12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the
                                         moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

                                  ENGLISH - NLT (New Living Testament)
                                 12:1 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. 
                                          I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet,
                                          and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

                                  ENGLISH -  NAB (New American Bible)

                                  12:1 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
                                         under her feet and on her head a crown of 12 stars

                                  ENGLISH -  NIV (New International Version)

                                  12:1 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.

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

                                  12:1  Then a great sign was seen in heaven:  A woman was arrayed with the sun,
                                          and the moon was beneath her feet, and on her head was a crown of 12 stars.

                                  HEBREW

                                  12: 1 ונראה פלא גדול בשמים. אישה לבושה בשמש ובירח
                                       תחת רגליה, ועל ראשה כתר של 12 כוכבים 

                                  GREEK

                                  ARABIC

 12: 1 وظهر عجب عظيم في السماء. امرأة ملبس مع الشمس والقمر
         تحت قدميها، وعلى رأسها تاج من 12 نجوم 

                                  GERMAN

                                  12: 1 Und es erschien ein großes Wunder im Himmel. Eine Frau mit der Sonne und dem Mond
                                          bekleidet Unter ihren Füßen und auf dem Kopf eine Krone von 12 Sternen.

                                  FRENCH

                                  12: 1 Et il est apparu une grande merveille dans le ciel. Une femme revêtue du soleil et de la lune
                                          Sous ses pieds, et sur sa tête une couronne de 12 étoiles.

                                  ITALIAN

                                  12: 1 E ci fu una grande meraviglia in cielo. Una donna vestita con il sole e la luna
                                          Sotto i suoi piedi e sulla testa una corona di 12 stelle.

                                 SPANISH

                                  12: 1 Y apareció una gran maravilla en el cielo. Una mujer vestida con el sol y la luna
                                          Bajo sus pies, y sobre su cabeza una corona de 12 estrellas.
.

                                  LATIN

                                  XII: I Et signum magnum apparuit in coelo. mulier amicta sole et luna
                                          sub pedibus eius et in capite eius corona stellarum XII 

                                  RUSSIAN

                                  12: 1 И появилось великое чудо на небесах. Женщина, одетая в солнце и луну
                                         Под ее ногами, а на голове - корона из 12 звезд.

 

                                  COMMENTARIES

                                  MATTHEW HENRY

                                  12:1-6

                                  It is generally agreed by the most leared expositors that the narrative we have in this ane the two
                                 following chapters, from the sounding of the seventh trumpet to the opening of the vials, is not
                                 a prediction of things to come, but rather a recapitulation and representation of things past, which,
                                 as God would have him to review now that they are past, that he might have a more perfect idea of
                                 them in his mind, and might observe the agreement between the prophecy and that Providence
                                 is always fulfilling the scriptures.

                                  In this chapter, we have an account of the contest between church and the antichrist, the seed
                                 the woman and the seed and the serpent.

                                  Genesis 3:15  

                                  1. As it was begun in heaven (v 1-11.  Here we see that the early prophecy fulfilled in which God
                                     said he would put enmity between the the seed of the woman and the seed of the church, by
                                     devouring her offspring as soon as it was born, of this we have a very lively description in the
                                     most proper images.

                                      We see how the church is represented in this vision. 

                                      1: As a woman, the weaker part of the world, but the spouse of Christ, and the mother of the
                                         saints.

                                      2: As clothed with the sun, the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Having put on
                                         Christ, who is the sun of righteousness, she, by her realtion to Christ, is invested with
                                         honourable rights and privileges, and shines in his rays.

                                      3. As having the moon under her feet (that is the world) she stands upon it, but lives above it;
                                         her heart and hope are not set upon sublunary things, but things that are in heaven, where
                                         her head is.

                                       4.  As having on her head a crown of twelve stars, that is, the doctrine of the the gospel
                                           preached by the twelve apostles, which is a crown of glory to all true believers.

                                       5. As in travail, crying out, and pained to be delivered.  She was pregnant, and now in pain to
                                          bring forth a holy progeny to Christ, desirous that what was begun in the conviction of
                                          sinners might end in their conversion, that when the children were brought to the birth there
                                          might be strength to bring forth, and that she might see of the travail of her soul.       

                                  
                                  IMMANUEL SWEDENBORG

                                   12:1-2

                                   The Bible portrays the great controversy between Christ and Satan in terms of three characters
                                  the Dragon, the woman, and the Man Child.  They are first introduced in Eden where the Dragon
                                  (Serpent) won an initial engagement with the woman, between his seed and her seed.

                                   Ultimate victory comes through a single seed of the woman, who crushes the serpent's head, at
                                  the same time suffering a deadly bite to the heel.

                                   Genesis 3:15 

                                   Chapter 12 of Revelation portrays the whole sweet drama from its origin in heaven to Satan's
                                  attack on Jesus, through the persecutions of the Dark Ages, until the final conflict at the end.

                                   Throughout the Bible a pure "woman" is a symbol of God's pure church while a harlot represents
                                  a corrupt church .

                                   Hosea 1:2
                                  Ezekiel 16:2
                                  2 Corinthians 11:2

                                   She is said to be "clothed with the sun" the glory of the gospel of Christ, and have "the moon
                                  under her feet," the reflected glory of Christ as foreshadowed in the Old Testament sanctuary
                                  services and rituals.

                                   John 8:12
                                  Collosians 2:11-17
                                 
                                  The "crown of 12 stars" represents the 12 apostles.

                                   The woman who gives birth to Messiah represents the true church through its entire history -
                                  from Adam and the Jewish nation to the Christian Church.
                                   

                                   EDGAR CAYCE

                                   THE GREAT RED DRAGON

                                   This symbolizes the powerful urge within ourselves that originally so separated us from the
                                  Source of Life that we fought with those very influences that would bring the spiritual awakening.

                                   The Great Red Dragon is the serpent from the Garden of Eden in Genesis (Rev. 12:9) who first
                                  aided in our souls separation from God's presence and the Garden - symbolic of a serpentlike
                                  willfullness and reasoning within ourselves, when we were heavenly teenagers with the keys
                                  to the car.

                                   Now this influence has grown strong and powerful in the form of a Great Red drogon, ready to
                                  devour any new heaven-centered intentions we bring forth in our hearts and minds.
                                  (281-16) 

                                  MADAME HELENA BLAVATSKY

                                  12:1-2

                                  THE WOMAN

                                  The student of Lepsius, Champollion, and other Egyptologists will quickly recognize Isis as the
                                  "woman with child", "clothed with the Sun and with the moon under her feet", whom the "great
                                  fiery Dragon" persecuted, and to whom "were given two wings of the Great Eagle that she might
                                  fly into the wilderness."

                                   Typhon was red-skinned.

                                   BRIAN PEPPER  (1916-1995)

                                   (not yet loaded to the internet)

                                   TIM LAHAYE

                                  Revelation chapter 12 -14 are explanatory prophecies that describe some of the major personages
                                  and movements of the second half of the Tribulation period. Beginning with the woman who
                                  represents Israel and her child who is Christ, the Messiah.

                                  Although chapter 11 verse 15 records the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the effects it produces
                                  are not described until chapters 15 through 18.

                                  Chapters 12 - 14 restates or summarizes that same period, but describing events from Satan's
                                  vantage point. Including taking the readers back to the original rebellion as Satan is cast to the
                                  earth along with one third of the angels. (demons)

Chapter 12

                                 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:

                                        The woman represents Israel, and her child is Christ; the Messiah (12:5;

                                        Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 66:7.8; Micah 5:2; Romans. 9:4,5)

                                       The woman is not the church, since the church did not bring forth Christ, But rather He brought
                                       forth the church.

                                       The sun reflects redeemed Israel's unique glory, brilliance and dignity because of her exulted
                                       status and shows her as God's chosen nation.

                                       The moon under her feet alludes to God's promise of dominion, and the crown of twelve stars
                                       pictures royalty and relates to the 12 tribes of Israel. Go to Genesis 37 verses 9 - 11 and read
                                       about the dream Joseph had about the sun, moon and 11 stars which were bowing down to

                                      Joseph.  (who was the 12th)

                                      In this look toward heaven by John, we are taken to a different aspect of the battle that has gone
                                      on through all ages between Jesus and Satan. If Jesus is in warfare with Satan, then His people
                                      are in battle as well.

                                  JOHN WESLEY

                                  12:1 

                                  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which
                                  must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.

                                   And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads
                                  and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

                                   And I saw - Soon after the woman flew away.

                                   A wild beast comimg up twice; first from the sea then from the abyss.  He comes from the sea
                                 before the seven phials; "the great whore" comes after them.

                                  O reader, this is a subject wherein we are deeply concerned, and which must be treated, not as a
                                 point of curiousity, but as a solemn warning from God!  This dabger is near.  Be armed both
                                 against  force and fraud, even with the whole armour of God.

                                   Out of the sea - That is, Europe.  So the three woes (the first being in Persia, the send about the
                                  Euphrates) move in a line from east to west.  This beast is the Roman Papacy, as it came to a
                                 point six hundred years since, stands now, and will for some time longer. 

                                   FIRE BIBLE

                                  12:1

                                  APPEARED

                                   Chapter 12 presents four great conflicts between God and Satan.

                                  1:  Satan's conflict with Christ and his work of redemption.
                                      spiritual salvation

                                       rescue and restoration (verses 1-5)

                                   2.  Satan's conflict withe the faithful of Israel.  verses 6, 13-16

                                   3.   Satan's conflict with heaven. (verses 7-9)

                                   4.   Satan's conflict with the followers of Christ. (verses 10-11, 17)

                                  12:1

                                   A WOMAN

                                   This vision of a great sign appearing in heaven points in retrospect ( i.e, looking back)

                                   NOTE:  WHOEVER WROTE THIS: WAS NOT AWARE THAT IT WOULD OCCUR IN 2017.

                                   It is a vital event and truth. Though the description that follows is symbolic (though a real event
                                  occuring in space above earth, it represents definite realities, just as the other symbols
                                  throughout Revelation. 

                                   This woman refers to God's faithful people of Israel through whom the Messiah)
                                  i.e. The Christ child came into the world.

                                   See: Roman's 9:5

                                   This is indicated not only by the birth of the child, but also by the reference to the sun.

                                   See:  Psalms 104:1-2

                                   Daniel 12:3

                                   Malachi 4:2

                                   John 8:12

                                   and the moon

                                   Genesis 37:9-11

                                   in relation to similar images in Joseph's dream and the 12 stars which would naturally refer to the
                                  twelve tribes of Israel.

                                   See: sons of Jacob Genesis 37:9

                                   not perhaps or maybe it is the second Coming of Jesus:

                                   Revelation 19:11-12

                                  ABINGDON BIBLE

                                  12:1-6  A woman arrayed with the sun is about to give birth to a son.  A red dragon stands ready to
                                  devour the child when he is born.  The child is caought up to God and the woman fees to a place
                                  in the wilderness prepared by God For her.

                                   In the original myth, which has pagan and has elements derived from the mythologies derived of
                                  Babylon, Egypt and Greece, the woman was a goddess, cclothed witih the sun, with her feet on the
                                  moon as a footstool, and her crown studded with the signs of the zodiac.

                                  This description John follows, but it has no special significance for him.  In its Jewish form the
                                  story represented the expected birth of the Messiah from the Jewish church.  John has adapted
                                  this to the birth of Christ.  The woman is therefore the true Israel.

                                   In the Old Testament, the spiritual Israel is the spouse of God; in this book elsewhere the Bride of
                                  Christ.