Introductory Comments
1. This evening we come back to our study of the book of Revelation. As we have seen all along, there are various views on the meaning of many passages and events. I have limited my studies on writings that present the Reformed point of view. Not just because we are reformed but I sincerely believe that this view is most consistent and faithful to Scripture.
2. Recently someone mentioned to me a book by Herman Hoeksema which I obtained. I have found this book to be excellent ands while I will continue to study the other sources, much of what I teach on the remainder of Revelation will be drawn from this wonderful book, "Behold, He Cometh" I recommend it to anyone wishing to study Revelation.
Teaching
1. This evening we begin our study of chapter 11. Considered by some to be one of the most important chapters in Revelation. And key to understanding the remainder of the book.
2. Hoeksema says that we "have in this portion a general picture of the church as she exists in the present age (between Christ’s 1st and 2nd coming), a general description of what will occur in the future (remainder of book of Revelation), a general outline of the battle that the church is called upon to fight in this age, but especially toward the end."
3. We notice in verse 1 that John is again given a task within the vision. Hhe is told to measure the temple.
4. There are three different areas that are mentioned.
a. 1st - there is the building of the temple, the actual sanctuary. This includes holy place, the holy of holies, the altar and the people who gather there to worship
b. 2nd - is the outer court, the open area that surrounds the temple.
c. The 3rd area mentioned is the holy city itself, the city of Jerusalem.
5. John is told to only measure the temple itself and those who worship there. The outer court and the city are excluded because they are defiled. Both will be trampled by the Gentiles. Why? Because they will be given over to the Gentiles.
6. The big question is what the temple and city represents. Some would say that it literally means the actual temple and city. And many prophetic books you can buy today follow this view, placing a great deal of importance on this physical location in connection with the end times - Jerusalem and the temple.
7. But we need to consider what is meant by temple in the New Testament.
1 Cor 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
Eph 2:19-22 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Rev 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
Rev 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
8. From these passages we should see how in the New Testament the temple refers to the church, to the people of God. The temple and the holy city are the dwelling place of God.
9. Throughout history the dwelling place of God are in the making, in process of being completed. And I ask you to consider three stages of the process in the building of God’s dwelling place.
10. First we consider what the final or completed stage of this building project will look like. It is seen in the verses we just read from Revelation. John sees the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. John did not see a temple in the city. Why? Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. But what does this mean? In the state of perfection or completion, the temple and the city are one. God dwells in His temple. As long as there is a temple in the city it shows that God does not yet dwell in the entire city, but only in the particular building called the temple. But in the state of perfection, God fills the entire city. He is at home in all of it. In other words, He is in the heart of every citizen. When one would enter this holy city, one would not ask "where is the temple or the house of God." In fact in the new earth, the Holy City will be the new earth. For all who dwell therein will be the dwelling place of God.
11. But as we said we are not yet in this stage. The first stage is found in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament the actual city of Jerusalem and the physical temple were said to be the dwelling place of God. And so people who lived in Jerusalem were considered to be citizens of God’s kingdom. That is why it was such a shock when the people of Jerusalem were deported to Babylon and the glory of God left the temple. It was a sign that they were no longer accorded the honour of being in the kingdom, no longer the home of God’s presence.
12. But although Jerusalem was called the holy city, it was only in the temple that God was considered to actually dwell. And then, not in the greater temple, but only the temple proper, which did include the court of the priests and the court of women, but did not include the court of Gentiles. Ad so unbelievers were allowed in this outer court. God dwelt in the holy of holies.
13. But we know that God cannot in actuality be confined to a temple. After building the temple, Solomon said:
2 Chr 6:18 "But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
14. And so, as many things in the Old Testament, the temple and the city were a symbols or a types - representing something much greater. A physical sign of a spiritual reality. Similar to our sacraments.
15. In the New Testament this spiritual reality is the second stage of the building of the city or temple of God.
John 2:19-21 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
16. Jesus speaking of temple - His death and resurrection. He is temple - His body or church is His temple. And so Jerusalem can be see as representative of the church. All who are so-called cities dwell in the holy city.
17. And as the city/temple were divided into three areas, so is the church.
a. There are those who live in the city, not in the temple or the outer court. This is the false church. Those who have openly renounced the great truths of the Bible. Who have done away with sin and repentance, the divinity of Christ, and the necessity of Christ. It still calls itself Christian, it still calls itself the church. It may reach out and provide much service for the lost. It conducts worship and may appear to be the church. But it is not the church because it has denied Christ as the Saviour of His people.
b. There is the church that exists in the outer court. This is called by Hoeksema as the slow church. It consists of the weeds in the parable of the weeds:
Mat 13:25-30 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' "'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"
Outwardly they profess to belong top the true church. They believe the right things, but inwardly they are hypocritical. They may go with God’s people to worship but they must remain in the outer court. They are not allowed in the spiritual sanctuary of the fellowship of God.
c. And then there is the true temple. The true church, the real people of God. Not the visible church but the invisible church
18. John was given a reed by which to measure the true sanctuary. But it was a reed that looked like a rod. A rod is a symbol of royal power and dominion. Similar to a royal scepter but it also symbolizes physical power to exercise authority.
Psa 2:9 You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
Rev 2:26-27 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations– 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father.
19. What John is asked to do is to measure the size of the real, spiritual dominion or reign of the Lord Jesus in the spiritual city or we could say in the church. If John had not be told otherwise, he may have measured the whole city. But what Jeus is telling him to do is to separate the true church from the false one. To separate it from the weeds and the false church.
20. At the time of the seventh trumpet those who are hypocrits will be openly identified with the false church. When persecution comes they will join the Gentiles who will together form the enemy of the church and trample underfoot the holy city itself.
21. John is told that the city will be trampled under for 42 months or 1260 days. Is this a special period at the end of the age? In chapter 12 we will see that the church will be in the wilderness for 1260 days. From the time of His ascension to the time of His return. And so this time represents the time we are living in now. The measuring and the separation is already taking place. Has been through church history - though often it is unseen by us.
22. And the church is being trampled on. But, as we said, this will be done much more openly at the end of this age. I believe this is taking place more intensely today that it did even 40 years ago. Is that a sign that the end is near?
23. An interesting note about the number 42. 7 is the number of completion. It can be said to represent the completion of God’s plan regarding His kingdom. 6 is the number of the beast, the power of evil that will try to destroy God’s kingdom. The work of the antichrist can only come to 42. It's power of trying to completely trample under or destroy God’s holy city, His kingdom it can only reach 6x7, not 7x7. His work will fall short of completion.
24. At the darkest moment, when he may seem to succeed, Christ shall take His church to heaven where it will be perfected in eternal glory. That is our hope. We must not be discouraged. But to continue to be true to God word - in what we believe and in whom we trust .
