Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 709

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709. And upon her head a crown of twelve stars.- That this signifies the wisdom and intelligence of those of that church through doctrinals and the knowledges of all things of truth and good from the Word, is evident from the signification of the head, as denoting wisdom and intelligence (concerning which see above, n. 553, 577), here of those who are of that church which is signified by the woman encompassed with the sun, and the moon under her feet; from the signification of a crown, as also denoting wisdom and intelligence (concerning which also see above, n. 126, 218, 272); from the signification of stars, as denoting doctrinals and knowledges of truth and good from the Word (see n. 72, 402, 535); and from the signification of twelve, as denoting all things, and as being said of truths and goods (see n. 430). It is therefore evident that the crown of twelve stars upon the head of the woman signifies the wisdom and intelligence through doctrinals and the knowledges of all things pertaining to truth and good from the Word of those who are of that church. This is said of the woman after she was described as encompassed with the sun and the moon under her feet, because the sun signifies celestial and spiritual love, and the moon, the faith of charity, and from these all wisdom and intelligence flow forth. For from the Lord as the Sun proceed heat and light, and heat is the good of love, and light is truth from that good, and these two constitute wisdom and intelligence with angels and men, for the good of love enters their will, and the truth from that good enters their understanding, and wisdom resides in the will and understanding together.


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