In chapter 11, we continue to be in this interlude where John is describing additional things that are happening. The seven seals are broken and six trumpets have sounded. The seventh is about to sound. Inside of those cataclysmic events we find John describing these other events.
There have been many martyrs that have died for their faith in God. We described Polycarp when we were studying chapters 2 and 3. Jim Elliot is a more current well-know missionary who was killed and the movie End of the Spear is a great movie describing his death and the efforts of his wife and son to continue to reach the Auca tribe in Ecuador.
Here in chapter 11 we will read about the two most famous martyrs who have yet to live.
Chapter 11 begins:
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
Other versions indicate that he is to measure the temple and count the those who worship there. He is told to exclude the outer court. The purpose seems to be so he can verify it is the temple and qualify it. Perhaps a demonstration to put his hands on the fact that the temple will be rebuilt. It is interesting to read Ezekiel 40-42 and see how he is taken by a vision to a mountain to watch someone measure the temple. John is told not to measure the outer court. Luke 21:24b records Jesus saying “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” This term Gentiles is intended to represent those who do not know God.
There are three questions that present themselves: What is the temple of God or His sanctuary? What is the holy city? And how are we to understand the 42 months?
We can literally interpret 42 months as 3 ½ years. This would mean that this is the mid-point of Daniel’s last week in his 70 weeks. It can just as well be interpreted to mean a short period of time. Most every one interprets the holy city to be Jerusalem. One interprets it to be the church and another interpreted it to be the heavenly Jerusalem.
The more difficult question is what is meant by the temple of God. Historically, two temples have been built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The first was built by King Soloman, but it was later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. The second was built by Zerubbabel and then enlarged by Herod the Great only to be destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. This second destruction fulfilled Jesus’ prophesy that the Temple would be destroyed and no stone left unturned. When the Romans destroyed it to put down the Hebrew rebellion, they burned it with such a hot fire that the gold they left inside it melted and went between cracks of rocks. The people came to the site afterward and picked up every stone to inspect it to see if there was gold they could take.
If we tie Daniel’s writings into these, then the Antichrist is to have started developing a world order and system and he makes peace with Israel. As a symbol of this he rebuilds their temple. This may be the confirmation to John to show that the temple is rebuilt.
Spiritually, we are told the by the Word of God that our bodies are the temple of God. Remember Jesus answering the Jews (Jn 2:19-22) saying if they destroy the temple, which took 46 years to build, He would rebuild it in three days. His disciples remembered this after His resurrection and knew He was speaking about the body He was dwelling in.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” This indicates that the temple is us, and us collectively, as his church. Ephesians seems to confirm this in 2:19-22, “19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
The temple seems to be the place where God dwells, where He is present. Here in Revelation, it probably also refers to an actual building.
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