"But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
(Revelation 11:2)
If the temple signifies the church dwelling in the midst of Christ's and God's presence, the outer court (which is part of the temple) must therefore represent the church and its exposure and vulnerability to the world system in which it lives. The "holy city", which is to be trodden underfoot, is equated with the outer court. In Revelation, the "holy city" refers either to the future heavenly city or two it's earthly manifestation in the form of the church (Rev. 20:9: "they... surrounded the camp of the Saints and the beloved city"). As Revelation develops, we shall see how the world system is ruled by demonic forces. Yet believers must live within it and remain physically unprotected in the midst of persecution. They will suffer as they maintain faithful witness to Christ in the midst of a pagan society, but they will be kept spiritually safe. Note that both parts of the temple (inner and outer court) belong to God, and the period of trampling down of the outer court (and the holy city) will cease, at which point all creation will be restored under the rulership of Christ.
What, then, is the significance of the forty-two months? If the picture here of the "temple" and the "altar" is symbolic, then so is that time period. The reference is to the time of tribulation prophesied by Daniel either as a "time, times and half a time" (three and a half years or forty-two months) or as one thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days (the equivalent). For Daniel, this lay far off in the future, but for John it has begun, starting with the resurrection of Christ and continuing until His return.
(G.K. Beale)
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