In Revelation 12, we read about a Dragon persecuting a woman. According to vs. 1, this Woman was "clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Before we decipher what these symbols represent, let's find out what a woman represents in Bible prophecy:

The Woman

Jeremiah 3:14 says, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you..."

2 Corinthians 11:2 says, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

According to the above two Scripture references, a woman represents God's people. Thus, when we look at her attire, we can see what the sun, moon, and stars represent:

Sun - Malachi 4:2 calls Christ the "Sun of righteousness." Through Him, we receive the light of the truth that guides the Christian Church on its journey. Therefore we should see the sun in Revelation 12 as a symbol of the New Covenant.

Moon -  In the natural world, the moon has no light. When we see a lighted moon in our nighttime sky, we recognize that the moon is simply reflecting light from the sun. Thus, we should see that if the Sun represents the New Covenant, then the moon must represent the Old Covenant.

12 Stars - The number 12 has significance in both the Old and New Covenant. In the Old Covenant, Israel consisted of 12 tribes. Under the New Covenant, the Church began with 12 apostles. The stars represent both groups.

When we combine these symbols we should see that the woman represents both phases of God's people—Israel and the Church.

The Child

Verse 2 reveals that this woman "being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered." Here we should understand that this child represents Jesus Christ. We know this because a few verses later we see that this "child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." Revelation 12:5

The Dragon represents Pagan Rome

Chapter 12 reveals the Dragon's identity. According to vs. 9, the Dragon represents "...the Devil, and Satan..." however, we must also understand that here, the Dragon also represents the Pagan Roman Empire. How do we know? Because vs. 4 says, the Dragon attacked the woman and "tried to devour her child as soon as it was born." Here we can correlate this text to King Herod, who not only persecuted the Jews but also tried to kill Christ after He was born.

The Dragon transitions to Papal Rome

What we must understand is that even though the Dragon represents the Pagan Roman Empire, the identity of the Dragon changes as the chapter advances. In vs. 6, we see a transition occurring.

"And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Revelation 12:6

Notice this same 1260-day time period is also found in the next chapter attributed to the Beast:

"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Revelation 13:5

As students of prophecy, we know that a month in Bible prophecy consists of 30 days. Therefore, by multiplying 30 x 42 we can confirm this time period again equals 1260 days! Thus, we should recognize that the same persecution that Revelation 12 attributes to the Dragon is the same persecution that Revelation 13 attributes to the Beast.

Who is the Beast? If you are familiar with Revelation 13, you should know that the Beast that came out of the water represents the Papal Roman Empire and it is this entity that is given power for 42 months. This confirms to us that the Dragon in Revelation 12 is no longer the Pagan Roman Empire as it has transitioned to the Papacy beginning with verse 6.

War in Heaven

The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation often repeat; and when they repeat they often provide more information.  Students of prophecy typically call this process Repeat and Expand. What you may not see is that Revelation 12 repeats and expands within this chapter.

Notice, vs. 14 says, "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."

A time = 360 days

Times = 720 days

Half a time = 180 days

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     1260 Days 

(In prophecy, we understand the day-for-a-year principle, thus we know this time period is 1260 years.)

Vs. 6 is about the Papacy, however, the chapter repeats and expands and so verses 7-14 provide us with more information...a lot more information.

Not only does Revelation 7-9 repeat, but it goes all the way back to the beginning of the conflict and provides us context as to why this conflict exists in the first place. Verses 7-9 reveal that Christ and Satan were at war in heaven, and this conflict spilled over into this earth and this is why Satan (via Herod) tried to kill baby Jesus and is also seen attacking His Church via the Papacy.

The Dragon transitions to the United States

"And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood." Revelation 12:15.

Here, the Dragon still represents the Papacy, however, we must understand what is taking place. We see that there is a flood that is sent after the woman. According to Revelation 17:15, water represents "... peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," therefore, we should see that water in a flood formation represents persecution. However, the text reveals something important. Revelation 12:16 says that "the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth." 

Here, we must see there is a correlation between Revelation 12 and Revelation 13. What I want you to notice is that both chapters reveal water then land:

Revelation 12

And the serpent cast out of his mouth WATER as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. Revelation 12:15

And the earth helped the woman, and the EARTH opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. Revelation 12:16

Revelation 13

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the SEA, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Revelation 13:1

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the EARTH; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Revelation 13:11

Notice, that both Revelation 12 and 13 refer to water then land. What must be understood is that the water that the Beast in Revelation 13 arose from is the same water that turned into a flood in Revelation 12. When Revelation 12 says that the earth swallowed the flood, this refers to the nation that gave sanctuary to those fleeing the persecutions of Europe—the United States of America.

And just like the earth represents the US in Revelation 12, the Beast that came from the earth in Revelation 13 also represents the US. In Revelation 13, the land Beast looks like a Lamb but begins speaking like a Dragon. In essence, the US initially helped the fleeing Christians, but later its voice was that of the Dragon. This narrative is also seen in Revelation 12. Although America swallowed the flood of persecution, it will one day persecute the Saints as Rome persecuted them. We know this because Revelation 12:17 says, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 

Thus the Dragon via the United States of America persecutes those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ by making an image of the Papal Roman government and legislates the Mark of the Beast. If you look closely at these two chapters, we can see that Revelation 13 repeats and expands upon Revelation 12 regarding the Papal and Protestant powers.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we can now see that even though Revelation 12 features a Dragon throughout the chapter, through our analysis, we can see that Revelation 12 is structured as follows:

Pagan Rome (vs. 1-5)

Papal Rome (vs. 6-15)

Protestant America (vs. 16-17)