Why is the woman in Revelation 12:2 having labor pains?

[StuMondo]

It seems obvious that the woman in the passage is Mary.

Mary is without sin.

Genesis 3:16 tells us that labor pains are a result of original sin.

So why is Mary having labor pains in Revelation 12:2?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

The woman in Revelation 12 can be understood as a “double symbol.” On one hand she represents Mary who physically gave birth to Jesus, on the other hand she represents the people of God: Israel which “gave birth” the the messiah & the Church which brings Jesus to the word and is constantly attacked by the devil. As the New American Bible notes:

The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from Gn 37:9–10) symbolizes God’s people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (Rev 12:6, 13–17); cf. Is 50:1; 66:7; Jer 50:12.

Note that the woman has other offspring who are referred to as “those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.” (Rev 12:17). Clearly the woman cannot solely be a symbol of Mary.