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Alfred,
In Revelation 12 we see a woman crowned with stars, giving birth to a
child, etc. but we have to start reading a few verses earlier in Revelation 11. There
we see the Ark of the Covenant immediately before the mention of the woman.
The connection is clear. St. John is telling us that the Ark and the Woman
are intimately connected.
- In the Ark resided:
- the written Law or Word of God
- Aaron's Priestly
Staff, and
- a jar of Manna (the bread that fed the Israelites in the desert).
- In the New Testament:
- the Virgin Mary carried the Living Word
- the High
Priest, and
- the Living Bread come down from Heaven, in her womb.
So the woman primarily symbolizes the Blessed Mother. That is not to say,
she doesn't also symbolize:
- the Church
- Old Testament Israel
- as well as
the Ark all at the same time.
In fact she does.
So with this in mind, we know that:
- Israel wandered in the desert
- Mary
fled to Egypt, and
- the Church was scattered because of persecution.
In particular,
the Saints of Jerusalem fled the Roman siege circa 70 A.D.
Now early Christians, as well the Catholic Church throughout the ages,
have understood the book of Revelation as a description of the Heavenly Liturgy.
In the context of this Liturgy (which we enter into at every Mass), we see
Salvation History unfold. Most Catholic scholars throughout the ages have
also proposed that much of Revelation was fulfilled with the destruction
of the Temple in 70 A.D. That does not necessarily exclude some future
fulfillment or even on going fulfillment.
There are various opinions about the particular meaning of different details.
I would caution you not to get bogged down in the details until you get
a foundation in the liturgical aspects of the book.
To that end, I would recommend
you read The
Lamb's Supper by Dr. Scott Hahn.
He also has Study Series on Revelation [audio cassette tape|Audio CD ] that I highly recommend.
Under His Mercy,
John DiMascio
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