Revelation 12:15

Perhaps Satan will use literal water to try to drown this group of Israelites. [Note: Düsterdieck, pp. 353-54; Bullinger, p. 416; Smith, A Revelation . . ., pp. 190-91.] If they take refuge in a place such as Petra this might seem to be a possibility. Another possibility is that he will pursue them with soldiers as a river (cf. Jeremiah 46:7-8; Jeremiah 47:2-3). [Note: Govett, 2:62-64.] A flood is also a biblical metaphor for overwhelming evil, persecution (Psalms 18:4; Psalms 124:2-4; Isaiah 43:2). Probably this is a picturesque way of describing Satan’s attempt to destroy the Jews who will have congregated in Palestine following the Antichrist’s covenant with them. He may seek to do it with deceptive false teaching, since the water comes out of his mouth. [Note: Beale, p. 673.] Both water and fire (cf. Revelation 9:17; Revelation 11:5) proceeding from the mouth picture punishment in Scripture.

Note the many parallels between Israel’s exodus from Egypt and her past preservation in the wilderness, including rescue from water (the Red Sea; cf. Revelation 12:15), and this future flight. The similarities have led some commentators to conclude that the 42 months refer to Israel’s 42 camping stations (Numbers 33) and that what John described was in the past. Yet it seems clear that John was describing a future exodus.