The eagle symbolizes John’s Gospel since it describes the incarnation of the divine Logos (Word). The eagle similarly comes down from above. Eagles are considered wise and clairvoyant and these superior perceptive traits parallel the divine nature of Christ. The abstract and theological thought expressed by John is indicative of the mystery of the Word that comes from above – pure and plainly stated yet beyond human reasoning. It is able to look down on the world with precision from its high position but as it flies toward heaven, it looks straight at the sun (Son). In his Revelation, John saw beyond what is immediately present; because of this, he is referred to as “the Eagle of Patmos”.