A Reed Like Unto a Rod Revelation 11:1

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He began to write about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth angels” blew their trumpets, and great judgment fell upon the earth. John continued, “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open … And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, you must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” In chapter eleven and verse one of Revelation John shared, “there was given to me a reed like unto a rod” where we read:

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

The verse reads, “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod:” John began with the words, “and there was given me” which means “there was bestowed, granted, put and shown to John” “a reed” or “a staff or measuring stem or plant” “like unto a rod” which means “as a walking stick, twig, branch or staff”. John was “given” a measuring “stick”.

The verse goes on to say, “and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.” John added the words, “and the angel” which means “and the messenger, envoy and one sent” “stood” or “was set, established and made firm”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring or proclaiming”, “Rise” or “arise, stir up and be raised up and erected” “and measure” which means “mark off the space or distance of” “the temple” or “the sacred edifice or sanctuary consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “and the altar” or “and measure the altar of incense which stood in the sanctuary or the Holy Place” “and them” which means “measure the ones” “that worship therein” or “who reverence, show homage and prostrate within the temple”. John was instructed by the angel to “get up” and “measure” God's “temple”, His “altar” and those who worship Him.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see a new phase of instruction for Him. This time John is instructed to “measure” God's “temple, the altar and them who worship there”. God's temple is the place of worship where His “altar” and those who worship Him abide, and his “altar” is where they worship. This great scene was before John, and his duty was to use the “measuring stick” given to him and mark out the distances told to him. The “temple of God” will be upon the earth at this time, and those having a relationship with Him shall be using it for worship. As we study John's measurements, let everyone who reads them receive God's Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and know that God desires to dwell among men.

Next time we see John instructed, “the court which is without the temple leave out”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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