MEASURING THE TEMPLE OF GOD (VERSES 1-2)

“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.’”

The Command to Measure the Temple and its Occupants (verse 1)

This section is not introduced as some others have been where John says, “I beheld,” or, “I saw.” Instead, this seems to be a continuation of what we saw in chapter 10 where John is having interaction already with this angel, this voice from heaven giving him instruction, and he is given a measuring rod with which to measure the temple of God, a figurative, symbolic temple, which is the inner sanctuary with its altar, and those who worship there [“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there,’” verse 1].

Going by our belief that the book of Revelation was written in the middle 90’s, then Jerusalem and the temple have already been destroyed. But those who would have read this, particularly Christians of Jewish descent, would certainly be familiar with the temple. Even those from Gentile backgrounds would have been somewhat familiar with the temple. It was certainly well-known, one of the most majestic buildings that’s ever been constructed—perhaps THE most majestic building ever constructed. I think that Brother Mack Lyon mentioned in one of his presentations a couple of weeks ago that there has been some estimate made that the temple was not the largest building, perhaps not the most detailed building, but it was the most expensive building ever constructed, even to this day. Even people in far off places would have known about the temple in Jerusalem.

We know, as would they, that the temple represented the house of God—the house of worship—for the children of Israel. They knew that the priests could come into the sanctuary and that only the high priest could come into the Holy of Holies, and so on.

The Command NOT to Measure the Outer Court (verse 2)

We also know that the temple proper—the sanctuary—was the place for those who were faithful. However, there was an outer portion, called “The Court of the Gentiles.” Gentiles, even Gentile converts to Judaism—proselytes—could not go beyond a boundary, a barrier. They could not enter into the sanctuary. So, the implication here is that there is a section in view here where God’s faithful people are, and then everything outside of that sanctuary is where the pagans—the Gentiles—are.

John is instructed here to measure with a measuring rod that he has been given. He is to measure only that area, that sanctuary, where those who are faithful—those who are counted as the children of God—are located. Forget about the rest, he is told; they will trample the holy city [“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months,” verse 2].

Summary of verses 1-2

What is in view here [the temple of God, which is the inner sanctuary with its altar, and those who worship there] is the same group, I suggest to you, that we read about back in chapter 7—the 144,000 who have been sealed; once again, this is not a specific number, not an all-inclusive number, but a representative number of those of every age who are counted among the faithful—who are counted as children of God. Under the Law of Moses, only the priests could enter the sanctuary; faithful Jews, who were not priests, could not enter this area. But what does that tell us and reinforce for us in our day? As Christians, who are we? And we might consider the temple in the New Testament era, which began on the day of Pentecost and which continues even to this day, as being the church. In the New Testament era, we are priests [Revelation 1:5b-6: “To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His Own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”]. And so the acknowledgement here that we see is that John is measuring this area and this area symbolizes the church; it represents the area of protection—that God is protecting, that He is surrounding, those who are His people. Just as the sealing of the 144,000 in chapter 7 signified His protection, so does the measuring of the temple here in chapter 11 signify His protection, as well.

There is precedent in the Scripture for the church being referred to as “the temple.” For example, let’s look at 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 16-17...