This is the woman from the book of Revelation, “…clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Rightly, we recognize Mary here; however, the image of the woman primarily represents Israel. The pregnant woman Israel is about to give birth to the infant Church. (The ichthys — or fish symbol — is shown on the woman’s abdomen). Standing by and ready to devour the early church is Satan symbolized by the seven-headed dragon.
The book of Revelation was written to give the early Christians hope and courage during their persecution by the Roman Empire.
Let us not buy into the sensationalism and imagined prophesies currently circulating about the book of Revelation. This precious book contains the revelation: Christ has won the victory, Christ will come again. It teaches us to hope and wait and withstand every trial, even unto death, until Christ will come to take us to Himself.
