Revelation 11:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The outer court is left unmeasured because it is given over to the nations, who will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
What Does Revelation 11:2 Mean?
The command now draws a boundary. The inner sanctuary is measured and kept, but the outer court is deliberately left out, handed over to the nations who will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. This same span, three and a half years, recurs throughout the book as the appointed season of trial.
Two realities stand side by side here. What is innermost and devoted to God is sealed and safe; what is exposed will endure a season of trampling. Faith learns to hold both: the suffering is real and bounded, never endless, never beyond the Lord's reckoning. The trampling lasts only for the measured time He has set, and not one hour longer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 11:2
What does Revelation 11:2 mean?
The outer court is left unmeasured because it is given over to the nations, who will trample the holy city for forty-two months.