And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Revelation 12:1
The symbols from Jacob’s dream are here again, but this time no stars are bowing: no-one is taking precedence. The twelve feuding brothers were forged into one nation, Israel (symbolised here by the woman), with whom God formed his covenant. From that nation was to be born a son, who would achieve a greater unification than of the twelve tribes: now both Jew and Gentile have had the divisions between them broken down, and both are reconciled to God through the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:12-16)
This united New Testament people will have greater glory than the nation of Israel, but we’re still expected to work hard to keep the unity we’ve been given:
‘let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.’ (Rom. 14:19)
