Measuring the Temple
A Habitation of God in the Spirit – Revelation 11:1-3
"Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it weren't so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.” (John 14:1-3)*
In Revelation Chapter 11, John is given a rod to measure God’s temple, the altar and those who worship in it. The temple is the place where God comes to dwell with His people. It was the center of worship and communion with the Lord.
A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. (Revelation 11:1)*1
By the time John wrote about these visions, the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed and the Holy Spirit had come to dwell in the followers of Christ. The saints are now His temple2. The center of worship and communion is no longer in a building.
The Plumb Line of Righteousness and Justice
When John measures the temple, he is not measuring a building, he is measuring the people (“those who worship in it”). This is not just a quantitative measurement, but a qualitative measurement. The prophet Isaiah explains this in chapter 28.
[16] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not be in fear. [17] I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. (Isaiah 28:16-17)*
This connects with the vision of Zechariah in chapter 5 where he sees a flying scroll. The scroll contains a curse on both sides against those who steal and against those who bear false witness. It will enter into and destroy the house of the thief and the liar.
[1] Then again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a flying scroll. [2] He said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits." [3] Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land; for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to it on the one side; and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to it on the other side. [4] I will cause it to go out," says the LORD of hosts, "and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the midst of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones." (Zechariah 5:1-4)*
Before the last trumpet sounds, God is going to hold up a standard of justice and righteousness that will be used to test His people and judge the beast. It is likely that the two witnesses will prophesy against the beast using this standard of truth and justice. This will expose the evil deeds and deception of the beast and those who dwell on the earth.
A Place of Refuge (Firewall of Protection)
Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)*
John is told not to measure the court outside the temple because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the city under foot for 3.5 years. The word “nations” is in reference to the dreadful beast from the sea described in Revelation 13 and Daniel 7. According to Daniel 7, this beast will devour the whole earth and trample what is left with its feet. It will also make war with God’s people for 3.5 years and prevail against them. During this time the holy city will be trampled under its feet, but the Lord will be a refuge and protection for His people.
The LORD will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but the LORD will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)*
It will happen that whoever will call on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the remnant, those whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:32)*
In Zechariah chapter 2, the prophet sees a vision of an angel with a measuring line who is measuring the breadth and length of Jerusalem. This is more of a quantitative measure as the angel promises that Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls because of the multitude of people and livestock in it.
[1] I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. [2] Then I asked, "Where are you going?" He said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and what is its length." [3] Behold, the angel who talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, [4] and said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, 'Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. [5] For I,' says the LORD, 'will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the midst of her. [6] Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,' says the LORD; 'for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,' says the LORD. [7] 'Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.' (Zechariah 2:1-7)*
[10] Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for, behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you,' says the LORD. [11] Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. (Zechariah 2:10-11)*
There are many familiar themes in this chapter. God is calling his people to flee from the land of the north. He is calling them out of Babylon. He is gathering them from the four winds of heaven. He will dwell in the midst of them and many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day. He will be a wall of fire around them and His glory will dwell in the midst of them.
While this angel is not specifically measuring the temple, this chapter is talking about the place where God dwells with his people. It sounds very much like the same thing conceptually. The courtyard outside the temple is about to be trampled by the ungodly nations, God will ensure that there is room in the temple to hold everyone who runs into it for shelter from the raging storm outside.
Not by Might, or Power, but by my Spirit
The key to understanding Revelation chapter 11 is found in the visions of the prophet Zechariah. The two witnesses are described as being “two olive trees” and “two lampstands”. This is the same language used in Zechariah chapter 4.
[2] He said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen, and behold, a menorah all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it; [3] and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it." (Zechariah 4:2-3)*
Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:14)*
[3] I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." [4] These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. (Revelation 11:3-4)*
In the middle of chapter 4 is a message for Zerubbabel. He was the governor of Judah, who rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem after the exiles returned from Babylonian captivity3. It affirms that he will finish building the Lord’s house and that “these seven” shall rejoice and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
[8] Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, [9] "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. [10] Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of the LORD, which run back and forth through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:8-10)*
This prophesy is not just about a temple made with hands. It is pointing to a building of God, made without hands. It will be the temple of His Holy Spirit. The “seven” must refer to the seven lamps in the vision. This points to the seven lamp-stands and the seven churches in Revelation. The plumb line refers to a standard of righteousness and justice, while Zerubbabel and Joshua represent the two witnesses. In other words, the saints of God will rejoice when they see Zerubbabel (i.e. the two witnesses) hold up a standard of justice and righteousness in the last days.
The symbolism from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream4 shows up in verses 6-7, speaking of a capstone, brought out from a great mountain. Not by power or might, but by the Spirit of God. This is the stone, cut without hands, which will crush the old kingdoms to dust and it will grow to cover the whole earth.
[6] Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. [7] Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace, to it!'" (Zechariah 4:6-7)*
[34] You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. [35] Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:34-35)*
Just as Zerubbabel and Joshua completed the construction of the temple in Jerusalem, these two witnesses in John’s vision will complete the temple that is built without hands in the last days. It will not be by power or might, but by the Spirit of God. The Lord is sending angels with trumpets to gather His people from the four winds. They will be built up into a holy habitation of God. These trumpet plagues are not just demolition, it is a building project.
[20] being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; [21] in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; [22] in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20-22)*
Perhaps John is taking a baseline measurement before the two witnesses begin to invite people to the wedding feast5. How many must be invited to fill God’s house? How do they measure against the standard of justice and righteousness of God’s plumb line? As the chosen ones are gathered from the four winds, they must be educated, trained, and equipped to lead in the everlasting kingdom as kings and priests to our God. There is little point in purging the world of evil if God’s people are not prepared and ready to fill the void with righteousness. John is measuring the assembly of God’s holy people in order to find out if they are ready to receive the everlasting kingdom. This will help determine how many more must be invited before the wedding feast can begin.
Up Next…
Biblical Reverences
*All Scripture quotations are from the New Heart English Bible unless specifically designated otherwise. The New Heart English Bible [NHEB] is in the public domain. https://nheb.net/
The New Temple - See Chapter 20: The Little Scroll
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream - See Chapter 1: Welcome to the Apocalypse
Parable of the Wedding Feast - See Matthew 22:1-14