The Temple, Revelation 11:1-2

 

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. Revelation 11:1.

This chapter picks up right where we left off in chapter ten. John just finished eating the little scroll, is still having a chat with the mighty angel, and perhaps chewing some, Tums, for his bitter belly.

The mighty angel lets John know, lunch is over, he has work to do, hands him and ruler, and says, measure the temple of God.

Measure

Back then, and even now, measuring something is a sign of ownership. Or, an action in preparation for repairs.

You’ve done it yourself a time or two. Measured that room for carpet; or the back yard for a new garage. 

I’ve been on more roofs than Santa. Sent more presents, too; disguised as insurance settlements. I’d measure what was broke, and figure what it’d take to make them whole. To restore them to pre-loss condition. 

That’s been God’s goal since the Garden. To restore to pre-loss condition.

Our neighbors to the south, purchased the acreage when it was nothing but weeds and trees, without form and void.  Measured it, and leveled it; not to destroy it, but to prepare it, to build it, to make all things new. 

God's been doing that since the Garden, too. He does especially heavy renovation during the tribulation.

Behold I make all things new. Revelation 21:5.

God is setting apart, measuring, marking, numbering, (even the hairs of your head), continually calling His own, to come Home, for the Lord knows, those who are His. 2 Timothy 2:19.

Temple

Notice, it doesn’t just say, measure the temple. It says, measure the temple of God. That's to make it extra clear, for folks like me. So, we don’t get confused with Solomon’s temple or Herod’s temple or any other temple. Jesus is awesome like that.

Furthermore, there are two words for Temple. Hieron means the entire complex, the whole campus; inner court, outer court, every court, everything. The other word, naos, specifically relates to the Holy of Holies.

The word used here is, naos. The Holy of Holies. The Most Holy Place. The intimate place where the presence of God dwelt, back in the day when the temple was still in use.

But, we know, God doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands.

Acts 17:24
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

So, is there an intimate place today, where His presence dwells?

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? ²⁰ For you have been bought for a price: therefore, glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Wow.

Our body, is a temple, of the Holy Spirit. Look in the mirror and say, “My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”

Guess what word is used for, temple?

Yes, naos. The Holy of Holies. The intimate place where the presence of God dwells. The place so sacred, so Holy, that no one could enter, except the high priest, and only once a year. The place God chooses, for His presence to dwell.

He chooses…you.

Dear Lord Jesus, we are all at once humbled and honored, to even be in the same sentence, with the word, naos. Thank You. We love You and invite You, to dwell in us, all of us, our body, soul and spirit. We choose You, now, and forever.

Even in the heat of the battle, the middle of the tribulation, on a planet that looks like it’s completely overcome by the devil, even then, even now, there is a place, a Most Holy place, set apart, measured, near to the heart of God, where He can be found, waiting, just for you. 

 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. Revelation 11:2.

At the time John wrote that, the folks would’ve said, “Huh?”

The temple had been torn down, not one stone left upon another, for about a quarter of a century. Since 70 A.D.

So, that tells us, we’re talking about a future, literal, temple. To this day, the temple is yet to be rebuilt.

However, there’s coming a day, when the temple, will be built. On earth. In Jerusalem. A literal temple. The temple service, even animal sacrifice, will be reinstituted, as revealed in: Daniel 9:27; 11:31, 12:11; Matthew 24:15-16, 21.

And, right now, as we speak, preparations for this are already taking place: https://templeinstitute.org/.

NOTE: Be not deceived. Just because once upon a time, the temple was built to honor God, this next one, will not be.

So, dear Christian, do not support or send money to organizations that are preparing to rebuild the temple. The rebuilding of the temple, the reinstituting of sacrifice is a rejection of Jesus Christ, The Messiah, the Perfect Sacrifice, The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. You do not want to support or enable antichrist behavior.

Remember, God does not dwell in temples made of stone, but of flesh.

This third temple will be a scheme of satan to deceive Israel into thinking he’s their Messiah, and the world into thinking he’s a man of peace.

He will make a seven-year peace treaty, the world will be in awe, Israel will want to crown him king. But after forty-two months, (three and a half years), his blood thirsty fangs will flash. They will see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand). Matthew 24. Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, Daniel 12:11.

And, for the last three and a half years of the tribulation, they will tread the holy city underfoot.

After our tour of the temple, we meet a couple of fire breathing, witnesses. They can shut heaven, turn water to blood and strike the earth with plagues. They wear sackcloth, signifying repentance, and mourning, and the sinful state of mankind. They’re called olive trees and lampstands. Their message is one of judgement.

Speculation about their identity is far reaching.

Among Christians, Moses, Elijah and Enoch, are a few of the candidates.

However, Christians aren’t the only ones who claim these two prophets.

Some claim Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum (Mormon). Another cult claims, Muhammad and Ali (founder of Islam and his younger cousin—not the one who floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee).

Well then, just who are these two prophets?

Great question.

So, we’ll dive straight into that, next.

 

Dear friends, we’re watching the world falling apart, and the Bible fall into place, right before our very eyes. The temple of brick and mortar is being prepared, just as the Bible predicts. But right now, the most important temple for us to concern ourselves with, is our own.

Lord Jesus, we pray for a great awakening, that those who are sleeping, will hear You knocking, on their temple door, and wake up, repent, turn to You and invite You in. Help us to be, holy alarm clocks for You.

We love You, forever, and ever, amen.