September 15: WESTWARD: THE LAND OF THE FREE

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

This verse is a fulfillment of God’s promise to the Psalmist: For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. (Psalm 32:6)

Whereas hordes and multitudes had pursued the people of God with hostility (as foretold in Genesis 3:15), Revelation 17:15 reminds us of the metaphor for dense populations: waters. In contrast with these seas, oceans, or rivers of people, an area that is comparatively unpopulated is prophetically called earth. As the prophesied one thousand two hundred and sixty years progressed, the Roman church pursued those who did not agree with her, namely Protestants: those who protested against Rome’s made-up doctrines and gross abuse of power. The woman who had fled to the wildernesses of Europe began to move westward toward another wilderness: one that would become the United States of America. Indeed, the earth helped the woman. The imagery, the earth opened its mouth and swallowed, is drawn from Israel’s wilderness experience among some who rejected the LORD (see Numbers 16:32-33; 26:10; Deuteronomy 11:6 – see also Exodus 15:12).

Therefore, just as in the distant past when God showed Himself as the Protector from Pharaoh’s armies and Korah’s vicious rebellion from within, history displays His provision for His faithful church throughout the prophesied Dark Ages. We have seen consistently that just behind the smooth smile of the serpent is the persecuting dragon. One is a “river” of false, seductive teachings, while the other is floodwaters of persecution. Of the unnumbered millions who were martyred – given into his hand – for disagreeing with the established church, there is not a single one who will regret standing for truth in that “great gettin’ up morning” soon to come. They will praise the Lord eternally for His grace that empowered them to follow their consciences as instructed by the word of truth. But the individual who allowed false teachings to seduce him of her will look back with indescribable regret at all the opportunities for correction that were thoughtlessly squandered.

In this ongoing standoff of mouths, may each of us keep sharp the contrast between the two opposing messages. God has laid out His marvelous life instructions for us in plain and simple terms. It is our enemy who feverishly works to blur the line of distinction, to lead each of us away from the truth of God’s word.

And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. Daniel 7:8b,25