The Measuring Rod - Revelation 11:1-2

In Revelation 11:1–2 (NIV), we read this:

¹ 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.

There is a direct implication at some level of the assault of Rome on Jerusalem in A.D. 70.  The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 CE was the decisive event of the First Jewish-Roman War. The Roman army, led by the future Emperor Titus, with Tiberius Julius Alexander as his second-in-command, besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem, which had been occupied by its Jewish defenders in 66 CE. The siege ended with the sacking of the city and the destruction of its famous Second Temple." [1] The fact that the Temple was destroyed indicates that what John saw was a parable from that event.  So this is not the siege of Jerusalem.  We need to remember that that as we have already learned, the horsemen and the trumpets are now in effect during this age.  I do not see this as strictly future event.  

The "Temple" is clearly a metaphor for the true Church. This is certainly drawing some symbolism from the A.D. 70, but it is going further back than that.  Notice “In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.” (Ezekiel 40:2–3, NIV)

 

"This “measuring” of persons shows both God’s protection and his ownership and suggests that the temple itself symbolizes the saints, as the NT elsewhere affirms (1 Cor. 3:16–17; Eph. 2:20–22; 1 Pet. 2:4–10; see Rev. 3:12; 21:22)." [2] 

So what is this outer court that gets trampled? "The outside court, namely, the court of the Gentiles, is to be rejected. It must not be measured. There were, of course, several additional courts but these are not mentioned; perhaps because they have no symbolical significance." [3]  John has already mentioned this issue in the Letters to the Churches of "Jews who are not Jews."    This appears to be the best interpretation.  He is distinguishing from true Israel and fleshly Israel.  Some take the view that this court are those destined to suffer.   To me, that most natural interpretation is to understand the outside court in a negative light.  They are false believers.  One could also extend the thought to nominal Christianity as Hendrickson does. (Just as in the vision the heathen trample upon Jerusalem and even upon the outside court of the Temple, so the world tramples upon the outside court of merely nominal Christendom. [4])

The measuring, drawn clearly from Ezekiel's eschatological Temple (Ezekiel 40) is again a reminder to the early Church and to us that God protects His own. "Suggestive of God’s protection on the people located within the measured area (see Zech 2:1–5; Ezek 40–42). Their preservation from spiritual harm recalls the sealing activity of chap. 7, where the 144,000 are protected prior to the opening of the seventh seal, the unleashing of the trumpet judgments, and the unleashing of the demonic forces of chap. 9 (see 9:4)." [5]

The message is very clear: in these days of suffering and persecution,only those who are truly redeemed can expect spiritual protection from the forces of evil and destruction.  How sad it is to think that one is a Christian yet not.  Many of the parables of Jesus were His attempt to deal with reality.

This period of 42 months is also drawn from the Old Testament prophets.  This is from Daniel.  This is the length of the tribulation period. (see Dan 7:25; 9:27; 12:7, 11–12).  Again we are reminded that John is being shown things that occur during this Gospel age, prior to the Final Trumpet.  The point I think for the Church, then and now, is to know that this time suffering is defined and known by God.  In comparison to eternity it is small.

Father you have given us again a stark warning to be sure that we are in the faith.  There are many who are Christian in name but not in reality.  May they be quickened to see their plight before it is too late.  May my life be such that I bear witness to my profession of faith in You. 

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1.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70)

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2478). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 126). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

4. Ibid, (p. 127).

5. Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 11:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.