Revelation 12:17

ἐπὶ τῇ γυναικί … μετὰ τῶν λοιπῶν τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς. We have not means for interpreting this description in detail. All we can say certainly is, that it describes the providential foiling of Satanic attempts at the destruction of Israel. Perhaps the most plausible suggestion of a definite meaning of the “flood” [better translated “river”] is that the Christians of Jerusalem, in their flight to “the mountains” (St Matthew 24:16 &c.) of Pella, were delivered by a miracle or special providence from the dangers of the passage of Jordan: if they fled immediately before the siege was formed by Titus, this was just before the Passover, when the river was in flood (Joshua 3:15). But of such an event we have no historical notice: and it is likely that the Christians fled when they had first “seen Jerusalem compassed with armies” (St Luke 21:20), in the unsuccessful assault of Cestius Gallus, three years before the fall of the city.

τῶν τηρούντων τὰς ἐντολάς. Revelation 14:12.

ἐχόντων τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ. Revelation 6:9; Revelation 19:10.

Revelation 12:17 to Revelation 13:10. THE BEAST FROM THE SEA