“When the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (vv. 13, 14),
This flight is referred to in Matt. 24:16-2216Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:16‑22). Hosea refers to this in ch. 2:14, circ., “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her,” &c. This is the use that grace makes of her time of sorrow. In the Books of Psalms (see especially Book 2, Psa. 42-72) the Spirit of Christ enters into their sorrows as thus driven out of Jerusalem at that day. The Lord’s heart is great enough to take up all our sorrows as Christians. But that is not all; He takes up the sorrows of His poor earthly people too in that day.
I suppose that in the close of His life He entered in grace into all these sorrows, and learned them in their intensity, as none could learn them but He. Thus He can speak a word in season to him that is weary. When we find Him rejected, and threatened to be stoned by the Jews at the close of chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, He crosses the Jordan, driven out from the Temple and Jerusalem; and thus He may have felt some of the sorrows of the godly ones at the time of the end, when, driven out of Jerusalem and across the Jordan, they are longing for their return “from the land of Jordan” and “the bill Mizar” (Psa. 42). Here, in the second book (as has been remarked), they lose the covenant name of “Jehovah,” but they learn “God” better in His uncovenanted mercies “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God,” &c.
Thus, “the serpent cast water out of his mouth as a river” (not “flood”). That is a figure of peoples, impelled in a given direction against the Jewish people. The earth opens her mouth—i.e., some diversion of this attempt is effected—and this effort of the enemy is destroyed. And the dragon went to make war with the remnant of her seed who have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus—Jews under the law, through whom the Lord Jesus is giving His testimony prophetically at that day to the world, as He gives to themselves by the same Spirit of prophecy to look out for those things which shall be theirs when the blessing comes.
The Books of Psalms give a voice to —these testimonies and longings for the coming kingdom and earthly glory. The godly Jews are thus learning Christ in these very sorrows, for His Spirit is giving a voice to them in passing through the afflictions of that day.
And this is the difference between the Spirit of prophecy, and the enjoyment of our own things which the Holy Ghost gives us now, as the Spirit of communion. We read in Revelation 19:1010And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10), that “the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” The Lord is thus giving a testimony to the world; for this He uses His people—the Jews. The Holy Ghost works by them, and in their hearts; causing them to look out prophetically for something not yet come. This is very different from our blessing, by the Holy Ghost given to us on believing, as a seal of redemption that is complete; and an earnest of our inheritance which is to come; leading us into the enjoyment of all, as the Spirit of communion. In the Psalms you find what may be termed the Spirit of prophecy.
It is a striking way in which the Jews learn Christ, in contrast with us (as Christians). We learn Christ without seeing Him. The Jew learns Him when He does see Him. “Thomas (type of the Jew), because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (the Church). He saw His wounds, and thrust his hand into His side before he said, “My Lord, and my God.” Therefore, Peter could say, “Whom not having seen,” ye love, &c. We know Him by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.
(To be confirmed, D. V.)