The “two wings of a great eagle” have furnished occasion to many fertile minds for indulging in fanciful conjectures.  To such persons nothing occurs answerable to the symbol but some emblem of imperial power or national sovereignty.  And because the eagle was the visible symbol on the military banner of Rome, it is conjectured that “the eastern and western empires afforded protection to the church!” Why, the empire, in both its wings, was the deadly enemy of the church, as we have already seen! (ch. xi. 7.) Alas! what absurdities result from political bias!  The unlettered Christian will readily perceive under the emblem in the text, a plain allusion to the gracious interposition of the church’s Redeemer in the days of old.  “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Exod. xix. 4.) Thus the Lord delivered his people and brought them into a literal wilderness on their way to the promised land of liberty.  And now in a time of equal danger, he will “set his hand again the second time” to deliver his people.  He who delivered them from so great a death as Pharaoh threatened, doth still deliver:  in whom his saints have ground to trust that he will still deliver them, (2 Cor. i. 10) The great and beneficial change accomplished among the nations by the reformation in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, whereby the dragon was hurled from seats of ecclesiastical and civil power, did not materially change the position of the “two witnesses.”  The time had not yet come when they were to be called up into the symbolic heaven.  They must continue to prophesy till the close of the appointed period of 1260 years.  Till the expiration of that definite period the true church of Christ is not to be permanently established in any nation of the earth.  The actual condition of the church and of the nations among whom she dwells, is delineated in these verses during the time subsequent to the Protestant Reformation,—­consequently in our own time.  The “time, times and half a time” of the 14th verse, are an obvious reference to Daniel vii. 25:  xii. 7; and are the same period as 42 months, or 1260 days, “a day for a year.”  During this whole time the woman is nourished in the wilderness “from the face of the serpent.”  Safety is secured for her only “in her place.”

“Water,” as a symbol or metaphor, is of frequent occurrence and varied import in Scripture.  Among its diversified significations, perhaps that of a destructive element is most common. (Ps. xviii. 4; xxxii. 6.) It is indeed often used to denote gospel blessings, (as Is. lv. 1; John vii. 38; Rev. xxii. 17.) As here used, the “water as a flood,” represents something intended by the dragon for the destruction of the woman.  If he cannot destroy her by fire, he aims to overwhelm her with water.  This water comes out of the dragon’s “mouth.”  So of the “unclean spirits,” (ch. xvi. 13.) Soul-destroying errors,—­heresies,—­are