Revelation (Part 6) Series

(Part 6)

Scott Bayles, pastor

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 11/5/2017

If you’ve been with us the last few weeks, you know we are working our way through the exciting, yet enigmatic book of Revelation. Of the sixty-six books of the Bible, none are more imposing or intimidating as the book of Revelation. The setting, style and symbolism of Revelation, often feels like a foreign language to us. And yet, reading Revelation blesses us in so many ways: it helps us approach Jesus more humbly, love the church more honestly, endure suffering more confidently, see evil more clearly, and long for Christ’s return more deeply. So, as we delve ever deeper into Revelation, I hope you’ll continue to be blessed by it.

Last week, in Revelation 6-7, John’s vision centered around three specific groups. First, John saw four stampeding steeds—better known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—sent to take peace from the land through conquest, war, famine, and disease. Next, he saw the slain souls of the martyrs crying out for God to avenge their blood. Finally, he saw the 144,000 sealed servants representative of all the saved of every epoch of time, safe in the Shepherd’s arms.

The opening of the seven seals led right into the sounding of seven trumpets, which, in turn, will lead to the pouring of seven bowls of incense. Rather than a chronological account of 21 different events, these three sets of seven are repetitive—representing the seven-fold judgement of God with slightly different symbolism and specifics. As we reach chapter 11, there is a lull in activity between the sixth and seventh trumpet (just as there was between the sixth and seventh seal).

Here we come to one of the most difficult and debated chapters of Revelation. If you have a Bible, open it Revelation 11. In spite of the confusion that abounds, this chapter contains powerful lessons—centered on four visions—that remain relevant even for today’s church. The first symbol is the temple.

• THE TEMPLE

As chapter 11 begins, John steps into his vision, no longer a spectator, but a participant. He writes:

Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, “Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers. But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months.” (Revelation 11:1-2 NLT)

When John says the nations will trample the holy city, he echoes the words of Jesus, who predicted, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near… They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles” (Luke 21:20-24 NIV). Jesus and John are certainly describing the same events, which places this part of John’s vision squarely in the real world. His vision involves the actual Temple in Jerusalem, the holy city.

However, that doesn’t mean John is literally expected to measure the Temple, the altar and those who worship in it. Rather, this imagery comes, once again, from the Old Testament. After the destruction of the first Temple in 586 BC, two prophets of old, Ezekiel and Zechariah, experienced apocalyptic visions that involved measuring the Temple or Jerusalem itself.

Zechariah writes, “When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked. He replied, ‘I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is’” (Zechariah 2:1-2 NLT).

Similarly, Ezekiel writes, “In a vision from God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain… I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod” (Ezekiel 40:2-3 NLT). Ezekiel and the angel then spend the next four chapters laying out and marking off all the details and dimensions of the Temple, including the altar and the outer courtyards.

Both of these visions are set in the actual land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem following the destruction of the first Temple. But while the setting is actual, the activity is symbolic. The man with the measuring line symbolizes the hope of a rebuilt Jerusalem and restored Temple. God is letting Ezekiel and Zechariah know that, even though the city has been destroyed and the Temple demolished, he already has plans to build a new Temple, more grand and glorious than the original.

John’ vision carries the same meaning. With the demolition of the second Temple looming on the horizon, God urges John to take measurements, symbolizing God’s plan to rebuild. However, unlike the first two temples, this newest temple is not a physical temple, but a spiritual one. And construction is already underway.