This Revelation Timeline Decoded Bible study will teach you about the fulfillment of the temple being measured in Revelation 11.
Summary: Messiah had Martin Luther, who was a Catholic Monk, read the Holy Scriptures, to measure what the Popes of Rome taught against the Word of Elohim. He found that salvation was by faith in Messiah, and not by the sacraments by the Papal Church; and that the Papal Church was an apostate church, to be delegated to the Court of the Gentiles.
Here’s my Measuring the Temple of Revelation 11 video.
“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple (naos) of God, the altar, and those who worship there.” Revelation 11:1
The ‘reed like a measuring rod’ is the Word of God, the Little Book of Revelation 10.
The Greek for reed or rod is “kanon” = canon of holy scriptures. Kanon is also translated as rule, or measuring rod.
“But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule (kanon) which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.” 2 cor. 10:13
They were to measure the spiritual temple of God, not a physical temple.
The Greek word for the physical temple is hieron. The Greek word for the spiritual temple is naos.
Ephesians 2:19-22 ”Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple (naos) in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
God was telling His people to use the Word of God to determine who was the true church, the Temple of God; and who was the false church. At the time there was the true Church of Christ, and the false Catholic Church of Antichrist.
When Martin Luther and others measured the teachings of the Catholic Church against the Word of God, they were able to see that it is the false church. They found no justification for a Pope or hierarchy of Archbishops and Bishops, just the five-fold ministry of the early church.
They found no place of purgatory, where people could be refined, so that they could go to heaven. They learned that good works don’t earn salvation, they only testify to one’s faith in the Lord. That they did not have to go to a confession box with a priest, but had direct access to Jesus the High Priest. That bowing down to statues was forbidden. That they didn’t have to count rosary beads, or pray to anyone like Mary, but only to the Father in Jesus name.
They found the simplicity of the Holy Communion, but no mass ceremony, and no wafer that supposedly becomes the body of Christ. They discovered salvation by faith in Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection, not in works, and not through the Catholic Church.
They found that all of these things were strange and alien to the Word of God, and they testified that the Catholic Church was not Christ’ true church.
The only way to discern false prophets is to study and know the Word of God.
Revelation 11:2, “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.”
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not.
The Catholic Church claims to be Christian, and many are misled by their message of salvation by works that is through them. But that’s not the pure Gospel of Christ, where people are saved by faith in Christ’s atoning work.
Jesus was instructing Martin Luther and others, to prophecy against the Catholic Church, so that people could understand they can only be saved through Christ. And millions of people read the Word of God and were saved through Christ, and they went on to form the Protestant Churches.
The Catholic Church was delegated to the court outside the temple, as they are not the true Church of Jesus.
for it is given unto the Gentiles.
This is not talking about physical gentiles, but spiritual. Spiritual Israel consists of those who believe in Jesus as Messiah and are saved by His atoning work. Spiritual Gentiles consists of those who are not saved, but condemned, because they don’t believe in Christ alone for salvation.
That includes the Catholic Church, who teaches salvation by works through the Catholic Church, and all the Catholics who follow their teachings instead of Christ’s.
This also includes Protestant Churches, who are merging with the Catholic Church, who teach a different Gospel, who are trusting their works, not the work of Jesus.
and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months;
The Holy City is not Jerusalem and it is not Rome. Remember, Jesus is speaking symbolically.
The Holy City is the bride of Christ.
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2
Jesus bride is the called the Holy temple, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
”Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
The Roman Catholic Church tread underfoot the Church of Christ, for 1,260 years (42 prophetic months), from 538-1798 A.D.
David Nikao Wilcoxson
Next Revelation Timeline Decoded Bible Study: Revelation 11 – Two Witnesses
Thank-you for a clearer understanding on God’s word.
This whole idea is amazing to me. Much prayer and possibly fasting to be truly able to discern the truth. It seems true but SO DIFFERENT from what I have been taught.
Thank you for your comment Becky! Yeah, the explanation is so different from what my Pastors taught me. But the great theologians of the 16th – 20th centuries taught the true historical fulfillment of prophecy. Sadly, the enemy has prevailed and caused their witness to be put aside, and now Christians are deceived with all of the futuristic prophecy explanations.
Be sure to read The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 study, as it completes the story. The Little Book of Revelation 10 is the printed Bible, which to the Apostle John would have been amazing, as he was used to long scrolls. It was honey on his lips as it told the glorious Gospel message, but bitter in his stomach because it invited more persecution of the saints.
Contact me anytime with questions or insight on the studies.
David
Wow, this is the craziest interpretation of Rev 11 that I have ever heard. Too bad it is not actually supported by the text.
David, please enlighten me and provide a verse by verse explanation of Revelation 11 to show the fulfillment. Thank you!