17. wroth with--Greek, "at."
went--Greek, "went away."
the remnant of her seed--distinct in some sense from the woman
herself. Satan's first effort was to root out the Christian Church, so
that there should be no visible profession of Christianity. Foiled in
this, he wars
(Re 11:7; 13:7)
against the invisible Church, namely, "those who keep the commandments
of God, and have the testimony of Jesus" (A, B, and C omit "Christ").
These are "the remnant," or rest of her seed, as distinguished
from her seed, "the man-child"
(Re 12:5),
on one hand, and from mere professors on the other. The Church, in her
beauty and unity (Israel at the head of Christendom, the whole forming
one perfect Church), is now not manifested, but awaiting the
manifestations of the sons of God at Christ's coming. Unable to
destroy Christianity and the Church as a whole, Satan directs his
enmity against true Christians, the elect remnant: the others he
leaves unmolested.
JFB.
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