Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 12:13-17”
Categories: Revelation“And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The devil is powerless to bring harm to Yahweh and His divine plans and purposes, so he takes his wrath out upon God’s people. Satan, through his various agencies of evil, persecutes God’s faithful people. We noted previously that the woman represented the faithful remnant of God’s people who maintained their covenant of obedience with Him, and through whom He brought Jesus, the Messiah, into the world. “The two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness,” and be nourished by God through the 3½ years of preaching and persecution (Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).
“Interpretation of this part of the vision must be drawn from the account of ancient Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. When Jehovah delivered His people from Pharaoh’s threats of destruction, He said, ‘I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself’ (Exod. 19:4; cf. Deut. 32:11), the psalmist asserted, ‘and the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings’ (Ps. 36:7). By His provision He brought them into the place which He prepared (Exod. 23:20). Years later, in anticipation of their deliverance from the power of their captor, the prophet said, ‘They that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles’ (Isa. 40:31). The Lord delivers, protects, and provides for His own; there is no point of weakness or failure on His part.” (Hailey)
Next Satan tried to sweep the woman “away with the flood” (verse 15). Many Old Testament books are rife with the imagery of troubles and persecutions “inundating” God’s covenant people in “rivers” and “oceans” of misery and sorrow. King David prayed, “Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens whose mouths speak deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.” (Psalm 144:7-8). The Lord provides His providential help to His distressed people so that the waters will not “overflow” and utterly destroy them (Isaiah 43:2). In this vision God used “the earth” to help the woman (verse 16). Robert Harkrider wrote, “The earth came to the woman’s rescue through diverting Rome’s attention by political uprisings, local wars, and other conflicts among subordinate kingdoms of the empire. Amid these events, divine providence fully protected, sustained, and delivered the woman in the days of persecution.”
The enraged dragon “went off to make war with the rest of her children” (verse 17). If the “woman” represented the remnant of faithful Israel which facilitated the coming of the Christ and His kingdom, “the rest of her children” represent the faithful members of Christ’s church, who the Lord happily refers to as His brethren (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11). These are the ones “who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” even in the face of severe persecution and death. Together, the woman and her offspring have merged into one, and represent all of God’s faithful people throughout the history of mankind. When that magnificent roll is called up yonder, don’t you want to be a part of that great gathering of God’s regenerated generations?! I know I do! That can only happen if we steadfastly keep His commandments and doggedly and vocally cling to our faith in Christ Jesus!
Please read Revelation 13:1-6 for tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day!
-Louie Taylor
