Revelation 12:1

Then a great mysterious sight appeared in the sky. In the vision, the woman is symbolic of God's people in both the Old and New testaments. At the right time, Jesus is born of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law (Galatians 4:4). There is a continuity between the Jewish church and the church of Christ (see Hebrews 9:15). Revelation 12:1-6 form one central idea - God's act in history! The sun: the New Testament [the Christian system]. The moon: The Old Testament [the Law]. Twelve stars: the twelve apostles. To give birth: The Incarnation [Christ taking human form]. The pains and suffering: compare Isaiah 66:5-12.