in Daniel 9:20-27Daniel 9:20-27 commentary which covers a 490-year period. It also includes Jesus’s discourse in Matthew 24Matthew 24 commentary about the end of the age.
Daniel’s prophecy ends with God’s kingdom being proclaimed and the initiation of a time of “everlasting righteousness” on the earth:
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.”
(Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:24 commentary)
This prophecy of Daniel will reach its ultimate fulfillment in the last chapters of Revelation.
The “times of the Gentiles” spoken of in Luke 21:24Luke 21:24 commentary represent the current era (as of this writing). This is a time between the end of Daniel’s 69th week and the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week.
The prophesied events of Revelation will largely take place during the seventieth week of Daniel, which will lead up to the end of the age which precedes the inauguration of the kingdom of God. This is the kingdom of God that fills the earth, predicted in Daniel 2:44Daniel 2:44 commentary.
This woman who appears clothed with the sun reminds us that the Messiah is the light of the world (John 8:12John 8:12 commentary). This is true even though a dark period of tribulation is prophesied. Jesus Himself points to Daniel’s “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15Matthew 24:15 commentary) as the triggering sign of the Great Tribulation’s intense three-and-a-half years.
That the woman is clothed with the sun and has the moon under her feet might indicate that the woman not only represents Israel but also Israel’s fullness, which will occur when Christ reigns in His kingdom. This will be the kingdom made without human hands prophesied in Daniel 2:44Daniel 2:44 commentary.
In Jewish tradition, it is held that everything that occurs to Israel also occurs to the Messiah. For example, both Israel and Jesus were called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15Matthew 2:15 commentary). Israel was tested in the wilderness for forty years, and Jesus was tested for forty days. Israel was exiled but will return and have all promises fulfilled, and Jesus ascended to heaven and will return and fulfill all prophecies. Therefore, we can interpret this great sign as both a historical reality (what was) as well as a future prediction (what is to come).
The culmination of this age, the ushering in of the kingdom of God, can only take place because of the advent of Jesus coming to earth. We now are reminded of the centrality of Christ’s coming by the story that is represented by the great sign that appeared in heaven.
John relays that he saw the woman, and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth (v. 2).
Historically, the child is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, born into the lineage of Israel around 4 BC. The woman can be viewed not only as representing Israel, but also Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary was a human, and this signals that she suffered labor pains like any other woman. The story of her giving birth and the miraculous events that followed are recorded in Luke 2Luke 2 commentary. We know she also suffered to see her son persecuted, as was foretold to her (Luke 2:35Luke 2:35 commentary).
With respect to the forward-looking application to the woman as representing Israel, the labor pains (the pains a woman has when giving birth) symbolize a pattern of painful trials which get closer together and stronger as time goes along. We can recall Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:8Matthew 24:8 commentary describing the last days as the “beginning of birth pangs.”
These birth pangs can be connected to the final “week” (7 years) of Daniel 9:27Daniel 9:27 commentary, commentary where the Antichrist’s covenant with Israel will be broken halfway through, resulting in 42 months (Revelation 13:5Revelation 13:5 commentary) of intense conflict—appropriately called by Jesus a time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21Matthew 24:21 commentary). Just as literal birth pains intensify before new life emerges, so spiritual birth pains will intensify before the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom on earth.
In the next section, we will see Satan’s furious attempts to consume the woman’s child in a monumental clash between the throne/authority of God and the throne/authority of Satan.
We are reminded throughout Revelation that no matter how tumultuous earthly events become, God is on the throne. The word “throne” appears thirty-seven times in Revelation, and most often refers to God’s seat of power. One of the primary themes of Revelation is that God is always in control. All the events of Revelation are authorized by God; nothing happens unless He authorizes it to be allowed to happen. Several examples follow:
This reassurance should give hope that when the world is in chaos, believers should look to the throne room of God for hope (Hebrews 4:16Hebrews 4:16 commentary). The imagery of the sun, and the moon under her feet indicates that the Messiah of Israel will reign over the cosmos. And, in fact, Jesus stated that all authority was given unto Him in heaven and in earth. He will reign not only over Israel; He will reign over all (Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18 commentary).
In the midst of these painful labor contractions, foreshadowing the darkest times of tribulation, God’s servants’ hope remains anchored in the knowledge that God’s scroll (Revelation 5:1-5Revelation 5:1-5 commentary) is being unsealed only by the worthiness of Jesus. Because He is worthy, this age is able to come to an end and a full restoration can begin.
Even the tribulation is part of God’s plan to bring all things to completion (Daniel 9:24-27Daniel 9:24-27 commentary). In this way, believers of every generation can trust that though the world’s turmoil may escalate, the outcome is secure: God will vanquish evil, redeem Israel, and usher in His kingdom where every tear is wiped away (Revelation 7:17Revelation 7:17 commentary).