Revelation 12:1-2

And a great sign (wonder)—[warning of future events of ominous significance] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crownlike garland (tiara) of twelve stars on her head.

• Woman represents the Church.
• The Sun represents the Gospel, the Word, and the Word is Jesus.
• The moon represents the Mosaic law.
• Stars represent those who are used by our Father to proclaim the Truth. 
• Crown represents victory.
• John sees the Chosen ones, the Bride of Christ, in all of their glory her in verse 1.
• Remember that the Book of Revelation is not written just in chronological order. This chapter is simply Jesus showing John something further to clarify the vision of the end times.
• The woman that John is shown here is the Church, 2 Corinthians 11:2 and Ephesians 5:23-27. The woman is not a depiction of Israel. Israel is Jacob, a man, masculine, the church though is often referred to as a woman in the Bible, the Bride of Christ. The Church’s power is Christ, which is the anointing of God.
• The moon is the Old Testament; the church came out of the Old Testament and the Old Covenant has been done away with, this is why John sees the moon under the woman’s feet.
• The Crown of stars represents the church’s authority, 12 Apostles, 12 Patriarchs. So the woman that is shown here is the Church, it is not Israel or Jesus. The Church has great power.
• Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice? Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only! 1 Corinthians 6:2-3

² She was pregnant and she cried out in her birth pangs, in the anguish of her delivery.

• John sees that before Christ comes there will be Great Tribulation.
• Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Matthew 5:10
• But just like with a child there will be great joy when it’s over.