Revelation chapter 12 opens with one of the most extraordinary visions given to the apostle John. The scene is filled with symbolism, yet the symbols are not presented merely to create mystery. As we will see, Scripture has already provided much of the language necessary to understand what John is seeing. John writes: “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: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Revelation 12:1–2 The imagery is magnificent. John sees a woman clothed with the sun, standing with the moon beneath her feet and wearing a crown of twelve stars. She is pregnant and suffering the pains of childbirth, awaiting the birth of a child who will soon become the central figure in the vision. Before attempting to identify the woman, however, we should notice that John calls what he sees “a great wonder in heaven.” The woman is therefore presented symbolically. We are not necessarily looking for a particular woman who literally wears the sun as a garment or stands upon the moon; rather, we must determine what person or people this woman represents. Fortunately, we do not have to begin with speculation, because the imagery of the sun, moon, and stars has appeared before.
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