Leave the Temple Out of the Measurement Revelation 11:2

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 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. 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.” In chapter eleven and verse two of Revelation John was told to, “leave out” “the court which is without the temple” where we read:

But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The verse reads, “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not;” John began with the word, “but” which means “even as, also and indeed” “the court” or “the hall, fold and uncovered space around the temple” “which is without the temple” which means “that is outside of God's sacred worship place” “leave out” or “except and exempt”, “and measure it not” which means “and do not mark the distances within the court”. John was instructed not to “measure” the outer “court” of God's “temple”.

The verse continues, “for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” John added the word, “for” which means “because and since” “it is given” or “the outer court of God's temple is granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied” “unto the Gentiles” which refers to “to the pagans, foreign nations and multitudes”: “and the holy city” or “the sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated town” “shall they tread” which means “will the Gentiles trample, crush and treat with insult and contempt” “under foot” or “beneath their feet” “forty and two months” which refers to “for three and one half years”. John was told how the “Gentiles” were to be “granted” the outer court because they would “crush and tread upon” the “holy city” for three and one half years.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how this “temple of God” was to be measured by John, but the outer court of it was to be left to the “pagan” nations. God shall allow unbelievers who are upon the earth to have rule over this part of the temple for “three and one half years”, even though He desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus Christ. There will be many who will not yield to His offer, but He will maintain control over their time of rule. When a person receives Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, they may watch these things occur but never need to worry about their outcome.

Next time we see John hears how God, “will give power unto” His “two witnesses”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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