What does Revelation 12:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Perhaps Satan will use literal water to try to drown this group of Israelites. ^[1] 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). ^[2] A flood is also a biblical metaphor for overwhelming evil, persecution ( Psalm 18:4; Psalm 124:2-4; Isaiah 43:2). Probably this is a picturesque way of describing Satan"s attempt to destroy the Jews who will have congregated in Palestine following the Antichrist"s covenant with them. He may seek to do it with deceptive false teaching, since the water comes out of his mouth. ^[3] Both water and fire (cf. Revelation 9:17; Revelation 11:5) proceeding from the mouth picture punishment in Scripture. [source][source]

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Note the many parallels between Israel"s exodus from Egypt and her past preservation in the wilderness, including rescue from water (the Red Sea; cf. Revelation 12:15), and this future flight. The similarities have led some commentators to conclude that the42months refer to Israel"s42camping stations ( Numbers 33) and that what John described was in the past. Yet it seems clear that John was describing a future exodus. [source][source]

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Context Summary

The spirit of evil waits to destroy each birth of good in our world. As soon as Mary had given birth to our Lord, Herod sought to destroy Him, and this is characteristic of all the ages. But God's care is always at hand to deliver His own. He has His prepared places, where He hides those who trust in Him. He keeps them in the secret of His pavilion from the strife of men.

Sin has brought conflict, not on our earth only, but throughout the universe; but from the heavenly places it has been driven, and the last stand is made on our earth. Is it not possible that the awful war which has desolated mankind may be one of the last phases of this age-long conflict? There is but one talisman of victory. We overcome only in so far as we take shelter in the blood of the Lamb and wield as our weapon the Word of God. As darkness cannot resist the light, so evil cannot exist before the witness of the Church and the child of God, if only we care more for the honor and glory of Christ than for our own lives. To the end there must be war between the seed of the woman and the dragon, and there must be bruising. But the final outcome is sure. As Satan was cast out of heaven, so he shall be cast out of earth, and Christ shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 12

¹  A woman clothed with the sun travails
⁴  The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child;
⁶  when she is delivered she flees into the desert
⁷  Michael and his angels fight with the dragon, and prevail
¹³  The dragon, being cast down into the earth, persecutes the woman