EAGLE, GREAT: Rev 12:14. Sometimes symbolizes a great military power. The eagle was a bird of prey and considered unclean. The Jews were forbidden to eat it by their law, Deut 14:12, Lev 11:13. Birds often symbolize sin or unclean living in the Bible. Rev 12:14 describes a great eagle that carries Israel away to a place where she can be protected for 3 ½ years out of Satan’s reach. An eagle uses her wings to protect her young and may carry her young on her wings. That is exactly what God is doing for Israel; he is carrying her on his wings. Deut 32:10-11 says that God found Israel in a desert, a barren and howling waste land. It further says that God protected her like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. In Jer 49:7-22 God is giving a prophecy concerning how he will deal with Edom for her rejection of him and her dealings with his chosen people, Israel. This prophecy had both near term and far term, in that day, implications. Verse 22 is speaking of the end times and says that an eagle will swoop down and spread its wings over Bozrah (may be the abandoned city of Petra located in an isolated mountain pass in present day Jordan, and once a part of Edom). Edom is a major target of God’s judgment of wrath and will be basically destroyed in that day. Joel 2:2-3 (also see Isa 13:3-5) says that an unprecedented large and mighty army turns the land into a desert using fire (nuclear weapons?). Edom was located in various areas at various times including Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Edom was another name for Esau, older brother of Jacob (Israel). The Edomites were descended from Esau. The Herod’s were Edomites. Since Esau married a daughter of Ishmael that means that many of the Arabs are descended from Esau. Arabs descend from either Esau or Ishmael and in Esau’s case it is from both at the same time. God’s proclamations of doom and destruction for Edom thus seem to be a proclamation against many Arabs. Rev 12:6, 14, Matt 24:15-21, Jer 49:13-14, 22, Isa 33:13-16, 41:17-20 and Micah 2:12 all speak of the remnant of Israel being carried away to a place where God supernaturally protects them for a time in the tribulation.

EARTHQUAKE: Rev 6:12-17, Rev 11:13, 19. An earthquake is described as the means for administering the sixth judgment. Whatever this earthquake is and whatever causes it is so severe that the whole earth seems to be affected. By the description it seems that the event that causes the “earthquake” is so powerful that it could possibly cause the earth’s axis, rotation and/or orbit to shift. We see a description of the sky “rolling up like a scroll,” mountains and islands being moved out of position, etc. We know that the climate is changed during the millennium so this may be part of God’s plan for accomplishing that. I also understand that Russia has several nuclear weapons that are so powerful that they could affect the earth’s rotation, axis and orbit. This judgment is so bad that people all over the world, rich and poor, powerful and weak, without prejudice all seek safety from the wrath of the Lamb. Rev 6:17 says, “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand.” This is described in Zech 14. It sounds like a nuclear war because the effects on humans and animals in verses 12-15 sound like the effects of radiation. This earthquake is also discussed in Rev 11:13 as part of the 6th trumpet judgment. Rev 11:15 makes it obvious that the earthquake happens right at the very beginning of the 6th judgment since the events described right before it are at the very end of the fifth judgment. There is also a great earthquake as part of the seventh judgment, the seventh trumpet in Rev 11:19 and the seventh bowl in Rev 16:19. This 7th judgment earthquake seems to be right before the Second Coming.