September 13: ABOVE THE STORM
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. Revelation 12:14
There is spectacular symbolism in these two wings of a great eagle. Eagles do something amazing during a storm: they mount upwards, ascending straight through the dark, angry clouds until they come out above them. It’s an entirely different scene: clear air, bright sunshine. Sheer beauty and peace!
When God rescued the children of Israel out of Egypt, Pharaoh ran after them. It looked as if they had nowhere to go as the Egyptian army closed in. You know the Exodus story! It helps, especially during times of trouble, to remember what God has brought you through already. “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” (Exodus 19:4) In order for us to grow and learn, He stirs up a situation, just as an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up . . . When young eaglets are learning to fly, they may fall downward through the air as they flutter and flap about (after being pushed out of the nest!). During those initial training sessions, the parent eagle will swoop underneath, carrying [the baby] on its wings (Deuteronomy 32:11). What seems frightening at first is actually a wonderful life lesson. Being able to fly is the essential precursor to flying above a storm.
The wording of today’s verse essentially repeats the facts of verse 6, with a new detail added: two wings of a great eagle that were provided. In verse 6, we see that the woman fled into the wilderness, but now we also see that she was divinely aided in her flight. Just as Elijah was cared for and nourished for three and a half years in the wilderness (Luke 4:25), God’s faithful people were nourished for that length of time prophetically. It is so important that we understand this time period that it is mentioned seven times in Scripture.* The day/year principle** for prophetic time applies, as John’s vision is prophecy.
Another detail in today’s verse, is the reference to the serpent immediately after the dragon reference. This points to a change: while the dragon openly flaunts angry violence, the serpent takes the subtle approach, engaging his victims (Genesis 3:1). The time period that the woman had to hide from the presence of the serpent in order to receive nourishment is quite a stretch – 1260 years! – yet her commitment to share that nourishment with as many others as she could reach out to was unbroken. Apart from divine protection, she would not have remained intact during the stretch from 538 to 1798. Heaven’s connection to earth was supernaturally paralleled in the likeness, against all odds, between the true and faithful church-in-hiding and sincere men of God within the fallen church of the Dark Ages: Reformers! There was a long and growing list of those within the established church of Rome who saw differences between church doctrine and Bible doctrine. The doctrines of the counterfeit angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) came directly from ancient pagan Babylonian teachings and traditions. The Lord foresaw that a false church would emerge, the “other woman” (see Proverbs 9), who would vehemently reject the changes necessary to bring her into alignment with the Bible.
Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity . . . We would have healed Babylon, But she is not healed. Forsake her . . . For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. Jeremiah 51:6, 9 (see also Revelation 18:5)
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. Isaiah 40:31a
*Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2,3; 12;6,14; 13:5 Note: the times expressed as forty-two months and time, times, and half a time are in reference to the activities of Satan through people. The one thousand two hundred and sixty days refer to the activities of God’s people during Satan’s intense persecutions.
**Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6, Luke 13:32-33