A great sign was seen in heaven signifies a revelation from the Lord concerning the future Church, and concerning the reception of its doctrine, and concerning those by whom it would be attacked. A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, signifies the Church which, from the Lord, is in love and in faith. And upon her head a crown of twelve stars, signifies wisdom and intelligence in those who belong to the Church from Divine truths.

And she being with child, signifies the birth of doctrine. Cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered, signifies resistance from those who are in faith separated from charity.

And there appeared another sign in heaven, signifies further revelation. And behold, a great red dragon, signifies faith separated from charity, the dragon being called red from merely natural love. Having seven heads, signifies a false understanding of the Word. And ten horns, signifies power in consequence of its reception by many. And seven crowns upon his heads, signifies falsified truths of the Word.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth, signifies the destruction of all cognitions of truth. And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born, signifies their hatred of, and their desire to destroy, the doctrine of the Church at its birth.

And she brought forth a man-child, signifies doctrine. Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, signifies that this doctrine will convince by the power of natural truth derived from spiritual truth. And her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne, signifies the protection of the child by the Lord from heaven.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, signifies the Church among a few. Where she hath a place prepared of God, signifies its state while provision is meanwhile being made for it among many. That they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred and threescore days, signifies until it grows to its appointed stature.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, signifies the dissension and combat of those who are in faith separated from charity against those who are in the doctrine of the Church concerning the Lord and concerning the life of charity.

And prevailed not, signifies that they succumbed. Neither was their place found any more in heaven, signifies that they were cast down. Rev. xii 1-8.

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child, signifies the infestation of the Church by those who are in faith separated from charity, on account of its doctrine.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, signifies circumspection while the Church as yet is among few. Where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent, signifies until the Church grows to its appointed stature.

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, signifies their reasonings from falsities in abundance to destroy the Church.

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, signifies that their reasonings, because they were from falsities, fell to the ground of themselves.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, signifies their persistent hatred. Which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, signifies against those who live a life of charity and believe on the Lord. Rev. xii 13-17.