Revelation 12:13-14; Two Wings of a Great Eagle
Revelation 12:13-14 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
We saw the conflict of the woman with the dragon in the past (v1-5), the conflict of the woman with the dragon in the heavens (v7-12), we see now the conflict of the woman with the dragon in the future (v13-17).
The time is put forward to the Great Tribulation where the conflict will be the most horrendous. The dragon, Satan, knew that his time is nearly up and will be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. The period of great hostility upon Israel described in our text as “the woman” will be at its maximum.
God’s miraculous intervention explains how the woman accomplished her escape mentioned in verse 6. The dragon will be no match for her God-given powers. [Swete]
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
God has foreknown the final persecution upon Israel and has prepared a place for her to flee into the wilderness for a period of three and one-half year or 1260 days.
The expression “two wings of a great eagle” signifies expansive strength and rapid flight and is an echo of terminology used for Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11 cf. Isaiah 40:31). [Alford, Greek Testament, 4:672; Stuart, Apocalypse, p. 127; Lenski, Revelation, p. 382]
Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and howI bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew theirstrength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; andthey shall walk, and not faint.
The use of the terminology indicates that this is a further act of God’s protecting of Israel (cf. Psalm 91:1-4). [Dusterdieck, Revelation, p. 352; Walvoord, Revelation, p.195]
Psalm 91:1-4 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Since the woman is a symbol for national Israel, the two wings of the great eagle must also be a figure to portray an as yet undisclosed supernatural means for her deliverance.
In this place of refuge the woman will receive nourishment from God just as Elijah received food at the brook Cherith and as Israel received the manna in the wilderness (Alford, Walvoord). This is a critical provision because no one will be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast during this three and one half years (Revelation 13:7) (Bullinger).
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
This is how the woman receive her shelter from the “presence” of the serpent, another name for the serpent (cf. Revelation 12:9) (Ford).
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22, An Exegetical Commentary, Moody Press, 1995, 138-139.