The Woman Clothed with the Sun: Revelation 12 Explained

Revelation 12

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.

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The woman described in Revelation 12 represents the true, pure church of GodSPCCSR 120.3+2. This symbolic figure appears at the opening of the gospel dispensation, clothed with the glory of the New Testament and standing upon the foundation of the Old Testament Revelation 12:1USLP 21.1+1.

The Symbolism of the Woman

• The Church of God: A virtuous woman is a consistent biblical symbol for the true church of Christ, while a corrupt woman represents an apostate religious power Jeremiah 3:1+1USLP 21.1+2.

• Clothed with the Sun: This represents the light and glory of the gospel dispensation which rose upon the church at the time of ChristUSLP 21.1+2.

• The Moon Under Her Feet: The moon, which shines with a light borrowed from the sun, symbolizes the Mosaic or Jewish dispensationUSLP 21.1+2. Just as the moon is beneath the woman, the types and shadows of the sacrificial law were the foundation upon which the gospel was built, but they were now superseded by the substance, Jesus Christ Hebrews 10:1USLP 21.1+1.

• A Crown of Twelve Stars: These stars represent the twelve inspired apostles who graced the first organization of the Christian churchHST November 15, 1840, page 130.4+3.

The Mission and Conflict

The woman is depicted in travail, representing the church's longing expectation for the advent of the Messiah Revelation 12:2USLP 21.1+1. She brings forth a "man child" who is destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron and is caught up to God’s throne, which is a definitive reference to Jesus Christ Psalms 2:7-9+1USLP 21.1+2.

During this period, a great red dragon—symbolizing Pagan Rome influenced by Satan—stands ready to devour the child as soon as He is born Matthew 2:13-16+1EVRR385+3. When this attempt fails and Christ ascends to heaven, the dragon turns his wrath against the woman herself Revelation 12:13USLP 21.1+2.

The Remnant of Her Seed

The prophecy follows the church through her flight into the wilderness for 1,260 prophetic days or years, during which she is preserved from the face of the serpent Revelation 12:6+1ChSa 179.2+2. In the final days of earth's history, the dragon makes war with the "remnant of her seed," who are identified by two specific characteristics:

1. They keep the commandments of God Revelation 12:17SPCCSR 120.3+2.

2. They have the testimony of Jesus Christ Revelation 12:17SPCCSR 120.3+2.

This remnant remains a small minority, standing firm against the deceptions of Satan until the very end of timeSPCCSR 120.3+1. 🌟

While the specific symbolic imagery of the woman in Revelation 12 is not extensively detailed in the provided materials, the principles of biblical imagery and the mission of the church are central themes. A virtuous woman is a symbol of a pure church, while a vile woman represents an apostate church4SP 233.1.

The Church and Biblical Imagery

• Sacred Representations: The beauty and virtue of the word of God, including its deep imagery, are intended to have a transforming influence upon the mind and characterCT 172.2.

• Bible Imagery: The Holy Spirit fills the heart with "Bible imagery" to be communicated to others, which includes the symbols used in prophecy to represent the church's experiencePaM 109.4+2.

• The Church as a Bride: The church is represented as a bride, the Lamb's wife, and is to be clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness7BC 985.9+2.

The Light of the Church

• Reflecting Christ: The followers of Christ are to reflect His image, acting as the light of the world, much like the sun and moon fulfill their missions in the natural world20MR 342.4+1.

• The Sun of Righteousness: The rising of the "Sun of Righteousness" represents Christ shining in brightness upon His people, fulfilling the types and shadows of the past1MR 111.3+2.

• The Moon as a Symbol: Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, believers are to reflect the light of heaven to a world in darkness1SAT 206.2+1.

The Conflict and the Covenant

• The Two Covenants: Biblical allegory, such as that of Sarah and Hagar, is used to represent the distinction between the old and new covenantsMMM 352.6.

• The Promise to the Seed: The gospel was first revealed in Eden through the promise that the "Seed of the woman" would eventually bruise the serpent’s head1MR 111.3.

• Types and Shadows: Before Christ’s first advent, the plan of salvation was revealed through types and shadows, which reached their fulfillment in His death1MR 111.3+2.

The Final Victory

• Victory Over the Beast: The faithful people of God are eventually seen standing in a "settled glory," having gained a mighty shout of victory over the beast and his imageEW 34.1+1.

• A New Heavens and Earth: Finally, the Holy City comes down from God, and there is no longer a need for the sun or moon because the glory of God provides all the light necessary Revelation 21:1-2+1TEd 187.3.

Revelation 12

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.

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12 provides a comprehensive history of the great conflict between Christ and Satan, spanning from the birth of Jesus to the final struggle of the remnant church.

The Woman and the Man-Child

The chapter opens with a vision of a virtuous woman clothed with the sun, representing the true church at the opening of the gospel dispensationMANA 95.1+1. The sun symbolizes the glory of the New Testament, while the moon under her feet represents the Mosaic dispensation of types and shadowsMANA 95.1+1. She brings forth a man-child, Jesus Christ, who is destined to rule all nations and is caught up to God’s throne after His earthly ministry Psalms 2:9+1ChSa 173.3+2.

The Great Red Dragon

Opposing the woman is a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, identified as both Satan himself and the pagan Roman power he used as an instrumentChSa 173.3+2.

• The Attempted Deception: Satan boasted he would overcome Christ as he had the strong men of the pastTe 275.1+1.

• Herod’s Cruelty: Acting through Herod, the dragon stood ready to devour the child as soon as He was born Matthew 2:13ChSa 173.3+1.

• The Fast in the Wilderness: Before His public ministry, Christ fasted forty days to gain vantage ground for fallen man to resist the powers of darknessTe 275.1+1.

War in Heaven and Earth

A pivotal shift occurs when Michael and His angels fight against the dragon, resulting in Satan being cast out of heaven to the earth Revelation 12:7-9DAR 514.4.

• The Accuser Cast Down: With the death of Christ, the "accuser of our brethren" was defeated, bringing salvation and strength to the kingdom of God Revelation 12:10SSP 220.2.

• Redoubled Efforts: Knowing his time is short, the devil came down with great wrath to persecute the followers of the Man of Nazareth Revelation 12:12SSP 220.2+1.

The Church in the Wilderness

Following Christ's ascension, the dragon persecuted the woman, forcing her to flee into the wilderness for 1,260 prophetic days, or literal years Revelation 12:6GC 54.2+2.

• The Period of Oppression: This period, also known as the Dark Ages, lasted from A.D. 538 to 1798 under papal supremacy Daniel 7:25GC 54.2+2.

• Divine Preservation: God prepared a place for His church in seclusion and obscurity, where she was nourished by His Word away from the face of the serpent Revelation 12:14GC 54.2+2.

• The Earth’s Help: When the serpent cast out a flood of false doctrines and persecutions to destroy the church, the earth helped the woman by swallowing the floodGP 40.4+2.

The Final Conflict with the Remnant

The chapter concludes with the dragon’s last act of war against the "remnant of her seed" Revelation 12:174SP 276.1+2.

• Characteristics of the Remnant: This final company is distinguished by their loyalty to the commandments of God and their possession of the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of Prophecy Revelation 19:10GP 47.1+2.

• The Final Crisis: Satan will stir up the wicked powers of earth to issue a decree similar to that of Ahasuerus against the Jews, demanding obedience to human laws over divine law Esther 3:8-13LDE 258.2+2.

• The Victory: Despite the trial and distress, the people of God overcome the dragon by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony Revelation 12:11SSP 220.2+1.