And a GREAT SIGN appeared in HEAVEN:
Before chapter 12, not much about the conflict with the devil has been recorded. There was a bit about evil angels (demons) in the fifth trumpet (Revelation 9:1ff), but not about Satan's conflict with God. Now we will see it.
The use of "GREAT SIGN" indicates that what John is describing is symbolic and thus chronological ordering may not be inferred here. This is the first of four "GREAT"s in this chapter:
| GREAT SIGN | verse 1 |
| GREAT RED DRAGON | verses 3,9 |
| GREAT WRATH | verse 12 |
| GREAT EAGLE | verse 14 |
The use of "GREAT" implies this is larger than individual activity; it is more on the scale of a group/nation (even whole earth). What we are seeing here in the first nine verses of chapter 12 is a history lesson of the earth from God's spiritual perspective. It, obviously, is not the whole perspective but a mere glimpse.
a WOMAN
The female comes out of male and is not original creation. Hence, this WOMAN is not the original but out of someone else (Genesis 2:21-23)
Her garments shown with the sun implying a spiritual being (cross reference Revelation 1:16).
The moon, a reflective passive body also shines light from some other source. It, too, is submissive (under her feet).
She wears a crown of twelve stars. It is not clear of what the twelve stars are symbolic. Perhaps they are the twelve tribes of Judah (Genesis 37:5-11, Revelation 7:4-8); or the twelve apostles (Acts 1:15-26); or even half of the 24 elders who also wore crowns on their heads (Revelation 4:4).