Remember what has just been said at the end of chapter 11. The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of our Lord. The Lord's victory is being enacted, but it will not be a straightforward affair.
The woman in verse 1 could represent the church, the believing community. The twelve stars almost certainly represent the twelve tribes of Israel. In Christ the believing Gentiles and believing Israel are made one. Isaiah 66:7ff speaks of Israel being in childbirth.
So the church has been born, God's community on earth. But at the same time there is a second sign, a red dragon. This represents Satan. The horns and crowns represent power and dominion. Satan has a degree of dominion upon the earth.
Israel gave birth to Jesus, the One who will rule all of creation. Note that Jesus will rule with an iron sceptre.
The dragon seeks to devour the child. Yet the child was protected. So Satan wars against God and against His church. We need to be aware of this. Yet we also need to know that he will lose. Jesus was taken to Egypt for a time to protect Him. The protection is not always glorious, there is not always a glorious victory. The time given matches the time of persecution of the two witnesses. So the message is that during the time of great persecution the church is being protected.
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