What does Revelation 12:6 mean?

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Revelation 12:6

Explanation

Revelation 12:6 speaks of a woman who finds refuge in the wilderness where God has prepared a place for her to be sustained for 1,260 days, or “a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” This is often understood figuratively, with the woman representing either the nation of Israel or the Christian Church, and the wilderness representing a place of spiritual preservation away from the persecution of a malevolent figure, often interpreted as Satan or antichrist. The specific duration of time mentioned, 1,260 days, commonly corresponds to a period of trial or tribulation. In apocalyptic literature, numbers often carry symbolic weight; in this context 1,260 days equals 42 months or three and a half years, which is half of a seven-year period; seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the Bible.

Historical Context

Revelation was written by John the Apostle during a time of intense persecution of Christians, typically dated towards the end of the first century A.D. This book is apocalyptic in nature, full of vivid symbolism, and written to encourage Christians facing suffering and persecution. The historical context includes the Roman Empire’s brutality toward Christians and the destruction of the Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, further fueling the early Christian community’s sense of living in end times.

Theological Insights

The woman’s flight into the wilderness and divine provision is seen through various lenses in Christian theology:

• Dispensationalist Viewpoint: The woman is Israel, and the 1,260-day period corresponds to the Great Tribulation, the latter half of Daniel’s 70th week.
• Historicist Viewpoint: This is interpreted as an historical period (often the era of papal dominance) where the true Church was obscured but preserved by God.
• Idealist Viewpoint: The image is seen as a timeless symbol of the struggle between good and evil, with God’s faithfulness persisting throughout all ages.
• Preterist Viewpoint: The events were fulfilled in the past, perhaps during the first century or the destruction of Jerusalem.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied to daily life as a source of comfort and assurance that God provides and sustains His people during periods of hardship and persecution. It encourages believers to trust in divine protection and providential care, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Cross-References

• Revelation 12:14: “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
• Daniel 7:25: “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
• Revelation 11:2-3: “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Language Study

The original Greek term for “wilderness” is “ἔρημος” (eremos), which can mean an uninhabited place or desert, signifying isolation or desolation. The term “prepared” comes from the Greek term “ἡτοίμασεν” (hetoimasen), implying that God has intentionally made ready a safe haven.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of a deity providing refuge to a woman can be paralleled in various ancient myths where a female character is protected from danger. For example, in Greek mythology, Zeus often intervenes to protect characters like Io from Hera’s wrath. However, distinct from the myths, in Revelation, the protection of the woman speaks to a collective experience of persecution and deliverance rather than personal whim or struggle amongst the gods.

Scientific Perspectives

The 1,260-day period, while often understood in prophetic and symbolic terms within theology, corresponds approximately to 3.5 years in the Gregorian calendar, based on a 360-day year. This is at odds with the solar calendar where a year is approximately 365.24 days. Some scientific perspectives might consider this discrepancy when interpreting a literal timespan versus a symbolic one.

Commentaries

Commentators offer a range of interpretations:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Suggests that the wilderness signifies the state of obscurity and solitude the true Church sometimes experiences.
• Adam Clarke Commentary: Views the woman as the Church and the wilderness as a state of comparative privacy and safety.
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: Emphasizes the providence of God in nourishing the Church during times of tribulation.
• The MacArthur Study Bible: Aligns with a dispensationalist perspective, interpreting the woman as Israel during the Great Tribulation.