Page:Darby - Notes on the Book of Revelations, 1839.djvu/97

 not to explain but to receive, and, in communicating, to say what is there, not add thoughts. This may seem a slight distinction; but the effect of the difference will soon be seen in the formation of systems instead of actual profiting by divine instruction.

There are three distinct parts in the chapter: first, the agents; the woman in God’s purpose to be delivered of a man-child, the depository of earthly power, to rule the nations; the dragon ready to devour him, whose birth and character he partially knew (for Scripture told it), and whose speedy bringing forth was now apparent. The result is, the man-child, instead of acting in power at once, is hid, but in the place of Godhead and power—the woman flees; thus the direct agents are disposed of. We have, then, the second portion; in which the question is between his (the dragon’s) place there, and the angelic ministrations of God's power (“His angels which excel in strength”): and the dragon loses his place in heaven (he who had deceived the whole world), and he is cast out into the earth, not properly the world. This is all the direct statement made in this portion; for the question was, ruling the nations. But then secretly this made a most important change in another