The Invasion

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.” Revelation 11:1-2

Revelation 11:1-2 uses the tabernacle as a picture to symbolize what will happen to Jerusalem and her inhabitants when she comes under Gentile occupation for three and a half years.

To understand the symbolism, we need to know a few salient facts about the tabernacle. The tabernacle was divided into two parts. The first part was a forbidden area which was made up of the holy place and the holy of holies. Outside this was a permitted area or the outer court. The forbidden area was only for priests who were sanctified or separated out for service. The concept of sanctification means that they were cleansed or holy. The outer court was unclean or unholy, and hence, it represented an area permitted to those who were unclean. Uncircumcised Gentiles were regarded as unclean, and therefore, the outer court was an area the Gentiles could tread into.

Revelation 11:2 tells us that Jerusalem will be given over to the Gentiles. However, it will not be the whole city that will be occupied by the Gentiles. This is very clearly brought out in Zechariah 14:1-2, “Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”

From the symbolism of the tabernacle, there will still be a forbidden area that is strictly under Jewish control. So only a portion of Jerusalem will come under Gentile domination. This period of Gentile occupation will last a full three and a half years of the Antichrist’s reign. Luke 21:20 says, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” So when you begin to see foreign armies surrounding Jerusalem, you know you are living very, very close to the second coming of Christ. The Gentiles will occupy the city for only 42 months, or three and a half years. After that, there will be signs in the heavens and the Lord Jesus will return in power and great glory (Luke 21:24-27). We are living very close to that time when Luke 21 and Revelation 11 will come to pass.

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