Measuring the Temple

2005-11-19 05:52:00

Next we read:

1  "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2  "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
(Rev 11:1-2)

John was given a reed like a rod for measuring. This reed was probably like a stalk of grass that grew in the area something like a piece of bamboo. The rod was probably about six cubits or nine feet in length.

Next he was told to "rise." This word comes from the Greek EGEIRO which is often translated as "arise" but can also mean to "awaken."

John had just taken the book out of the angel's hand so he had already arisen. There is no indication that he was reclined in any way. This tells us that the alternative meaning of awakening must apply here and would read:

"Awaken, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."

We can visualize someone measuring a building such as a temple and an altar, but he is also told to measure people. How do you measure people with a rod? You could measure the height of one person, but how do you measure hundreds, thousands or perhaps millions of them?

Again, this tells us that the word "measure" may imply something other than the obvious. This word comes from the Greek METREO, which can mean "measure" in the normal sense but can also imply a judgment or to estimate a thing or matter. A hint is given in its use in the following scripture:

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (METREO), it shall be measured to you again.  (Matt 7:1-2)

Notice that saying "with what measure ye mete (METREO), it shall be measured to you again," is merely presented as another way of saying "with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged." What is the disciple to judge? Three things:

  1. The temple of God.
  2. The altar.
  3. Those who worship therein.

But there is something he is not to judge. The next verse reads:

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."  (Rev 11:2)

What does this all mean?

The disciple has just taken the little book and has finally comprehended his mission to be of service to mankind. Where shall he put his attention? He is to put his attention on, and understand in a way that gives him power to judge, the appropriate action to take in relation to the "temple of God."

The temple of God is where God resides. And where is that?

Within ourselves. Those who seek God are temples of God and collectively form a great edifice.

Secondly, he is to judge the altar. And what is that? The altar is where the seekers go to communicate with God.

The true altar is the human heart. The disciple on the path of Christ is this to judge the hearts of those he is to teach and to assist.

Thirdly he is to judge those "who worship therein," or those who seek with pure hearts and good intentions to find the true spiritual path.

It is then interesting that there is another group he is not supposed to judge. These are the "gentiles" in the court outside the temple. These are they who do not seek God within, but seek a god without to rule over them. They are the masses who have not found the altar of the human heart is the only authority they need to find God.

He is told to not concern himself with them. They are not ready to find God where he truly is. He is supposed to put attention on those who are willing and able to sense the spirit of God within themselves. It is with these that he applies the principle behind the name of Jesus Christ, which means "anointed to deliver." He thus seeks to teach and assist to deliver the pure in heart from the false Gods in the outer court.

The last part of verse two reads:

"And the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."  (Rev 11:2)

Those who worship a God without will tread under foot the holy city. What is that? The holy city is the  "gathering of lights,"  or of those who find God within.

Those who see a prophet, priest, king or book as the mouthpiece of god without will seek to destroy and disperse any gathering of those who find God within. They will seek to discourage them from finding God within and attempt to persuade them to worship god without. This power they have to diffuse the power of the lights will not last forever, but for "forty and two months." This time period appears repeatedly and we shall examine it shortly.

Here are the next verses:

3  "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4  "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5  "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6  "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."
(Rev 11:3-6)

Feel free to take a stab at this.

  

"An expert is a person who avoids small error as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy."
  --Benjamin Stolberg