By Dr Neville van Eerten
Introduction
Revelation describes a forty-two-month period during which the Gentiles are granted the temple courts and the city. This is commonly called the Forty-Two Month Prophecy, emphasizing its importance in biblical prophecy.
Previously
In our Introduction to the Great Tribulation, we addressed these questions:
1. When was the Great Tribulation, and why will it never occur in our lifetime?
2. What is the Abomination of Desolation?
3. Had the gospel been preached to all nations before the Great Tribulation?
4. Why does Revelation compare Jerusalem to Sodom and Egypt?
5. Who was Josephus, and is he a credible historian?
We then examined the Seven Seals of Revelation and their relationship to the Great Tribulation of 66 AD to 73 AD.
We answered these questions:
1. What are the Seven Seals, and how do they connect to the Great Tribulation?
2. Was a quarter of the population killed, as Revelation states?
In our third lesson, we discussed the 144,000 and established that they were Jews from the first century, before and during the Great Tribulation.
Then we examined the key elements of various calendars from the first century to understand the historical perspective of the Great Tribulation.
Our lessons on Daniel’s Seventy-Weeks Prophecy revealed that the seventy weeks aligned precisely with the start of Jesus’ ministry. By understanding different calendars, we can identify the start of the New Covenant, Stephen’s martyrdom, and subsequently, Jesus’ birth in 4 BC.
Then we learned that the Euphrates army, comprising a 10,000-man legion of horsemen called the Legio Equestris and a second legion of 10,000 men, came from the Euphrates to attack Jerusalem.
In the eighth lesson, we learned that the Great Tribulation was the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel.
Then, in the last lesson, we learned that 67 AD was marked by signs linked to Revelation, which signalled most of the remaining timed prophecies in Daniel and Revelation.
Forty-Two-Month Prophecy
67 AD is a year of signs from God, warning of Jerusalem’s impending destruction. The first day of Passover marks the start of the following prophecies:
42-month prophecy of Revelation.
Three-and-a-half-years prophecy of Daniel 7.
1290-day prophecy of Daniel 12.
1335-day prophecy of Daniel 12.
REVELATION 11:1-2 THEN I WAS GIVEN A REED LIKE A MEASURING ROD. AND THE ANGEL STOOD, SAYING, “RISE AND MEASURE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, THE ALTAR, AND THOSE WHO WORSHIP THERE. BUT LEAVE OUT THE COURT WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE, AND DO NOT MEASURE IT, FOR IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE GENTILES. AND THEY WILL TREAD THE HOLY CITY UNDERFOOT FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS.
Tread Down by the Gentiles
67 AD is part of the 2300-day Great Tribulation; John also refers to another time period in Revelation 11 above. John explains that the Gentiles will trample the city of Jerusalem for forty-two months.
The four signs of 67 AD from the last lesson mark the start of a terrifying era for Jerusalem and the cities of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
Context
When we read the Book of Revelation, the headings we see are not part of the Bible. Your Bible might have a heading like ‘The Two Witnesses’ at the start of the chapter, but that is not in the Bible and is misplaced — it should begin at Revelation 11:3, not verse 1. We have a complete lesson on the Two Witnesses.
The verse about the forty-two months isn’t connected to the Two Witnesses; instead, it’s linked to the earlier verse about measuring the Temple, which was written in Revelation around 63-65 AD. When John measured the temple, it was still standing.
Temple Related
The trampling down by the Gentiles begins when the glory departs from the temple on 19 April 67 AD. It would end forty-two months later, with the city’s final destruction on 8 September, and the Romans would remain in the city for another few weeks before leaving. Now, some might say that from April to September is only forty-one months, but we need to consider the Jewish lunisolar calendar.
Hebrew Lunisolar Calendar Forty-Two Month Prophecy Previously, we learned that the Hebrew Calendar does not consist of 12 months; instead, it features irregular leap years with an extra month at the end of the year. This additional month, called Adar II or Adar Bet, falls between Shevat and Adar and usually occurs in February or March. Therefore, in 67 AD, it is added before April 18, so that year only has 12 months from April 18, 67 AD, to April 18, 68 AD. However, in 70 AD, Adar Bet is included, bringing the total to 13 months.
It is when we count the months using the Hebrew calendar that we find the forty-two-month prophecy is precisely accurate.
The time from Passover 67 AD (Nisan 15) to the fall of Jerusalem (Elul 14) is forty-two months to the day.
Revelation 11:1-2
Gentiles Conquer Throughout the Forty-Two-Month-Prophecy
With Christians fleeing Jerusalem in November and early December 66 AD, the Great Tribulation begins when Nero declares war on Judea and Galilee. But just as World War Two started with a peaceful Phoney War for England, there was little evidence of Roman conquests for four and a half months, giving the Jews who remained time to make weapons and train. When the Romans began to conquer, there was little the Jews could do to stop them, as they steamrolled through Galilee.
Six months after the Jews defeated the Romans, and four months after the Antichrist (Nero) declared war on the Jews, the Jews of Ashkelon (also called Ascalon) rose against the Romans. Their unexpected defeat at the hands of the Romans resulted in 10,000 Jews being killed. The Jews fled to the stronghold city of Jerusalem.
Edomites (Idumeans)
The Idumeans were the Edomites mentioned in the Old Testament, whom God said would not be forgiven, at least under the Old Covenant.
OBADIAH 1:9 “FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUR BROTHER JACOB, SHAME SHALL COVER YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE CUT OFF FOREVER.
The Edomites were invited to Jerusalem by a Jew named John of Gischala on June 28, 67 AD.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS WAR OF THE JEWS 4.310
THE ZEALOTS ALSO JOINED IN THE SHOUTS RAISED BY THE IDUMEANS, …NOR DID THE IDUMEANS SPARE ANYONE, FOR AS THEY ARE NATURALLY A VERY BARBAROUS AND BLOODY NATION, … THEY USED THEIR WEAPONS AGAINST THOSE WHO HAD SHUT THE GATES AGAINST THEM.
Within 10 days, the Edomites and the Zealots had killed 20,500 Jews. Later, we will see that the death of the Idumeans at the hands of the Romans was a fulfilment of Isaiah 62:1
Samaritans
Although Samaritans were not strictly Gentiles, they were looked down upon by the Jews and considered Gentiles:
JOHN 4:9 THEN THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA SAID TO HIM, “HOW IS IT THAT YOU, BEING A JEW, ASK FOR A DRINK FROM ME, A SAMARITAN WOMAN?” FOR JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH SAMARITANS.
Jews Acting Like Gentiles to Other Jews
As each city fell to the Romans, increasing numbers of seditious people arrived in Jerusalem. Josephus mentions the seditious Jews looting and openly killing leading figures in the streets of Jerusalem from the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
JOSEPHUS 4.138-139
OTHER ROBBERS LEFT THE COUNTRYSIDE TO COME INTO THE CITY AND, JOINING THOSE WORSE THAN THEMSELVES, COMMITTED ALL KINDS OF BARBARITY; THEY DID NOT JUDGE THEIR COURAGE ONLY BY THEFTS AND PLUNDERINGS BUT ALSO BY MURDERING PEOPLE. THEY DID THIS OPENLY DURING THE DAY, NOT IN THE DARK OR SECRETLY, AND TARGETED EVEN THE MOST PROMINENT CITIZENS.
Massacre in the Temple Courts
The plundering and murder were not limited to Jerusalem itself but also took place in the Temple Courts, as predicted in Revelation 11; the courts would be trampled by the Gentiles for forty-two months.
REVELATION 11:2 BUT LEAVE OUT THE COURT WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE, AND DO NOT MEASURE IT, FOR IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE GENTILES. AND THEY WILL TREAD THE HOLY CITY UNDERFOOT FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS.
Even the High Priest Ananus and his family were slaughtered, along with much of the priesthood.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS WAR OF THE JEWS 4.315-316
THEY BELIEVED IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE KILLING, SO THEY SHIFTED THEIR FOCUS TO THE HIGH PRIESTS. WITH THE MAJORITY RALLYING ENTHUSIASTICALLY, ONCE THEY CAUGHT THE HIGH PRIESTS, THEY SLAUGHTERED THEM.
So many people were killed that blood flowed from the outer temple courtyard.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS WAR OF THE JEWS 4.313
AND NOW THE OUTER TEMPLE WAS ENTIRELY OVERFLOWED WITH BLOOD; AND AS THE DAY PROGRESSED, IT SAW EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DEAD BODIES THERE.
Gentiles Rule Over Jerusalem from the Temple
The Idumeans and others had already taken control of the area outside the Temple. Indeed, from June 7 onwards, John of Gischala and Simon Ben Giora fought for dominance over the Temple because it had high walls suitable for shooting from, was a sacred site, and had very strong stone fortifications. It remained a stronghold for both Zealots and the Idumeans until its destruction on August 10, 70 AD. From this base, the Zealots and Idumeans could rampage through the city.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS WAR OF THE JEWS 4.316
NOW, AFTER THESE WERE SLAIN, THE ZEALOTS AND THE LARGE CROWD OF THE IDUMEANS ATTACKED THE PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK OF UNCLEAN ANIMALS, AND SLAUGHTERED THEM.
By the end of 67 AD, four major cities and numerous towns and villages had fallen to the Romans. But this is only the start of the forty-two-month prophecy.
A Year of Deepening Crisis – 68 AD.
Jerusalem Gets Ready for War
As the Romans take over Galilee and Samaria, more Jews flee to Jerusalem. John the Zealot, now in control of Jerusalem, welcomes people to build an army to resist the Romans. Among them are both the innocent and the seditious. Robbers continue to enter Jerusalem with the innocent. The robbers mostly side with John because it gives them an opportunity to attack and murder anyone who considers surrendering to the Romans. The innocent are caught in the middle, and if they do not side with John against the Romans, they must sell their possessions to buy food and water. If they are seen escaping the city, they are slaughtered by the Jews.
Simon the Zealot Prepares for Battle
Simon Ben Giora, who had defeated the XII Fulminata, which had caused the Great Tribulation, believed he was the Messiah.
He stays ahead of the Romans by raiding villages for food and recruits to bolster his army. He also targets Jerusalem to overthrow John of Gischala and lead the resistance against the Romans. In 68 CE, Simon is attacked by the Zealots and the Idumeans, then finally strikes back against the Idumeans and captures Hebron. Simon then assembles an army of 40,000.
The Romans Shift Their Focus to Judea
Having conquered Samaria and Galilee, Vespasian now moves through the towns and villages of Judea, looting and destroying everything in his path.
Death of the Antichrist
68 AD marks the death of the Antichrist, with Nero’s demise followed by Galba’s rise to Emperor. However, the spiritual Beast from the books of Revelation and Daniel remains very active. Vespasian is in Jericho when he hears of Nero’s death. Vespasian is about to fulfil Nero’s command to destroy Jerusalem when he learns of his death. He chooses to wait before attacking Jerusalem.
Famine and Pestilence
With both the Romans killing thousands of working farmers and Simon plundering all the Judean storehouses, famine and pestilence became increasingly severe.
Antichrist’s Death
Only fourteen months into the forty-two-month prophecy and eighteen months (nineteen in the Hebrew Calendar), Nero, the Antichrist, dies.
With Nero’s death, Vespasian delays the attack on Jerusalem while he waits to see what happens with Emperor Galba, Otho and Vitellius.
This delay, caused by the Roman civil war, also delayed Jerusalem’s destruction, so it was exactly 40 years after Jesus’ 40-year prophecy.
A Year of Politics: 69 AD
We now enter the second last year of the forty-two-month prophecy.
Year of the First Roman Empire Civil War
In 69 AD, the Roman Empire experienced a civil war, known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Galba, Otho and Vitellius are all killed by supporters of the next Emperor.
Simon ben Giora
Simon Ben Giora is now gaining power. He has just taken Hebron from the Idumeans and compelled their army to side with him. Simon publicly promoted the idea that he was the Messiah. He now commands a 40,000-strong army preparing to attack Jerusalem. The priesthood, disheartened by the killing of people by John of Gischala and the Idumeans under his command, secretly opened the gates to let Simon and his Idumean forces into Jerusalem.
Vespasian
As the civil war rages, Vespasian sends his men to Rome, who proclaim him Emperor on July 3, 69 AD.
Twenty-four months into the forty-two-month prophecy, Vespasian restarts the campaign against Judea. Vitellius continues to reign until his murder on December 20, 69 AD.
Vespasian then returns to Rome for his inauguration and sends his son, Titus, to complete the conquest of Judea.
Summary of Forty-Two-Month Prophecy
1. The forty-two-month prophecy of Revelation started in Passover, April 67, and finished in September 70 CE with the taking of the city
2. Forty-two months fulfilling the prophecy requires the Hebrew calendar to calculate
3. The Gentiles trampled the city and the court of the temple for the whole forty-two month prophecy period.
4. Antichrist started the Great Tribulation but died only 14 months into the forty-two-month prophecy.
5. His death delayed the capture of the city, ensuring that all the prophecies (forty-two month, three and a half years, 1290, and 1335-day prophecies) could be fulfilled to the day and month.
In the next lesson, we will look at the culmination of the forty-two-month prophecy, 70 AD.
April 70 AD will also be the start of the five-month prophecy of Revelation.