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.
But don't bother measuring the outer courtyard of the temple, just skip it completely. That area's been handed over to the non-Jewish nations, and they're going to completely take over the holy city for forty-two months.
Sometimes sacred spaces get invaded, but it's not forever, there's always an end date to the chaos.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Revelation, written by the apostle John during a time of intense Roman persecution around 95 AD, this verse is part of a prophetic vision where an angel instructs John to measure the temple as a symbol of God's protection over His people. The outer court, however, is to be left out because it represents areas exposed to worldly influences, specifically the Gentiles or non-believers who would dominate and trample the holy city, Jerusalem, for a period symbolizing tribulation. This imagery draws from Old Testament prophecies and the historical reality of Jerusalem's destruction and ongoing oppression under Roman rule.
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