There are plenty of people out there that believe the “woman” of Revelation is referring to Mary, starting in chapter 12. If you are going to claim that Revelation 12 is somehow referring to Mary being with Jesus, then there has to be some degree of continuity leading up to Revelation, and I really don’t see much of anything.
Revelation 12, blow by blow:
So far so good for this theory, as it seems to be speaking of Mary birthing Jesus, who indeed will rule the nations as king. However, this is pretty much where the resemblance ends.
And here is where the problem starts, because we know Mary never fled into “the wilderness” with Jesus. Scripture tells us where she fled, which is to Egypt, whose appearance is about the furthest thing from a “wilderness”.
One can say that this war in heaven started soon after the birth of Jesus, if we are to follow the line of reasoning of the 'woman' being Mary. However, other scriptures make this part quite easy for someone to conclude that this war in fact occurs in the last days. Before I actually quote those scriptures, we should continue on and finish Rev 12.
So he knows that he doesn’t have a lot of time at all before his inevitable end, 1260 days to be exact, as John clearly states earlier in the chapter. Now, maybe its just me, but when I read “a short time”, I take it to mean a few years at the most, not 2000 years later and counting. 1260 days, or three years later sounds a hell of a lot shorter than 2000 odd years later, so the lack of continuity is mounting…..continuing on.
Ok, now you see, here is where I find it appropriate to start quoting the scriptures confirming this to be strictly end times prophecy. Jesus clearly states that the Anti-Christ, or “the beast” sitting in the temple and declaring himself god in the flesh marks the beginning of the “Great Tribulation”, three year period. At this point, he says the citizenry of Israel will be running to the hills, because now the stench is really about to hit the fan.
The beginning of sorrows:
The Great Tribulation:
Now that last part sounds extremely familiar to me. It sounds just like the end of the book of Daniel, when Michael, the angel that eventually gets rowdy with Satan in heaven, “shall stand up”, with Israel going through a period of tribulation the likes of which the nation has never seen before.
We see the similarity of the wording of the entire passage to other scriptures clearly referring to the end times. So obviously, at this point, what Michael is actually “standing up” to is Satan, for the great war in heaven. At no point does any of it even imply that Mary is the ‘woman’ being referred to in Revelation. The woman is clearly referring to Israel, who is indeed the birthplace of the “man child”, Jesus. Lets compare scripture with scripture and put this issue to rest.
Obviously, if the woman is referred to as “that great city”, it can’t possibly be referring to Mary or any particular woman, but to a dwelling place. The only city this could possibly be referring to is Israel, Jerusalem, the place where "our Lord was crucified".
Revelation 12, blow by blow:
(Revelation 12:1-17) “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: {2} And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. {3} And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. {4} And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. {5} And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
So far so good for this theory, as it seems to be speaking of Mary birthing Jesus, who indeed will rule the nations as king. However, this is pretty much where the resemblance ends.
{6} And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
And here is where the problem starts, because we know Mary never fled into “the wilderness” with Jesus. Scripture tells us where she fled, which is to Egypt, whose appearance is about the furthest thing from a “wilderness”.
{7} And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, {8} And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. {9} And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. {10} And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. {11} And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
One can say that this war in heaven started soon after the birth of Jesus, if we are to follow the line of reasoning of the 'woman' being Mary. However, other scriptures make this part quite easy for someone to conclude that this war in fact occurs in the last days. Before I actually quote those scriptures, we should continue on and finish Rev 12.
{12} Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
So he knows that he doesn’t have a lot of time at all before his inevitable end, 1260 days to be exact, as John clearly states earlier in the chapter. Now, maybe its just me, but when I read “a short time”, I take it to mean a few years at the most, not 2000 years later and counting. 1260 days, or three years later sounds a hell of a lot shorter than 2000 odd years later, so the lack of continuity is mounting…..continuing on.
{13} And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. {14} And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.{15} And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. {16} And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. {17} 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.”
Ok, now you see, here is where I find it appropriate to start quoting the scriptures confirming this to be strictly end times prophecy. Jesus clearly states that the Anti-Christ, or “the beast” sitting in the temple and declaring himself god in the flesh marks the beginning of the “Great Tribulation”, three year period. At this point, he says the citizenry of Israel will be running to the hills, because now the stench is really about to hit the fan.
The beginning of sorrows:
(Matthew 24:4-21) “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. {5} For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. {6} And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. {8} All these are the beginning of sorrows. {9} Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. {10} And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. {11} And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. {12} And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. {13} But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. {14} And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The Great Tribulation:
{15} When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand{16} Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: {17} Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: {18} Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. {19} And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! {20} But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: {21} For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Now that last part sounds extremely familiar to me. It sounds just like the end of the book of Daniel, when Michael, the angel that eventually gets rowdy with Satan in heaven, “shall stand up”, with Israel going through a period of tribulation the likes of which the nation has never seen before.
(Daniel 12:1-4) “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. {2} And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. {3} And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. {4} But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
We see the similarity of the wording of the entire passage to other scriptures clearly referring to the end times. So obviously, at this point, what Michael is actually “standing up” to is Satan, for the great war in heaven. At no point does any of it even imply that Mary is the ‘woman’ being referred to in Revelation. The woman is clearly referring to Israel, who is indeed the birthplace of the “man child”, Jesus. Lets compare scripture with scripture and put this issue to rest.
(Revelation 11:8) “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.“
(Revelation 17:1-3) “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: {2} With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. {3} So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”
(Revelation 17:18) “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
Obviously, if the woman is referred to as “that great city”, it can’t possibly be referring to Mary or any particular woman, but to a dwelling place. The only city this could possibly be referring to is Israel, Jerusalem, the place where "our Lord was crucified".