Many believe the 42 months mentioned in Revelation should be taken literally, like a literal 3 and a half year tribulation period. But I believe the 42 months is a sign (symbolism) of time which should be spiritually discerned.
Let’s look at why this 42 months, or 1,260 days is not a literal 3 and half years, but is rather symbolic of time. In Revelation 12:5-6 we read “[SUP]5 [/SUP]And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]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.” (1,260 days or 42 months)
Most would agree this verse is speaking about the birth of Jesus Christ, and his being caught up to God, and the woman being the sign of the spiritual Israel, because these are those who “ have the testimony of Jesus Christ” as seen in Rev. 12:17.
But no matter who you believe the woman represents, the timing of when she fled into the wilderness is shown to be right after the “man-child” Jesus was caught up to God and to His throne.”
This time is confirmed again here in 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, times, and half a time and, from the face of the serpent.” So now we have this same 1,260 days also shown as “time, times, and half a time” which is also mentioned in the book of Daniel 12:7.
This prophecy given to Daniel had to do with a “time of trouble such as the world has never seen” (Daniel 12:1) Which Jesus also mentioned in Matthew 24:21 concerning the great tribulation following right after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad. And this time period would run all the way to the redemption of Gods people as Daniel was also told in Daniel chapter 12… “at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book of Life.”
And then there is mention of the resurrection as mentioned here in Daniel 12:2 “[SUP]2 [/SUP]And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Then this time is confirmed in Daniel 12:7 “[SUP]7 [/SUP]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.”
So according to the word of the Lord, all those things mentioned to Daniel shall be finished in that same time period.
Now let’s look at how this time period is also shown as the same amount of time given to the fullness of the Gentiles.
Jesus spoke of “after the tribulation of those days” in accordance with the tribulation period of the Jews as it also relates the fullness of the Gentiles. (“that all things which are written may be fulfilled” Luke 21:22)
In Luke 21:24 Jesus says “ And they(Jews) 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.”
So how long was the times of the Gentiles? Well, were given that time as well in scripture.
Revelation 11:2 “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.
This confirms the Gentile ingathering period, the tribulation of those days, and all those things being fulfilled as listed in the book of Daniel could not possibly be a literal 42 months, or 1,260 days, but rather it is a sign of time.
We also know by Paul’s words that this time of the Gentiles being fulfilled would be marked by ungodliness being removed from Jacob.
Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
And finally one more confirmation that this 1,260 days is symbolic is found in Daniel 12:10-13 “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (1,290 days)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.(1,335 days)
[SUP]13 [/SUP]But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
We know by Jesus’ words, scripture, and history when the abomination of desolation was set up, and when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 ad. And by these verses above, and the numbers of days given to the end above, that the 42 months, or 1,260 days cannot possibly be a literal amount of time, but rather symbolic.
Be not deceived.
Let’s look at why this 42 months, or 1,260 days is not a literal 3 and half years, but is rather symbolic of time. In Revelation 12:5-6 we read “[SUP]5 [/SUP]And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]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.” (1,260 days or 42 months)
Most would agree this verse is speaking about the birth of Jesus Christ, and his being caught up to God, and the woman being the sign of the spiritual Israel, because these are those who “ have the testimony of Jesus Christ” as seen in Rev. 12:17.
But no matter who you believe the woman represents, the timing of when she fled into the wilderness is shown to be right after the “man-child” Jesus was caught up to God and to His throne.”
This time is confirmed again here in 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, times, and half a time and, from the face of the serpent.” So now we have this same 1,260 days also shown as “time, times, and half a time” which is also mentioned in the book of Daniel 12:7.
This prophecy given to Daniel had to do with a “time of trouble such as the world has never seen” (Daniel 12:1) Which Jesus also mentioned in Matthew 24:21 concerning the great tribulation following right after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad. And this time period would run all the way to the redemption of Gods people as Daniel was also told in Daniel chapter 12… “at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book of Life.”
And then there is mention of the resurrection as mentioned here in Daniel 12:2 “[SUP]2 [/SUP]And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Then this time is confirmed in Daniel 12:7 “[SUP]7 [/SUP]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.”
So according to the word of the Lord, all those things mentioned to Daniel shall be finished in that same time period.
Now let’s look at how this time period is also shown as the same amount of time given to the fullness of the Gentiles.
Jesus spoke of “after the tribulation of those days” in accordance with the tribulation period of the Jews as it also relates the fullness of the Gentiles. (“that all things which are written may be fulfilled” Luke 21:22)
In Luke 21:24 Jesus says “ And they(Jews) 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.”
So how long was the times of the Gentiles? Well, were given that time as well in scripture.
Revelation 11:2 “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.
This confirms the Gentile ingathering period, the tribulation of those days, and all those things being fulfilled as listed in the book of Daniel could not possibly be a literal 42 months, or 1,260 days, but rather it is a sign of time.
We also know by Paul’s words that this time of the Gentiles being fulfilled would be marked by ungodliness being removed from Jacob.
Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
And finally one more confirmation that this 1,260 days is symbolic is found in Daniel 12:10-13 “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (1,290 days)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.(1,335 days)
[SUP]13 [/SUP]But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
We know by Jesus’ words, scripture, and history when the abomination of desolation was set up, and when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 ad. And by these verses above, and the numbers of days given to the end above, that the 42 months, or 1,260 days cannot possibly be a literal amount of time, but rather symbolic.
Be not deceived.