Question about Revelations

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Hi I was wondering if any one knows what the church teaches on Revelations ch. 12, particularly 12:1-3 “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Because she was with child, she wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.” And 12:5 “she gave birth to a son-a boy destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod…” In one of Scott Hahn’s books he says that the child is clearly Jesus so the women then is Mary. However in my footnotes I have read that the women is not Mary but rather God’s people and the old Israel which gives birth to the Messiah. Is there an official church interpretation, and if it is Mary what about the birth pains? Thanks for any help.
 
I think I once came across a reference stating that this was Mary and Jesus. If you read a bit further, there is mention of huge red dragon who tried to “devour” the child when it was to be born. Needless to say, the “dragon” didn’t suceed.
 
The woman could represent Mary of the Mother Church but since both are our mother they are one and the same in a way. The woman in travail being pursued by the dragon who would devour them is of course the BVM and the child with which she is in travail in Jesus.
 
Hi OldMan–,

The liturgy of the Assumption applies this text to Mary. This does not mean that the text, within the context of Revelation (no '“s”), applies directly to Mary. Apocalyptic literature, however, is often meaninful on several levels.

Verbum
 
Oecumenius in the 6th cnetury gives the best interpretation of Revelation 12, it is a Marian interpretation. Here is a link that will take you directly to the Ancient Christian Commentary on chapter 12 litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Rev.+12+Mary+ACC?t=anon

You will notice that there are other Church Fathers cited, but you will have a great portion of Oecumenius’ comments on chapter 12.
 
By the way, for a better view of the text that I posted, just click on ‘full screen’ and it will enlarge it for you. Plus, Oecumenius is also highlighted yellow so you will be able to spot his commentary easier.

I hope this helps.
 
Thanks a lot, very helpful as always. I’ve read a couple of the different writings including Oecumenius and I’m still a little confused, to me it seems that some of the Fathers are explaining the women as the church while Oecumenius seems to be more directing it towards being Mary herself. I’ll have to continue reading, thanks!
 
OldManPete said:
Hi I was wondering if any one knows what the church teaches on Revelations ch. 12, particularly 12:1-3 “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Because she was with child, she wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.” And 12:5 “she gave birth to a son-a boy destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod…” In one of Scott Hahn’s books he says that the child is clearly Jesus so the women then is Mary. However in my footnotes I have read that the women is not Mary but rather God’s people and the old Israel which gives birth to the Messiah. Is there an official church interpretation, and if it is Mary what about the birth pains? Thanks for any help.
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D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 1. A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. By this woman, interpreters commonly understand the Church of Christ, shining with the light of faith, under the protection of the sun of justice, Jesus Christ. The moon, the Church, hath all changeable things of this world under her feet, the affections of the faithful being raised above them all. — A woman: the Church of God. It may also, by allusion, be applied to our blessed Lady [the Virgin Mary]. 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. (Challoner) — Under the figure of a woman and of a dragon, are represented the various attempts of Satan to undermine the Church. — On her head…twelve stars, her doctrine being delivered by the twelve apostles and their successors. (Witham)

Ver. 2. With child, &c., to signify that the Church, even in the time of persecutions, brought forth children to Christ. (Witham) — It likewise signifies the difficulties which obstructed the first propagation of Christianity. (Pastorini)

Ver. 3. Another wonder in heaven; that is, in the Church of Christ, though revealed to St. John, in the visions, as if they were seen in heaven. — A great red dragon; a fiery dragon, with seven heads and ten horns; i.e. many heads and many horns. By the dragon is generally understood the devil, (see ver. 7 and 9) and by the heads and horns, kings and princes, who act under him, persecuting the servants of God. (Witham) — Dragon, &c. the devil; and by the seven heads and ten horns, are meant those princes and governors who persecute the Church of Christ. (Calmet)
 
I wanted to mention that the Navarre Bible is especially good on Revelations (Amazon). This is one book where I especially recommend reading Catholic commentary (rather than ecumenical commentary) because its symbolism is widely interpreted by some Protestants in ways that are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church.
 
Note that the division between chapter 11 and chapter 12 is a later addition not in John’s original text. If one ignores that division
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2* she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.
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The woman is tied to the ark of the covenant. There is no reason to believe that the ark of the covenant of the Old Testament is in Heaven; so we look for the ark of the New Covenant.

In Hebrews 9:4 we find
the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
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Now the manna prefigures the Eucharist, the Body of Jesus; Aaron’s rod the power of the priesthood prefigures Jesus the ultimate priest, and the tables of the covenant , the Word of God, which is Jesus. These are all contained in Mary in the New Testament; she is the ark of the New Covenant.
 
COPLAND_3 said:
Oecumenius in the 6th cnetury gives the best interpretation of Revelation 12, it is a Marian interpretation. Here is a link that will take you directly to the Ancient Christian Commentary on chapter 12 litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Rev.+12+Mary+ACC?t=anon

You will notice that there are other Church Fathers cited, but you will have a great portion of Oecumenius’ comments on chapter 12.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I found it helpful.

“To be deep in history is to cease being a Protestant!”
Cardinal John Henry Newman
 
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