The vision of the woman clothed with the sun and of the great dragon
her persecutor.
12:1. And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the
sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve
stars.
A woman.... The church of God. It may also, by allusion, be applied to
our blessed Lady. The church is clothed with the sun, that is, with
Christ: she hath the moon, that is, the changeable things of the world,
under her feet: and the twelve stars with which she is crowned, are the
twelve apostles: she is in labour and pain, whilst she brings forth her
children, and Christ in them, in the midst of afflictions and
persecutions.
12:2. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in
pain to be delivered.
12:3. And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red
dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven
diadems.
12:4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast
them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready
to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour
her son.
12:5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations
with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.
12:6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place
prepared by God, that there they should feed her, a thousand two
hundred sixty days.
12:7. And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels.
12:8. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in
heaven.
12:9. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is
called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he was
cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him.
12:10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come
salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his
Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused
them before our God day and night.
12:11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word
of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.
12:12. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe
to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
12:13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child.
12:14. And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the desert, unto her place, where she is
nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent.
12:15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water,
as it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the
river.
12:16. And the earth helped the woman: and the earth opened her mouth
and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
12:17. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war
with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have
the testimony of Jesus Christ.
12:18. And he stood upon the sand of the sea.