**Revelation 11:2, literal or figurative?**

I believe, wholeheartedly, that we are talking figuratively here, with regard to the temple sanctuary and its altar, not to mention the outer court. As a consequence, we can neither be talking about the 2nd temple, nor even a 3rd, for it can only be symbolic, spiritual even. As for the courtyard, which is attributable to the Gentile nations, it is to be excluded from John's measuring, suggesting that certain ones of these, at least, will be outside the protection of God.

The setting here is between the blowing of the 6th trumpet and the 7th and final trumpet and is therefore yet future, or could even be to do with the 'here and now'. [ I am not, however, an advocate for the '7 year tribulation' period, as I believe the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy was fulfilled in the 1st Century, i.e. 66 AD thru 73 AD, as I have expressed numerous times on this site, but that's by the way here ].

The temple sanctuary and altar, as such, is being shown to be in survival mode. It is the symbolic outer courtyard, that is to be cast clear out, without being measured, it having been given over to the Nations/Gentiles, who are to, subsequently, tread under foot the holy city (so called, New Jerusalem) for 42 months. The 42 months **(1260 days)**, as at least pertaining to this particular verse (for there are other same length periods in Revelation and Daniel) could be past, present or future and even part of an even bigger number. However, for the eschatologists among us, we cannot help but feel that September 11, 2001, may have indeed heralded the beginning of the end. The **4 blood red moons** of 2014 and 2015 AD, making for the last of **10 'tetrads'** in the 'Common Era', the first being that of 32 and 33 AD, which culminated in the **'Ransom Sacrifice'**, may yet yield their significance in the unrelenting march of time since. The number 10, after all, signifies completeness. One should probably take note of the fact that it has not even been **2300 evenings and mornings** since 2015's mid September final blood red moon of the possible, all encompassing, 10th tetrad.

I will close here with Daniel's  13th and 14th verses of his 8th chapter, widely accepted as being of a dual prophetic nature.

**Dan, 8:13,14 [NASB]:-**

...*13) Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, " How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?" 14) And he said to me, " For **2300 evenings and mornings**; then the holy place will be properly restored."*