Revelation 12

As we enter chapter 12, John is shown a vision — a spiritual "behind the scenes" of what is about to take place on the earth. God shows what is happening spiritually before showing what happens materially.¶

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains... And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon... And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

Revelation 12:1-5 (ESV)¶

Who is the woman?¶

This is described as a great sign — something important. So who is the woman who gives birth to a male child? Some believe this is Mary, the mother of Jesus, and a lot of it sounds that way at first glance (I believe intentionally). But the woman in this vision experiences things Mary did not: verses 5-6 say the child was caught up to God, and then the woman flees to the wilderness for 1,260 days — Mary fled before Christ ascended, so the order is wrong. The 1,260 days also point us to the same period as the two witnesses in chapter 11.¶

Some believe the woman is the church (where I was leaning as I studied) — the devil has tried to destroy the church even before it was formed. But the biggest problem is that the church did not give birth to Jesus; rather, Christ is the builder of the church. So I believe the woman represents the nation of Israel. Verse 1's sun, moon, and stars are almost a direct reference to Joseph's dream (Genesis 37:9) — but with 12 stars, not 11, showing completeness: the patriarchs, matriarchs, and all the tribes. It was through Israel that the male child, the Messiah, came (past tense): "her child was caught up to God."¶

Notice the tenses: she gave birth (past) to a male child, one who is to rule (future); her child was caught up (past); the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared (past), in which she is to be nourished (future) for 1,260 days. Jesus came through the Jews and died and rose in the past, but the woman (Israel) is here in the present/future. So the male child is an image of Jesus — "one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron" (the same terms as Revelation 2:27, and Psalm 2:9) — and the woman is Israel. Since the theme throughout this book is a revelation of Jesus to the Jews, this makes sense.¶

God has not given up on Israel¶

The Jews will understand this imagery clearly — they would see themselves as the woman, recognize the references, remember Joseph saving Israel from famine, and recognize that God is doing this again.¶

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";

Romans 11:25-26 (ESV)¶

The beauty of this book is that God has not given up on those who hardened their hearts to him. Everything he gave them — the prophets, the signs, the manna, the pillar of fire, the promised land — they rejected; and yet "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:28-31). Praise God for his loving patience — not just for the Jews but for the world. His will is that none perish but that all reach repentance (2 Peter 3:8-9).¶