12:14
The church exists in difficult times, but is provided with help from heaven. (Ps 121:1,2). She would exist in the wilderness for “time, times and half a time”. I.e for 42 months, which might have reference to the stages Israel spent in the wilderness (Num 33:5ff). “Out of the snakes reach”. We are protected from the devil. Now as the whole of Revelation, not to mention the rest of the New Testament, this does not mean freedom from suffering.
12:15,16
The snake spewed water out of his mouth, the aim being to overtake and sweep away the church. However, the “earth helped” by “opening its mouth”, and so the water was swallowed up. The earth is the Lord’s, so we have spiritual forces on our side, and the Lord will use nature to protect us as well. We are in a serious battle, but it is one we can win because of the help of the Lord.
12:17
Having failed in this, the dragon was enraged and went off to wage war against the rest of the church. Remember the dragon does not have a winning record! So who is he waging war against? “Those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus”. So we see that all this is written with the intention of encouraging and equipping the saints to persevere in the battle, and to win the battle.
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