Thursday, July 29, 2021
“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” (Revelation 12:14 KJV).
Who or what is this “great eagle?”
The eagle is noteworthy in Scripture because it is swift or powerful when attacking its prey (Deuteronomy 28:49; 2 Samuel 1:23; Job 9:26; Jeremiah 4:13; Lamentations 4:19; Habakkuk 1:8). Also, it flies overhead and lives in the heavens or air/atmosphere (Job 39:27; Proverbs 23:5; Proverbs 30:19; Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 4). These are actually quite illustrious of the LORD God’s behavior, are they not?
Consequently, regarding His mighty power in delivering Israel from Egypt, and His supremacy in rescuing Israel in today’s Scripture, we read in Isaiah chapter 40: “[28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. [29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. [30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: [31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
As touching the Bible’s symbol for God, it is the eagle—majestic, heavenly, formidable. The four “cherubim” (spirit creatures) surrounding His throne have four faces: a lion’s face, an ox’s/calf’s face, a man’s face, and an eagle’s face (Ezekiel 1:10; Ezekiel 10:14; Revelation 4:7). These four images correspond to the Four Gospel Records, four different perspectives or portrayals of the Lord Jesus Christ: Matthew (lion, King), Mark (ox/calf, Servant), Luke (man, Man), and John (eagle, God). Incidentally, it was the Apostle John who also wrote today’s Scripture. As the Antichrist threatens believing Israel in Jerusalem and Judaea (cf. Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-19; Luke 21:20-28), God Himself—the “great eagle”—rescues them and hides them out in the wilderness until Christ returns. Satan and the Antichrist cannot harm them (Revelation 12:15-17).
We summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….
Our two latest Bible Q&As: “‘Believe’ and ‘faith’—same or different?” and “Why did Rachel want Leah’s mandrakes?”
333 Words of Grace 