1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
The sun, the moon, and the 12 stars represent the lineage (Genesis 37:9-10) that the promised Messiah would come from (Genesis 22:18).
- Sun-Jacob who was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham
- Moon-Jacob’s wife
- 12 stars-Jacob’s 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of Israel
2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
This is a reference to Mary about to give birth to Jesus Christ.
Some interpret the woman in verses 1-2 to be Israel. The reason that the woman is not Israel but Mary is that in the context it makes the “son” literal. If the son is literal so must the woman be. It also brings the reader back to Matthew 1-2, the birth of Christ, and how Satan wanted to kill Him.
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.
The red dragon is Satan, see verse 9.
The meaning of the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns are as follows:
- Seven heads: Seven mountains which are also seven kings. Revelation 17:9-10
- Ten horns: Ten kings who will come later to rule with the Antichrist for a short time. Revelation 17:12
- Seven crowns: On each crown are names that blaspheme God and those in heaven with Him. Revelation 13:1
The red dragon’s appearance with the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns and that of the Beast (The Antichrist) are the same because Satan will rule the people through the Antichrist.
Revelation 13:2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.
The phrase “Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky” refers to angels who Lucifer convinced while in heaven to rebel against God with him. Those angels are now called demons.
The dragon who wanted to devour the child is referring to Matthew 2:7-8, 16-17 which says, 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
“She gave birth to a son” Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world.
“will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” In the millennial reign, Jesus will be King of kings and Lord of lords and will rule the world and bring true peace.
The phrase “And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.” It refers to the ascension of Jesus after His resurrection, away from Satan’s threats. Luke 24:50-53
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Spiritual Minefield 
Excellent Exposition of Scripture. Thank you!
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Thank you for your encouragement.
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