I have ZERO “problems”:
“Rev. 12, John’s vision of the woman clothed with the sun, captures the essence of the Book of Revelation. With many layers of meaning, it shows a past event prefiguring an event far off in the future. It recaps the Old Testament as it completes the New. It reveals heaven, but in images of earth.”
“John’s vision begins with the opening of God’s temple in heaven, “and the ark of His covenant was seen within the Temple” (Rev 11:19). Perhaps we can’t fully appreciate the shock value of that line. The Ark of the Covenant had not been seen for five centuries. At the time of the Babylonian captivity, the prophet Jeremiah had hidden the ark in a place that “shall be unknown until God gathers His people together again: (2 Mac 2:7)”
“That promise is fulfilled in John’s vision. The Temple appeared, “and there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.” And then: “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; she was with child” (Rev 12:1-2)”
“John would not have introduced the ark, just to drop it immediately. I believe that when John describes the woman, he is describing the ark—of the New Covenant. And who is the woman? She is the one who gives birth to the male child Who will rule the nations. The child is Jesus; His mother is Mary.”
Credit Scott Hahn
The “Woman” of Rev 12 is not Mary, but the entire nation of Israel.
Still got those nasty "thief" and "wrath" problems, huh?
Oh well. Not to worry.
Quote-. I believe that when John describes the woman, he is describing the ark—of the New Covenant. And who is the woman? She is the one who gives birth to the male child Who will rule the nations. The child is Jesus; His mother is Mary.”
What John was describing was the constellation Virgo- when the sun clothes her and the moon is under her feet- that represents a new moon...
It marks the 6th month on Our Heavenly Father’s calendar...
and tells us when the messiah of Israel was born- just as one would expect from The Word that became flesh- His life is set along with the set times in His Holy Word. Those set times are new moons, Sabbaths(His) and His feasts..
He was born at a set time, circumcised at a set time, dedicated in the temple on a set time, baptized at a set time.. killed at a set time.. raised at a set time..all can be searched and found , some with hints, in scripture..
And the 6th month on our Heavenly Father’s calendar isn’t December 25...
But Christianity has traditions and teachings that trump scripture and His timekeeping..
The author assumed a chronological order of the books of the Revelation. If you read the verse just prior to the mention of the ark, Rev 11:18, the judgement and wrath of the Lamb are indicated, not the resurrection or ascension of Christ. Rev 12:5, on the other hand, coincides with Rev 5, where the Lamb (who had been slain) ascended to God's throne.
That is, chapter 12 is a "parallel," if you will, of chapter 5; but with different details. Chapter 5 mentions Christ standing before the throne after his ascension: chapter 12 mentions Satan's war with the church after Christ's ascension.
>>>And who is the woman? She is the one who gives birth to the male child Who will rule the nations. The child is Jesus; His mother is Mary.<<<
If that be the case, then who were the remnant of her seed that Satan goes after?
"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." (Rev 12:17 KJV)
There is no mention of Mary after Acts 1; but there are many references to Satan (that is, the Jews, and much later, Nero) going after the early Church, that is, after "those which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Therefore, my guess for the identity of the woman in Revelation 12 is the heavenly Jerusalem (the Church,) not Mary; but not without scriptural support, as follows:
". . . Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Gal 4:26 KJV)
There is also this:
"[Christ] loved the church, and gave himself for it;" (Eph 5:25 KJV)
So, who did Christ die for? The Church.
And who/what is the Church? New Jerusalem, the Mother of us all.
And who did Satan go after?
First he went after the spiritual entity, the Mother, with a "flood" that came out of his mouth. That could mean disinformation, ridicule, etc., that would proceed out of the mouth of the evil ones.
Next he went after her physical entities, the faithful, with disinformation and with violence.
Anyway, that is the way I see it.
Philip