◄ Revelation 12:2 ►
She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
Study Bible
She was pregnant

The woman represents Israel, the covenant people through whom the Messiah came according to the flesh. Israel carried the promise first given in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would overthrow the serpent. From Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David, God preserved the chosen line until Christ was born.

Mat 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:…
Luk 1:31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son,…
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:…

and crying out

Israel’s history was marked by longing for the promised King and Deliverer. Centuries of bondage, exile, foreign rule, and spiritual decline intensified the expectation that God would redeem His people. The cry also anticipates creation’s groaning for final restoration, as described in Romans 8:22–23.

Isa 42:14 I have kept silent from ages past; I have remained quiet…
Mic 4:9 Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you?…
Jer 4:31 For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish…

in the pain and agony of giving birth.

The birth pains portray the suffering through which God’s redemptive purposes advanced. Israel endured affliction before the coming of Christ, and Christ Himself entered the world to bear suffering for the sins of His people. Scripture also uses labor pains to describe the distress preceding God’s kingdom triumph and the completion of His saving work (Isaiah 26:17–18; Micah 4:10; Matthew 24:8).

Isa 26:17-18 As a woman with child about to give birth…
Jer 30:6-7 Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth?…
Jhn 16:21 A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Woman
Symbolically represents God's people, often interpreted as Israel or the Church. In the context of Revelation, she is depicted as a heavenly figure clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head (Revelation 12:1).

2. The Child
Represents Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who is to rule all nations with an iron scepter. The birth of the child signifies the coming of the Savior into the world.

3. The Dragon
Although not mentioned in verse 2, the dragon is a significant figure in the surrounding context, representing Satan, who seeks to devour the child upon birth.

4. The Birth
Symbolizes the coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The labor pains reflect the struggles and challenges faced by God's people throughout history.

5. Heavenly Realm
The vision takes place in a heavenly setting, indicating the cosmic significance of the events described.
Teaching Points
The Struggle of God's People
The labor pains symbolize the struggles and tribulations faced by God's people throughout history. Believers are called to endure and remain faithful amidst trials.

The Fulfillment of God's Promises
The birth of the child signifies the fulfillment of God's promises. Just as the Messiah came, believers can trust in the fulfillment of God's future promises.

Spiritual Warfare
The presence of the dragon highlights the reality of spiritual warfare. Christians must be vigilant and equipped with the armor of God to stand against the enemy.

Hope in Suffering
The agony of labor is temporary and leads to the joy of new life. In the same way, believers can find hope in their suffering, knowing it leads to eternal glory.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of the woman in labor in Revelation 12:2 relate to the experiences of the Church today?

2. In what ways can the fulfillment of God's promises in the past encourage us to trust Him for the future?

3. How does understanding the reality of spiritual warfare change the way you approach your daily life and spiritual practices?

4. What are some practical ways to find hope and joy in the midst of suffering, as illustrated by the labor pains in Revelation 12:2?

5. How can the connection between Revelation 12:2 and other scriptures deepen our understanding of God's redemptive plan throughout the Bible?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 3:15
The enmity between the woman and the serpent, and the promise of a Savior, connects to the imagery of the woman and the dragon in Revelation 12.

Isaiah 66:7-9
Describes Zion in labor, giving birth to a nation, paralleling the imagery of the woman in labor in Revelation 12.

Micah 5:2-3
Prophecy of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, with the imagery of labor and birth pains.

Matthew 24:8
Jesus speaks of the "beginning of birth pains" in the context of end-time events, connecting to the labor pains in Revelation 12.
Sermons
Social Christhood and Social FiendhoodD. Thomas, D. D.Revelation 12:1-2
The Church a WomanWm. Guild, D. D.Revelation 12:1-2
The Sign of the Woman in HeavenJ. Bailey, Ph. D.Revelation 12:1-2
The Sun-Clothed WomanJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Revelation 12:1-2
SignsR. Green Revelation 12:1-6
Social Christhood and Social FiendhoodD. Thomas Revelation 12:1-6
People
John, Michael
Places
Patmos
Topics
Agony, Anguish, Birth, Bring, Child, Childbirth, Cried, Crieth, Cry, Crying, Delivered, Delivery, Forth, Labor, Laboring, Pain, Pained, Pains, Pangs, Travail, Travailing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 12:2

     5733   pregnancy

Revelation 12:1-5

     8729   enemies, of Christ

Library
Prevailing Prayer.
Text.--The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.--James v. 16. THE last lecture referred principally to the confession of sin. To-night my remarks will be chiefly confined to the subject of intercession, or prayer. There are two kinds of means requisite to promote a revival; one to influence men, the other to influence God. The truth is employed to influence men, and prayer to move God. When I speak of moving God, I do not mean that God's mind is changed by prayer, or that his …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

The Third
refers to Exodus. The promise is, "I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it" (ii. 17). It is in this third Epistle, which refers to the wilderness period and Balaam's counsel, that we have a special reference to the manna, the wilderness sustenance, of which Exodus contains the record. "Bread from Heaven" and "Angels' food" (Ps. lxxviii. 24,25) are set over against the lusts of the …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Glory of Jesus and Mary.
Before entering upon the contemplation of the excellent glory which surrounds the blessed in heaven, we must endeavor to form a correct idea of God's grace, which enabled them to perform the great and noble actions we are now to consider. They were all, except Jesus and Mary, conceived in sin, and, therefore, subject to the same temptations that daily assail us. They never could have triumphed and reached the supernatural glory which now surrounds them, had they been left to their own natural strength, …
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

The Work of Christ.
The great work which the Lord Jesus Christ, God's well beloved Son, came to do was to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. This finished work of the cross is the basis of His present work and His future work. What mind can estimate the value and preciousness of that work in which the Holy One offered Himself through the eternal Spirit without spot unto God! He procured redemption by His death on the cross. In His present work and much more in the future work, He works out this great redemption …
A. C. Gaebelein—The Work Of Christ

A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Voluntary Suffering
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. T hat which often passes amongst men for resolution, and the proof of a noble, courageous spirit, is, in reality, the effect of a weak and little mind. At least, it is chiefly owing to the presence of certain circumstances, which have a greater influence upon the conduct, than any inherent principle. Thus may persons who appear to set death and danger at defiance in the hour …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Fourth vision "In Heaven"
H^4, chap. xii. 1-12. A Great Sign. We now come, not only to the great central subject of the whole Book, but to the central pair of the seven Visions, and to the actual literary centre of the Book. All this shows us that we are on the threshold of an important part of Scripture which relates to the actual Revelation or Unveiling of the glorious Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole section (chaps. xii.--) is not only Episodal in subject and Parenthetical in form, but is a good example of historical, …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Apostles To-Day?
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work in the Lord?"--1 Cor. ix. 1. We may not take leave of the apostolate without a last look at the circle of its members. It is a closed circle; and every effort to reopen it tends to efface a characteristic of the New Covenant. And yet the effort is being made again and again. We see it in Rome's apostolic succession; in the Ethical view gradually effacing the boundary-line between the apostles and believers; …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' A kingdom is held the acme and top of all worldly felicity, and this honour have all the saints'; so says our Saviour, Theirs is the …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished; …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Protevangelium.
As the mission of Christ was rendered necessary by the fall of man, so the first dark intimation of Him was given immediately after the fall. It is found in the sentence of punishment which was passed upon the tempter. Gen. iii. 14, 15. A correct understanding of it, however, can be obtained only after we have ascertained who the tempter was. It is, in the first place, unquestionable that a real serpent was engaged in the temptation; so that the opinion of those who maintain that the serpent is only …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher, …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Love
The rule of obedience being the moral law, comprehended in the Ten Commandments, the next question is: What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' Deut 6: 5. The duty called for is love, yea, the strength of love, with all …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising
'If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.' - Col 1:23. Intending next Lord's day to enter upon the work of catechising, it will not be amiss to give you a preliminary discourse, to show you how needful it is for Christians to be well instructed in the grounds of religion. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.' I. It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith. II. The best way for Christians to be settled is to be well grounded. I. It is the duty of Christians …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Its Meaning
Deliverance from the condemning sentence of the Divine Law is the fundamental blessing in Divine salvation: so long as we continue under the curse, we can neither be holy nor happy. But as to the precise nature of that deliverance, as to exactly what it consists of, as to the ground on which it is obtained, and as to the means whereby it is secured, much confusion now obtains. Most of the errors which have been prevalent on this subject arose from the lack of a clear view of the thing itself, and …
Arthur W. Pink—The Doctrine of Justification

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

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