Who understands Revelation 12:1, 2?

Question

Please explain the following terms to me, based on Revelation 12:1, 2...

1. What is the identity of the "woman" seen in heaven?

2. What do the "12 stars" represent?

3. What is meant that the woman John sees is "robed with the sun, has the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of stars"?

4. Why is she "pregnant", and what do the "labor pains" represent?

Please help! I can't understand this verse!!

Please answer the questions individually, thanks!

Pirate and others: Remember, John says in the beginning of Revelation that he's writing of things to take place in the Lord's Day...ie, in the furure, so it can't be talking about the Romans.

Answer 1

She is, of course, not a literal woman. She is a symbol. Whom does she symbolize? In the inspired prophecies, women at times represent organizations “married” to outstanding personalities. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel was spoken of as a wife of God. (Jeremiah 3:14) In the Greek Scriptures (the New Testament), the congregation of anointed Christians is spoken of as Christ’s bride. (Revelation 21:9-14) The woman John here sees is also married to someone, and she is about to give birth. Who is her husband? Well, later her child is “caught away to God and to his throne.” (Revelation 12:5) God thus claims the child as his own. Therefore, the woman that John sees must be God’s symbolic wife.

About 800 years earlier, God addressed this symbolic wife, saying: “All your sons will be persons taught by Yahweh.” (Isaiah 54:5, 13) Jesus quoted this prophecy and showed that these sons were his faithful followers, who later formed the congregation of anointed Christians. (John 6:44, 45) So members of this congregation, spoken of as God’s sons, are also children of God’s symbolic wife. (Romans 8:14) Paul adds the final piece of information when he says: “The Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.” (Galatians 4:26) The “woman” seen by John, then, is “the Jerusalem above”, the symbolic wife of God.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

Most people see this as Judaism or another similar image. I believe that the evidence points to the idea that the woman is the church, and the children are individual believers who make up the church

First, consider that John (the author) calls the church the Lady and her children in other places
(2 John 1:1 THE ELDER, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth)

The number twelve is normally a representative of completeness, but here likely references the twelve apostles references in Chapter 21. When the church is discussed in scripture at the early phase, the Apostles are generically referenced in each way.
(Revelation 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.)
(Ephesians 2:20 (the church) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone)

The woman/church is the image of Christ from Revelation chapter 1. Note the similar descriptions. The Robe of the Sun is like Christ, the crown of Stars are revealed as "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches" Rev 1:20. Again, it is imagery meant for us to see the church

The Labor pains are the tribulations that John is talking about in general in the whole letter. Paul uses this language too in Romans
(Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.(regarding the church))

In prophetic imagery, of which Zecheriah is an excellant example, you will find trying to make specific application to an image may not be accurate; it is better to understand the whole image. The woman is the church, with similar descriptive attributes found throughout scripture.

Answer 3

1. What is the identity of the "woman" seen in heaven?
Heaven is a state of consciousness, and not a place. If you need more, email me, but I know that the labor pains still persist today.

2. What do the "12 stars" represent?
The 12 tribes.

3. What is meant that the woman John sees is "robed with the sun, has the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of stars"?
Robed with the light of understanding, with the "dark" light (untrue sun or source, though it appears to be so) controlled (under her feet), and a crown of infinite beauty, God's idea.

4. Why is she "pregnant", and what do the "labor pains" represent?
Her child is the key to the scriptures and the labor pains is the hate of the world toward her new "child."

Answer 4

1. By what prophetic symbol does Jesus represent His true church?

"I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman." Jeremiah 6:2. "And say unto Zion, Thou art my people." Isaiah 51:16.

Answer: We learned in Study Guide 22 that Jesus symbolizes His true, pure church (Zion) as a pure woman and an apostate church as a harlot. A few other texts which also utilize this symbolism are 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22, 23; and Revelation 19:7, 8.


2. In Revelation 12:1, Jesus symbolizes His church as a woman "clothed with the sun," with "the moon under her feet," and wearing "a crown of twelve stars." What do these symbols mean?


Answer: A. The sun represents Jesus, His gospel, and His righteousness. "The Lord God is a sun." Psalms 84:11. (See also Malachi 4:2.) Without Jesus there is no salvation (Acts 4:12). More than anything else, Jesus wants His church to overflow with His presence and glory.

B. "The moon under her feet" represents the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so the sacrificial system was helpful spiritually only as it reflected light from the Messiah to come (Hebrews 10:1).

C. The "crown of twelve stars" represents the work of the 12 disciples, which crowned the early years of the New Testament church.


This answer is based on a Bible study guide by Amazing Facts Ministry.

http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/BibleStudies/FreeOnlineBibleSchool/tabid/103/Default.aspx

GOD bless

Answer 5

1.) The woman represents all the spirit creatures in heaven who serve God and act as his wife in that they (as a group) serve Him and produce offspring.

2.) The 12 stars represent the fact that everything is organized to complete God's purpose in a heavenly way.

3.) The fact that she is "robed with the sun, has the moon beneath her feet and a crown of stars" shows that this woman has God's favor constantly (His light shines on her at all times).

4.) Her labor pains symbolize the hard work needed to produce an important work. She will give "birth" to the ruler of God's kingdom government which will right all the wrongs which now exist here on earth.

Answer 6

1. The woman represents the eternal church (wheat only, not tares) “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” - Eph 5:31,32.

Also Revelation 21:9 refers to the bride of Christ.


2. The number 12 often represents completeness if it has any spiritual meaning in the Bible and stars are figurative of true believers, so I believe the 12 stars represent all true believers:

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" - Daniel 12:3.


3. The sun, often points to the LORD Jesus Christ; and the moon often a spiritual picture of satan who was defeated at the cross, hence, we see the believers triumping over unbelievers; this vision ties back to a Genesis 3:15:

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. " - Malachi 4:2.


4. The labor pains represent the pain and anguish of the world until Christ's birth as He came to save His people from their sins.


In Summary, I believe the verses are a highly allegorical and spiritual portrait pointing to the Believers victory in Christ.

Answer 7

1.Israel, the “mother” of Jesus (since He came through the Israelites)
2.12 = power; completeness; the 12 tribes
3.Israel is clothed with light like the sun (Israel is the bearer of the Light); standing over the moon = she has privilege, being the bearer of the Messiah; a crown of 12 stars = the 12 tribes of Israel are highly honored
4.She’s pregnant with the Messiah; labor pains = horrible pains because the Messiah is coming onto the scene (remember how Israel was in turmoil when Jesus came onto the earth)

Read the whole chapter in context. The passage is actually the whole story of how the Messiah came into the earth, how Satan tried to destroy Him (remember Herod), how Satan couldn't and missed Him, but now is after Israel and others "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev 12:17). Did you ever wonder why Israel and Christians are the most persecuted of all times?

Answer 8

This is the truth about life of the earth. It is Eve, the 12 stars, are the first 12 to be born of woman, she is pregnant with the first Christ, to whom the red dragon kills.
This is the 1st age, the age when God created him, male and female, not man and woman but male and female/

Revelation 12 is a chronological account of the first 4 Seals, (4 Ages) ending with Noah' s flood go to my yahoo 360 website it will tell of the 7 ages (seals) and the book of Revelation.

Answer 9

Anyone answering is just speculating, because John never translated, so here goes.
The woman is probably Israel, women often represent nations, and Israel is often referenced as a woman in prophetic literature.
The twelve stars are probably either the twelve tribes or the twelve apostles.
I don't know about the sun and moon. In Joseph's dream, Jacob interpreted them as "Your mother and I", but that doesn't seem to make sense here.
The labor pains are probably "the birth pains of the messiah" who is probably the man child who is born.
The birth pains of the messiah is a concept you might want to look into.

Answer 10

these things are to be interpreted according to the previous scriptures throughout the Bible.
.

the woman = the Jewish people
the 12 stars = the Jewish tribes
(check Genesis, where Joseph talks about the dream he had.. using those similar words)
.

robed with the sun = light and righteousness go together
(check scripture references)

the robe stands for righteousness through the Messiah Yeshua
.

the moon = there are many interpretations. whatever the moon represents, it being under the womans feet, means that it is subdued.
(check other scriptures that reference "under foot/feet")
.

the woman being pregnant = about to give birth
(check other scriptures which reference "birth", "the woman, zion, gives birth")

which relates to spiritual birth which means salvation
which represents the Jewish people accepting Jesus as their Savior.
(the apostle Paul in the new testament, according to scriptures in the old testament, believed that the Jews would refuse Jesus, then in future they as a nation would be saved)
.