Revelation 11:1

1 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.

A. A reed (bamboo rod) is given to John. He is becoming more active and involved in the vision.

B. He is told to measure the temple. Some have argued for the early date (65 AD) because the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. It is argued that this must have taken place before the destruction of the temple.

C. I answer - 1) John was in exile and Patmos. It does not matter if the temple is still standing in Jerusalem or not. It is not possible for him to literally measure it anyway. 2) It is, I believe, not the temple of the Old Testament structure. The temple here represents the hearts of God’s people.

D. This is not a literal measurement. We, Christians, are the temple of God. God does not dwell in a temple made with hands. He dwells in the hearts of the faithful believers.

E. What does it mean to measure the temple? The measuring rod represents the gospel. It is the way to measure those who are Christians and those who are not.

F. The gospel does the measuring. In judgment we will be held up to the standard of the teachings of the New Testament. (John 12:48)