Revelation 12:14

“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, etc.] By which are meant, not the two testaments, by which she was supported under afflictions, trials, and persecutions, and against Satan and all his efforts; nor the two graces of faith and hope, by which she rose, and dwelt on high, in the view of invisible things, and with contempt of the world, its frowns or flatteries; nor, as others think, prayer and good works, by the former of which she flew to God for supplies of grace and protection, and by the latter was useful and profitable to men, and gave glory to God, and escaped the just censures of the world; nor are two powerful kingdoms, within the dominions of the dragon,…”

“were given--by God's determinate appointment, not by human chances (Act 9:11). two--Greek, "the two wings of the great eagle." Alluding to Exo 19:4 : proving that the Old Testament Church, as well as the New Testament Church, is included in "the woman." All believers are included (Isa 40:30-31). The great eagle is the world power; in Eze 17:3, Eze 17:7, Babylon and Egypt: in early Church history, Rome, whose standard was the eagle, turned by God's providence from being hostile into a protector of the Christian Church. As "wings" express remote parts of the earth, the two wings may here mean the east and west divisions of the Roman empire. wilderness--the land of the heathen, the Gentiles: in…”

“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle - The most powerful of birds, and among the most rapid in flight. See the notes on Revelation 4:7. The meaning here is, that the woman is represented as prepared for a rapid flight; so prepared as to be able to outstrip her pursuer, and to reach a place of safety. Divested of the figure, the sense is, that the church, when exposed to this form of persecution, would be protected as if miraculously supplied with wings. That she might fly into the wilderness - There is here a more full description of what is briefly stated in Revelation 12:6. A wilderness or desert is often represented as a place of safety from pursuers. Thus David 1 Samuel…”

“And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place - Eagles are the usual symbols of great potentates. So Eze 17:3, by "a great eagle', means the king of Babylon. Here the great eagle is the Roman empire; the two wings, the eastern and western branches of it. A place in the wilderness was mentioned in Rev 12:6 also; but it is not the same which is mentioned here. In the text there follow one after the other, The dragon's waiting to devour the child. The birth of the child, which is caught up to God. The fleeing of the woman into the wilderness. The war in heaven, and the casting out of the dragon. The beginning of the third…”

“12:14 two wings . . . of a great eagle (see Exod 19:4-6; Deut 32:10-11; Isa 40:29-31): God strengthens his people; he does not promise that they will escape persecution or death. • a time, times, and half a time: Usually understood as three and a half years (see Rev 11:2-3).”

“to the: Exo 19:4; Deu 32:11, Deu 32:12; Psa 55:6; Isa 40:31 she might: Rev 12:6, Rev 17:3 for a time: Rev 11:2, Rev 11:3; Dan 7:25, Dan 12:7 Revelation 12:15”