How should the flood in Revelation 12:15 be understood?
The flood in Revelation 12:15 represents the Antichrist’s attempt to destroy the woman. This is understood by looking back to the Exodus, where Pharaoh commanded the destruction of departing Israel and sent his army after them. The language is otherwise hard to understand without that Old Testament background.
Les explains that verse 15 backs up a little bit in the narrative. He notes that when the serpent, or the Antichrist, cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, it was to cause her to be carried away or destroyed. Les says the language is hard to understand unless you flash back to the Exodus out of Egypt. Just as Israel was leaving Egypt under Moses, as soon as Pharaoh heard they were all leaving, he commanded, “Destroy them!” and sent his army after them. So the flood symbolizes that same kind of destructive pursuit.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
More Questions
Why does the serpent send a flood after the woman in Revelation 12?
The serpent/Antichrist sends a flood-like stream of water from his mouth after the woman in order to sweep her away and destroy her.