(6)  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.

The next prophetic statement in this chapter is that "the woman fled into the wilderness." This is confirmed in historic record to be the many Christians that fled Roman persecution by seeking shelter outside the towns and villages as well as in the mountains. This was the 1260 years in the "wilderness" that Daniel the prophet speaks of in Daniel_7:25 and Daniel_12:7.

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.

Daniel 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

"This was the flight of the church into her wilderness state, A. D. 538, when Justinian had decreed the bishop of Rome head of all the churches. God watched over the church and kept her alive twelve hundred and sixty long years of darkness and superstition, and at the end of that period, he brought her out of her state of bondage and set before her an open door of usefulness which no man can shut. {1838 JoL, PSC 173.3}

Jeremiah 15:16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

"...the church fled from the Roman Government, called the great city, that reigns over the nations of the earth. The church seems to have become weary of the protection she had: long soughtin the civil government of the earth, (first the Romans, 150 years B. C.; second, the Roman emperors under Constantine etc.) and therefore fled, and for about 6 or 700 years, we know but very little about her. But God took care "that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days," which is 1260 years, from A. D. 538 until 1798, during which time, the true church, or those who believed in Jesus Christ, and would not bow down and worship Papacy, were not permitted any civil rights, under any of the governments composing the Roman kingdom. But during the whole time she had her teachers and pastors, who did in a great measure feed the flock with the sincere milk of the word. {1833 WiM, ESH 51.1}

"These days were evidently accomplished in 1798," {March 20, 1840 JVHe, HST 6.3}

"When the Waldensian youth had spent some time in their schools in the mountains, some of them were sent to complete their education in the great cities, where they could have a wider range for thought and observation than in their secluded homes. The youth thus sent forth were exposed to temptation, they witnessed vice, they encountered Satan's wily agents, who urged upon them the most subtle heresies and the most dangerous deceptions. But their education from childhood had been of a character to prepare them for all this.  {4SP 75.1} 

     In the schools whither they went, they were not to make confidants of any. Their garments were so prepared as to conceal their greatest treasure, --the precious manuscripts of the Scriptures. These, the fruit of months and years of toil, they carried with them, and whenever it could be done without exciting suspicion, they cautiously placed some portion in the way of those whose hearts seemed open to receive it. {4SP 75.2} 

(7)  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

"Angels were engaged in the battle; Satan wished to conquer the Son of God and those who were submissive to His will. But the good and true angels prevailed, and Satan, with his followers, was driven from heaven.  {EW 145.2} 

 After Satan and those who fell with him were shut out of heaven, and he realized that he had forever lost all its purity and glory, he repented, and wished to be reinstated in heaven. He was willing to take his proper place, or any position that might be assigned him. But no; heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven might be marred should he be taken back; for sin originated with him, and the seeds of rebellion were within him. Both he and his followers wept, and implored to be taken back into the favor of God. But their sin--their hatred, their envy and jealousy--had been so great that God could not blot it out. It must remain to receive its final punishment.  {EW 146.1} 

When Satan became fully conscious that there was no possibility of his being brought again into favor with God, his malice and hatred began to be manifest. He consulted with his angels, and a plan was laid to still work against God's government. When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, Satan was laying plans to destroy them. In no way could this happy couple be deprived of their happiness if they obeyed God. Satan could not exercise his power upon them unless they should first disobey God and forfeit His favor. Some plan must therefore be devised to lead them to disobedience that they might incur God's frown and be brought under the more direct influence of Satan and his angels. It was decided that Satan should assume another form and manifest an interest for man. He must insinuate against God's truthfulness and create doubt whether God did mean just what He said; next, he must excite their curiosity, and lead them to pry into the unsearchable plans of God-- the very sin of which Satan had been guilty--and reason as to the cause of His restrictions in regard to the tree of knowledge. {EW 146.2}

Then in Spirit of Prophecy volume one we see how, "Angels in Heaven mourned the fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in Heaven. The Father consulted Jesus in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon probation to test his loyalty, before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience." {1SP 23.1} 

(8)  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 

Hebrews 6:4-8, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.”

"when they found that their choice and the course which they had taken involved their leaving heaven, involved really and indeed their leaving their own habitation, they were not willing to go. They were willing to make their choice, and were willing to confirm themselves in that choice; but they were not willing to accept the consequences of their choice. They resisted. "And there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] and His angels fought against the dragon [the devil]; and the dragon [Satan] fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." 36   {1901 ATJ, ECE 583.1}

"Now this is precisely the course that is taken by every person who makes the Christian profession, and then disregards the principles and loosens down the discipline of the word and Spirit of God. {January 25, 1898 ATJ, ARSH 62.2}

And this holds good throughout the whole connection of the Christian name and profession. In every Christian church, every Christian school, every Christian sanitarium, and every Christian publishing house, the principles must be strictly Christian principles, —the principles of the word and Spirit of God; and the discipline must be strictly Christian discipline,—the discipline of the word and Spirit of God. {January 25, 1898 ATJ, ARSH 62.3}

“After Satan and those who fell with him were shut out of heaven, and he realized that he had forever lost all its purity and glory, he repented, and wished to be reinstated in heaven. He was willing to take his proper place, or any position that might be assigned him. But no; heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven might be marred should he be taken back; for sin originated with him, and the seeds of rebellion were within him. Both he and his followers wept, and implored to be taken back into the favor of God. But their sin--their hatred, their envy and jealousy--had been so great that God could not blot it out. It must remain to receive its final punishment.  {EW 146.1} 

     When Satan became fully conscious that there was no possibility of his being brought again into favor with God, his malice and hatred began to be manifest. He consulted with his angels, and a plan was laid to still work against God's government. When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, Satan was laying plans to destroy them. In no way could this happy couple be deprived of their happiness if they obeyed God. Satan could not exercise his power upon them unless they should first disobey God and forfeit His favor. Some plan must therefore be devised to lead them to disobedience that they might incur God's frown and be brought under the more direct influence of Satan and his angels. It was decided that Satan should assume another form and manifest an interest for man. He must insinuate against God's truthfulness and create doubt whether God did mean just what He said; next, he must excite their curiosity, and lead them to pry into the unsearchable plans of God-- the very sin of which Satan had been guilty--and reason as to the cause of His restrictions in regard to the tree of knowledge. {EW 146.2}

(9)  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

"The enemy is actively at work, as you will see as you travel on his territory, opening the Word of God to the people. As the last message of mercy is proclaimed by human lips, Satan will try to storm his way to the front. But he cannot prevail against Christ. As we present the truth that shows the people the evil of his delusions, his anger will be aroused, and he will do all in his power to hinder our efforts. But continue to present a "Thus saith the Lord, "remembering that God is your helper. Do not give the enemy the right of way." -Letter 114, Oct. 27, 1910, to Elder A. G. Daniells

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels." Matt.25:41. Now when these spirits visit individuals, professing to be the spirit of Paul, Peter, John or James; of the Patriarchs, Prophets; Dr. Franklin, Washington, Paine, Calhoun, or some dear friend, or perhaps a lovely infant recently buried, they come with a lie in their mouths. It is no such thing! Behold the deception! Job says of the dead: "His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Job 14:21. These spirits testify that they know all about the condition of the living. Now if the testimony of the patient man of God, of old, be true, are not these spirits liars?" {1853 JW, ST1853 61.3}

(10)  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 

Job 1:6-8  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  (7)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  (8)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:6-8  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  (7)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  (8)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

"No one need be overcome by Satan's assaults. Christ has conquered for every son and daughter of Adam. He came to cut every thread that binds human beings to Satan. His life of pure, unselfish service is our example. Let us study His work in our world. As we stand at the foot of the cross, and behold the infinite sacrifice made in our behalf, we shall be humbled and subdued. Our hearts will be filled with a desire to practise the self-denial and sacrifice seen in Christ's life. Self will sink out of sight. All worldly ambition, all desire for earthly gain, will be quenched. We shall count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. Our highest aim will be to know Him, "and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." {ST, August 9, 1905 par. 12} 

"The casting down of Satan as an accuser of the brethren in Heaven was accomplished by the great work of Christ in giving up his life." {3SP 195.1}

"The life of Christ as a man, formed the strongest bonds between angels and human beings, so that in heaven, men are spoken of as "our brethren." "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, "and in their love for Christ, they willingly sacrificed life itself." "Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them." This was a dark hour for the disciples, who stood blinded by grief beside a sealed sepulcher; but angels, who knew the power of eternal life, witnessing the exaltation of the Son of God and the final casting out of Satan, sang halleluiahs. No longer would Satan, "the prince of this world," be admitted to their councils. No longer could he accuse the brethren in their presence. "Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them." {1905 SNH, SSP 220.1}

"Thus Satan, at the crucifixion, was shut out of the council of worlds. Christ said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." This was his second casting down." {1905 SNH, SSP 326.2}

(11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

"We must not trust in self. Our finite strength is only weakness. Says Jesus, "Without me ye can do nothing;" but he promises, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  {RH, February 28, 1888 par. 7}

It is thought a great honor to be invited into the presence of a king of this earth. But let us consider the amazing privilege that is proffered to us. If we obey the requirements of God, we may become the sons and daughters of the King of the universe." {RH, February 28, 1888 par. 8}