Counting Those Within, Excluding Those Without

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. 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. (Revelation 11:1-2, NIV 1984)

My Musings – John is likely using the Jerusalem temple as an illustration. Though the temple was probably destroyed (by Titus in 70 AD) by the time John wrote the Apocalypse, it had previously functioned as the ultimate gathering place for the people of God.  Many believe that a new temple will be constructed that will enable orthodox Jews to once again offer sacrifices in accordance with Mosaic Law during the first half of the seven-year tribulation period also known as Daniel’s 70th week.

At the beginning of the second half of this period (the great tribulation), however, the sacrifices are expected to stop. The rebuilt temple will be desecrated (abomination of desolation) and become a shrine for the world ruler (the anti-Christ) who will put an idol in it and proclaim himself to be God. “We ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4, NIV 1984). “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (Daniel 9:27, NIV 1984).

Measuring is suggestive of God’s protection on the people located within the measured area. “Before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! I asked, ‘Where are you going?’ He answered me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.’ Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him and said to him: ‘Run, tell that young man, Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:1-5, NIV 1984).

Protection from spiritual harm recalls the sealing activity the 144,000 who are protected prior to the opening of the seventh seal, the unleashing of the trumpet judgments, and the release of the demonic forces.  The courtyard outside of the temple refers to the court of the Gentiles, the designated space for non-Jews visiting the temple. Gentiles who ventured beyond its confines into the holy place risked death if caught.  Contrasted with those who worship in the sanctuary, the Gentiles here represent unbelievers, upon whom judgment is coming. 

To measure something can also mean to claim it. Though the forces of Satan have taken over the Jewish temple, Christ will claim it again and restore it to His people.

This period appears in three forms in the apocalyptic literature: forty-two months; twelve-hundred and sixty days; and a time, times half a time, or three and a half years. Negative references to persecution and the activity of Satan and the two beasts are consistently called “42 months,” whereas positive references are called “time, times and half a time,” or “1,260 days.”

Some spiritualize the 42-month length of the great tribulation.  Others believe it should be taken as a literal period of 1,260 days, which are 42 months of 30 days each. This period of great tribulation is also called the times of the gentiles. “There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:23-24, NIV 1984). From this it appears that “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24) will not end until the second coming of Christ to the earth to set up His kingdom. Though Jews may possess Jerusalem, or a partitioned part of it temporarily, as they have since 1948, they will lose possession of to the “trampling” of the gentiles during this 42-month period. 

Conversely, there are those who believe that the 42-months refer to the first half of Daniel’s 70th week. While it is not totally clear, the evidence surrounding this passage in Revelation seems to refer to the final three and one-half years. This also seems to be confirmed by the fact that in the first half of the last seven years the Jews will actually possess the city of Jerusalem and worship in their temple, whereas here the context indicates that this is the period when Gentiles will “trample on the Holy City,” with the consequent ill treatment of the Jews (once again) and desecration of the temple for a third time (the first Temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, the second Temple by Titus and a future rebuilt Temple by the anti-Christ).

From a figurative perspective, measuring is often a reference to evaluating spiritual condition.  Some have taken the temple as a reference to the Church and that much like the seven churches were evaluated earlier, the end-time Church is being measured. “Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5, NIV 1984).

My Advice – Whether it is now or the end times, we should desire to be those within the “wall of fire” of God’s protection and doing His will. Exhibiting the substance of Godliness, not merely its form. For God knows the condition of one’s heart, whether sealed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (counting those within) or not (excluding those without).

Sources:

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

Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 955). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 827). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 517). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Dockery, D. S., Butler, T. C., Church, C. L., Scott, L. L., Ellis Smith, M. A., White, J. E., & Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, T. . (1992). Holman Bible Handbook (p. 799). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.