Revelation 12 6

Revelation 12:6 kjv

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 nkjv

Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Revelation 12:6 niv

The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:6 esv

and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:6 nlt

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12 verses

Revelation 12 6 Meaning

Revelation 12:6 describes the divine preservation of God's chosen people, symbolized by the "woman," in the face of intense persecution by the dragon, Satan. Having failed to destroy the male child (Christ), the dragon turns his fury against the woman. Her flight into the wilderness signifies a period of spiritual and physical refuge and divine protection, where God supernaturally sustains His faithful ones for a predetermined time of 1260 days, illustrating His unwavering provision amidst tribulation.

Revelation 12 6 Context

Revelation chapter 12 introduces a grand cosmic conflict between God's divine plan of salvation and Satan's desperate rebellion. The chapter begins by presenting symbolic figures: a "woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars," pregnant with a "male Child" destined to rule all nations (Rev 12:1-2, 5). This child is clearly Jesus Christ, caught up to God's throne immediately after His birth, representing His ascension and enthronement. Simultaneously, a "great, fiery red dragon," identified as Satan (Rev 12:9), seeks to devour the child but fails (Rev 12:3-4).

After Christ's ascension and Satan's expulsion from heaven (Rev 12:7-9), the dragon redirects his furious assault towards the "woman." This verse (Rev 12:6) details her immediate response to this intensified persecution: a divinely ordained flight into a sanctuary in the "wilderness." This act marks the beginning of a period of tribulation and God's providential care for His people throughout the Church Age or a significant period within it. The immediate context shows God's protection following Satan's direct attempt to obliterate the Messianic line and then persecute the continuation of God's covenant people. The themes are divine sovereignty, preservation amidst evil, and a predetermined duration for tribulation.

Revelation 12 6 Word analysis

• "Then" (καὶ - kai): Conjunction indicating a sequential action or immediate consequence of the previous event (the male child's ascension and the dragon's expulsion and wrath).

• "the woman" (ἡ γυνή - hē gynē): Symbolizes God's covenant people. In the immediate context, she represents the collective body from whom Christ emerged (Israel) and subsequently, the Christian Church, who are the spiritual inheritors of the covenant promises and are subject to persecution.

• "fled" (ἔφυγεν - ephugen): Perfect active indicative of φεύγω (pheugō), meaning to escape, to flee, to take refuge. Conveys an urgent and necessary departure, not a defeat but a strategic retreat under divine guidance for safety.

• "into the wilderness" (εἰς τὴν ἔρημον - eis tēn erēmon): Refers to a solitary, uninhabited place. Biblically, the "wilderness" is often a place of divine revelation, testing, refuge, and provision (e.g., Israel's Exodus journey, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus' temptation). Here, it signifies a place of protection and separation from the world's pervasive evil, where God specifically provides for His people. It is likely symbolic rather than a literal geographic location.

• "where she has" (ὅπου ἔχει - hopou echei): Signifies a definite and pre-existing reality; the place is already there for her, emphasizing God's foresight and preparation.

• "a place" (τόπον - topon): A specific, designated locale or state. This is not a random hiding place but a sanctuary specifically prepared.

• "prepared" (ἡτοιμασμένον - hētoimasmenon): Perfect passive participle of ἑτοιμάζω (hetoimazō), meaning made ready, prepared. The passive voice indicates divine agency; this place was made ready for her by God. It underscores God's providential planning for His people's safety.

• "by God" (ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ - apo tou theou): Explicitly states the divine origin and authorship of this provision. God Himself ensures this refuge and sustenance, highlighting His sovereign care.

• "that they should feed her there" (ἵνα ἐκεῖ τρέφωσιν αὐτήν - hina ekei trephōsin autēn): The purpose (ἵνα - hina) of the prepared place is her sustained nourishment. "They" is an indefinite third-person plural, common in Greek to indicate divine agency or God's providential means (e.g., through angels, nature, or faithful people). It signifies ongoing sustenance and divine provision, implying a preservation of life, not merely physical food.

• "one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (ἡμέρας χιλίας διακοσίας ἑξήκοντα - hēmeras chilias diakosias hexēkonta): This precise number is a significant prophetic time period, equaling 3.5 years, or 42 months. It appears elsewhere in Daniel and Revelation (Dan 7:25, 12:7; Rev 11:2-3, 13:5). It represents a fixed, divinely determined period of tribulation and protection, symbolizing the era of the Church's earthly persecution and God's sustained preservation throughout it, a definite rather than indefinite period of suffering.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Then the woman fled into the wilderness": Describes the immediate divine imperative and responsive action in the face of satanic rage, establishing the pattern of protective retreat into a divinely ordained place of isolation from severe worldly influence.
  • "where she has a place prepared by God": Emphasizes the pre-existing, intentional, and sovereign provision by God for His people's refuge. This is not accidental but part of His overarching plan.
  • "that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days": Articulates the specific purpose and duration of the wilderness sojourn—divine sustenance for a fixed, challenging period, highlighting both God's consistent provision and the finite nature of tribulation.

Revelation 12 6 Bonus section

• Prophetic Time Measurement: The 1260 days (or 42 months, or "a time, times, and half a time") represent a period often associated with suffering and perseverance for God's people. This measurement is not typically understood as a literal 3.5 years but a symbolic number for a divinely ordained, finite duration of tribulation for the Church.
• Symbolic Wilderness: While the wilderness can represent physical desolation, in Revelation 12, it more profoundly symbolizes a spiritual refuge, a separation from worldly corruption and intense satanic influence, where divine communion and dependence flourish. It is a place of intimacy and supernatural provision, akin to Israel's wilderness sojourn with the manna.
• Continuity of Persecution: This verse highlights that Satan's antagonism, previously directed at Christ, now turns directly to His followers. It establishes a consistent pattern of conflict between the forces of evil and God's people throughout salvation history, promising divine intervention and protection for those who belong to God.

Revelation 12 6 Commentary

Revelation 12:6 encapsulates a pivotal moment in the cosmic war, shifting focus from Christ's victory to the plight and protection of His followers. The "woman's" flight into the wilderness is a powerful metaphor for the Church's experience of persecution throughout history. Just as Israel was nourished by God in the desert during their exodus, the Church is spiritually and divinely sustained during its "wilderness" journey of trials and afflictions in a hostile world. The "place prepared by God" signifies that her safety and sustenance are not accidental but divinely ordained and assured, reflecting God's sovereignty over all events, even persecution. The "one thousand two hundred and sixty days" is a crucial prophetic number, common in Revelation and Daniel (3.5 years/42 months/time, times, half a time), symbolizing a specific, definite period of tribulation and prophetic testimony. This period represents either the entire Church age (from Christ's ascension to His return), during which God’s people endure various forms of tribulation, or a more intense final period of suffering. Regardless, it emphasizes that persecution is finite and under God’s precise control, always accompanied by His provision and ultimate preservation of His people. The verse is a powerful assurance that despite Satan's malice, God's Church will endure and be divinely preserved until the end of the appointed time.