The eagle's wings symbolize God's supernatural, sovereign movement and protection of Israel — not literal wings or flight.
In Exodus 19:4, God says He carried Israel on eagles' wings when bringing them out of Egypt, yet Israel actually walked. In Revelation 12:14, the same imagery is used as the woman flees into the wilderness to a place prepared by God, where she is nourished for three and a half years. Les Feldick teaches that God will supernaturally move and protect the escaping remnant, just as He did at the Exodus.
Exodus 19:4 — This is the original eagle's-wings description of God bringing Israel out of Egypt, the basis for the Revelation analogy.
Revelation 12:14 — This verse directly applies eagle's wings to the woman fleeing into the wilderness, showing God's provision and protection.
Revelation 12:6 — This verse records the wilderness destination and the prepared place where God feeds the woman.
In Exodus 19:4, God tells Israel, "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." The exodus is described as being carried on eagle's wings — a comparison that emphasizes God's own deliverance rather than any human method of travel. Revelation 12:6 says, "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." Revelation 12:14 repeats the eagle's-wings language: "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." The Bible does not define the wings as literal; it uses the comparison to describe God's care and protection.
Les Feldick teaches that the eagle's wings are not a promise that the Jewish remnant will literally grow wings and fly. He points to Exodus 19:4 and reminds his listeners that Israel walked out of Egypt — they did not sprout wings, and no air force came to fly them out. Yet God described the exodus as bearing them on eagles' wings, so the analogy pictures supernatural movement and miraculous, sovereign help. In Revelation 12, Les identifies the woman as the nation of Israel. He says that at the midpoint of the Tribulation, this fleeing remnant will be given the same kind of supernatural movement so she can fly, as it were, into the wilderness to a place prepared by God. There God will nourish and sustain her for three and a half years, just as He fed Israel in the wilderness with manna and water from the rock. Les also draws the parallel that as God destroyed Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea, so God will destroy the Antichrist's pursuing forces. He says the remnant will be providentially escorted and protected so that nothing can harm them during that time.
Revelation 12:14 tells of the woman being given "two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness." Exodus 19:4 uses the same comparison: God says He bore Israel on eagles' wings out of Egypt. Les Feldick calls Revelation 12:14 "the identical words from Exodus" and says the setting is the same — Israel fleeing from a pursuing enemy. In the exodus the enemy was Pharaoh and his army; in the Tribulation, it is the Antichrist and his forces.
No. Les repeatedly corrects this idea. Israel did not sprout wings and fly out of Egypt; they walked. God describes the exodus in terms of eagle's wings because of the supernatural speed and miraculous movement He provided. Les thinks the Tribulation remnant will also go out on foot, but God will transport them along supernaturally — even hastening their travel — so the "two wings of a great eagle" become a picture of divine escort rather than an actual flight.
Revelation 12:6 says the woman fled "into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God." Revelation 12:14 repeats that she is to fly "into the wilderness, into her place." Les describes this as a designated place prepared by a sovereign God. He points to a location "somewhere in the mountains south and east of Jerusalem" and says God will providentially watch over the remnant there until the Tribulation is complete.
Les draws a direct parallel to the Exodus wilderness. Just as God fed Israel for forty years, kept their clothes from wearing out, and supplied them with manna and water from the rock, so He will nourish and sustain this fleeing group for three and a half years. The Revelation text says she is "nourished for a time, and times, and half a time." Les explains that is one year plus two years plus half a year — a total of three and a half years, the same period mentioned in Revelation 12:6.
The Woman's Wilderness Flight at the Midpoint
Les connects the woman in Revelation 12 to Israel fleeing into the wilderness at the midpoint of the Tribulation, where she has a place prepared for three and a half years; God will feed her as He fed Israel in the wilderness.
A Supernatural Walk with Eagle's Wings
Les says the remnant goes out on foot, yet God will supernaturally transport them; the two wings of a great eagle carry her into the wilderness where she is nourished for three and a half years.
The Exodus Setting and Pharaoh's Pursuit
Les quotes Exodus 19:4 about God carrying Israel on eagles' wings and parallels the Red Sea destruction with the coming destruction of the Antichrist's army.
Israel Did Not Sprout Wings
Les corrects the literal view: Israel did not sprout wings and fly, and no air force picked them up; they left Egypt on foot.
The Same Words as Exodus
Les says Revelation 12:14 repeats the Exodus language and shows a sovereign God who provides a designated place and nourishes the remnant, just as He did with manna and water from the rock.
Supernatural Speed for God's People
Les points out that Israel walked but God moved them speedily and miraculously; he thinks the 144,000 will experience the same kind of travel.
Providential Protection in the Mountains
Les says the escaping remnant will be providentially escorted and protected for three and a half years in the mountains south and east of Jerusalem.
Pursuers Destroyed as at the Red Sea
Les describes the pursuing forces being swallowed up by the earth — no harder for God than parting the Red Sea — while the Jews escape on foot as if with eagle's wings.
Exodus 19:4: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
God's own description of bringing Israel out of Egypt supplies the background for the eagle's-wings imagery.
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.
The woman flees into the wilderness to a prepared place where God feeds her.
Revelation 12:14: 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.
This verse directly uses the eagle's-wings analogy for the woman's flight into the wilderness.
No. Les points out that Israel walked out of Egypt and did not sprout wings. The eagle's wings describe God's supernatural movement and protection; the remnant will go on foot but God will transport them along.
Revelation 12:14 says she is nourished "for a time, and times, and half a time" — which Les explains as three and a half years. Revelation 12:6 also gives the same period as a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Les says the Antichrist will send an army after the escaping Jews, just as Pharaoh did, but God will destroy that army. He even describes the earth opening up and swallowing the pursuers, an act no harder for God than the Red Sea.
Watch the Teaching: The Great Tribulation: Israel's Flight & God's Protection Explained