Revelation 12:16 (GNV)

Passage

But the earth holpe the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swalowed vp the flood, which the dragon had cast out of his mouth.

Nearby Context

Revelation 12:14 But to the woman were giuen two wings of a great eagle, that she might flie into the wildernes, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and halfe a time, from the presence of the serpent.

Revelation 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman, like a flood, that he might cause her to be caried away of the flood.

Revelation 12:16 But the earth holpe the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swalowed vp the flood, which the dragon had cast out of his mouth.

Revelation 12:17 Then the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede, which keepe the comaundements of God, and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ.

Revelation 12:18 And I stood on the sea sand.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "earth", "holpe", "woman", "opened", "mouth", "swalowed", and "flood". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "earth" and "holpe", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "And the serpent cast out of his..." into verse 17's "Then the dragon was wroth with the...", so "earth" and "holpe" belong inside that flow. In Revelation context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "earth" and "holpe" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.