Chapter 12

The woman of Revelation 12:1 cannot be the church because Jesus “gives birth” to the church, not the other way around. The woman must, therefore, either be Mary or Israel, the only two “women” who could have “given birth” to Jesus. The rest of Revelation 12 will demonstrate that this woman is Israel, not Mary.

1 Corinthians 2:13 says, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” What it simply means is that scripture must interpret scripture.

Scripturally, this woman clothed with the sun should be identified with Israel, according to Joseph's dream.

⁹Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” ¹⁰So he told it to his father and his brothers, and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Genesis 37:9-11). 

In that dream, the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph's mother, Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel who bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.

In other Old Testament passages, Israel (or Zion or Jerusalem) is often represented as a woman.

Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,

So have you dealt treacherously with Me,

O house of Israel,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:20)

¹⁹“I will betroth you to Me forever;

Yes, I will betroth you to Me

In righteousness and justice,

In lovingkindness and mercy;

²⁰I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,

And you shall know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)

Being with child: Later in the chapter, it is clear that this child born of Israel is Lord Jesus (She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, Revelation 12:5).

She cried out in labour and in pain to give birth: The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus' birth (under Roman occupation and oppression). The pains of childbirth represent the struggles of the Israelite nation throughout history, and particularly at the time of Jesus' birth (under Roman occupation and oppression) leading up to the coming of Christ.

There is another reason why this woman cannot be Mary is because labour pain was a part of the curse. And the angel said Blessed is the fruit of your womb. So Jesus was not under the curse of Adam.

To the woman, He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;

In pain, you shall bring forth children;

Your desire shall be for your husband,

And he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)

Mary gave birth to Jesus, who certainly was not under a curse, and because the power of the highest was upon Mary, she could not have cried out in labour pain.