It appears that the 42 months [3 1/2 yrs] of
Revelation 11:2, is the first half of Daniel's
Seventieth Week, when the Jews begin their
worship in the 'Tribulation Temple'.

During this time the Arabs [the Gentiles]
continue their worship in the Mosque of
Omar - that is the court without the Temple.

The Jewish Temple is permitted to be built
but not on the site of the Mosque of Omar.

The Antichrist's covenant with the Jews
also provides an open border between the
nations of Israel and Jordan, or else the
Jews couldn't flee to the mountains when
he breaks the covenant. Matthew 24:15-22.

The Antichrist is a smooth operator and he
wouldn't antagonize the whole Arab world
by allowing their holy places to be ruined.

In his covenant with the Jews, he apparently
works out a temporary solution between the
Arabs and the Jews.

Many have thought that before the
Tribulation Temple can be built, the
Mosque of Omar, the Mohammedan
Shrine must be thrown down.

This is obviously not true. It is told that
the "court which is without the temple, is
given to the Gentiles". [Temple property
then is still in the hands of the Gentiles
when the Jewish Temple is built.]

It is obvious that the Arab nations would
resist the destruction of their shrine with
tenacity. It would stir up every Arab in the
world against the Beast if he let it.

It would appear that Revelation 11:2 refers
to the first half of the Week (tribulation)
when worship is re-established in the Jewish
Temple, and the 3rd verse refers to the last
half of the Week (tribulation) when the
temple is defiled.

The Two Witnesses testify during the
Great Tribulation, the same period that
the Antichrist rules.

At that time the Antichrist or the Gentiles
trample under foot BOTH the Temple
and The outer court.

In Revelation 11:2-3, two time periods are
given. The 42 months spoken of the verse
2, in which the Gentiles tread under foot
the holy city and the court which is
without the temple. AND the time period
of 1260 day of verse 3, in which the Two
Witnesses testify.

James 5:8

The word 'abomination' in the Old Testa-
ment is used again and again with idol
worship.

Idolatry is an abomination unto the Lord.
Idols of heathens are abominations.

When the Antichrist breaks the covenant
he will bring in the
'image of the Beast'
and set it up in
the Temple or
'holy place'
It would be an
abomination
appearing in
the holy place.

Jesus refused Satan's offer of all the
kingdoms of the world and wouldn't
worship him.

So now Satan is going to make the world
worship him through the Beast.

His profaning the temple, is called the
'abomination of desolation'.

This event brings in the Great Tribulation,
and is the signal for believing Jews to flee
from the city. Matthew 24:15-22

"Again, the devil
taketh him up
into an exceeding
high mountain,
and sheweth him
all the kingdoms
of the world, and
the glory of them;

And saith unto
him, All these
things will I give
thee, if thou wilt
fall down and
worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold,
angels came and ministered unto him."
Matthew 4:8-9

When the Antichrist breaks his covenant in
the middle of the week (tribulation period),
he will not allow the sacrifice and the
oblation that the Jews have started again
as their old customs.

The Beast (antichrist) will not allow
worship of anyone but himself, and will
show himself in the Temple as God.

Jesus gives a warning against false Christs
and false prophets.

Paul states that when this Man of Sin
(whom is also called the Son of Perdition),
is revealed he will set himself up above
all that is worshiped, and will sit in the
Temple of God and show himself as God.

"Let no man deceive you by any means:
for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first, and that man of
sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above
all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sitteth in the temple of
God, shewing himself that he is God."
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Jesus tells the believing Jews to flee to the
mountains so they will be safe from the
terrible persecution of the Beast.

He adds that this "abomination of
desolation" will mark the beginning of the
Great Tribulation.

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as
was not since the beginning of the world to
this time, no, nor ever shall be.

And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the
elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here
is Christ, or there; believe it not."
Matthew 24:21-23

"When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,
(whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into
the mountains:"

Jesus makes a special reference to the event
here in Matthew 24:15-16

During the 'week', or
'seven years', of the
Tribulation, the
Antichrist will break
the covenant
and start his terrible
persecution against the Jews and
everyone else who worships Jehovah.

He "will cause the sacrifice and oblation
to cease, and for the overspreading of
abominations he shall make it desolate."
Daniel 9:27.

The final Seventieth Week is to be fulfilled
at the end of the age.

This 'week' of seven years begins when the
prince that shall come or the Antichrist
makes a covenant with the Jews and permits
them to rebuild their temple.

Isaiah tells of this covenant with death,
and how it will be broken in
Isaiah 28:15-18:
"Because ye have said, We have made a
covenant with death, and with hell are we
at agreement; when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, it shall not
come unto us: for we have made lies our
refuge, and under falsehood have we hid
ourselves:Therefore thus saith the Lord
GOD, Behold,I lay in Zion for a foundation
a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner
stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth
shall not make haste.
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet: and the hail
shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the
waters shall overflow the hiding place.
And your covenant with death shall be
disannulled, and your agreement with hell
shall not stand; when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be
trodden down by it."

Daniel 9:27 "And he shall confirm the
covenant with many for one week: and
in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and
for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined
shall be poured upon the desolate."

We are told in the prophecy that after
69 weeks of years from the going forth
of the commandment to rebuild
Jerusalem, the Messiah [Christ] would
come and be cut off.

The Millennial Temple is also measured,
read Ezekiel 40:3-5.

In that day
the Great
Tribulation
will be
over, and
the
Antichrist
and
False Prophet
will have
been cast
into the
Lake of Fire.

In this dispensation [age or era], the Church
is the temple of God. Ephesians 2:21:
"In whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord:".

But after the Church is gone, the Temple,
of Jewish worship, will come back.

In Ezekiel 40-43 there is great detail about
the Millennial Temple, which will be built
after the Battle of Armageddon.

The worshipers of the temple are those
who are living in Israel.

They and the temple are to be measured
by a rod.

Judgment is about to fall on the world.
Even the worshipers in the temple are
about to be measured and judged.

"Judgment must begin at the house of God."
1 Peter 4:17. This is the time called "Jacob's
trouble" Jeremiah 30:7, when Israel is to
be refined as by fire. (Zechariah 13:9).

In Revelation 11, the Church Age has ended.

The candlestick representing the Church is
gone.

The Tribulation Temple has been built and
God recognizes it, though it must be meas-
ured by the rod.

Jerusalem, even though it must be purged
with judgment, comes into prophetic view,
and is called 'the holy city'. This is another
indication that there has been a change of
dispensation [another age or era].

There was a Roman Emperor by the
name of Julian the Apostate who thought
he would make prophecy of no effect by
letting the Jews rebuild the Temple.

But history records that balls of fire came
down from heaven and put a stop to their
efforts.

Jesus answered a Samaritan woman's
question about where to worship by
saying, "Woman believe me, the hour
cometh, when ye shall neither in this
mountain nor yet at Jerusalem, worship
the Father." John 421

It is during this period (which is the
church age) that the temple at Jerusalem
being destroyed; one location is as good
as another to worship the Lord.

Throughout the Church Age, one location
is as holy as another.

Jerusalem wasn't the 'holy city' that the
Crusaders were wasting human lives for
nothing and treasures to save from the
infidel; and it will not be again until the
end of this age.

It's true that in Luke 21:24, Christ tells us
that "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of
the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles
be fulfilled".

When He turned the Jews and their temple
over for judgment, He said, "Your house is
left unto you desolate".
Matthew 23:38

Jerusalem was no longer the 'holy city'; it
was left desolate and under judgment
from that time one.

There are other references to the 'holy city'
in the Old Testament, and in every case the
reference is to an earthly Jerusalem. The
'holy city' is earthly Jerusalem.

This temple will be in the Jerusalem that we
know.

The Jews wish to rebuild their temple, but so
far haven't been able to settle on a site.

Prophecy obviously requires that this temple
be built.

Jerusalem is the 'holy city'. When the devil
set Christ on the pinnacle of the temple, it
was in Jerusalem, the holy city in Matthew
4:5.

When the first-fruit saints of the Old Testa-
ment age arose after Christ's resurrection,
they went into the 'holy city' and appeared
unto many in Matthew 27:52-53.

There is only
one other
'holy city' in
the Bible and
that is the
New Jerusalem.