What does Revelation 12:14 mean?
Satan's end-times assault on Israel does not succeed. Many Jews will escape to the wilderness, likely the region known as Petra (Matthew 24:16). This is at least partly in response to Jesus' warning to flee to the mountains when they "see the abomination of desolation…standing in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15). This "abomination" likely refers to defiling of the temple, such as through setting up an idol of the head of the Revived Roman Empire.God responds to this idolatrous act by bringing about an invasion in the middle of the tribulation, most likely by Russia and her allies. Some students of prophecy believe the two wings of the great eagle mentioned in Revelation 12:14 refer to an airlift that rescues Jews from the Russian invasion. However, the use of "wings" as a reference to protection is well established in Scripture (Deuteronomy 32:11–12; Exodus 19:4).
The Jewish refugees will be sustained in their place of safety for "a time, and times, and half a time." This equals three and a half years, the length of the second half of the tribulation. God is able to protect those who trust in Him.
Revelation 12:13–17 depicts the dragon pursuing Israel in an attempt to destroy her. He sends an army to devour her, but to no avail. God protects members of Israel who flee into the wilderness, where He sustains them for the second half of the tribulation. Then, the Devil focuses on the believing remnant of Israel. This passage of Scripture relates to Ezekiel and Joel's description of an invading army from the north that troubles Israel (Ezekiel 38; Joel 1—2). It also relates to Revelation 9 that describes an invading army of demonic inspired forces. Revelation 13 reveals the two evil figures the Devil uses to persecute the believing remnant of Israel.
This chapter relates several highly symbolic visions, which introduce figures critical to the end times. First is a woman, representative of Israel. Second is a red dragon, identified with Satan. Third is a male child, who is Jesus Christ. The red dragon seeks to devour the woman's male child, but God caught the child to His throne, referring to the ascension of Jesus after His resurrection. The passage then continues to describe a war in heaven between Michael and Satan—here Satan becomes the fourth key figure—which results in Satan's complete and total eviction from heaven. Satan attempts to destroy Israel, most likely through an armed invasion, which is supernaturally defeated by God through an earthquake. The fifth main figure is the collective ''offspring'' of the woman. These events are given further details in passages such as Ezekiel chapter 38.
