Chapter XII.
(Vers. 1.)
(Verse 1) And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. This woman represents the Church; it followed naturally that after the preaching of Christ, its form would be described, which the preaching of Christ gave birth to. However, we can understand the world by heaven in this place: by the great sign, we understand the great salvation that the coming and preaching of Christ brought to the world; but by the sun, Christ is represented, as the prophet says: But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings (Malachi IV, 2). Therefore, the woman was dressed in the sun, because the faithful, by whom the Church is made up, are clothed with Christ in baptism, as the Apostle says: All of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). However, the moon, which was seen beneath her feet, which waxes and wanes, we can understand to be this world, which the Church tramples upon in contempt, so that it may more freely strive for heavenly things. But because the moon illuminates the night, it seems better to me that we understand the sacred Scripture through the moon, without whose light we cannot walk on the paths of righteousness in the night of this age. The Psalmist says about this light: Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths (Psalm 119:105). Therefore, it was seen that the woman had the moon under her feet; because the Church, fixing the steps of her mind in the precepts of divine Scriptures, knows how to daily strive towards heavenly things. It was also seen that she had a crown of twelve stars on her head. The head of the Church is Christ, but the twelve stars are the twelve apostles. Nevertheless, we can understand through the minds of the faithful. Therefore, it is said that a woman has been seen wearing a crown of twelve stars on her head; because the minds of the faithful, adorned with the teachings and actions of the Apostles, strive to imitate them.
(Vers. 2.)
(Verse 2.) And in the womb, it had, and it cried out in pains, and it was tormented, in order to give birth. Just as an infant in the womb is formed and receives human shape and breath; similarly, the Church also nourishes all those unbelievers whom she carries in the womb, while preaching to them, until they receive human form, that is, until they believe in Christ, and receive the spiritual soul, which is given in baptism, when they become children of God. And it is said to cry out in pain, and to be tormented in order to give birth; for the Church cries out by preaching, and also cries out by praying to God for the salvation of its listeners. It is tormented in order to give birth, when it mourns those whom it sees lying in sins, just as the Apostle Paul speaks to the weak disciples, saying: My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you (Gal. IV, 19). And in the Acts of the Apostles, he speaks to the Ephesians, saying: For three years I did not cease night or day with tears, warning each one of you (Act. XX, 19). And the psalmist speaks of the preachers, saying: They were going forth and weeping, casting their seeds (Psalm 126:6).
(Vers. 3, 4.)
(Verse 3, 4.) And another sign appeared in the sky: behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven crowns; and its tail was dragging a third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. This dragon signifies the devil: and the red color is such as if you were to mix a blood-like color with saffron. Indeed, the pale color, that is, saffron, harmonizes with the blood-like color; because when blood is poured out, it brings death, and paleness covers the whole body of the dying person. Therefore, the devil is said to have the color of death (Wisdom 2:24); because death entered the world through his envy: but by the seven principalities of the wicked, by which the devil used for deceiving the human race, are designated. The diadems designate his regal power; for he is the king, as Scripture says (Job 41:5), above all the sons of pride. For just as through the seven horns of the Lamb all the chosen ones are designated, whom we have divided into seven parts; so too, through the seven heads of the dragon, the wicked who opposed them on the way of God, are designated. For the first head of the dragon were the reprobates who existed before the flood, whom Scripture calls the sons of men; because they, who were called the sons of God, were ensnared in a trap. For the second head of the devil were those who existed from the flood until the giving of the Law; namely, the inventors of idols and various errors, through whom the human race was deceived. For the third head of the devil were those who, after the Law was given to the people of God, persuaded them to worship idols. The fourth head of the devil were false prophets and wicked kings, by whom the people of God were so deceived that they were led into captivity because of their iniquities. The fifth head were the wicked Jews, who killed the Lord and persecuted his apostles. The sixth head were the persecutors of the Church. The seventh head of the devil will be the Antichrist. As for the ten horns, we will explain their significance in the following, in the place where the whore sat on the scarlet beast (Rev. 17:3). But by the tail, which is the end of the body, Antichrist is designated. Therefore, it was seen that a third part of the stars of heaven was dragged by the tail of the dragon; because Antichrist will deceive many of those who were considered chosen by men, and who in the Church, like stars in heaven, shine with knowledge and understanding, and he will plunge them into the pit of perdition. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she had given birth, he might devour her son. We can understand by the woman in this place the blessed Mary, because she is the mother of the Church, for she gave birth to Him who is the head of the Church. And she is the daughter of the Church, for she is the greatest member of the Church. Therefore, the dragon stood before the woman, so that when she gave birth, he would devour her son. This is because at the beginning of Christ's birth, he wanted to kill him through his minister Herod (Matthew 2:13). He also stands before the woman, that is, the Church, to destroy those whom God generates for Him through baptism by misleading them.
(Vers. 5.)
(Verse 5) And she bore a male child. As far as it concerns our Lord Jesus Christ, why was it necessary to say that a male child was born from a woman, since we all know that our Lord Jesus Christ is male? But as far as it concerns the Church, why does it say that she bore a male, when she daily produces both sons and daughters to God from both sexes? Indeed, the female sex is fragile: therefore, a woman who, having assumed strength of mind, overcomes the devil and strives to please God through good works, is not improperly called a man; because although she is a woman in body, she is equal to good men in virtue of her mind. Therefore, a woman gave birth to a male; because the members that blessed Mary, the virgin, gave birth to, the Church gives birth to daily. Therefore, there is one male whom the virgin Mary gave birth to, and the Church gives birth to daily; because Christ with all His members is one Christ. He will rule all nations with an iron rod. This was said (in Chapter 2) above. And her son was taken up to God and to His throne. This was fulfilled then, when on the fortieth day after His resurrection, He ascended into heaven. The sons of the Church, that is, the members of Christ, are daily caught up to God and His throne, when after death they are led to heavenly places.
(Vers. 6.)
(Verse 6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they may nourish her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. She calls the wilderness Christ; for it is called wilderness because it is alone, deserted by inhabitants: likewise Christ is deserted by his own, as the Evangelist speaks, saying: He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. (John 1:11). And the Lord speaks through the prophet, saying: I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the nations there is no man with me. (Isaiah 63:3). Therefore the woman flees into solitude; because the apostles and other disciples, from whom the Church then consisted, leaving the devil, and leaving behind all that they possessed, followed Christ. But the time when Christ preached, which is designated as one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Matthew 19:27), the woman is fed for one thousand two hundred and sixty days; because the apostles and other disciples, from whom the Church then consisted, as we stated above, were fed for three and a half years with the food of the Gospel by the Lord.
(Vers. 7.)
(Verse 7.) And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. Because it briefly comprehends the birth and preaching of Christ above, it follows that it may add how he conquered the devil through his passion. Michael, which means 'who is like God,' signifies Christ. The battle was fought in heaven, that is, for the sake of heaven, namely, Michael fought with the dragon for the salvation of all the elect; because Christ, by preaching, suffering, and dying, fought for the salvation of the human race. The angels of Michael fought, that is, the apostles of Christ with the dragon, preaching indeed, performing miracles, and finally dying for the name of Christ. And the dragon fought, and its angels. The dragon fought and its angels against Michael, when the devil and the rest of the multitude of demons incited the Jews against Christ, in order to kill him. And he fought against the angels of Michael, when he persecuted the apostles of Christ both through the Jews and through the pagans, until he killed them.
(Vers. 8.)
(Ver. 8.) And they were not able, nor was their place found any more in heaven. The devil was not able, nor his ministers, to overcome Christ, nor His apostles; because where they thought to conquer, they were conquered. For they thought that Christ had conquered through death, but His name shone forth in the world from His death. Therefore, they were not able, nor was their place found any more in heaven; because they were driven out through the preaching of the apostles and the other saints from the hearts of the chosen ones, who are designated through heaven.
(Vers. 9.)
(Verse 9.) And that great dragon was thrown down, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. The devil is rightly called a serpent, either because he deceived the first man through a serpent, or because he destroyed the human race by the poison of his malice. Indeed, the devil is interpreted as falling down; for he first fell from heaven through pride: he fell afterwards, when he was cast out from the hearts of the elect through Christ, as the present scripture demonstrates. However, Satan is interpreted as an adversary; for he is contrary to God and to all good people. Woe to those for whom the devil is a friend! For the more a person is a friend to anyone, the more torments he inflicts upon them; for the friendship of the devil is unfortunate. But he who deceives the whole world has put the present time in place of the past. For he had deceived the human race, which is represented by the world; but through Christ, it has largely regained it. Therefore the Devil and his angels were cast down to the earth; because expelled from the chosen ones, he possessed only the reprobate, who are designated through the earth.
(Vers. 10.)
(Verse 10) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Now salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come. The loud voice from heaven is the voice of angels rejoicing for the salvation of the human race and praising God, as the Lord says in the Gospel: 'There is greater joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.' (Luke 15:7). We can understand through one sinner the Gentile people, through ninety-nine righteous Jews, who did not reach the centenary number, because the Law did not lead anyone to perfection (Heb. VII, 19); for a much greater joy was made in heaven over the conversion of the Gentiles than over the observances of the Jews. Therefore, salvation for believers was made in the downfall of the devil: they also received the power to conquer the devil, by whom they were previously held captive. Nevertheless, the kingdom of our God has been established; for where the devil reigned, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit began to reign: the power of Christ also came to be, as Christ began to possess those whom the devil had possessed. For the accuser of our brothers, who accused them day and night before our God, has been cast down. Guilty men are accused before judges, when their crimes are made known to them; but in the sight of God, who not only sees actions, but also thoughts, how can the devil accuse anyone? But we are accused in the sight of God when we sin: and the devil accuses us by leading us into sinful thoughts.
(Vers. 11.)
(Verse 11.) And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb because the redemption of Christ's blood conferred this on the saints, that they could overcome the devil. They also conquered him by the word of their testimony, keeping faith that they professed and fulfilling it with actions. But what follows is very obscure: And they did not love their lives even unto death. For how do the saints not love their own lives, for the sake of which they endure difficult and arduous things for their salvation? How do they not love their own souls, for whom they torment themselves with vigilance, fasting, self-denial, and exercise other virtues? And if we wish to understand life in the present through the soul, who does not love his holy life, in which he acquires that heavenly glory for himself, which eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has entered into the heart of man (I Cor. II, 9)? Or who ever reaches it without this? For present life brings great profit to the saints, just as, on the other hand, it brings great harm to the reprobate. However, in a certain manner, the saints are rightly said to hate their life because, due to their love for eternal life, present life becomes repulsive to them, as the Psalmist lamenting said: Woe is me! for my sojourning is prolonged (Psalm 119:5). The Lord also says in the Gospel: He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal (John 12:25). For when he says this in the world, he demonstrates how we should understand it. Therefore, whoever loves his soul in this world, he preserves it for eternal life, that is, he loses it according to the world: and whoever hates his soul in this world, that is, according to the world, he preserves it for eternal life. The lovers of the world love their own souls according to the world; because they would never want to depart from this present life, so that they could always live luxuriously. He who was rich loved his soul according to the world, who said: Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry (Luke 12:19). But the saints who do not want to conform to this world, as the Apostle says (Romans 12:2), but to be transformed by the renewal of their spiritual senses: they do not love the world or the things that are in the world: they do not want to be friends of this world, lest they become enemies of God; they hate their souls in this world (1 John 2:15), that is, they do not love them according to the world (James 4:4), but according to God, for the sake of whose love they despise all passing things, so that they may keep them for eternal life. Therefore, the saints did not love their souls unto death, who refused to save them in this present life, in order to deny Christ: but rather chose to die for the sake of Christ, in order to find them in eternal life.
(Vers. 12.)
(Verse 12.) Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. We can understand through the heavens, and the inhabitants of the heavens, the various Churches, which are one. Therefore, it is commanded to the children of the Church to rejoice, because they have deserved to be freed from such a huge enemy by the grace of the Lord. Woe to the earth and the sea! for the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has a little time. We can understand through the earth the Jews, and through the sea the other pagans and reprobates. Woe therefore to the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles! Because of the wrath that the devil has, since he has lost a great multitude, he rules over the wicked in such a horrifying way, and throws them into such great sins, that they are in no way worthy to turn back to the paths of life and be healed. The devil also says that he knows he has little time; because the closer he sees the day of judgment approaching, the more cunning he becomes in deceiving humans.
(Vers. 13.)
(Verse 13) And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who gave birth to the male child. The devil, seeing that he had lost a great multitude of the elect and was confined within the narrowness of the hearts of the reprobate, pursued the woman, that is, the Church; for he incited the Roman emperors and the whole multitude of the wicked to persecute the people of God.
(Vers. 14.)
(Verse 14) And two great eagle wings were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. By the eagle, we can understand Christ: but by the two wings, we can understand the two Testaments. Therefore, two wings were given to the woman, because the Church received two Testaments, so that through their teaching she may overcome the devil and ascend to the heavenly homeland daily. For He calls this country a deserted place, just as the Lord says in the Gospel, when He said that He had left ninety-nine sheep in the desert and went to look for one that had gone astray (Luke 15:4ff.). He calls this country the place of the Church, as He Himself will say in judgment: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). But by 'time,' 'times,' and 'half a time' is designated the time from the passion of Christ until the end of the world. In this, therefore, period of time, the souls of the saints, that is, the Church, are nourished by the banquet of heavenly glory in heavenly bliss.
(Vers. 15.)
(Verse 15.) And the serpent spewed water from its mouth after the woman, like a river, to make her be carried away by the river. The river of water represents carnal desires; for the devil, seeing that he could not overthrow the Church by persecutions, but rather that it was growing and strengthening, desired to send upon it a multitude of carnal desires, so that, being deceived by them, she would be drawn away to perform evil deeds.
(Vers. 16.)
(Verse 16) And the earth helped the woman, and opened her mouth and received the river, which the serpent cast out of his mouth. By the earth we can understand the reprobate who were receivers of carnal desires, whom the devil wanted to ensnare and draw to himself. We can also understand Christ through the same earth, and because there is great power in the words of the Lord: For he spoke, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created (Psalm 148:5); it can be reasonably understood as the power of his earth. Therefore, the earth helped the woman, that is, Christ helped the Church, and he opened his mouth and received the river, which the serpent sent out of his mouth: that is, he opened the bosom of his mercy and completely extinguished the power of vices.
(Vers. 17.)
(Verse 17.) And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. The rest of the offspring of the Church are the chosen ones, who will be born at the end of the world. However, how the devil carries out this battle is made clear in the following.
(Vers. 18.)
(Verse 18.) And he stood upon the sand of the sea. By the sand of the sea is signified the multitude of reprobates who are to be at that time.