Revelation 12:14

"And the dragon," he says, "saw and persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."

When the Savior was on the cross, the Lord turned, as the Gospel according to John tells us, "and saw the disciple whom he loved, and said to him of Mary, 'Behold thy mother.' And to her he said, 'Behold thy son.' " If Mary …

From the beginning love for God and for the neighbor and a mind receptive of him who was crucified for us was given to [the church], as were the two Testaments. All of these things are symbolized by the wings of the eagle, and they …

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, etc. The Church, supported by the two Testaments, avoiding the turbulent poisons of the world, daily seeks the solitude of a quiet and modest spirit with the affection of the mind, joyfully singing: …

Where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. This represents the entire time of the Church, as previously encompassed in the number of days. For a time signifies a year, times signify two years, and half a time signifies six …

After the beginning of the twelve hundred and sixty days, or rather of the third woe, Christianity was exceedingly propagated, in the midst of various persecutions. About the year 948 it was again settled in Denmark; in 965, in Poland and Silesia; in 980, through all Russia. In 997 it was brought into Hungary; into Sweden and Norway, both before and after.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,....

As Israel was in the wilderness forty years, and had forty-two stages in her journey, so the Church for forty-two months, three and a half years or times [literally, seasons, used for years in Hellenistic Greek (MOERIS, the Atticist), Greek, "kairous," Da 7:25;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-brackets

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 Rev 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 Rev 12:6. A wilderness or desert is often represented as a place of safety from pursuers. Thus David 1Sa 23:14-15 is represented as fleeing into the wilderness from the persecutions of Saul. So Elijah 1Ki 19:4 fled into the wilderness from the persecutions of Jezebel. The simple idea here is, that the church, in the opposition which would come upon it, would find a refuge. Into her place - A place appointed for her; that is, a place where she could be safe. Where she is nourished - The word rendered here “nourished” is the same - τρέφω trephō - which occurs in Rev 12:6, and which is there rendered “feed.” It means to feed, nurse, or nourish, as the young of animals Mat 6:26; Mat 25:37; Luk 12:24; Act 12:20; that is, to sustain by proper food. The meaning here is, that the church would be kept alive. It is not indeed mentioned by whom this would be done, but it is evidently implied that it would be by God. During this long period in which the church would be in obscurity, it would not be suffered to become extinct. […]