Who is the Woman with the crown of 12 Stars in Revelation?

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Who is the woman?

The woman with the crown of twelve stars appears in the twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation. I submit to you the understandings I have come to through long periods of prayer. Here are the first and last verses of chapter twelve:

"¹ A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars...  

¹⁷ The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

In Revelation 12:17 we read about the "offspring" of the woman. We see that the woman is the mother of those who keep God's commandments and testify of Jesus. In other words, she is the mother of God's children. That gives us a clue as to the identity of the mother. It would be helpful if there was a scripture which expressly stated just who is the mother of God's children. There is. Galatians 4:26. Galatians 4:26 tells us that "the Jerusalem that is above" is the mother of God's children. 

"But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all" 

(Galatians 4:26).

"The Jerusalem that is above" is the mother of Christians.

So, "the Jerusalem that is above" is the woman in Revelation 12:1.

You have probably never heard that "the Jerusalem that is above" is our mother. But, if you had been a first century Christian you probably would have known. Christians of the day were very aware of the significance of Jerusalem as the city that crucified Jesus... and very aware of Jesus' prophecy of its destruction. They suffered from continuous persecution from the Jews who were headquartered in the then present Jerusalem.

The book of Galatians was written and circulated throughout the Roman empire many years before the book of Revelation was written. So, Christians of that era would have been very aware that the present Jerusalem killed Christ and persecuted them (Galatians 4:25). They would have been aware that their mother was "the Jerusalem that is above". 

Now, please read those two passages again. Read them as if you were one of those first century Christians. I will repeat them for your convenience:

"¹ A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars...  

¹⁷ The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

As a persecuted Christian who testified of Jesus, you would have identified yourself as one of "the rest of her offspring". You would have known that the dragon was persecuting you because you were a Christian.

Since you are "her offspring", you would have recognized that the woman in 12:1 was your mother. You would have connected the woman with "the Jerusalem that is above" from Galatians 4:26.

Here is the passage again:

"But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all" 

(Galatians 4:26).

The word mother occurs 81 times in the New Testament. In 80 of those occurrences, the word mother refers our typical usage of the word, a human, biological, mother of a child. No scripture presented Israel as our mother. But Galatians 4:26 above did tell them who their mother was and who our mother is. 

"But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26).

What is this "Jerusalem that is above"? 

The Jerusalem that is above is the dwelling place of God in the spiritual realm (heaven). She is our mother. After the rapture, Armageddon, the millennium and great white throne judgement, the "Jerusalem that is above" will come down from heaven so that God's children live with God in His heavenly city forever, the eternal state. When the "Jerusalem that is above" comes down, it will then be called the new Jerusalem. This is made clear from chapters 21 and 22  of the book of Revelation. Please pray as I show you from the scriptures:

Chapter 21 of the book of Revelation reveals "the holy city... coming down out of heaven" (21:2). Since it will come down in the future, it is now above. It is the "Jerusalem that is above" of Galatians 4:26. This city is called "Jerusalem" in Revelation 21:10 and "new Jerusalem" in Revelation 21:2. This city is "the tabernacle of God" to be "among men", so that God shall "dwell among" men (21:3). Various translations may say "dwelling place" or "residence" of God instead of "tabernacle of God". But they all mean the same thing: The dwelling place of God.

In summary, "the Jerusalem that is above" is the heavenly city of God in the spiritual realm where God dwells now. The "new Jerusalem" is the name of that city when it comes down to earth for our eternal dwelling with God, after the great white throne judgement.

Now we shall see if I have correctly identified the woman in Revelation 12:1. We will see if my interpretation is consistent with the many details presented about her throughout chapter 12 of the book of Revelation: sun, moon, crown, twelve stars, persecution, nourishment and etc. She must also be considered within the structural and topical context of the book. We shall deal with all of those details on this page.  

But, at this point we must make a small detour. Some of you may think that no one keeps God's commandments as is stated in Revelation 12:17. Therefore, I must explain this theology and then return to the identity of the woman with twelve stars in her crown.

Here is Revelation 12:17...

• "The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

This verse clearly states that someone does keep God's commandments.  Well, keeping God's commandments is what God's children do.  

• "This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him" (1 John 2:3-4).
• "In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother" (1 John 3:10).

To "do righeousness" in 1 John 3:10 above does not mean to exclusively "do righteousness", with zero sinning. The same Greek word translated as "do", poieo, Strong's 4160, is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, saying that they "do" love, but that they should "do" love more. Neither of the above verses from John mean that the children of God never sin. See the scriptures below, also from 1 John:

• "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
• "My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous" (1 John 2:1).

So, God's children keep His commandments. One of those commandments is to "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19, A5 in the appendix). 

So, God's children keep God's commandments, one of which is to testify of Jesus. To testify of Jesus is to "make disciples of all nations".

Actually, only God's children can keep God's commandments. Romans 14:23 states "whatever is not of faith is sin". Since unbelievers don't believe, everything they do is sin... "whatever is not of faith is sin".

Keeping God's commandments is what we do when we walk by the Spirit:

"I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

We don't sin when we walk by the Spirit.

If you are a rule follower instead of one who walks by the Spirit, you may feel like you sin constantly... because you probably do sin constantly... because your eyes are constantly on yourself instead of on Him. If that describes you, prayerfully click here, and read the subchapter 4.7 titled, "Walk by the Spirit". Then read subchapter 1.1 to become one who fixes your eyes on Him... to begin learning to walk by the Spirit. 

Now that you understand the phrase "keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony", let's return to the scriptures which identify the woman with 12 stars in her crown. I will do a short review and then continue from there.

Short Review

The woman with the crown of twelve stars appears in the twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation. Here are the first and last verses of chapter twelve:

"¹ A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars...  

¹⁷ The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

In Revelation 12:17 we see that the woman is the mother of those who keep God's commandments and testify of Jesus. In other words, she is the mother of God's children (Christians). Galatians 4:21-26 tells us that the Jerusalem that is above is the mother of God's children. 

So, the woman is "the Jerusalem that is above".

This scripture proves it:

"But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all" 

(Galatians 3:26).

"The Jerusalem that is above" is the heavenly city of God in the spiritual realm where God dwells now. The "new Jerusalem" is the name of that city when it comes down to earth for our eternal dwelling with God in His visible presence, after the great white throne judgement (Revelation 22:4).

In Galatians 4:21-26 and Revelation 21:2, it becomes clear that the current "Jerusalem that is above" is the dwelling place of God, which in the future will come down as the New Jerusalem.  The "Jerusalem that is above" correlates with the new covenant of the Spirit in contrast with the old covenant of the law from Mount Sinai. More on that later. Now I present to you the last verse of chapter 11 and the first verse of chapter 12 of the book of Revelation:

"^11:19 God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

"^12:1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

(Revelation 11:19-12:1)

Here is my understanding of the passage: 

The woman in 12:1 represents "the Jerusalem above", which "corresponds" to the new covenant (a simple deduction from Galatians 4:1-31, especially 4:25). More on that later. The new covenant is symbolized by the sun with which the woman is clothed. In the new covenant, the law is written on our hearts (Hebrews 10:16). The bride of Christ, the new Jerusalem, is clothed "in bright, pure, fine linen... the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:7-8, 21:2). So, "bright" clothing is in our future. So, being "clothed with the sun" is to be clothed in the new covenant, through which the righteous acts of the law are written in our hearts, clothing us in righteous acts, "bright, pure fine linen": 

"It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:7-8).

The old covenant is symbolized by the moon, the lesser light. The "covenant" in the previous verse, 11:19, is clearly the old covenant, represented by the stone tablets of the ten commandments in the ark. The old covenant, the lesser light according to 2 Corinthians 3:5-14, was replaced by the new covenant (chapters 8-10 of Hebrews, especially10:9). So, the moon under the feet of "the Jerusalem above" shows that the moon, the lesser light, being the old covenant, has been superseded by the new covenant, with which she is clothed... She is clothed in the sun of the new covenant. So the old covenant (the moon) is under the feet of "the Jerusalem above", the woman. The "Jerusalem above" is clothed with the greater light of the sun, representing the greater glory of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:7-8 as explained in the next paragraph). 

The passages from 2 Corinthians need some explanation. When Moses received the ten commandments from God and brought them down from Mount Sinai, his face glowed with glory. His face was so bright that the people were "afraid" of him (Exodus 34:29-35, especially verse 30). Then, in the passages from 2 Corinthians, we are reminded that the face of Moses shined with so bright a light (glory) after he brought the ten commandments down from Mount Sinai, that the people could not look steadfastly at his face (3:7). The ministry of the Spirit (3:8), also known as the new covenant (3:6), has much more glory (3:8-9) than the old covenant of the ten commandments which were "engraved on stones" (3:7). Now you can see why I believe that the moon represents the lesser light of the old covenant under the feet of "the Jerusalem that is above" which is clothed in the new covenant. The old covenant has been replaced by the new covenant.

• "you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead... ⁶ But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:4-6).

The old covenant, the law, is under her feet because she is dead to the law, discharged from the law, not under law. We "are not under law" (Romans 6:14), so the old covenant (law), represented by the moon, is under the feet of "the Jerusalem above". 

The ark

Now I will repeat the last verse of chapter 11 and the first verse of chapter 12 of the book of Revelation again:

"^11:19 God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

"^12:1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

(Revelation 11:19-12:1)

The ark contained more than the stone tablets of the law. It also contained manna and Aarons rod. The manna was Israel's nourishment in the wilderness under the law. Aaron's rod represented the priesthood under the law. The tablets containing the ten commandments, the manna and Aaron's rod in the arc are all representative of the old covenant, under law. 

In the new covenant... instead of manna, we have Jesus as the true bread (John 6:31,49,58), the Aaronic priesthood is replaced by the priesthood of Christ (chapters 5-10 of Hebrews) and a covenant of the Spirit and life replaces the old covenant of law and death (2 Corinthians 3:6-7).  So, the law only has "a shadow of the good to come" (Hebrews 10:1). Hence, the arc, and the law it represents are a lesser light, symbolized by the moon, which reflects the greater light, the new covenant, which clothes the woman, "the Jerusalem above".

My Conclusion

The woman in Revelation 12:1 is "the Jerusalem above", which corresponds with the New Covenant. The Jerusalem above will come down to earth as the New Jerusalem in the eternal state after the great white throne judgement.

The Rest of Her Offspring

• "The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

As I will show in the section below titled, "Who is the Son Born to the Woman", the first offspring of the woman was Christ. So, the phrase, "the rest of her offspring" means all His spiritual brothers and sisters (Christians).

I will repeat the passage for your convenience:

• "The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

In this pivotal passage we learn five things:

1) The dragon makes war with "the rest of her offspring".

2) The dragon makes war with those "who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony".

3) All of her offspring keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony.

4) All those who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony are "the rest of her offspring"

5) So, we have two descriptions of the same group of people: "The rest of her offspring" and "who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony".

So, all of her offspring keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony. If only some of her offspring kept God's  commandments and hold Jesus' testimony, the scripture would have said "some of her offspring" instead of "the rest of her offspring". 

As as the scriptures near the top of this page have revealed, "keep God's commandments" and "hold Jesus' testimony" is what the children of God do (1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 3:10). They are Christians.

Could the woman be Israel?

There are a number of reasons to conclude that the woman is not Israel.

Clothed in the Sun, Moon at Her Feet

I was taught that the woman is Israel because the sun, moon and eleven stars were seen in Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-11. In that dream, the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed down to Joseph. In the dream, the sun was Joseph's father, Jacob. The moon was Rachel, the mother of Joseph. The eleven stars were Joseph's eleven brothers. The dream was a prophecy that Joseph's father, mother and brothers would bow down to him. This was fulfilled when Joseph became a ruler in Egypt and his family came to Egypt to buy food during the seven year famine. The twelve brothers did become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. So, the eleven stars in Joseph's dream remind some people of Israel.

But, Israel doesn't fit the other two images in Revelation 12:1, the sun and moon. 

I will repeat the passage for your convenience:

• "A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1).

Remember, in Joseph's dream, the sun represented Jacob and the moon represented Rachel. The sun is God's glorious, life giving, sight giving light, of which the moon is merely a reflector. If Joseph's dream from Genesis 37:9-11 was the key to the identity of the woman in Revelation 12:1, then the sign in 12:1 would reveal Israel as the mother, clothed in Jacob (the sun) with Rachel (the moon) at her feet. 

Not only is this not scriptural, it is demeaning to God, Rachel and women in general. The place of women in God's design is not under Israel's feet. It is hard to believe that this is what God intended to communicate using a sign of a woman with twelve stars in her crown, clothed with the sun and the moon at her feet.

Regarding Jacob, Israel would not be presented as being clothed with Jacob. Surely, there is something more glorious than Jacob for the woman to be clothed with! As I said before, the sun is God's glorious, life giving, sight giving light, of which the moon is merely a reflector. 

If you are taught that the sign represents Israel because of Genesis 37:9-11, ask your teacher what the sun and moon represent in Revelation 12:1. 

Crown

• "A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1).

The woman wears a crown, indicating that she is a queen. The book of Revelation reveals Jesus as the "King of Kings" and the new Jerusalem as the bride of the "King of Kings" (17:14, 19:16, 19:7, 21:2). Well, the future state of "the Jerusalem above" is the new Jerusalem. So, it is not speculation to deduct that the crown worn by the woman points to her future state as the new Jerusalem, as queen. If Israel were the queen in Revelation 12:1, then Revelation would have told us that Israel was the bride of Christ. But no, the new Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, the queen of the "King of Kings". 

So, Israel as a woman, wearing the crown of a queen, is inconsistent with these other passages within the book of Revelation. In other words, the fact that the woman is wearing a crown appears to disqualify Israel as God's intended meaning of "the woman" in Revelation 12:1. The new Jerusalem, not Israel, is the bride of the "King of Kings". And the new Jerusalem is the future state of "the Jerusalem above".

The Rest of Her Offspring

• "The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony" (Revelation 12:1,17).

A reading of chapter 12 reveals that the phrase "the rest of her offspring" refers to all of the mother's children except the one who was caught up to God and His throne in 12:5.  As explained below, the child mentioned in 12:5 is Christ. So, the rest of the offspring of this mother are the brothers and sisters of Christ, Christians. All of her offspring testify of Jesus. I have prayerfully searched for an understanding of this passage which would be compatible with the theory that the woman is Israel. I see three versions of Israel to address: 

• genetic Israel
• spiritual Israel
• nation of Israel

Genetic Israel would be the physical ancestors of Jacob (who God renamed as Israel). Spiritual Israel would be the believing Israelites. Most of the early Christians were genetic Israelites who trusted Christ. By their faith, we know that they were spiritual Israel. Spiritual Israel would also include gentiles who became citizens of spiritual Israel by faith in Christ. This will be explained below.

I don't believe that the woman is genetic Israel or the nation of Israel. However, I believe that spiritual Israel refers to the same group of people which the woman represents, but that spiritual Israel is not how God reveals "the woman" in the book of Revelation. He reveals her as "the Jerusalem above", the forerunner of "the new Jerusalem", to focus on the proper view of this group of people in the next age.

We will address genetic Israel, spiritual Israel and the nation of Israel, in that order.

Genetic Israel

Could the woman in Revelation 12:1 be genetic Israel? I don't believe that she is. Revelation 12:17 above indicates that all of the woman's offspring testify of Jesus. So, the woman appears to be incompatible with genetic Israel, since all of Jacob's physical descendants have not and will not testify of Jesus. Scripture tells us that all Israel is not Israel, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:6,27). In other words, only believing Israel is saved. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus. So, all of genetic Israel will not be saved. Therefore, all of genetic Israel will not testify of Jesus. So, genetic Israel is not "the rest of her offspring" in Revelation 12:17. In other words, all of the offspring in Revelation 12:17 testify of Jesus. But all of genetic Israel do not and will not testify of Jesus. Therefore, the woman is not genetic Israel. 

Spiritual Israel

Could the woman in Revelation 12:1 be spiritual Israel? Remember, Revelation 12:17 above indicates that all of the woman's offspring testify of Jesus. It also indicates that all of those who testify of Jesus are the offspring of the woman. Since both gentile and Jewish believers testify of Jesus, the "woman's offspring" includes both groups. Since Ephesians 2:12,19 reveals that genetic, gentile believers are citizens of true spiritual Israel, spiritual Israel includes both groups as well: genetic gentile believers and genetic Israelite believers. Jewish and gentile believers are "one flock with one shepherd" (John 10:16).

Now that we understand who is included in the term spiritual Israel, could spiritual Israel be the woman in Revelation 12:1?  Well, I believe that the woman is "the Jerusalem above" because of the many scriptures on this page. Spiritual Israel as I have described the term appears to include the exact same group of people as "the Jerusalem above". So, does that mean that the woman is spiritual Israel? 

Well, in the way I have defined it, yes. But, in spite of Ephesians 2:12 and 19,  some don't recognize spiritual Israel from Romans 9:6. Some define spiritual Israel in a way that excludes gentile believers. It is always best to use the exact wording of scripture in our thinking. So, since Galatians 4:26 says that "the Jerusalem above" is our mother, we should think in those terms. "The Jerusalem above" is the term God used. So, that is the term we should use.

Nation of Israel

Could the woman in Revelation 12:1 be the nation of Israel? The nation of Israel did not hold to Jesus' testimony. Spiritual Israel did. The woman as the nation of Israel does not fit Revelation 12 because the nation of Israel actually fulfills the role of the dragon when it attacks "the rest of her offspring" those who testify of Jesus (12:17).  So the nation of Israel does not appear to be the woman. 

Genetic, Spiritual and Nation of Israel

If you are taught that the woman in Revelation 12 is Israel, ask your teacher, "Which Israel... the nation of Israel, true spiritual Israel or genetic Israel?" If you ask this question, you may receive an answer that really doesn't answer the question.  I believe that this clarification reveals a contradiction in the teacher's theology which he or she may not have been aware of until the question arose. So, they can not answer the question because they have just become aware of numerous contradictions which their views have with scripture. Often the flawed logic of a theological system is exposed when one sees that the definitions of terms in the system must change to avoid contradictions with various scriptures. Pray for your teachers instead of judging them. All of us see through a glass darkly (Corinthians 13:12).

Twelve Stars in Her Crown

Could the twelve stars in the woman's crown mean that the woman in Revelation 12:1 is Israel? Israel did have twelve tribes. Well, the number twelve is used in the book of Revelation to represent the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel, saved Israel (7:2-8, 14:1). These will inhabitant the new Jerusalem. The number twelve is also used in the book of Revelation to represent:

• twelve kinds of fruit of the tree of life in the new Jerusalem
• the twelve angels at the twelve gates of the new Jerusalem
• the names of the twelve apostles which are written on the twelve foundation stones in the new Jerusalem

So, regarding the twelve stars in the woman's crown, we can see that the number twelve in the book of Revelation refers to much more than the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel. Never in the book of Revelation are the twelve genetic tribes of Israel mentioned.

Therefore, while one aspect of the number twelve in the woman's crown reminds us of Israel, the totality of the number twelve in the book of Revelation points to the new Jerusalem. 

Crown with 12 Stars

I will repeat the two verses which you read above:

"^11:19 God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

"^12:1 A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

(Revelation 11:19-12:1)

We have already seen that the woman in 12:1 is "the Jerusalem above", which corresponds to the new covenant. We have learned how "the Jerusalem above" is clothed in the sun with the moon at her feet in 12:1 above. We have also seen how the new covenant replaced the old covenant, the old covenant being represented by the ark in 11:19 and represented by the moon at her feet in 12:1.  Now we shall see why "the Jerusalem above" wears a crown with twelve stars.

 In the book of Revelation, there are: 

• twelve foundation stones in the New Jerusalem, each named after one of the twelve apostles (21:14), 
• twelve gates to the New Jerusalem, each named after one of the twelve tribes of Israel (21:12). 
• twelve angels at each of the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem. And angels in the book of Revelation are symbolized by stars.
• Twelve kinds of fruit on the tree of life in the New Jerusalem.

The twelve apostles spread the New Covenant throughout the world. Both the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel are included In the description of the New Jerusalem (21:12,14). The New Jerusalem is the future state of "the Jerusalem above". So, "the Jerusalem above" ,includes both Jewish and gentile believers (21:24).  

The number twelve is used nine times in the book of Revelation. When the twelve stars in the crown are mentioned in 12:1, the text doesn't tell us what they represent. But every other time the number twelve is used, we are told what the number refers to. With the exception of the mention of twelve stars in the woman's crown, every single occurrence of the number twelve EXPLICITLY refers to the new Jerusalem, either to the gates, the foundation stones or the tree of life which is within it. 

The scriptures don't explicitly tell us what the twelve stars in her crown represent. But since  every other occurrence of the number twelve has to do the the New Jerusalem, and because the New Jerusalem is the future state of "the Jerusalem above", I believe that...

The twelve stars refer to the future state of "the Jerusalem above".

It is hard to draw any other conclusion. 

What woman wears a crown? A queen wears a crown. Christ is the King of Kings (17:14, 19:16). If Christ is the King of Kings, what woman would be the queen? The bride of Christ would be the queen. According to 19:7, the Lamb (Christ) is the groom. According to 21:2 the new Jerusalem is the bride. So, the new Jerusalem is the bride of Christ. So, it should be no surprise that the bride of Christ wears a crown... a queen's crown. This is additional evidence that "the Jerusalem above", the forerunner of the new Jerusalem, is the woman in 12:1. The new Jerusalem has twelve, gates, foundation stones, angels and fruit.

Jesus told the disciples that they would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). The twelve foundation stones in the New Jerusalem are named after the twelve apostles (21:14). The twelve gates to the New Jerusalem are named after the twelve tribes of Israel (21:12) So, the twelve stars in the crown appear to be the twelve apostles as rulers in the new Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem being the bride of Christ, queen to Christ, the King of Kings. 

Crowns represent kings. Christ, Abraham's seed of the new covenant (Galatians 3:16), is called King of Kings (17:14, 19:16). We who belong to Christ are Abraham's seed in the new covenant (Galatians 3:29). Jesus "made us to be a kingdom" (Revelation 1:6) to reign forever with Him (Revelation 22:5). 

So, in the woman's crown I see sovereignty. I see the seed of Abraham, both Christ and those who belong to Him, as rulers in the new Jerusalem, the twelve apostles being highest in authority. So, the crown on the woman, on "the Jerusalem above" appears to point to the future reign of Christ and saints in the New Jerusalem. The twelve angels at the twelve gates indicate that angels also have a place in the new Jerusalem (12;12).

For proof from the scriptures that all Christians reign forever, click here, scroll down to Acrostic Four, and read footnote 18.

Three Covenants

In much prayer I have seen the three great covenants in the sign of the woman:

• Old Covenant
• Holy Covenant
• New Covenant

Old Covenant

The old covenant is seen in the ark (11:19) and the moon at the feet of the woman (12:1).

Holy Covenant

The holy covenant was prerequisite to the new covenant: 

• "The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."... that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:8, 14).

After Pentecost, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the automatic blessing of the Abrahamic covenant.

Conversion occurs when the blessing of Abraham comes to us, our entrance into the holy covenant. After Pentecost, all who experience this conversion receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs in the new covenant: "servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:6). 

New Covenant

• "for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28): (Christ was the sacrifice, of which the law was only a shadow according to Hebrews 10:1.)
• "servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit" 2 Corinthians 3:6). 
• "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...
• ¹⁰ "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart..." (Hebrews 8:8-10).  
• Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) and is in us (Colossians 1:27), so the law is in us.
• Indwelling Holy Spirit is part of the new covenant: 

"Servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:6).  

"He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." ³⁹ But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified" (John 7(38-39). 

The Holy Spirit did not indwell all believers until He was "glorified" (crucified), the shedding of "the blood of the new covenant" in Matthew 26:28 above. 

The holy covenant (the Abrahamic covenant) which promised justification by faith to Jew and gentile, foreseeing that Christ was the real sacrifice of which the old covenant of the Mosaic law was only a shadow, was prerequisite to the new covenant.

What is "the Jerusalem that is Above?

"The Jerusalem that is above" (Galatians 4:26) is not the present Jerusalem (Galatians 4:25), but is the forerunner of the new Jerusalem which comes down from heaven (Revelation 21:2). It is the dwelling place of God in the spiritual realm (heaven). The woman in Revelation 12:1 is clothed with the sun. As I wrote earlier, I believe that this imagery reveals "the Jerusalem that is above", clothed in the new covenant. "The Jerusalem that is above" "corresponds to" or "answers to" the new covenant in Galatians 4:21-31. 

How did I come to these conclusions?

In very simple terms... the holy covenant with Abraham, through Sarah, is the covenant described in Galatians 4:21-31 which corresponds to "the Jerusalem that is above". The new covenant of the Spirit replaces the old covenant of the Mosaic law (Mount Sinai) and appears to be the next stage of the holy covenant. So, the passages in Galatians address the old covenant and the new covenant, the new covenant being an extension of, and the current age version of, the Holy Covenant. So, it is the new covenant, which rose out of the holy covenant, which corresponds to "the Jerusalem that is above". So, that is how I see that "the Jerusalem that is above" is connected with the new covenant and not just the holy covenant.

"The Jerusalem that is above" which will some day come down to earth as the new Jerusalem is the city Abraham looked for (Hebrews 11:10). It is "the enduring city" which we are seeking (Hebrews 13:14). As such, "the Jerusalem above" and later the new Jerusalem will be the city of the holy covenant, also known as the Abrahamic covenant (Luke 1:72-73). The Abrahamic covenant morphed into the new covenant after the coming of Christ (to be explained later). In other words "the Jerusalem that is above" in the Galatians passage (to be later known as the new Jerusalem) is the city of the new covenant. So, the new covenant corresponds to "the Jerusalem that is above" from Galatians which is called the new Jerusalem in the book of Revelation (21:2). 

The Abrahamic Covenant Morphed into the New Covenant

The holy covenant (Abrahamic covenant) came first in Genesis 12:1-3. It was a covenant with Abraham and his seed (Christ) and those who belong to Christ (Galatians 3:16, 29). 

The old covenant was made with Israel 430 years later. It is separate and distinct from the Abrahamic covenant. The old covenant was the law of Moses, which was a collection of laws which Israel were to obey in order to stay in the land of Canaan (See Exodus 19:5 and the entire book of Deuteronomy, especially 7:11-8:1, 28:1-68, most especially 8:1 and 28:64). Since Israel broke the old covenant, the old covenant with Israel was replaced by the new covenant with Israel at Pentecost in roughly 33 AD (Acts 2:1, See Jeremiah 31:31-32, Hebrews 8:7, 10:9, Hebrews 7-10 ). 

But the new covenant is not separate from the Abrahamic covenant. It seems to overlap the Abrahamic covenant. The new covenant with Israel contains promises which will fulfill the promises of the Holy (Abrahamic) covenant plus one additional promise: In the new covenant God puts His laws in our minds and on our hearts. That is why I say that the Abrahamic covenant morphed into the new covenant. Even though the new covenant is with true (spiritual) Israel, non Jews become citizens of spiritual Israel through faith in Christ and thereby are made parties to the new covenant and citizens of the new Jerusalem. 

In the description of the new covenant in chapters 7-10 of Hebrews, we see "all will know me" (8:10-12). Unlike the old covenant, which was a set of conditions for the nation of Israel to remain in Canaan and included both believers and unbelievers, the new covenant includes only those who know God. Since the new covenant is only with those who know God, the new covenant is with true (spiritual) Israel. 

Are gentiles included in the new covenant?

Believing Gentiles are citizens of spiritual Israel. 

The easiest way to see this is to view Ephesians 2:12, 13 and 19 together. Please prayerfully consider them below:

• "¹² that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ... ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:12,13,19).

So, the Ephesians (gentile Christians, v 11) were "alienated from the commonwealth of Israel" in verse 12. But verse 19 says that they are fellow citizens because they are "in Christ Jesus" (verse 13). And why would Paul tell the Ephesians that they were "alienated from the commonwealth of Israel" if they were still alienated from it? The other four things mentioned in verse 12 are no longer true for the gentile Christians: separate from Christ, strangers from the covenants, without hope and without God. If you read 2:12-19, the flow of thought is inconsistent with an interpretation that claims that they were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and still are. Every part of verse 12 is in their past, not their present. As believers in Christ, they were no longer aliens. They had become citizens... of spiritual Israel.

Galatians 4:21-31

The Abrahamic covenant (holy covenant) may be traced through Galatians 4:21-31 as the covenant through Sarah, the free woman, bearing children of the promise, of the spirit, being heirs. In the same passage, the Abrahamic covenant is not the old covenant through Hagar, the bond slave, bearing children of the law (given at Mount Sinai), of the flesh, not being heirs.

Holy Covenant Morphs into the New Covenant

In Genesis 12:1-3; 17:4,5,8; 22:18 and Galatians 3:8 we see the Abrahamic covenant. These include 1) Abraham's blessing, 2) being a blessing to all nations,  3) justification by faith 4) become a great nation 5) become the father of many nations 6) inheritance of the land of Canaan.  In Hebrews 8:10-12 and 9:14-15 we see the new covenant with Israel. These include 1) being God's people, 2) knowing God, 3) forgiveness,  4) eternal life 5) having the law written in their hearts. The first four new covenant promises are essentially a restatement of the first three promises to Abraham. The forth, fifth and sixth promises of the Abrahamic covenant had already been fulfilled when the new covenant began. They are also fulfilled through the new Jerusalem in the eternal state as seen in Revelation 21:1-22:5. The city is a fifteen-hundred mile cube (21:16), large enough to hold a multitude of multitudes, many nations, great nations, presumably located in the land of Canaan. So, the Abrahamic covenant is fulfilled in the fulfillment of the new covenant. The new covenant adds one promise: God's law will be written on our hearts. 

So, I believe that the holy covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, morphed into the new covenant. 

Summary

The new covenant corresponds to "the Jerusalem that is above" from Galatians which after the great white throne judgement will be called the new Jerusalem. The new covenant morphed out of the holy covenant, the holy covenant also being known as the Abrahamic covenant referred to in Galatians 4:21-31.

Highlights of Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of the book of Revelation reveals a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, wearing a crown of twelve stars, who gave birth to a son who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron. The child was caught up to God and to His throne (12:5). The dragon (12:3), also identified as Satan (12:9), tried to kill the child (12:4), persecuted the woman (12:13-16). The woman was nourished outside of Satan's presence in the wilderness  (12:6,14). When he couldn't get rid of her her, he "went away" (12:16) and attacked "the rest of her offspring" who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony (12:17). 

The next two sections will show how the woman, identified as "the Jerusalem that is above", is persecuted and nourished.

Persecution of the Woman

When we read about the woman in chapter 12 of the book of Revelation, we see that the dragon (Satan) persecutes the woman:

• "When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. ¹⁴ Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent" (Revelation 12:13).

In my interpretation, the woman is "the Jerusalem that is above" who is clothed in the new covenant. But, "the Jerusalem that is above" has not yet come down out of heaven as the new Jerusalem (21:2). So, how does the dragon (Satan) persecute "the Jerusalem that is above" if it has not yet come down out of heaven? How is "the Jerusalem that is above" nourished "from the face of the serpent"? 

He persecutes "the Jerusalem that is above" by persecuting the new covenant with which "the Jerusalem that is above" is clothed. He also persecutes the children of the new covenant, who are citizens of the future new Jerusalem.

Now, I will reveal:

• Persecution of the children of the new covenant
• Persecution of the new covenant

Persecution of the Children of the New Covenant

If you will read Galatians 4:21-31, you will see that the children of the old covenant persecuted and continue to persecute the children of the new covenant (4:29). 

The passage is a little complicated. So, I will provide the following to help you see the message:

The passage provides a contrast of two covenants.

• Hagar is allegorically the old covenant, corresponding to the present Jerusalem, giving birth to slaves, of the flesh, under law, who are not heirs.
• Sarah is allegorically the new covenant, corresponding to the Jerusalem above, giving birth to free children, of the Spirit, under promise, who are heirs.

In the past and present, those born of the Spirit are persecuted by those of the flesh:

• "But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now" (Galatians 4:29).

Persecution of the New Covenant

It may seem strange to you for Satan to persecute a covenant. Well, according to scripture, he does. We have clear precedent for this from Daniel, a book with much prophesy in vague, mystic terms, where: 

• the prince of the covenant (possibly Christ) is "broken" (Daniel 11:22), 
• rage is presented, "indignation against the holy covenant" and "action" is taken again the holy covenant (Daniel 11:28,30). 
• "he will corrupt those who do wickedly against the covenant" (Daniel 11:32),
• The persecutor of the holy covenant will "have regard for those who forsake the holy covenant" (Daniel 11:30). 

These persecutions of the covenant shown above are prophesied in the second half of chapter eleven of Daniel.  They take place during wars involving Antiochus Epiphanes and occurred before Christ was born. But Daniel 12:1 and the remainder of chapter twelve indicate that these events have some relevance to future times (Daniel 12:4, 9, 13). Some see the resurrection in Daniel 12:2.  But according to Luke 21:20-22, the Old Testament writings were fulfilled by the time Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. So, I consider Daniel 12:2 to possibly record the realizations of the physically dead to whom Christ preached to after His crucifixion. 1 Peter 3:18-20 records that He preached to the "spirits in prison". Possibly Ephesians 4:7-9 could include communication to believers who were dead, in "Departed Spirit Sleep", at the time of His crucifixion. Click here for information about Departed Spirit Sleep. Click here for more information on Luke 21:20-22 and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies by 70 AD.

Earlier in this page I show why I believe that the holy covenant morphed into the new covenant. Many new testament scriptures show that Satan attempts to corrupt the new covenant gospel. This continues to our day. I fear that many in my country live by rules because they do not know how to walk by the Spirit as described in subchapter 4.7. Their doctrine of fellowship with God has been corrupted.

Nourishment of "the Jerusalem that is Above"

Chapter 12 of the book of Revelation tells us that the woman was nourished in the wilderness:

• "The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days" (Revelation 12:6).

• "Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent" (Revelation 12:14).

In my interpretation, the woman is "the Jerusalem that is above" which is clothed in the new covenant. So, how is "the Jerusalem that is above" nourished? It has not yet come down from heaven.

In the first passage the woman is nourished for 1260 days, roughly 3.5 years. In the second passage, "time, and times, and half a time" is typically interpreted to mean 3.5 years as well because of Daniel 9. 

The text doesn't tell us how "the Jerusalem that is above" is nourished. A section below titled, "Exegesis of Revelation 12" explains why I believe that the 3.5 year periods took place in the 3.5 years before the crucifixion and the 3.5 years after the crucifixion. So, God may have nourished "the Jerusalem that is above" by nourishing the new covenant with which "the Jerusalem that is above" is clothed and by nourishing the children of "the Jerusalem that is above". Both were accomplished in the 3.5 years before and after the crucifixion. The new covenant and the disciples were nourished by Christ as He taught the disciples about the new covenant in the 3.5 years before His death. The same occurred during the relatively peaceful period of roughly 3.5 years from the crucifixion to the beginning of intense persecution after the death of Stephen.

Even though the text in chapter 12 doesn't tell us explicitly how "the Jerusalem that is above" is nourished. The last verse in chapter 11 may hold the key:

• "God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed" (Revelation 11:19).

I believe that Revelation 12, which follows immediately after 11:19, relates directly to 11:19, the opening of the Heavenly Temple containing the ark of the covenant, which is in the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:3-4). 

The ark contained 

• manna, 
• Aaron's rod
• the stone tablets containing the ten commandments

So, we see manna for nourishment in the wilderness, Aaron's rod representing the Priesthood under the old covenant and the ten commandments under the old covenant. So, the ark communicates priesthood, law and manna for nourishment in the wilderness... all under the old covenant

Revelation 12 tells of nourishment in the wilderness for the woman in 12:6 and 12:14. The woman is clothed in the new covenant. The readers of the book of Revelation are new covenant believers. So 11:19 is reminding new covenant believers of the old covenant. So, when 12:6 and 12:14 mention nourishment "in the wilderness", we should remember what Jesus said about "manna in the wilderness".

In John 6:31-58, Jesus said that He is the nourishment in the wilderness:

• "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. ³² Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn't Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." They said therefore to him, "Lord, always give us this bread." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:31-35).
• Jesus said, " I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." " (John 6:48-51).
• "This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:58).

In the new covenant... instead of manna, we have Jesus as the true bread (John 6:31,49,58). He is our nourishment. 

So, how was "the Jerusalem that is above" nourished in those two 3.5 year periods? 

Possibly the intense nourishment by Jesus before His crucifixion. Then by the Holy Spirit and the apostle's teaching in the next roughly 3.5 years until intense persecution. They were "nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent" (Revelation 12:14). So, Satan was kept at bay for a time of intense nourishment, to prepare them for the persecution to come.

Feeding on His words is the first step towards learning to feed on Him. Click here to read subchapter 1.1 to experience this, in the scriptures.

Who is the son that is born to the woman? 

Here is the word of God:

• "² She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth... ^4b The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne" (Revelation 12:4b-5). 

One child is born, a male child. Some say that the "male child" is the church... that its being "caught up" in 12:4b is the rapture. But 12:4b doesn't reflect any of the seven elements of the rapture prophecy. Click here to read about the seven elements. It is expressly stated above that she had one male child. The "rest of her children" are mentioned elsewhere in chapter 12. If God had intended by the words "a male child" to mean a large group of His children, like the church or New Jerusalem, he would not have used the word "male" as an adjective. The New Jerusalem and the entire group of believers in Christ are referred to in the feminine, not as a "male". For example, the Corinthian believers and the New Jerusalem are addressed as the bride of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:2 and Revelation 21:2, respectively.

I will repeat the passage:

• "² She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth... ^4b The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne" (Revelation 12:4b-5). 

Jesus was the messiah. He was born, as one single individual, as a male, to a woman who was in labor (Mary), to rule the nations with a rod of iron (19:15). Satan tried to kill Him (through Herod, Luke 2:16). Jesus was caught up to God and His throne after His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:9-11). So, Jesus is the obvious answer to the question. Jesus is her male child.

We should not draw an obscure conclusion from a text with an obvious interpretation. I could present arguments for inconspicuous meanings for many of the attributes of this child, to conclude that the child is something besides the Christ. But I do not have the right. What God has presented plainly... man should not make obscure. We have no option but to see the child as Jesus Christ. If one could show me how Jesus is not the obvious meaning, I could prayerfully entertain an alternative.

"The Jerusalem Above" as the Mother of Jesus

I have not found a scripture which expressly states that the Jerusalem above is the mother of Jesus. So, I consider this to be bit of a mystery. 

But as we saw before, "the Jerusalem above" is the dwelling place of God in the spiritual realm. It is God's heavenly city. Well, where did Jesus come from? 

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38). 

So, Jesus came from "the Jerusalem that is above".

Galatians 4:26 tells us that "the Jerusalem that is above" is our mother. And Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers". So, here again, it makes sense that the Jerusalem that is above is His mother as well as ours... since He is our brother. 

Please prayerfully keep these thoughts in mind as you read through the end of this section. I will present one theory for how it makes sense in the spiritual sense:

We have life through the new covenant which corresponds to "the Jerusalem above" so "the Jerusalem above" is called "our mother" (Galatians 4:26). Jesus IS the life which came through the new covenant which corresponds to "the Jerusalem above", so "the Jerusalem above" is His mother. LIFE came out of “the Jerusalem above”.

The baby Jesus was a child of heaven... possibly because He came out of it. We are adopted as children through Christ (Ephesians 1:5). Life came into us from heaven, through Him.

Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (John 6:51).

This is the best explanation I can offer as to how Jesus is the child of "the Jerusalem that is above". But without an express statement of scripture I can not declare this to be a doctrine of God. Scripture does not explicitly tell us how "the Jerusalem that is above" is the mother of Jesus. I consider it a mystery and look for greater revelation from God.

Structural Context

To understand Revelation 12, it is helpful to keep in mind the subchapter titled, "Chronology and Organizational Structure in the Book of Revelation" which may be read by clicking here. In brief, the place of Revelation 12 in the overall structure of the book of Revelation is this: 

Revelation 12 contains the first and second signs which are presented in the seventh trumpet. As one reads about the trumpets from 8:2 through the end of chapter 11, one has become accustomed to a chronological presentation. The reader expects this to continue but it doesn't. In 12:1-2 we see a sign of a woman giving birth, the first sign. The next verses reveal that the child is Christ (because He is to rule the nations with a rod of iron and was caught up to God and His throne in the ascension). So, at 12:1-5, the reader sees that signs can picture the past. Immediately, it is apparent that the words which follow may not be a step by step revelation of chronological future events coming after the days of the sixth trumpet. The second sign begins at 12:3 and reveals events that were in the past at the time the book of Revelation was written (for example, the birth of Christ). The second sign also reveals other events that, for us, may be in our past, future or both. It continues from the birth of Christ, through 666 to Armageddon (14:20). So, it is like a video starting with the birth of Christ and continuing to events that are in our future. The third sign is the seven bowl judgements

So, the second sign can display across the seven trumpets.  All three signs occur across the seven trumpets.

Remember that the seventh trumpet and seventh bowl occur as pairs. The first trumpet occurs with the first bowl. The second trumpet occurs with the second bowl and so on. The seven bowls do not occur after the seven trumpets. This is clearly proved from the scriptures in the subchapter titled, "Chronology and Organizational Structure in the Book of Revelation" which may be read by clicking here.

Topical Context

The seventh trumpet is blown in 11:15. Verses 11:15-19 presents a summary of the seventh and final trumpet and bowl pair, whereby:

• Christ rules on the earth (11:15-17)
• The dead are judged (11:18)
• Destroyers are destroyed (11:18)
• The saints are rewarded (11:18)
• The Heavenly Temple is opened (11:19)

"God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed" (Revelation 11:19).

I believe that Revelation 12, which follows immediately after 11:19, relates directly to 11:19, the opening of the Heavenly Temple containing the ark of the covenant, which is in the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:3-4). The relevance is immediately obvious:

• The opening of God's temple in heaven indicates increased intimacy (11:19).
• The new covenant revealed in chapter 12 indicates increased intimacy with the writing of the law on our hearts and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
• The crown on the woman in chapter 12 points to when we see Christ face to face, reigning with Christ in the new Jerusalem. So it foreshadows the ultimate increase in intimacy as the citizens of the new Jerusalem live in the visual presence of Christ (22:3-5).

To understand what is happening you must know some important passages from chapters 7-10 of the book of Hebrews:

• "In that he says, "A new covenant", he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away" (Hebrews 8:13).
• "The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn't yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing" (Hebrews 9:8)
• "Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.  (Hebrews 9:18).
• "He takes away the first, that he may establish the second" (Hebrews 10:9).

Hebrews indicated to its original readers that the way into the Holy Place would be revealed when the first tabernacle is no longer standing... and after the destruction of the first tabernacle, the temple, which occurred in 70 AD, the way into the Holy Place was then revealed. Then it was made clear that the old covenant is no more.

Let's return to the last verse of Revelation 11: 

"God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed" (Revelation 11:19).

So, when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the way into the Holy Place was revealed (Hebrews 9:8). Revelation 11:19 presents to prospect of greater intimacy of the Holy Place which comes in the new covenant and "the Jerusalem that is above". The new covenant and "the Jerusalem that is above" are then portrayed in the imagery of Revelation 12.

Transition from Law to Spirit

The transition from the Old Covenant of Moses to the New Covenant of the Spirit is shown, from the scriptures in subchapter A3 of the appendix, under the title "After Pentecost: From the Law to the Spirit". In brief, the Old Covenant is the Law of Moses, which was a tutor to lead us to Christ. Christ brought the New Covenant. He is the mediator and sacrifice of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant is now obsolete, since Christ has come and the sacrificial system has been ended. The difference between Old and New Covenant is in HOW WE SERVE. In the Old Covenant God was served by following the rules of the Mosaic covenant. In the New Covenant, we serve by the Spirit. In the New Covenant, all believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and can walk by the Spirit. See subchapter 4.7 titled, "Walk by the Spirit". The New Covenant came by promise, not by Mosaic law. Scripture tells us that the New Covenant came through Sarah, not Hagar (Galatians 4:21-31).

According to Luke 21:20-22, the Old Testament writings were fulfilled by the time Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. This includes the fulfillment of the old covenant since the old covenant is in the Old Testament. The fulfillment of Luke 21:22 also includes the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus did not destroy or abolish the old covenant (the law). He fulfilled the old covenant (Matthew 5:17). Click here for more on Luke 21:20-22.  Luke 21:20-22 is similar to Joshua 23:14 which states that all of God's promises to Israel (including Joshua 1:1-4) had been fulfilled by 23:14, even though all of the land was not yet conquered (Joshua 23:1-5, especially 4-5). Click here for an in depth explanation of these Joshua 23 passages.

Detailed Explanation of Galatians 2:16 - 4:31

The Galatians were being deceived into thinking that they were justified before God by keeping the law of Moses instead of being justified by faith in Jesus. 

2:16 

We are justified by faith in Jesus, not works of law.

3:2-5 

The Spirit is received by faith, not by works of law.

3:6-14 

The promise to Abraham that, "all the families of the earth will be blessed through you", comes through faith, not law (3:10-11)... and it is by this faith that we receive the Holy Spirit (3:14).

3:16-19 

The promises were to Abraham and his offspring (Christ). Offspring is a translation of the Greek word sperma, meaning seed (3:16).The law was temporary (3:19), until the seed (sperma, Christ) came (3:19).

3:20-29 

The law, being temporary, was a tutor to lead us to Christ (3:24). But NOW, we are no longer under law (Tutor, 3:25). We are sons of God through faith, not through law (3:26)... We who belong to Christ are the seed of Abraham (3:29). Some translations translate the Greek word sperma in 3:29 as "offspring" but it is the same Greek word as in 3:16. Both we who belong to Christ (3:29) and Christ Himself (3:16) are the seed of Abraham. Hence, we who belong to Christ are "the rest of the offspring" in Revelation 12:17, as Christ is "the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29).

4:1-20

Being under law is like being a slave, but Christ came to buy us out of the law with His blood (redeem, 4:5), so we would be adopted as sons (4:5).

4:21-31

So, there are two covenants (4:24). One covenant is the law (4:24), which resulted in slaves (4:24). (Mount Sinai in 4:24 is where the law was given.) This covenant corresponds to the PRESENT JERUSALEM, being slaves, born of the flesh (4:29), not heirs (4:30-31), because they were still serving in the Law of Moses (4:25). Hagar is their mother (4:25). The other covenant is by faith, JERUSALEM ABOVE (3:26), free, not slaves (4:26), born of the Spirit (4:29), heirs (4:30-31). 

Recap: A Contrast of Two Covenants

I have prayed that the following summary will help you to digest Galatians 4:21-31, to see the characteristics and contrasts between the two covenants which came through two women.

The covenant through Sarah is in bold:

In Galatians 4:21-31 we see that two women, Hagar and Sarah, are two covenants (4:24), presented together in contrast with one another. Hagar versus Sarah, according to flesh versus promise (4:23), law verse freedom (faith, grace,  Galatians 3:10-4:31), producing children born of flesh versus children born of spirit (4:29), non-heirs versus heirs (4:30), corresponding to the present Jerusalem versus the Jerusalem above (4:25). 

We Christians have Jerusalem above as our mother (4:26), making us children of promise (4:28), children of freedom, faith, grace, spirit and also heirs in "the Jerusalem that is above", which will come down out of heaven as the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2,10).    

Exegesis of Revelation 12

There is much disagreement in interpretations of Revelation 12 and in interpretations of Revelation 4:1 - 20:3 regarding timing. The disagreement of which I speak is this: Are the events of Revelation 4:1 - 20:3 in our past or in our future. I was taught that they were all in our future. But virtually all of the commentaries I consult which were written before my birth view most of those events as being in our past. I have studied the interpretations from both points of view and saw much to their credit but also significant weaknesses in their interpretations. One difficulty is that we must rely on historians to accurately record the truth, without bias, and for those accurate representations to survive into our time for our examination. What has and has not happened in the past is subject to reasonable debate.  

Multiple Fulfillment

I have come to the conclusion that some events prophesied in the book of Revelation may have multiple fulfillment. In other words, some events may have been fulfilled in the past, but will also be fulfilled in a different way in the future. The beast, 666 is an example. Some say that his activities are in our past... that Nero was 666 because the number of his name adds up to 666. It does. But it was difficult for me to ascribe all of the prophesies regarding the beast to a past fulfillment. Then I came to learn that the beast is killed and comes back to life (13:3, 17:8). 

Click here to read more about multiple fulfillment of prophecy. Scroll down to the section titled, Multiple-Figurative, or Singular-Literal?

I suggest that you seek to understand what the book says primarily and pray that our Lord will lead you into the response He has prepared for you. I also suggest that you be prepared to be subjected to the horrors of the beast known as 666. It is better to be prepared unnecessarily than to be unnecessarily unprepared. 

Much has been written about the seven year tribulation in Daniel's seventieth week. There is a seven year period, divided into two periods, each being three and one half years... written in mystic prophet language as time, times and half a time. There are periods in prophesies that approximate three and one half years like: 1260 days, 1290 days and 1335 days. 

According to Luke 21:20-22, the Old Testament writings were fulfilled by the time Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. This appears to include Daniel's 70th week. Click here for more information.

Chapter 12 contains three snapshots which convey different aspects of a heavenly conflict at first advent of Christ, during which Satan and 1/3 of the angels are cast down to the earth. The snapshots are verses 1-6, 7–12 and 13–17. All three snapshots speak of 1) Satan or his angels being cast to the earth 2) Satan's persecution of the woman or her offspring 3) Christ. The 3.5 year period is mentioned in the first and third snapshots. If you will prayerfully read through each word and phrase of chapter 12 you will see that all three snapshots are speaking about the first advent of Christ. 

The first snapshot (1-6) takes place at the moment of painful labor as the child, Christ is born, 12:2. In this snapshot Satan and his demons are on the earth and Christ ascends to His throne. This snapshot is critical as it sets the scene as the birth and ascension of Christ, the first advent. The nourishment of the woman for  one thousand two hundred sixty days in 12:6 could refer to the 3.5 year of Jesus' ministry as He taught the disciples and nourished the new covenant.

The second snapshot  (7-12) tells us details about how Satan and his angels came to be on the earth... That Michael and his angels threw Satan and his angels from Heaven to the earth in an angelic war. Verse 10 tells us that the authority of Christ came at that time (Christ ascension to his throne). Matthew 28:18 tells us that this happened before the ascension of Christ. So we know that the second snapshot is also occurred in the first century. The nourishment of "the Jerusalem that is above" for "a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent" could refer to roughly 3.5 years of nourishment from the crucifixion till the death of Stephen, when severe persecution of Christians began.

Matthew 28:18 and Revelation 12:10 appear to describe the same event. Both state that the authority of Christ has come:

• "Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:18-19).  

• "I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night" (Revelation 12:10).

So, it appears that Satan was "thrown down" at the crucifixion when Christ was granted "all authority... in heaven and on earth". This appears to have occurred in this second snapshot. This correlation of Matthew 28:18-19 and Revelation 12:10 indicates that Revelation 12 occurred during the first century. But that does not mean that parts of Revelation 12 are not still occurring now or are to occur in our future.

The third snapshot (13-17) tells us that the dragon realized he had been thrown to the earth so he persecuted the woman. So, this snapshot occurs in the same period as the second snapshot.