42-Months, 3 1/2-Years, 1260-Days

The 42-month period is the same as the 3 1/2 year period, the 1260-day period, and the "time, times and half a time" spoken of in Daniel and elsewhere in Revelation. The Jewish month was 30 days long. Calculate 42 X 30 and you will get 1260. 3 1/2 years of 30-day months is also 1260 days. A "time" is a year; "times" is two years: "time, times, and half a time" is 3 1/2 years, or 1260 days. This 1260-day period is very significant in prophecy; it is mentioned many times. A day in prophecy is a year of real time. So, we are looking at a 1260-year period of Papal supremacy, when the Catholic Church destroys the saints.

The Catholic Church had supremacy during that time. The edict of the emperor Justinian, dated AD 533, made the bishop of Rome the head of all the churches. But this edict could not have the desired sweeping effect until the Arian Ostrogoths, the last of the "three horns" that were plucked up by the roots in Daniel 7, were driven from Rome; and this was not accomplished until AD 538. The edict of Justinian could have no practical effect, and there could be no Papal supremacy until the last of the "three horns" was plucked up. So, until 538, when the Ostrogoths were driven from Rome, the Catholic Church could not assume total power.

From the point of AD 538, the Papacy held power and dominion over the emperors, states, and nations until 1798 when the Pope was taken captive and the church thereby lost its head by this "deadly wound". The span of years from 538 to 1798 is exactly 1260 years. The prophecy is fulfilled clearly and precisely in the Papacy during the "dark ages" when she used this power to "wear out the saints of the Most High".