After the seventh trumpet has sounded and before the bowls are dispensed, the apostle John continues with prophecies from the
little scroll and begins by describing two signs. God uses signs as a way to globally signal time
(Gen 1:14), or to specifically warn of an individual (Gen 4:15),
or to commemorate an agreement (Gen 9:12-17). The signs appear to be intentional for John.
Described as "a great sign… in heaven," the first sign is of a Woman clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, and wearing a
crown with twelve stars, and she is pregnant with Child. Very similar to Joseph's dream related to his brothers
(Gen 37:9) and as the recipient of his father Israel's blessings
(Gen 49:22-26), the sign of the Woman appears to symbolize the nation of Israel, those who
are God's own possession, and the twelve stars appear to represent the twelve tribes of Israel
(Rev 12:1).
God's people are the object of God's covenant relationship. To Abraham and his descendants, God made unilateral
and unconditional promises, and He was committed to fulfilling His promises as a faithful husband would in a marriage commitment.
Among the promises that God made, the most significant was the promise of a savior
(Gen 2:12) and, elaborated in the Davidic Covenant, as King
(2 Sam 7:12). While the gospel account is of Mary who is pregnant with Jesus
(Luke 1:31-33), John's Revelation account is of Jesus being born from the nation of Israel.