The problem though lies in the fact that Revelation 12:1 is used to support the Assumption of Mary. So, if this passage has to do with the Assumption of Mary, which would have occurred sometimes after Pentecost (the last mention of Mary in the Bible), then why is she LATER fleeing into the wilderness, later in the chapter, if she supposed to be in Heaven? You’ve got the events backwards (Mary’s Assumption in to Heaven - Revelation 12:1) & THEN Mary ‘fleeing’ into the wilderness from Herod - Revelation 12:6 & 14). See the problem?
The problem is that you are reading Revelation like an historical account, like a chronological timeline of what will happen, or as if it is an article in a newspaper. It’s apocryphal literature, not meant to be read that way. It is also a highly spiritual work, based on the visions of a mystic.
Much of Revelation points backward to what has happened as well as forward to what will happen. Many verses in Revelation are also echos of, or even full restatements of Old Testament scripture. Take for example the locusts in Revelation 9
The appearance of the locusts was like that of horses ready for battle. On their heads they wore what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, and they had hair like women’s hair. Their teeth were like lions’ teeth, and they had chests like iron breastplates. The sound of their wings was like the sound of many horse-drawn chariots racing into battle. They had tails like scorpions, with stingers; with their tails they had power to harm people for five months. (Revelation 9:7-10)
This is a reference to a real locus invasion which has already happened and which was written about by the prophet Joel.
***What the cutter left, the swarming locust has devoured; What the swarming locust left, the hopper has devoured; What the hopper left, the consuming locust has devoured. … For a nation invaded my land, powerful and past counting, with teeth like a lion’s, fangs like those of a lioness. It has stripped bare my vines, splintered my fig tree, shearing off its bark and throwing it away, until its branches turn white. *
(Joel 1:4,6-7)
and again…
Their appearance is that of horses; like war horses they run. Like the rumble of chariots they hurtle across mountaintops; Like the crackling of fiery flames devouring stubble; Like a massive army in battle formation. Before them peoples tremble, every face turns pale. (Joel 2:4-6)
The locust in Revelation 9 is a reference to what has
already happened, as documented in the Old Testament by the prophet Joel. This is just one example of many such references.
The reason Revelation is at the
end of the Bible is because God assumes that we have read and understood everything that comes
before it. Revelation does not stand on its own as only a prophetic work, but as apocalyptic literature, it references both backwards in time and forwards, and much of the imagery in the Book of Revelation comes from the Old Testament. Comprehension of all of the Old Testament is therefor, a prerequisite for proper comprehension of the Book of Revelation.
Lets not turn this thread into a discussion of marian references and proper interpetation of the Book of Revelation. And so let’s stay on topic in this thread.
The OP has asked how he can get closer to Mary. Let’s address that and take the debate about marian verses in Revelation or how to properly interpret the Book of Revelation to another thread.
-Tim-