This is the same duration of time mentioned in Revelation 11:2. The number equates to 3.5 years and to 1,260 days (30 days per month) and is the equivalent of time, and times, and half a time
(Revelation 12:14). Each of these numbers denotes a limited time in which a portion of God’s plan for his church-gathering work in the period between Jesus’ ascension and his return is played out. The use of the term months
in this verse (instead of days or years) affects how the duration of the beast’s authority is perceived. Days
would be more intense; years
would be more protracted. Though to the Christian it may seem a long time, the period of living under the beast’s authority (that is, human minds bent away from God and toward evil) is finite.
5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.