Perfect Septem

Mary Through Jewish Eyes, Part 6: Is Mary the Woman Clothed with the Sun?

John's vision of the woman clothed with the sun immediately follows his vision of the Ark of the Covenant in Heaven. Is that sequence significant?

Previously in this series

Is Mary the Woman Clothed with the Sun?

Among all the passages Catholics and Protestants discuss about Mary, perhaps none is more debated than Revelation 12.

Who is the woman clothed with the sun?

Some say she represents Israel.

Others believe she symbolises the Church.

Catholics agree that both of these themes are present.

But they also believe the woman is Mary.

Why?

Because Revelation 12 does not begin where most modern Bibles place the chapter heading.

It begins one verse earlier.

This perspective is explored in Father Daniele Russo's presentation:

Mary Through Jewish Eyes – Father Daniele Russo

Ignore the Chapter Break

John writes:

"Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple..."

— Revelation 11:19 (NRSVA)

The very next sentence says:

"A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

— Revelation 12:1 (NRSVA)

Originally, these verses were not separated by chapter numbers.

John saw one continuous vision.

First...

the heavenly Ark.

Then...

the Woman.

That sequence should immediately remind us of Part 5.

Where Is the Ark?

For centuries, Israel's Ark of the Covenant disappeared.

The Old Testament never records what became of it.

Yet John suddenly tells us:

"Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple."

— Revelation 11:19 (NRSVA)

If the old Ark is now seen in heaven...

what does John describe next?

"A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun..."

— Revelation 12:1 (NRSVA)

Remember, these verses were originally written as one continuous passage. The chapter division was added centuries later.

For readers who have followed the biblical parallels we explored in Part 5, the sequence is remarkable.

John never explicitly says, "The Woman is the Ark of the Covenant."

Instead, he presents the heavenly Ark and, without interruption, immediately reveals the Woman.

Throughout this series we've seen that biblical typology is often communicated through patterns rather than explicit explanations. John never says that Mary is the New Eve, yet he repeatedly calls her "Woman," inviting readers to look back to Genesis. Here, he employs a similar literary technique.

Rather than explaining the symbolism outright, John places the two visions side by side, allowing the images themselves to reveal the connection.

For readers already familiar with Luke's portrayal of Mary as the New Ark, the sequence is difficult to overlook.

Who Is the Woman?

John tells us she:

  • is clothed with the sun,
  • stands upon the moon,
  • wears a crown of twelve stars,
  • gives birth to the Messiah,
  • is opposed by the dragon,
  • has other offspring who keep God's commandments.

No single interpretation explains every detail.

The woman represents several realities simultaneously.

Israel

The twelve stars recall the twelve tribes.

The Messiah came from Israel.

The Church

Her other children are described as those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus.

This naturally includes the Church.

Mary

Yet one detail is impossible to overlook.

The child she gives birth to is:

"...the one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron."

— Revelation 12:5 (NRSVA)

This is a quotation from Psalm 2, referring to the Messiah.

Historically, only one woman gave birth to Jesus.

Mary.

But John's vision does not end with the birth of the Messiah.

Later, the dragon turns his attention to:

"...the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus."

— Revelation 12:17 (NRSVA)

The vision therefore extends beyond the birth of Christ to include all who belong to Him.

This echoes what we discovered in Part 4, where Jesus entrusted His mother to the beloved disciple at the foot of the Cross:

"Woman, here is your son... Here is your mother."

— John 19:26–27 (NRSVA)

Rather than choosing between Israel, the Church, and Mary, the Catholic understanding sees these themes beautifully united.

Mary is the faithful daughter of Israel who gives birth to the Messiah. As the mother of Christ, she is also revealed as the spiritual mother of all who belong to Him.

The Dragon and the New Eve

Back in Genesis, God promised the serpent:

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers."

— Genesis 3:15 (NRSVA)

Notice what appears in Revelation.

The serpent has become the dragon.

The woman remains.

The offspring remain.

John is deliberately bringing Genesis to its conclusion.

The first book of Scripture and the last mirror one another.

Genesis begins with a woman, a serpent and the promise of victory.

Revelation ends with a woman, a dragon and the fulfilment of that promise.

Key Takeaways

  • Revelation 11:19 and 12:1 form one continuous vision.
  • John first sees the heavenly Ark.
  • Immediately afterwards he sees the Woman.
  • Revelation intentionally echoes Genesis.
  • The Woman represents Israel, the Church and, in a unique way, Mary.

Next in the Series

John also notices something remarkable.

The woman wears:

"...a crown of twelve stars..."

Crowns belong to royalty.

This prepares us for the final article in this series. Why do Catholics call Mary Queen of Heaven?

The answer begins not in medieval tradition...

but in the royal court of King David.

Further Reading

Series: Mary Through Jewish Eyes