The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:16
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth; swallowed up the river (Revised Version). "The earth" frequently, but not invariably, in the Revelation signifies "the wicked." It is doubtful, therefore, how far the figure here employed should be pressed. What is certain is that the writer intends to express the idea that the Church is preserved in a wonderful and even miraculous way from the efforts of the... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 12:15
And the serpent cast out of his month water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood; cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river … carried away by the river . A flood , in the Old Testament, has several significations. It frequently expresses overwhelming misfortune. Thus Psalms 69:15 , "Let not the waterflood overflow me;" Psalms 90:5 , "Thou carriest them away as with a flood" (cf. also Daniel 9:26 ; Daniel 11:22 ; ... read more