Measuring up

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

MEASURING UP

Rev 11:1-6

11:1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 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. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

NIV

Once again we are at a section of this revelation which there seems to be a great division among those scholars who attempt to explain its meaning. It might seem as though this measuring of the temple is meant of the one at Jerusalem and those to the  historic view would comment this means at the time John recorded this revelation the temple in Jerusalem was still standing thus he wrote it before 70AD when Jerusalem was burned. But this would all apply under the old covenant and as we along with John are under the new covenant this could not apply to a historical event but rather the time of the church within the new covenant. The other reason this cannot be about measuring the temple in Jerusalem is that its measurements have been well known for as long as it has been standing.  So this angel gives John a reed to measure the true church of God which is us as we have been described as the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the temple of God, he dwells within us just as under the old covenant it was said he dwelled in the temple at Jerusalem. Here John is to measure the full scope of the new church of God, the true worshippers, those who have not only been born again, but live to please God. Of course we also have all this time mentioned and much has been said about this counting of the days, and years in regard to the seven years of tribulation and the half way point of three and one half years and the anti-Christ. This is not so much a concern for us today as this measuring of the temple of God. John has been asked to measure us, to determine not only our size but the quality of that size. If the gentiles are going to trample down the holy city for 42 months, which in real time is three and one half years, then this does apply to some time to come and the two witnesses might well be Elijah and Moses both who we have no record of their death and burial, but do have a record of them appearing with Jesus transfigured. Whatever that should be will and it serves us well to know God has it all under control. But the lesson for us today is in this measuring of the temple of God. Do we measure up? If we are the true church of God, the true temple  then are we as the church in whole measuring up to the height and depth God wants? Are we as individual believers measuring as true believers? It would seem the gentiles will trample on the temple for a period of time. Does that mean false teaching, false doctrines and thus a false church? Has the temple of God been trampled down by the doctrines of gentiles or unbelievers? Have we as believers been trampled down by the philosophies of the gentiles or false believers? It would appear it is not only possible but it is seen as happening and that is why John must measure the size of the true church, to see who has remained true to the word of God and who has been infiltrated by the ways of the world, who has been trampled down by the gentiles. We need to stay focused on the truth of God at all times, not allowing the teaching of false doctrine to influence our thinking or our faith. If the two witnesses are just those two they have a great power to demonstrate the almighties power to the world. But if those two witnesses are more than those two, Elijah and Moses, then it could also apply to two great bodies of believers who will demonstrate how powerful our God is. Either way we are to remain true to the word of God, being a witness for him, demonstrating his divine power to the world. If we live in the same manner as the world does, ascribing to all the same principals, either of science or the physical realm as well as to the material or realm of finance, we bear no resemblance to being the temple of God and therefor lose whatever witness we might have. These two witnesses had power over the elements, those elements which God established. If we are the true church, the true temple of the Holy Spirit as he dwells within us, should we not also have some divine power over the elements or the physical realm we live in? Surely we might not be able to stop a storm, or cause a drought, but could we not demonstrate his divine power in our lives? Of course if God told us to stand up and stop a storm or proclaim a drought, then we could.  But could we not live above the fray, above the realm of the world, with all its anxieties, worries, concerns over the physical or material things? How do we measure up?