The Earth To The Rescue

But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Revelation 12:16

It's a water attack from the mouth of that old serpent, but it's the earth to the rescue in our passage for today. In the famous Left Behind series published a few years ago, the flood is an army and the earth opens up as we fear in nightmares to swallow the armored columns of the evil one. That would be a figurative interpretation. A more literal reading would say this is a flood of water that comes forth to drown this woman, who we believe represents Israel. Perhaps the serpent spews the water literally too, or maybe he blows up a dam upstream from the woman's refuge in the wilderness. In either case, the earth helps the woman and the flood does not hit the target. Does a literal giant crack open in the earth, or is it simply so dry that the flood is soaked up? It will be something to behold either way. 

The Lord's revelation brings a lot of questions with it. What a great opportunity to ask Him for understanding! 

Bucky