In Revelation 12 a graphic picture of a woman is presented but there is a clear interpretation partly based on other scriptures in the Bible. The key Bible passage to interpret this passage in Revelation is with a dream of the Jewish patriarch Joseph in Genesis 37. In that dream Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon and 11 stars made obeisance to me or bowed and paid homage to him. In this case these 11 stars were the founders of the other 11 tribes of Israel and the sun and moon were his father and mother. This was actually fulfilled in Egypt when Joseph's family worshipped him before he revealed himself when they came before him for food when he had achieved high office in Egypt. In the reference in Revelation 12 the 12 stars of the woman are the 12 tribes of Israel and the sun around her head is probably the southern kingdom of Judah that included the kingly and Messianic line of Judah and the moon under her feet refers to the northern kingdom of Israel as subservient to the woman which was the case in Jesus' time and will also be the case in the tribulation as a continuation of the state of Israel we see in the world now which is ruled from Jerusalem. There are other instances in the Bible where saying someone is under someone's feet means they are under subjection to them such as in 1 Corinthians 15 of God putting all things under Jesus the Messiah's feet since Jesus' death and resurrection almost 2000 years ago. The woman being pained to be delivered refers back two thousand years ago to the birth through the virgin of Israel which happened to be Mary representing the nation of Israel giving birth to the Messiah or man child. The scripture reference from Revelation 12 of the identification of the woman with the crown of 12 stars as the nation of Israel is as follows:
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: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. Revelation 12:1-2
The first point to identify the woman is that she is the one that brought forth the man child. This means the woman who gave birth to the man or male child promised as the Messiah and Saviour of the world since the Garden of Eden to Eve in Genesis 3:15 and then promised through Israel and a Jewish woman was finally fulfilled in the virgin Mary who was of Jewish blood. However this mention of the woman refers more generally to the whole nation of Israel that is pictured as collectively bringing forth the Jewish Messiah or man child in Jesus of Nazareth through the virgin Mary. The mention that he was to rule all nations refers to Jesus' destiny after His second coming to rule the nations in the 1000 year Messianic Age with full control or power on earth to exert God's righteous ways with a rod or iron. This will be after he was caught up to heaven or his ascension that completed Jesus' first overall earthly ministry almost 2000 years ago. The woman or Israel will soon spend time in the wilderness. This will be in the second half of the tribulation or great tribulation which is a thousand two hundred and threescore days which is exactly 3 1/2 years based on a year of 360 days which was the length of the ancient Jewish year spend time in hiding in the wilderness. This wilderness will be a place prepared for God that many Christians identify especially with Petra the ancient stronghold of the Edomites or descendants of Esau the brother of Jacob who was renamed Israel. This mountain is also called Mount Sela or Mount Seir or the Mount of Esau and is associated with the last days of Israel in the book of Obadiah in the Old Testament. The scripture reference in Revelation 12 of the identity of this woman who will retreat to the wilderness and take refuge there in the second half of the tribulation is as follows:
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Revelation 12:5-6
When the dragon who is Satan the devil or Lucifer saw that he was cast unto the earth, when he is cast out of heaven at the end of the first half of the tribulation, he persecutes the woman (Israel) that brought forth the man child (Jesus the Messiah or Christ). Then the woman, Israel, is promised that the wings of a great eagle to bring her into the wilderness. This evacuation by a great eagle again is probably referring to the wilderness in and around Petra to the south of the main part of Israel or perhaps also some of the other wilderness near the Dead Sea or in the Negev desert probably by an air force of some entity associated with an eagle. Although it is only speculation and the born again Christians that support Israel in the United States will be raptured to heaven before the tribulation or the second half of it there could be other believers as a result of the rapture and the preaching of the 144,000 Messianic Jewish witnesses and the two witnesses in United States. These tribulation believers in the United States that will support Israel could be the eagle as the eagle is a well known symbol of the United States and its president and in this case could be a reference to that country although that is speculation. Her place for Israel in the wilderness is probably the lost and abandonned mountain city of Petra that is build into the rock face of the former territory of Edom to the south of Israel on the other side of the Dead Sea. The scripture says she shall be nourished for a time and times and half a time which is also three and a half years as a time is a year, and a times is two years as also used in the prophet Daniel. This is a reference to those who will bring a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple or that are sheep or goats as in Matthew 25 depending on whether they look after the least of my (Jesus') brethren who are the Jews when these scriptures are used in a last days or apocalyptic sense. The woman Israel will be nourished from the serpent by being nourished and protected also from Israel's human enemies or those we would now call "antisemitic". God will perhaps by an earthquake protect Israel from some of the persecution the serpent or Satan, tries to move against her in the second half of the tribulation. The dragon or Satan will make war with the woman or Israel especially those who keep his law and word and that become Messianic Jews or trust in Jesus as their Messiah through the devil's fallen angelic or human agents in the second half of the tribulation. The scripture reference in Revelation 12 of this Satanic persecution of the woman Israel and her protection from the dragon by God through righteous Gentile believers in the second half of the tribulation is as follows:
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Messiah). Revelation 12:13-17
Although there will probably be some aspects of the first part of Matthew 24 that continue on into the tribulation the first 14 verses are mostly a summary of the whole course of the Church age and into the tribulation. However starting at verse 15 the scene goes to the second half of the tribulation or the great tribulation. This is characterized by the expression "those days" that is not used at all in the first 14 verses of this chapter. The abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet is clearly a reference to the Antichrist polluting the soon to be rebuilt third temple in Jerusalem by going into the holy of holies of it to proclaim himself as God and to seek to be worshipped by the world. This will have special relevance to Israel since it will be with them that there will be an agreement to build this temple and they would think at least initially that the Antichrist was making an agreement with them to build their temple and bring in their Messianic Kingdom promised by God in the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures) which will actually happen by Jesus Christ the true Messiah after His second coming at the end of the tribulation. What I am trying to say is the temple including the defiling of it is a Jewish concept and indicates this part of the chapter is especially about Israel and the Jews in the tribulation. This is further indicated by the next verse that mentions Judaea which is southern Israel in connection with an instruction for the people there to flee to the mountains that run along the middle in a north-south direction of Israel especially the southern or Judaean part of Israel. This is an instruction for the Jews to flee the persecution of them by the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea in Revelation during especially the second half of the tribulation. There is then a reference for those on the housetop not come down to take anything out of the house. This is also a reference to Israel as even today many houses in Israel have flat roofs and people spend considerable time there and in Bible days people often slept there as there was little rain in parts of the year. Also in many other parts of the world such as North America, Europe and the Far East there is often very slanted roofs where people do not spend time living which would exclude them from this verse. Verse 18 adds to the idea that people in Israel were to flee and not seek to preserve their belongings once the Antichrist rises to power by taking over the temple in Jerusalem. Verse 19 gives a woe to women that have young children because it would be very difficult to look after them then and the expression those days is again used here indicating the great tribulation. God says in this scripture too that the inhabitants, the Jews, should hope their flight be not in winter as their is much rain then and cold and it wouldn't be good conditions to be on the run outside compared to other parts of the year. The expression also not on the sabbath day also indicates this passage is talking about the Jews especially in Israel as they are the ones who are under the most restrictions that could also affect their flight from the Antichrist on the Sabbath. It is then mentioned that no flesh would be saved if those days meaning the great tribulation were not shortened. Although this period of 3 1/2 years will still seem quite long to those people on earth then it is much shorted than some other periods such as the almost 2000 years of the current Church age, the about 1500 years of Israel under the Law of Moses from Mount Sinai to the cross of Messiah Jesus or the 1000 years of the Messianic Kingdom. The people of that time especially the Jews are to be wary of people claiming to be Christ (Messiah) who they will again be looking for after they realize the Antichrist is a false Christ when he breaks his covenant with them and takes over their third temple. The Jews would probably also be looking for prophets to give them God's guidance at that time but the main prophets of God will be the two witnesses of Revelation 11 including Elijah and Moses or perhaps Enoch. Jesus warns them including the Jews of the tribulation that he has foretold all these dire conditions. The reference to desert or wilderness would also be appropriate for Israel as they have several desert or wilderness areas including in the Judaean wilderness near the Dead Sea and the Negev desert in the south of Israel. The secret chambers is probably a reference to the chambers of the then standing third temple in Jerusalem as Ezekiel 43 and other Old Testament scriptures relate the Messiah with the Messianic Temple and the word chambers is used several times at least in the King James Version of this Temple in Ezekiel 41. The scripture passage from Matthew 24 of Israel or the Jews in the land of Israel in the Great Tribulation once the Antichrist breaks his 7 year covenant with them half way through the tribulation is as follows:
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whose readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ (Messiah), or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs (Messiahs), and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. Gospel of Matthew 24:15-26
The LORD (God) addresses this message of judgment to his chosen earthly people the Jews. Although he calls them not desired, because of their disobedience or unbelief, it is significant that he still calls them a nation that had once been desired. This implies he will refine them and make them desirable to himself again. God says His judgment was especially on the chaff which are the Israelites that never come to faith and obedience in the God of Israel. God says His anger was especially directed at the chaff of Israel who had no intention even under God's refining time of the tribulation in coming back to their God and LORD. In verse 3, although God refers to the meek of all the earth, he is probably talking especially of the meek of his chosen people Israel as these first 3 verses have to do with Israel as opposed to the rest of the chapter that refers to other Gentile nations. God says that by seeking Him and meekness in the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel the remnant or the Jews that truly belong to the God of Israel or will come to faith in Him in His time of refining them in the tribulation that God will protect or hide them at that time. One of the hiding places will probably be the mountain fortress of the Edomites in what is now called Petra also mentioned in Revelation 12 although God could well have other hiding places for those Jews that come to true faith in Him in the tribulation in other parts of the world. The scripture passage from Zephaniah 2 of God predicting His refining of His chosen earthly people Israel in the last days tribulation or 70th week of Daniel is as follows:
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger. Zephaniah 2:1-3
The LORD or God speaks very clearly at the beginning of this chapter that these words in this chapter are from Him to Israel through his prophet Jeremiah. God promises that in those days meaning the last days that he would bring Israel or the Jews back to their land not just any land but to the land of Israel God granted to them through his covenant with their ancestor Abraham (and Isaac and Jacob). This process began in earnest with the Zionist movement started by Theodore Herzl and others in the 1880s but was further realized with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the Jews of Israel gaining control over all of Jerusalem including the Old City and some jurisdiction over the Temple Mount in 1967 in a war they had to fight to avoid an imminent attack by Nasser or Egypt and the other Arab countries. Jewish people continue to return to Israel from all over the world especially the former Soviet Union. This will continue through the tribulation until the Jews also return to God and their Messiah Jesus after Jesus' second coming to set up the Messianic Kingdom. However before the Messianic Kingdom in the last days God promises a fearful time to the Jews that won't be a time of peace even though that is something they earnestly yearn for. This is probably a reference to the false peace or covenant that the antichrist or the beast will make with the Jews at the beginning of the tribulation and break half-way through according to Daniel 9:27. The LORD says that even the men of Israel will be fearful then comparing to the anxiety of a woman in labour or travail. Then there is the verse with the famous expression the time of Jacob's trouble. God calls this a great day not in the sense of something very positive but as something momentous. God calling it the time of Jacob's trouble is a reference to the time of trouble for His chosen earthly people the Jews as a time of trial just like he brought their ancestor Jacob through before he was more pleasing to God in his service and relationship to God so God will allow to happen to the descendants of Jacob in the tribulation especially the second half so they can become a prized inheritance for the LORD forever. Although God promises a severe time for the Jews especially in the second half of the tribulation the LORD also promises the Jews will be saved out of it meaning that God will deliver them in the end especially by the coming again of the Messiah Jesus to judge the world and set up His Messianic or Millennial Kingdom over all the earth with a primary blessed role for the Jews (and the Church of Bible believing Christians). God promises that at the end of this time of trial for the Jews he will break all the oppressors from Israel. God promises the Jews and the nation of Israel will be able to freely serve Him and David their king looking forward to the Messianic Kingdom after the second coming of Messiah Jesus. Their king David is probably a reference to the Messiah which will be fulfilled by Messiah Jesus of Nazareth who was of the line of David. The scripture reference from Jeremiah 30 of the LORD's warning of the time of Jacob's trouble for the Jews as a time of refining them especially in the second half of the tribulation to prepare them to be the people leading serving and worshipping the LORD in the Messianic Kingdom is as follows:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. Jeremiah 30:1-9
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