1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.” (Revelation 11:1–2)
We are still awaiting the seventh trumpet. In the meantime we’re directed to the city of Jerusalem and the temple there. For some reason, John is given the task of measuring it, sans the outer court. A literal understanding of Revelation leads one to certain conclusions regarding “end times,” and one of those is the presence of the temple in the city at the start, or at least by the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, logically leading us to believe that there are Jews serious enough to rebuild it and worship there. From measurements given in Ezekiel 40-42, the temple’s inner portion sits on a half acre, making such a construction project conceivable in a relatively short period of time.
If you read the various commentaries on this topic, much ink is spent going back and forth between the presence of Jews on the “end times” playbill, as opposed to interpretations with the Church being the principal character. Judging from the ink used to explain all this, a literal interpretation is cleaner and more economical, while others require constant clarification and qualification. It may be simple minded of me to adopt the former and certainly politically incorrect, but I’m proceeding on the basis that there is a literal temple in place at this time, i.e., it’s been rebuilt, along with an outer court to be tread and trampled on by the nations. The underlying inalterable principle to remember in all of this is that all roads lead to Christ, who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
3 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” (Revelation 11:3–4)
It also follows that the two witnesses introduced here (more on these two men coming) will produce converts out of both Jews and Gentiles, who will be then qualified for eternal life, and as such, for most, certain martyrdom.
We all must come to terms with whether we render the book of Revelation as too difficult to understand, or irrelevant, or believe it literally (1,260 days are 1,260 days) thereby allowing even the most simpleminded to practically adopt its teachings and roadmap. But if one has at least three different options for literally every thing in it, not only will it by far exceed its twenty-two chapters, but it will be impossible to accept with any clarity and blessing. As such, it will gather dust.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18–19)
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