Sam,
Look to Scripture not the stars! Here is something I have written on Rev. 12. It is from volume II of my book (The Antichrist and the Second Coming). This is an excerpt from a section where I go through and look at how Jesus is portrayed in Revelation. Never once is he portrayed in a literal physical manner. I argue that that is evidence for the fact that the book of Revlation is communicated by way of symbols (i.e., is it not literal depictions).
A FIRSTBORN MALE CHILD
The next place we see Jesus is in Revelation 12. In verse 5 he is shown as a firstborn child “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.” This is a Messianic reference from Psalm 2:9 (LXX). Again, knowledge of the rest of Scripture is essential for the correct interpretation of the symbols we are presented with. In this chapter we are shown a woman in labor (v. 2) who gives birth to a firstborn male Child (v. 5) and then other children (v. 17). This woman is the New Jerusalem mother. In Isaiah 66 the renewed Jerusalem (Zion) of the new heaven and new earth (Is. 65:17-19) is likened to a mother giving birth.
Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. “Shall I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery?” say the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” Says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” For thus says the Lord: “Behold I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; on her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you: and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Isaiah 66:7-13 (underlined emphasis mine)
The New Jerusalem mother in Isaiah 66 is said to give birth to a whole nation at once (v. 8). This is a reference to new covenant believers (cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10).
Paul in Galatians says that the Jerusalem from above is symbolic of the new covenant (Gal 4:21-31; cf. Rev. 21:1-2) and that she is the “mother” of all believers: “. . . Which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage . . . but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all” (Gal. 4:24, 26). Thus, we are shown a great sign “in heaven” (Rev. 12:1)—the new covenant mother giving birth to her children. Jesus is the firstborn of this covenant (“the firstborn among many brethren” Rom. 8:29); the rest of the children are those born of the new covenant (cf. Eph. 2:5-6).
The “birth” of Jesus in Revelation 12 has nothing to do with his physical birth; rather, it is a picture of his spiritual birth—as the firstborn from the dead—at his resurrection. In Psalm 2:7 when God (the Father) says, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten Thee,” he is talking about when he raised Jesus from the dead, the resurrection. We are told this in Acts 13:
God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: “I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Therefore He also says in another Psalm: “You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
Acts 13:33-35
Revelation 12 is thus showing the AD 30 resurrection “birthing” of the Messiah. This explains why right after the male Child is born, he is caught up to God’s throne (v. 5);
it is not Jesus’ physical birth being depicted; it is his ascension.
Revelation 12 is introduced with the statement “Now a great sign appeared in heaven . . . .” (Rev. 12:1). David Chilton writes the following on this statement:
St. John alerts us from the outset that we must give careful attention to the subject of this vision, for the symbol of the Woman here is a great sign. “Literalists” would have it that the use of this term implies that most of Revelation is to be taken literally. But this is to miss the point. St. John is not saying that this passage, in contrast to the rest of the book, is a “sign”, for he has already told us that the entire book is composed of “signs” (1:1). The point here is that this is a great sign, an important symbol, central to the interpretation of the prophecy as a whole. St. John is telling his reader to think carefully about the Biblical meaning of the sign.26
The mention of a great sign in Revelation 12 speaks of the importance of the sign not that Revelation 12 is symbolic as opposed to the rest of the book which is literal. So far in my examination of how Jesus is portrayed in Revelation I have not come across a single literal depiction of him. Instead, very powerful symbols have been found that unveil some of the depths of whom and what he is.