'The first resurrection,' mentioned in Revelation 20:5, 6, does not mean a first resurrection, but the essence and primary part of resurrection, which is salvation and eternal life. There is only one resurrection to life. A second does not happen, and is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 6; Apocalypse Revealed 851; Revelation 20:5-6)

59. The meaning of these verses is as follows:

A great sign appeared in heaven means a revelation by the Lord concerning a church that is to be, and concerning how its teachings will be received and who will attack it.

A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet means a church that has love and faith from the Lord.

And on her head a crown of twelve stars means that the people [of that church] will have wisdom and intelligence arising from divine truths.

And being pregnant means the new teachings being born.

She cried out in labor and in pain to give birth means resistance by those people who were devoted to a faith divorced from caring.

And another sign appeared in heaven means a further revelation.

Behold, a great red dragon means a faith divorced from caring, which is called “red” because of its strictly earthly love.

Having seven heads means a distorted understanding of the Word.

And ten horns means the power they have because many people adopt [their point of view].

And seven gems on his heads means distorted truths of the Word.

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth means the destruction of all recognition of what is true.

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born means their hatred of and intent to destroy the teachings of the church at its very beginning.

She bore a male child means new teachings.

Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron means teachings that will carry conviction because of the power of earthly truth derived from spiritual truth.

And her child was caught up to God and his throne means that those teachings will be kept safe by the Lord and heaven.

And the woman fled into the wilderness means the church among few people.

Where she has a place prepared by God means that its state is such that in the meantime it may be made available to many.

So that they would feed her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days means until it grows to its appointed size.

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought means the disagreement and battle of those devoted to a faith divorced from caring against those devoted to the teachings of the church with respect to the Lord and a life of caring.

But they did not prevail means that [those devoted to faith alone] yielded.

And no place was found for them in heaven any longer means their being cast down.

And when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male child means an attack on the church on account of its teachings by those devoted to a faith divorced from caring.

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place means caution while it was still among few.

Where she would be nourished for a time and times and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent means until the church would grow to its appointed size.

So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, to cause her to be carried away by the flood means their rationalizations based on abundant distortions aimed at the destruction of the church.

But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth means that because the rationalizations were based on distortions, they collapsed on their own.

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went away to make war with the rest of her offspring means their abiding hatred.

Who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ means against those who live caring lives and believe in the Lord.