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 the apostle.
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, a King from the line
of David (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.