Twelve Stars in Revelation, Meaning : University of Dayton, Ohio (2024)

Meaning of the Twelve Stars of Revelation

– Answered by Father Johann Roten, S.M.

Q: Do the twelve stars in Rev. 12.1 refer to the twelve apostles?

A: The Marian interpretation of Rev. 12.1 indeed allows for the suggested interpretation (see: Laurentin, Lyonnet, Deiss, Koehler, Feuillet relating this passage to the Daughter of Zion). Mary is the archetypal symbol of the Woman who is Israel (original) and the Church (developed). As archetype of the Church she is a sign that the Church is surrounded by God's power and protection ("Clothed with the Sun"). She is in continuity with the original people of God but stands also for the renewed people of God, the Church. Here is where the star symbol applies. The twelve stars above her head apply to both the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel (original people of God), and the twelve apostles (renewed people of God). Of course, this symbolism has been interpreted in different and more subjective ways, especially for various devotional forms. For example, the devotion of the twelve stars (Baroque period) where each one of the stars symbolizes a special charism or privilege of Mary. It is legitimate to go a step further and read this image of Rev. 12.1 as Queen of Heaven, since Mary is (for example, according to the Litany of Loreto) Queen of both Patriarchs and Apostles. She is also in Rev. 12.1 the image of the eschatological Church or heavenly Jerusalem.

All About Mary includes a variety of content, much of which reflects the expertise, interpretations and opinions of the individual authors and not necessarily of the Marian Library or the University of Dayton. Please share feedback or suggestions with marianlibrary@udayton.edu.

Twelve Stars in Revelation, Meaning : University of Dayton, Ohio (2024)

FAQs

Twelve Stars in Revelation, Meaning : University of Dayton, Ohio? ›

The twelve stars above her head apply to both the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel (original people of God), and the twelve apostles (renewed people of God). Of course, this symbolism has been interpreted in different and more subjective ways, especially for various devotional forms.

What is the meaning of 12 stars in Revelation? ›

The biblical reference is that of Revelation 12:1b conjuring up the “great sign of the woman in the sky, … clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Twelve is a number of perfection; it symbolizes the twelve tribes of the Old Testament people and the twelve apostles ...

What is the star in Revelation? ›

Wormwood (ἀψίνθιον apsinthion or ἄψινθος apsinthos in Greek) is a star or angel which appears in the Book of Revelation.

Who is the Queen of Heaven 12 stars? ›

The Madonna of the Apocalypse became associated with Our Lady of the Rosary, the "crown of twelve stars" being identified with a "rosary of twelve privileges" of Mary.

What does the number 12 mean in the Bible? ›

What Does 12 Mean in the Bible? As noted earlier, the authors of the books of the Bible sometimes highlight numbers to make a deeper symbolic point. As Wellspring Israel and other sources have noted, the number 12 in Hebrew signifies perfect government—God's government, divine order.

What do the stars symbolize in Revelation? ›

In Revelation 1:20 the 7 stars are the "angels" of the 7 churches to whom he is writing. The word "angel" in the New Testament simply means "messenger". It can denote a divine messenger, which is what we usually think the term "angel" means, but it can also refer to a human messenger.

What does the 12 star symbol mean? ›

The 12-pointed star, also known as the Dodecagram, is an ancient symbol rich in meaning. It symbolizes creation, balance, harmony, the cyclical nature ...

What does the Bible say about the stars in Revelation? ›

Revelation 1:20 reads, “The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” As this passage of the Bible says, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches ...

What star represents Jesus? ›

The Star of Bethlehem is shown as a comet above the child. Giotto witnessed an appearance of Halley's Comet in 1301. Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

What does the star represent in Christianity? ›

Here are a few of the different meanings of 8 pointed star:

Christianity: In Christianity, the 8-pointed star represents rebirth or resurrection. It is sometimes called the Star of Redemption or the Star of Bethlehem, and is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.

What does the Bible say about 12 stars? ›

The twelve stars above her head apply to both the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel (original people of God), and the twelve apostles (renewed people of God). Of course, this symbolism has been interpreted in different and more subjective ways, especially for various devotional forms.

Who is the female spirit in Revelation? ›

First and foremost, the woman of Revelation 12 is identified as Mary, the one “who brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron . . . [the one] caught up to God and his throne” (Rev 12:5).

What does the woman represent in Revelation 12? ›

There are over two dozen different interpretations of the woman in Revelation 12. They eventually lead to two possible images: the individual person of Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of Jesus, and the collective image of the Church, which ap- pears primary.

What does 12 mean spiritually? ›

What Does 12 Mean Spiritually? Spiritually, the angel number 12 can mean that your angels want you to foster self-belief and a positive attitude as you go through your next transformation. It can be the sign of one cycle ending and the next beginning - one that is built on harmony and reaching your full potential.

What are the 12 gates in heaven? ›

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

What does 1212 mean biblically? ›

Biblical Meaning of 1212

It represents completion, perfection, and divine authority. The 1212 angel number can be seen as a reflection of the biblical meaning of the number 12. For example, there were 12 disciples of Jesus, symbolizing the completeness and perfection of his teachings.

What does the Bible say about the 12 stars? ›

Revelation 12 1

A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

What is the ring of 12 stars? ›

The flag of Europe or European flag consists of twelve golden stars forming a circle on a blue field. It is the official flag of the European Union. It was designed and adopted in 1955 by the Council of Europe (CoE) as a symbol for the whole of Europe.

What is the circle of 12 stars? ›

European Flag

It features a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. They stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of member countries, though the circle is a symbol of unity.

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