What does Revelation 11:2 mean?
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. Revelation 11:2
Explanation
Revelation 11:2 is a verse embedded within a prophetic vision experienced by the Apostle John, where specific instructions and prophetic events are described. In this verse, John is told to “leave out” or exclude the court which is “without” (outside) the temple, meaning he should not measure it. This action carries symbolic significance as the act of measuring typically signifies ownership, protection, and God’s blessings in biblical literature. However, by instructing not to measure the outer court, it is implied that this area is not under divine protection and that its sanctity is compromised.
The verse further states that this outer court is given unto the “Gentiles,” which often refers to non-Jewish people or non-believers, suggesting that they would have dominance over it. The mention of the holy city being trodden underfoot for “forty and two months” (a period of three and a half years) signifies a time of occupation or oppression by these Gentiles. This time frame has deep apocalyptic significance and is typically interpreted as a period of tribulation or testing.
Historical Context
The Book of Revelation was written during a time of intense persecution of Christians, likely in the late first century CE, possibly under the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. The temple referred to in the verse is usually understood to be the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem, which, by the time Revelation was written, had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. As a consequence, the author of Revelation lived in a time when the political and religious landscape was characterized by upheaval, persecution, and the loss of the central place of worship for the Jewish people.
Theological Insights
Different schools of thought interpret this verse with varied theological implications. Preterists believe that this prophecy was fulfilled in the past, specifically during the Siege of Jerusalem, when the city was indeed trampled by Gentiles. Futurists maintain that this prophecy refers to future events that will happen before the Second Coming of Christ. Historicists might view this as an ongoing condition throughout the age of the church, embodying successive periods of ecclesiastical dominance and oppression. Idealists perceive the Gentile occupation as symbolic of worldly opposition to the spiritual truth throughout the history of the church.
Practical Applications
The practical applications of Revelation 11:2 may not be directly evident due to its prophetic and apocalyptic nature. However, Christians might reflect on the concept of spiritual resilience in the face of outer pressures and societal corruption. The verse could encourage believers to distinguish between what is truly sacred (the inner temple) and the secular world (the outer court). The message can also be seen as a reminder that periods of tribulation are finite and will eventually lead to restoration and divine justice.
Cross-References
- Luke 21:24 – “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
- 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 13:5 – “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”
Language Study
The Greek term for “Gentiles” in this verse is “ἔθνεσιν” (ethnesin), broadly referring to nations or people groups other than Jews. The phrase “tread under foot” is translated from “πατήσουσιν” (patesousin), which carries a connotation of dominance or subjugation. The time period of “forty and two months” in Greek is “μῆνας τεσσεράκοντα δύο” (menas tesserakonta dyo), comprising forty-two “months” or lunar cycles, signifying a significant time of trial or judgment.
Cultural and Religious Comparisons
The use of specific time periods like “forty and two months” can be compared to other ancient texts and myths that use numerology to convey symbolic meaning. The number fourty-two can be found in various mythologies and religious stories as a period of trial or a significant number in the structure of the cosmos. For example, in ancient Egyptian mythology, the deceased would make a negative confession before 42 judges in the afterlife.
Scientific Perspectives
Modern scientific understandings do not typically intersect directly with the apocalyptic and prophetic content of Revelation 11:2. However, the verse’s symbolic use of time could provide an opportunity for believers to consider the nature of time from a scientific perspective and contrast it with the symbolic or theological concepts of time described in biblical prophecy.
Commentaries
Different biblical commentators offer varied understandings of this verse. Matthew Henry views it as a predictive warning of the afflictions that the church would face. Albert Barnes notes the historical destruction of the temple but suggests that the treading down of the holy city might refer to future events. Other contemporary scholars see the reference to forty-two months as echoing the three and a half years of the Jewish War or as a symbolic period representing a time of distress and testing before God’s ultimate delivery and victory. There is also an acknowledgment among many scholars that apocalyptic literature like Revelation is highly symbolic, designed to convey comfort and promise to persecuted believers rather than predict a precise timeline of future events.
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