Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 12:1-6

"And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was the child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days." — Revelation 12:1-6 (ASV)

The church, under the emblem of a woman (the mother of believers), was seen by the apostle in a vision, in heaven. She was clothed with the sun—justified, sanctified, and shining by union with Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. The moon was under her feet; she was superior to the reflected and feebler light of the revelation made by Moses. She had on her head a crown of twelve stars; the doctrine of the gospel, preached by the twelve apostles, is a crown of glory to all true believers.

She was in pain, as if to bring forth a holy family, desiring that the conviction of sinners might end in their conversion. A dragon is a known emblem of Satan and his chief agents, or those who govern for him on earth—at that time, the pagan empire of Rome, the city built on seven hills. This dragon had ten horns, divided into ten kingdoms, and seven crowns, representing seven forms of government.

The dragon drew with his tail a third of the stars in heaven and cast them down to the earth, thereby persecuting and seducing ministers and teachers. He was watchful to crush the Christian religion. But in spite of the opposition of enemies, the church brought forth a strong offspring of true and faithful professors, in whom Christ was truly formed anew. This offspring is the mystery of Christ—that Son of God who will rule the nations, and through whom His members partake of the same glory. This blessed offspring was protected by God.