Revelation 11:2

"Leave out" (Gr. ekballo, lit. cast out) implies removal from divine favor (cf. Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30; 3 John 1:10). The court outside the temple corresponds to the court to which Gentiles had access in the first century, which lay outside the court into which only Jews could come. The Tribulation temple will evidently have similar courtyards. Not measuring amounts to exclusion from God’s favor as measuring amounts to enjoying His favor (Revelation 11:1). The nations are the Gentiles, specifically hostile, unbelieving Gentiles (cf. Revelation 11:18; Revelation 14:8; Revelation 19:15; Revelation 20:3). These Gentiles will oppress the holy city, which is earthly Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 11:8; Revelation 21:22; Luke 21:24). Others view the reference to the holy city as alluding to the Jewish people. [Note: E.g., Beckwith, p. 588; and Ladd, pp. 152-53.] However if the city is people, who are the people in the city? Some say they are believing Israelites. [Note: E.g., ibid., p. 153.] Others believe the holy city is heavenly Jerusalem. [Note: E.g., Beale, p. 568.]

The 42 months are the last half of the Tribulation since this will be the time when Gentile hostility to the Jews is most intense (cf. Daniel 9:27). The Gentiles will dominate the outer court of the temple and the rest of Jerusalem for 42 months. Anti-Semitism will peak after the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:27). This interpretation seems more likely than that 42 months refers to the 42 encampments of Israel in the wilderness, [Note: Ibid., p. 565.] or that they represents a period "of measurable duration." [Note: Morris, p. 147. Beale, pp. 557-59, explained five major interpretations of Revelation 11:1-2.]