Time, Times, and Half a Time

[Guest]

Daniel 7:25
Daniel 12:7
Revelation 11:3

I'm wondering what other faiths interpret this to be.  I did a bit of reading online and found that several faiths in particular (including Pentecostals, PC) believe in the day-year interpretation.

1) If you do believe in that interpretation, what is the 1260 years referring to?

2) If you don't believe in that interpretation, what does the phrase mean, and what does it refer to?

And, please, feel free to elaborate if it is a different interpretation or application in each of the three references.

Edited October 11, 2016 by Guest

[Blueskye2]

#2 It is symbolic.  From the footnotes in my Bible: A time, two times, and half a time: an indefinite, evil period of time. Probably here, three and a half years, which becomes the standard period of tribulation in apocalyptic literature (Rev 11:2; 13:5 [in months]; 11:3[in days]; and cf. 12:14). As seven is the Jewish “perfect” number, half of it signifies great imperfection.

 

 

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Blueskye2 said:

#2 It is symbolic.  From the footnotes in my Bible: A time, two times, and half a time: an indefinite, evil period of time. Probably here, three and a half years, which becomes the standard period of tribulation in apocalyptic literature (Rev 11:2; 13:5 [in months]; 11:3[in days]; and cf. 12:14). As seven is the Jewish “perfect” number, half of it signifies great imperfection.

Thank you for your response.  That answers the first part of the question.  The second half -- what is it referring to?

Edited October 14, 2016 by Guest

[Blueskye2]

2 hours ago, Carborendum said:

Thank you for your response.  That answers the first part of the question.  The second half -- what is it referring to?

Daniel 7:25 The reference is to the persecution of Antiochus IV and specifically to the disruption of the Temple cult (1 Mc 1:41–64).

Daniel 12:7 - The disruption of the daily temple sacrifice by Antiochus predicted to last an indefinite period of time. The two different calculations drive home the point that the exact amount of time cannot be calculated. 

Revelation 11:3 - Verse 2 references the persecutions of Antiochus. The period of trial, 3,5 years/42 months/1260 day was for the Jews a sort of standard measurement for a period of tribulation. Here it is applied to the persecution of Christians by the Romans. 

Verse 3 - 2 witnesses of the Christian persecutions. Again symbolic, the universal Church, all the baptized, all the Christians, are prophetic witnesses. Wearing of sackcloth symbolizes lamentation and repentance. 

Edited October 14, 2016 by Blueskye2