The 'wings of a great eagle' in Revelation picture God's supernatural protection and provision for the Jewish remnant, echoing His deliverance of Israel from Egypt in Exodus 19:4.
Revelation 12:14 says the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly into the wilderness to a place prepared by God, where she is nourished. Les Feldick explains this by taking readers back to Exodus 19:4, where God said He bore Israel on eagles' wings. He clarifies that the Jews did not literally fly; rather, God supernaturally moved them along to safety.
Revelation 12:14 — This is the verse where the woman is given the two wings of a great eagle to fly to her place of safety.
Exodus 19:4 — It contains the eagle's-wings language God used to describe bringing Israel out of Egypt, which Revelation echoes.
Revelation 12:14 states that the woman was given two wings of a great eagle so she could fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time from the face of the serpent. Revelation 12:6 also says the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God and is fed for 1,260 days. Exodus 19:4 uses the same imagery, with God telling Israel that He bore them on eagles' wings and brought them to Himself. This pictures God's own power carrying His people to safety. Revelation 12:15 adds that the serpent cast water as a flood after the woman, showing the opposition she faces even after being given the wings.
Les Feldick repeatedly shows that the 'wings of a great eagle' in Revelation 12:14 are not literal wings. He says Israel did not sprout wings and fly out of Egypt, and no air force picked them up; rather, the language describes a supernatural journey. The fleeing Jewish remnant will go on foot, but God will transport them along just as He did Israel at the Exodus. Les connects the wording to Exodus 19:4 and notes that the language in the two passages is almost identical. He identifies the woman as the fleeing remnant of Jews who suddenly realize the Antichrist—the one who signed a treaty three and a half years earlier—has become their mortal enemy at the midpoint of the Tribulation. She is given the eagle's wings to fly into the wilderness, to her place prepared of God, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time—three and a half years. Just as Pharaoh's armies were stopped at the Red Sea, the Antichrist's pursuing forces will be destroyed, pictured by the earth swallowing the flood the serpent casts after the woman.
Les identifies the woman as the fleeing remnant of Jews in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation. They realize that the man who signed the treaty three and a half years earlier has turned into their mortal enemy, so they must flee suddenly. The eagle's wings are what enable them to reach the wilderness place that God has prepared.
Les says the language of Revelation 12:14 is almost identical to Exodus 19:4, where God said He brought Israel to Himself on eagles' wings. He points out that Israel left Egypt on foot, not by flying, yet God supernaturally moved them along. In both cases, a pursuing enemy is destroyed: Pharaoh's army drowned at the Red Sea, and the Antichrist's army will be swallowed by the earth.
Revelation 12:14 says she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time. Les explains this as one year plus two years plus half a year, totaling three and a half years. He matches this to Revelation 12:6, where she is fed for 1,260 days.
Les is clear that the Jews do not sprout wings and fly. He points out that in the Exodus, Israel simply walked, yet God's power carried them along. The same will happen for the Tribulation remnant: the two wings of a great eagle symbolize God's supernatural enablement and protection as they hurry to their place of safety.
Sudden Flight from Jerusalem
Les compares the remnant's hurried departure from Jerusalem to Israel leaving Egypt on Passover night, showing that God will supernaturally move them along.
Eagle's Wings and Exodus 19
Les takes the reader to Exodus 19 to show that the same eagle's-wings language was used of Israel coming out of Egypt, and he insists Israel did not literally fly.
Pharaoh as a Type of the Antichrist
God's words in Exodus 19:4 about bearing Israel on eagles' wings are applied to the fleeing remnant; just as Pharaoh's armies were stopped at the Red Sea, the Antichrist's army will be destroyed.
The Woman and Her Wilderness Nourishment
Les identifies the woman as the fleeing remnant and says the eagle's wings let her fly to her wilderness place, where God nourishes her for three and a half years from the face of the serpent.
Almost Identical Language
Les ties Revelation 12:14 to Exodus 19 because the language is almost identical, and he uses the Red Sea rescue to show the remnant will come out untouched.
The Prepared Place and the Serpent's Flood
The eagle's wings bring the woman to the place God prepared for three and a half years, and Les connects the serpent's flood to the destroying army that will be swallowed by the earth.
A Supernatural Walk
Les explains that the eagle's wings mean a supernatural walk: the remnant goes on foot, but God transports them and nourishes them for the full 1,260 days.
Protection from the Serpent's Flood
The purpose of the eagle's wings is nourishment and care for three and a half years, while the serpent's flood—the pursuing force—will be destroyed just as Pharaoh's army was.
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.
The key verse that gives the woman eagle's wings for her flight and nourishment in the wilderness.
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, which Revelation 12:14 echoes.
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.
This verse gives the length of protection as 1,260 days, which Les equates to three and a half years.
Revelation 12:15: 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.
This verse shows the serpent's pursuit after the woman, paralleling Pharaoh's army chasing Israel.
According to Les Feldick, no. He points out that Israel did not sprout wings and fly out of Egypt, and the same is true for the Tribulation remnant. The wings picture God's supernatural enablement as they flee on foot into the wilderness place He has prepared.
Revelation 12:14 says she is nourished 'for a time, and times, and half a time.' Les explains this as one plus two plus half a year—three and a half years. He equates this with the 1,260 days in Revelation 12:6.
Yes. Revelation 12:15 says the serpent cast water as a flood after her. Les compares this to Pharaoh sending his army after Israel at the Exodus, and says the earth opens and swallows the flood so the woman reaches her place of safety.
Watch the Teaching: The Abomination of Desolation: Why Israel Must Flee (Matthew 24)