Becoming Closer
Wings and Water
nWings
nWater
nEarth
Wings, in this context, probably comes from Exodus 19:4, referring to God’s care of Israel during the exodus from Egypt.  Lindsey speculates (does not state so specifically) that this might be an American airlift, as the eagle is the symbol of the United States.  This would then be the Jews fleeing the Antichrist at mid-Tribulation.
The historicists hold that this is the “true church” (refer to the woman as “true Israel”) in hiding.
What does Satan do about it?  This passage is very difficult for the futurists:  Smith sees it as an army pursuing -- and does not explain how the earth swallows it up.  It can also be seen (of course) as a literal flood -- I have pictured it here as someone opening a floodgate.  The historicist sees it as Satan flooding the world with false doctrine, in an effort to drown the true church in it.
This last is the only explanation which has a corresponding explanation in the “earth” “swallowing” the flood.  The true church is in hiding;  hiding in plain sight.  To hide a leaf, do it in a forest.  A man in a city!
There is one other spiritual point here:  the universe is a place of order.  There are natural laws;  there are moral laws.  The man who obeys the latter will be helped by the former!