Revelation 12:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 12:13-17

Revelation 12:13-17. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth: &c. When the dragon was thus deposed from the imperial throne, and cast unto the earth, (Revelation 12:13,) he still continued to persecute the church with equal malice, though not with equal power. He made several attempts to restore the pagan idolatry in the reign of Constantine, and afterward in the reign of Julian; he traduced and abused the Christian religion by such writers as Hierocles, Libanius, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

12:1-14:20 PICTURES OF CONFLICT AND TRIUMPHThe woman, the child and the dragon (12:1-17)In this vision the woman who gives birth to a son seems to symbolize Israel who produced the Messiah, Jesus. But it is the true Israel, the true people of God, who are pictured here. The faithful of old Israel were those who began the Christian church, and in the church there is no distinction on the basis of nationality. All Christians are now God’s people (12:1-2).Then appears a dragon (identified in verse... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 12:15

out of. App-104 . flood = river. carried . . . flood. Greek. potamophoretos. Only here. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 12:15

And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the steam.Water as a river ... This flood is thought to represent "overwhelming misfortune, every form of destructive and bitter persecutions,"[82] "all manner of delusions,"[83] etc. Caird thought the river is "the river of lies which the serpent spewed out of his mouth."[84] The fact of the serpent's mouth being mentioned here as the source of the river, and also the fact of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 12:13-17

Revelation 12:13-17. And when the dragon saw, &c.— When the dragon was thus deposed from the imperial throne, and cast unto the earth, he still continued to persecute the church with equal malice, though not with equal power. He made several attempts to restore the pagan idolatry in the reign of Constantine, and afterwards in the reign of Julian; he traduced and abused the Christian religion, by such writers as Hierocles, Libanius, and others of the same stamp and character; he rent and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:15

15, 16. flood—Greek, "river" (compare Exodus 2:3; Matthew 2:20; and especially Matthew 2:20- :). The flood, or river, is the stream of Germanic tribes which, pouring on Rome, threatened to destroy Christianity. But the earth helped the woman, by swallowing up the flood. The earth, as contradistinguished from water, is the world consolidated and civilized. The German masses were brought under the influence of Roman civilization and Christianity [AUBERLEN]. Perhaps it includes also, generally,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 12:13-17

The dragon’s vengeance on the woman 12:13-17The revelation of Satan’s activity, which the song of the martyrs (Revelation 12:10-12) interrupted, now resumes. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 12:15

Perhaps Satan will use literal water to try to drown this group of Israelites. [Note: Düsterdieck, pp. 353-54; Bullinger, p. 416; Smith, A Revelation . . ., pp. 190-91.] If they take refuge in a place such as Petra this might seem to be a possibility. Another possibility is that he will pursue them with soldiers as a river (cf. Jeremiah 46:7-8; Jeremiah 47:2-3). [Note: Govett, 2:62-64.] A flood is also a biblical metaphor for overwhelming evil, persecution (Psalms 18:4; Psalms 124:2-4; Isaiah... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:1-17

The Woman and the Man-Child. The DragonThe persecution which the Church had already suffered, and which was about to burst forth again, is the great fact which underlies the whole ’Revelation.’ The sufferings of the Church and its members have been referred to again and again, particularly in Revelation 11:1-13. In the ’seals’ and the ’trumpets’ the Church has been assured, in a broad and general manner, that God’s judgments will fall upon the world of wickedness, and that the ungodly will bow... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 12:15

(15) And the serpent . . .—Translate, And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might make her to be carried away by the river. The foe of the woman was described as a dragon for his cruelty and fierceness—as a serpent for his subtlety. The first attack on the woman is pictured as persecution by the dragon: from this she escapes by flight; but the subtlety of the enemy finds another device: the foe (now described as a serpent) pours forth water as a river... read more