Rev 12:13-14 | RWP | e4.org | He persecuted ( εδιωξεν ). First aorist active participle of διωκω , to pursue, to chase, hostile pursuit here as in .; , etc. John now, after the "voice" in , returns to the narrative in verse . The child was caught away in verse , and now the woman (the true Israel on earth) is given deadly persecution. Perhaps events since A.D. 64 (burning of Rome by Nero) amply illustrated this vision, and they still do so. Which ( ητις ). "Which very one."

‏ Revelation of John 12:13-14

He persecuted ( εδιωξεν ). First aorist active participle of διωκω, to pursue, to chase, hostile pursuit here as in Mt 5:10f.; 10:23, etc. John now, after the "voice" in 10-13, returns to the narrative in verse 9. The child was caught away in verse 5, and now the woman (the true Israel on earth) is given deadly persecution. Perhaps events since A.D. 64 (burning of Rome by Nero) amply illustrated this vision, and they still do so.

Which ( ητις ). "Which very one."

There were given ( εδοθησαν ). As in 8:2; 9:1, 3.

The two wings of the great eagle ( α δυο πτερυγες του αετου του μεγαλου ). Not the eagle of 8:13, but the generic use of the article. Every eagle had two wings. Probably here, as in Mt 24:28, the griffon or vulture rather than the true eagle is pictured. For the eagle in the O.T. see Ex 19:4; Isa 40:31; Job 9:26; Pr 24:54.

That she might fly ( ινα πετητα ). Purpose clause with ινα and present middle subjunctive of πετομα, old verb, to fly, in N.T. only in the Apocalypse (4:7; 8:13; 12:14; 14:6; 19:17). Resumption of the details in verse 6 (which see) about the "wilderness," her "place," the redundant εκε with οπου, the "time and times, and half a time" ( καιρον κα καιρους κα ημισυ ), 1260 days, but with τρεφετα (present passive indicative) instead of τρεφωσιν (general plural of the present active subjunctive), and with the addition of "from the face of the serpent" ( απο προσωπου του οφεως ), because the serpent rules the earth for that period. "To the end of the present order the Church dwells in the wilderness" (Swete), and yet we must carry on for Christ.