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13 When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(A) 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle,[a] so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year.(B) 15 The serpent,[b] however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. 16 But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. 17 Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.[c](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:14 Great eagle: symbol of the power and swiftness of divine help; cf. Ex 19:4; Dt 32:11; Is 40:31.
  2. 12:15 The serpent is depicted as the sea monster; cf. Rev 13:1; Is 27:1; Ez 32:2; Ps 74:13–14.
  3. 12:17 Although the church is protected by God’s special providence (Rev 12:16), the individual Christian is to expect persecution and suffering.

13 When the dragon(A) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(B) 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(C) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,(D) out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent(E) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war(F) against the rest of her offspring(G)—those who keep God’s commands(H) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.(I)

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