"A great sign appeared in heaven," namely "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." The "woman" is Israel. The "sun," "moon," and "stars" represent the glory and power promised to Israel in the coming kingdom, just as they symbolized Joseph's rule over his father, mother, and brothers [Gen 37:9-11].
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-07-04 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
The Dragon, the Woman and the Child
[Verse 1]. After the temple of God and the ark of His covenant [Rev 11:19] “a great sign appeared in heaven”. This sign connects to the temple and the ark. The temple and the ark are the center of God’s earthly people Israel. The great sign in heaven refers to Israel. The sign is ‘in heaven’, for it represents God’s plan with Israel according to His counsel [Rom 11:29] and is therefore something that is fixed in His heavenly counsel.
The woman represents in several places in this book a company of people or a system. In this way there is mention of Jezebel [Rev 2:20], which is papacy, the great harlot [Rev 17:1-6], and also professing Christianity which is closely connected to papacy. In that way, there is also mention of the bride [Rev 19-22], which is the glorified church. Here the woman represents Israel. You can derive that from the characteristics. She is presented as God purposes her to be. In the time of the birth of the Child, which is the subject of the following verses, this was not so, for then Israel was under the yoke of Rome.
Israel is “clothed with the sun”. The sun is a picture of the highest authority on earth (cf. [Ps 104:2]). It has always been God’s purpose to make Israel head of all nations [Deut 28:1]. That is emphasized by “the moon under her feet”. You can derive from that, that all earthly powers in the millennial kingdom of peace acknowledge the authority of Israel. Also the “crown of twelve stars” she is wearing, testifies to her glory. It is very well possible that the twelve stars represent the twelve tribes as channels through which the blessing of God in the millennial kingdom will flow to all parts of the earth.
[Verse 2]. After this glorious perspective for the future something curious about the woman is noticed: “She was with child.” Moreover, her pregnancy has come to the stage of giving birth: “She cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”.
This description gives a look back to the past and looks forward to the future. On the one hand you go back in time, namely, to the birth of the Lord Jesus from the people of Israel [Isa 9:6]; [Mic 5:2]. On the other hand you go to the future, for the labor pains, which refer to the time of the great tribulation [Matt 24:15-21], are still to come. Nevertheless, the labor pains announce new life. This new life refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus, His second coming of course. That coming is seen as a new birth.
This is why, for example, it says so remarkably in another place that He will come from – and not: to – Zion [Rom 11:26]. It is as if the people have given birth to Him only then. That is the moment that God “again brings the firstborn into the world” [Heb 1:6]. He will not come again as a defenseless Babe Who is rejected, but as the Ruler.
To understand this representation of matters well, it is important to see that the intervening age of the church is not taken into account. Here at one time you switch from the past, where so many promises are made, to the future for the fulfillment of those promises. In the past the promises could not be fulfilled because of the unfaithfulness of Israel and the rejection of the Lord Jesus. In the future those promises will all be fulfilled on the basis of the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus. In this chapter you see how that will come to pass.
[Verse 3]. After the sign of Israel you see that “another sign appeared in heaven”. This other sign is the “dragon” or satan. His color is “red”, which represents the color of the blood of his many victims. It indicates the murderous activities of this enemy of God.
He has also “seven heads” with a crown on each head and “ten horns”. You can find the explanation of that later in Revelation 13 and 17 [Rev 13:1]; [Rev 17:3], [Rev 17:7-12]. These chapters deal with the Roman empire. In the description here the emphasis is on the satanic power that is hidden behind this empire. The heads represent both extraordinary intelligence and power. The crowns on the head point to the royal position claimed by the dragon. The horns refer to power and strength.
[Verse 4]. As has already been shown, the tail represent lies and false teachings [Rev 9:10]; [Isa 9:14]. These false teachings are spread by the dragon through the antichrist, the false prophet. “A third of the stars of heaven” that are dragged by his false teachings can refer to those who have a leading position in the Roman empire. They may be light bearers who will bring what is called Christian teaching after the rapture of the church.
After you have seen the dragon in his devouring and deceptive work you see him standing before the woman who is about to give birth. His intention is to devour the Child Whom she will give birth to, as soon as It has been born. Here you see what you read in the Gospel according to Matthew about the attempt of Herod to kill the Lord Jesus when he hears about His birth [Matt 2:13-16].
[Verse 5]. Here the birth of the Lord Jesus is first described and then the purpose of His birth: His government over all nations. But because He is hated and rejected, God takes away His Son, to Himself and to His throne. That has taken place at the ascension.
[Verse 6]. You read nothing in this chapter about the time of the church. The church is not a subject of the prophecy. The Christian period is skipped. We suddenly find ourselves in [Verse 6] in the time of the great tribulation, which is in the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel 9 [Dan 9:24-27]. Therefore, the next action of God is linked to the flight of the woman, lest she fall prey to the dragon. Here the woman represents the people of Israel, but particularly that part of Israel that is connected to God, which is the believing remnant.
God protects the woman against the persecutor by providing her with a hiding place. In that place he nourishes her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is three and a half years (one month has thirty days). The fact that there is mention of “days” indicates the daily care of God for His own. They will pray the prayer “give us this day our daily bread” [Matt 6:11] in the truest sense of the word. It seems much like Moab is the place where they experience His care and sustenance every day [Ps 60:8]; [Ps 108:9]; [Isa 16:4].
The woman represents in several places in this book a company of people or a system. In this way there is mention of Jezebel [Rev 2:20], which is papacy, the great harlot [Rev 17:1-6], and also professing Christianity which is closely connected to papacy. In that way, there is also mention of the bride [Rev 19-22], which is the glorified church. Here the woman represents Israel. You can derive that from the characteristics. She is presented as God purposes her to be. In the time of the birth of the Child, which is the subject of the following verses, this was not so, for then Israel was under the yoke of Rome.
Israel is “clothed with the sun”. The sun is a picture of the highest authority on earth (cf. [Ps 104:2]). It has always been God’s purpose to make Israel head of all nations [Deut 28:1]. That is emphasized by “the moon under her feet”. You can derive from that, that all earthly powers in the millennial kingdom of peace acknowledge the authority of Israel. Also the “crown of twelve stars” she is wearing, testifies to her glory. It is very well possible that the twelve stars represent the twelve tribes as channels through which the blessing of God in the millennial kingdom will flow to all parts of the earth.
[Verse 2]. After this glorious perspective for the future something curious about the woman is noticed: “She was with child.” Moreover, her pregnancy has come to the stage of giving birth: “She cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.”.
This description gives a look back to the past and looks forward to the future. On the one hand you go back in time, namely, to the birth of the Lord Jesus from the people of Israel [Isa 9:6]; [Mic 5:2]. On the other hand you go to the future, for the labor pains, which refer to the time of the great tribulation [Matt 24:15-21], are still to come. Nevertheless, the labor pains announce new life. This new life refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus, His second coming of course. That coming is seen as a new birth.
This is why, for example, it says so remarkably in another place that He will come from – and not: to – Zion [Rom 11:26]. It is as if the people have given birth to Him only then. That is the moment that God “again brings the firstborn into the world” [Heb 1:6]. He will not come again as a defenseless Babe Who is rejected, but as the Ruler.
To understand this representation of matters well, it is important to see that the intervening age of the church is not taken into account. Here at one time you switch from the past, where so many promises are made, to the future for the fulfillment of those promises. In the past the promises could not be fulfilled because of the unfaithfulness of Israel and the rejection of the Lord Jesus. In the future those promises will all be fulfilled on the basis of the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus. In this chapter you see how that will come to pass.
[Verse 3]. After the sign of Israel you see that “another sign appeared in heaven”. This other sign is the “dragon” or satan. His color is “red”, which represents the color of the blood of his many victims. It indicates the murderous activities of this enemy of God.
He has also “seven heads” with a crown on each head and “ten horns”. You can find the explanation of that later in Revelation 13 and 17 [Rev 13:1]; [Rev 17:3], [Rev 17:7-12]. These chapters deal with the Roman empire. In the description here the emphasis is on the satanic power that is hidden behind this empire. The heads represent both extraordinary intelligence and power. The crowns on the head point to the royal position claimed by the dragon. The horns refer to power and strength.
[Verse 4]. As has already been shown, the tail represent lies and false teachings [Rev 9:10]; [Isa 9:14]. These false teachings are spread by the dragon through the antichrist, the false prophet. “A third of the stars of heaven” that are dragged by his false teachings can refer to those who have a leading position in the Roman empire. They may be light bearers who will bring what is called Christian teaching after the rapture of the church.
After you have seen the dragon in his devouring and deceptive work you see him standing before the woman who is about to give birth. His intention is to devour the Child Whom she will give birth to, as soon as It has been born. Here you see what you read in the Gospel according to Matthew about the attempt of Herod to kill the Lord Jesus when he hears about His birth [Matt 2:13-16].
[Verse 5]. Here the birth of the Lord Jesus is first described and then the purpose of His birth: His government over all nations. But because He is hated and rejected, God takes away His Son, to Himself and to His throne. That has taken place at the ascension.
[Verse 6]. You read nothing in this chapter about the time of the church. The church is not a subject of the prophecy. The Christian period is skipped. We suddenly find ourselves in [Verse 6] in the time of the great tribulation, which is in the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel 9 [Dan 9:24-27]. Therefore, the next action of God is linked to the flight of the woman, lest she fall prey to the dragon. Here the woman represents the people of Israel, but particularly that part of Israel that is connected to God, which is the believing remnant.
God protects the woman against the persecutor by providing her with a hiding place. In that place he nourishes her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is three and a half years (one month has thirty days). The fact that there is mention of “days” indicates the daily care of God for His own. They will pray the prayer “give us this day our daily bread” [Matt 6:11] in the truest sense of the word. It seems much like Moab is the place where they experience His care and sustenance every day [Ps 60:8]; [Ps 108:9]; [Isa 16:4].
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-6
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, 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. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-02-08 Source: Title: Revelation Author: Ger de Koning |
The church, under the emblem of a woman, the mother of believers, was seen by the apostle in vision, in heaven. She was clothed with the sun, justified, sanctified, and shining by union with Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. The moon was under her feet; she was superior to the reflected and feebler light of the revelation made by Moses. Having on her head a crown of twelve stars; the doctrine of the gospel, preached by the twelve apostles, is a crown of glory to all true believers. As in pain to bring forth a holy family; desirous that the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion. A dragon is a known emblem of Satan, and his chief agents, or those who govern for him on earth, at that time the pagan empire of Rome, the city built upon seven hills. As having ten horns, divided into ten kingdoms. Having seven crowns, representing seven forms of government. As drawing with his tail a third part of the stars in heaven, and casting them down to the earth; persecuting and seducing the ministers and teachers. As watchful to crush the Christian religion; but in spite of the opposition of enemies, the church brought forth a manly issue of true and faithful professors, in whom Christ was truly formed anew; even the mystery of Christ, that Son of God who should rule the nations, and in whose right his members partake the same glory. This blessed offspring was protected of God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-6
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, 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. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. By this woman, interpreters commonly understand the Church of Christ, shining with the light of faith, under the protection of the sun of justice, Jesus Christ. The moon, the Church, hath all changeable things of this world under her feet, the affections of the faithful being raised above them all. — A woman: the Church of God. It may also, by allusion, be applied to our blessed Lady[the Virgin Mary]. The Church is clothed with the sun, that is, with Christ: she hath the moon, that is, the changeable things of the world, under her feet; and the twelve stars with which she is crowned, are the twelve apostles: she is in labour and pain, whilst she brings forth her children, and Christ in them, in the midst of afflictions and persecutions. (Challoner) — Under the figure of a woman and of a dragon, are represented the various attempts of Satan to undermine the Church. — On her head….twelve stars, her doctrine being delivered by the twelve apostles and their successors. (Witham)
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
Who is this woman who has this description? And who gave birth to the Son? Who was resisted by Satan, and fled away from him? And whom he is still resisting, together with her descendants, until he is thrown in the lake burning with fire?
The early Fathers confirm that this woman who gave birth to the Lord Jesus is the Church. She is the community of the believers, since the time of the patriarchs, or since Adam to the end of ages.
Bishop Victorianus said, [It is the Church of the patriarchs, the prophets, the saints, and the apostles who were characterized by their sighing and pains, longing to see the Lord Jesus, who is the Fruit of her people in flesh, promised to them long time ago. He took His body from the same people. Her clothing with the sun indicates the hope of resurrection and the glory of the promise. The moon (under her feet) refers to the falling of the bodies of the saints under the forced endless death... And they are shining as the moon in darkness... The garland of twelve stars is the group of the patriarchs from whom the Lord Jesus took the body.]
Unfortunately, some western scholars took the following interpretation in a deformed image, and were imitated by some from the east. They say that this woman is the Jewish people, and that the following chapters [Rev 12-14] concern the Jews.
It is proper for us to understand "the Church," through the right understanding of the early Fathers, taken from the previous interpretation. That the woman is "the Church of the patriarchs, the prophets, the saints, and the apostles..."
The Church started with Adam, and the patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Enoch entered its membership. At the time of Moses’ Law, the Jewish people with some of the Gentiles who were converted to Judaism, joined the Church. In that period the Lord Jesus came incarnated from the Church, the Church of the Old Testament, from the Jews. Yet the Jews left the membership of the Church, deviating from faith and refusing salvation. They are not any more believers, or a Church or the spiritual Israel. They became unbelievers, but the Church's door was not closed. She had not died by their death, or deviated, but the Gentiles entered as an extension to the Church. Hence the talk about the woman concerns the Church. The one Church that is beyond the limits of time and race. Thereon, in this chapter, the talk concerns the Church, since its origination until the end of generations.
When we say "Church," we cannot separate her from the virgin Mary, to whom we are bound in the person of Jesus Christ, as mother of all the living (1). She also is, as the early Fathers say, the woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, for the Lord Jesus, the sun of righteousness dwelled in her, and she got a heavenly glory, she who gave birth to the Firstborn Son (2).
In the same spirit, and without windings, we say that what the Apostle saw here concerns the Church of the New Testament, because it is not separated from the Church of the Old Testament, nor independent of her. The patriarchs of the Old Testament, the prophets, the Law and the promises are all related to her.
So though the Lord Jesus has come incarnated from the Virgin Mary, or from the Jews, yet we can say that He came incarnated from the Church, who is proud of the membership of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin who extended backwards, until she contained in her membership, all those from whom the Lord came incarnated.
Father Hyppolitus (3) says: [It is very clear that, by the woman clothed with the sun, he meant ‘the Church that the Father sent the Word to, thus as her splendor surpasses the sun.’ By saying, "the moon under her feet," he points to her being transfigured with heavenly glory, which surpasses the moon. And the expression "on her head a garland of twelve stars," indicates the twelve apostles who established the Church. As for the saying, that for her Son she "cried out in labor and in pain to give birth," he means that the Church will never cease to carry in her heart the Word, whom the unbelievers persecute.]
This is the Church that the Lord has described saying, "Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?" [Song 6:10].
The early Fathers confirm that this woman who gave birth to the Lord Jesus is the Church. She is the community of the believers, since the time of the patriarchs, or since Adam to the end of ages.
Bishop Victorianus said, [It is the Church of the patriarchs, the prophets, the saints, and the apostles who were characterized by their sighing and pains, longing to see the Lord Jesus, who is the Fruit of her people in flesh, promised to them long time ago. He took His body from the same people. Her clothing with the sun indicates the hope of resurrection and the glory of the promise. The moon (under her feet) refers to the falling of the bodies of the saints under the forced endless death... And they are shining as the moon in darkness... The garland of twelve stars is the group of the patriarchs from whom the Lord Jesus took the body.]
Unfortunately, some western scholars took the following interpretation in a deformed image, and were imitated by some from the east. They say that this woman is the Jewish people, and that the following chapters [Rev 12-14] concern the Jews.
It is proper for us to understand "the Church," through the right understanding of the early Fathers, taken from the previous interpretation. That the woman is "the Church of the patriarchs, the prophets, the saints, and the apostles..."
The Church started with Adam, and the patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Enoch entered its membership. At the time of Moses’ Law, the Jewish people with some of the Gentiles who were converted to Judaism, joined the Church. In that period the Lord Jesus came incarnated from the Church, the Church of the Old Testament, from the Jews. Yet the Jews left the membership of the Church, deviating from faith and refusing salvation. They are not any more believers, or a Church or the spiritual Israel. They became unbelievers, but the Church's door was not closed. She had not died by their death, or deviated, but the Gentiles entered as an extension to the Church. Hence the talk about the woman concerns the Church. The one Church that is beyond the limits of time and race. Thereon, in this chapter, the talk concerns the Church, since its origination until the end of generations.
When we say "Church," we cannot separate her from the virgin Mary, to whom we are bound in the person of Jesus Christ, as mother of all the living (1). She also is, as the early Fathers say, the woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, for the Lord Jesus, the sun of righteousness dwelled in her, and she got a heavenly glory, she who gave birth to the Firstborn Son (2).
In the same spirit, and without windings, we say that what the Apostle saw here concerns the Church of the New Testament, because it is not separated from the Church of the Old Testament, nor independent of her. The patriarchs of the Old Testament, the prophets, the Law and the promises are all related to her.
So though the Lord Jesus has come incarnated from the Virgin Mary, or from the Jews, yet we can say that He came incarnated from the Church, who is proud of the membership of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin who extended backwards, until she contained in her membership, all those from whom the Lord came incarnated.
Father Hyppolitus (3) says: [It is very clear that, by the woman clothed with the sun, he meant ‘the Church that the Father sent the Word to, thus as her splendor surpasses the sun.’ By saying, "the moon under her feet," he points to her being transfigured with heavenly glory, which surpasses the moon. And the expression "on her head a garland of twelve stars," indicates the twelve apostles who established the Church. As for the saying, that for her Son she "cried out in labor and in pain to give birth," he means that the Church will never cease to carry in her heart the Word, whom the unbelievers persecute.]
This is the Church that the Lord has described saying, "Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?" [Song 6:10].
Footnote
(1) The Theotokia of Tuesday: part three, fifth paragraph.
(2) Cf. Ante Nicence Fathers, vol., 6, p. 355.
(3) A Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, 60 & 61.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-14 Source: Title: The book of Revelation Year (original): 1996 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 257 Publisher/Editor: St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria Print: Anba Reuis Press, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt Translation: Victoria and Ramzy Malaty |
The woman clothed with the sun, and having the moon under her feet, and wearing a crown of twelve stars upon her head, and travailing in her pains, is the ancient Church of fathers, and prophets, and saints, and apostles, which had the groans and torments of its longing until it saw that Christ, the fruit of its people according to the flesh long promised to it, had taken flesh out of the selfsame people. Moreover, being clothed with the sun intimates the hope of resurrection and the glory of the promise. And the moon intimates the fall of the bodies of the saints under the obligation of death, which never can fail. For even as life is diminished, so also it is increased. Nor is the hope of those that sleep extinguished absolutely, as some think, but they have in their darkness a light such as the moon. And the crown of twelve stars signifies the choir of fathers, according to the fleshly birth, of whom Christ was to take flesh.
 | Author: Victorinus of Pettau AD: 303 |
-Exhortation to the Cultivation of Virginity; A Passage from the Apocalypse is Proposed to Be Examined.
John, in the course of the Apocalypse, says:
 | Author: Methodius of Olympus Rank: Bishop AD: 311 |
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the saints of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus."
 | Author: Hippolytus of Rome Rank: Author AD: 235 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
