The End Times as God Reveals Them Pt. 30 God Measures His Possessions and Gives us Hope!

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday that is almost ignored in America. Yet, for the born again Christian, every day should be filled with thanksgiving for all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The basis of our thanksgiving and joy is the works and the Person of Jesus Christ. Consider the following text from Ephesians and may the inspired words fill your heart with thanksgiving this morning. In the words of that hymn, we should "Count Your Blessings!"

Be thankful for all the Spiritual Blessings we have in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-6  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Each believer has been given all spiritual blessings in the heavens "in Christ." Everything  we need to carry us through this life and into eternal life is ours. Is that not a powerful reason to be a thankful people?

John 11 is where we are introduced to "two witnesses" who will be like the mighty Old Testament prophets. At this point we are still seeing things in heaven as John saw them, right before the blowing of the 7th trumpet. 

There is a wide variety of interpretations among teachers, scholars and theologians about the book of Revelation. Yet, unless scripture tells us something is a "figure" or "type" or is clearly written in as an allegory, we should otherwise take the meaning of the text literally. I mention this because so many people teach so many different views from the same text of scripture. 

My constant goal in teaching God's truth to others is simply to discover "What does the scripture actually say?" and "What is being emphasized in the text?"

Measuring denotes ownership and hope.

Revelation 11:1-2  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. 2) 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. 

Remember that the book of Revelation describes in great detail Daniel's 70th week of prophecy, the last 7 year period we refer to as the End Times. Daniel was told that the 7 years would be divided into 2 equal sections of 3 1/2 years duration. 

The first 3 1/2 years will prove to be somewhat peaceful and prosperous as the Anti-Christ consolidates his global powers with lies and false treaties. The last 3 1/2 years are when Anti-Christ will demand to be worshipped by all remaining people and when God's 21 judgments are swiftly measured out. 

John often used the term 42 months instead of 3 1/2 years. Other times he said the duration would be 1,260 days, again totaling 3 1/2 years. These all refer to the last half of Daniel's 70th week of prophecy.

In the text above, John lets us know that the Gentiles will occupy and rule over the holy city of Jerusalem for 42 months, or 3 1/2 years. The term "Gentiles" refers to all non Jewish people in the world. 

Why was John told to measure the temple in heaven? In the Bible, measuring often corresponds to ownership. You measure what you own whether it is a parcel of land, shekels of silver or gold, or the quantity of animals in the livestock that someone owned. God is the possessor of heaven and earth. It all belongs to Him and He created every single part of it. 

Revelation 11:1-2 tells us that there will be a literal Jerusalem in the Great Tribulation period and there will also be a literal Temple dedicated to God in Jerusalem during that time. 

John measures because God owns it. 

Genesis 14:18-20  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 

In the text from Genesis we read about Melchizedek king of Salem, coming out to bless Abram who was victorious in battle. In a previous study, we learned that this king & priest Melchizedek, was a type or picture of Jesus Christ found in the Old Testament (See Hebrews 7). Notice his words of blessing to Abram referenced the "Most high God, possessor of heaven and earth." 

It may be helpful to recall that things God established on earth for His people (the tabernacle, the Temple, the Ark, the Altar, and all the various components) are based upon the perfect ones that exist in heaven. A heavenly altar and temple served as the pattern for the earthly one that Solomon constructed. 

This is why John is told to measure the temple. It belongs to God. This also alerts us that the Jewish people will rebuild a temple based upon the Old Testament pattern in Jerusalem during the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period. They will offer sacrifices prescribed by the law of Moses in that temple. 

As we all know, the temple mount is currently  the site of a Muslim shrine so that means a lot will have to change geopolitically in order for the Jews to rebuild the temple.  

Measuring brings hope to the people of God.

Ezekiel 40:2-4  In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3) And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4) And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. 

Ezekiel was also in heaven in a vision and was helping measure the new temple and new city that God would build. The whole chapter is full of the measuring process. The purpose was so that the prophet could go and tell the Jewish people what God is going to do for them. It will give them great hope because they are reminded that God will do what He said He will do.

Thus, the act of measuring the temple of God reminds us that God does own all things and that He is going to take possession of all that He owns. When Christ returns to set up His kingdom He will physically and literally take possession of all things, as the Father has decreed. This gives us great hope because we know that Christ will return for His Bride, the church at the rapture, prior to all of these events happening. 

Also, John is told to count the people in the temple. This is the idea that God is also evaluating those who are worshipping Him and who claim to know Him. Are their professions of faith real and genuine or false and feigned?

Why is John told not to measure the outer court that will surround the temple? Because all people were permitted in the outer court but only the priests sanctified by God were allowed into the temple. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

John begins by measuring the temple of God. It may seem like an odd task for him to do, falling between the 6th and 7th trumpets but this is a reminder of what God has promised to do concerning His people. He will do what He promised to do. 

All born again believers can be encouraged by John's actions in respond to God's command. All the promises we have in Christ will come to pass exactly as God said they would. Death? For the believer it is pictured as falling asleep in Christ. It is being absent from our physical body so that we can be in the presence of God. 

The act of measuring also reminds us that all things were created by God and they all belong to Him. We can be encouraged because He will not lose track of His possessions, which includes all the born again. He will set all things right at the conclusion of the End Times. Sin, suffering and sorrow will be forever banished. Worship, praise and glory will surround us throughout eternity. 

If you die tonight, where will you go? Will you be in heaven with God or in hell with the devil? The choice is yours to make. I pray that you hear and heed the words of truth and that you respond with repentant faith in Christ. 

Believer, be encouraged. The world is getting worse and technology seems to speed up the decaying process. Yet, our mission is the same. Love God and love our neighbors until He calls us home. Live for Christ and the glory of God at all times. Our hope is sure and our future is bright because of who our Savior is.

Bob