Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 12:15

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

The Devil, the old Serpent, mentioned v. 9. being able no longer to execute his Malice as a Dragon, by the Civil Power of the Heathen Emperors, tearing Christians in pieces, but discerning the Church secured by the special Providence of God, went to work another way,

corrupting the Judgments of several Persons, who, out of the abundance of Error in their Hearts, preached corrupt Doctrine. Such were the Followers of Arrius, Nestorius, Eutychus, Pelagius, &c. Prov. 18.4. The words of a Mans mouth are as deep waters. Prov. 15.28. The Mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

On Purpose to ruine the Church: And, indeed, such were the ill Effects of these Heresies, that he who is but meanly versed in the History of the fifth Age, will see reason to adore the Providence of God, that the Roman Emperors, upon the sight of them, did not again turn Pagans, and add their force to the Malice of these pretended Christians against the sincerer part of the Church.