729. Verse 6. 11 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and sixty days."

"And the woman fled into the wilderness," signifies the church among a few, because with those who are not in good, and therefore not in truths; "where she hath a place prepared by God," signifies its state, that in the meantime provision may be made for it among many; "that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and sixty days," signifies until it grows to fulness.

7048. 'And He ceased from him' means that they were allowed to be representative. This is clear from the meaning of 'ceasing from him', that is to say, from killing him, as their being allowed to be representative. For the statement that Jehovah sought to kill him meant that a representative Church could not be established among that nation, 7043, and therefore when it says here that 'He ceased from him' the meaning is that they were allowed to be representative, that is, a representative of the Church, but no actual Church was allowed to be established among that nation. It is one thing to represent a Church, and another to be an actual Church, as is evident from the fact that even those who are wicked can represent a Church, but only the good can actually be a Church; for representing a Church is something entirely external, see 3670, 4208, 4281.