Who do the woman and red dragon represent in Revelation 12?
In Revelation 12, the woman represents Israel, and the great red dragon represents Satan. The dragon's seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns indicate his power. The dragon stood before the woman to devour her child, which speaks of Christ born at Bethlehem and Herod's attempt to kill Him.
Les teaches that in Revelation chapter 12 the woman is Israel, and the great red dragon is Satan. The dragon's seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns indicate his power. His tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, which Les connects back to Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14, when Satan said he would be like the Most High and ascend above the sides of the north. In his fall and rebellion, evidently a third of the angelic host followed him, the angels Jude mentions who left their first estate. The dragon cast them to the earth and stood before the woman, Israel, who was ready to be delivered, to devour her child as soon as it was born. That speaks of Christ being born at Bethlehem, and the dragon stood ready by Herod's decree to kill all the boys. Les also notes the earlier context of the midpoint of the Tribulation, when a cross section of Israeli society flees from Jerusalem to the mountains, possibly toward Petra.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.