The world in which we live is rapidly being engulfed in spiritual darkness. And it is going to get much worse as time goes on. In Revelation 11, the apostle John was given a vision of the terrible judgment that must come upon this world. The slaying of God's two witnesses tells us that there is a time coming in which the darkness and superstition of false religion will engulf the entire world. The light of the gospel will not be entirely extinguished. God will never leave himself without a witness. But the light of the gospel will be eclipsed for a time.
Before Christ returns in glory, "there will come a falling away," a general apostacy in the religious world, in order that "the man of sin be revealed." Without question, this falling away has already begun. The apostle Paul tells us that in that time of apostacy men will appear claiming to have apostolic powers. But their powers will be "after the working of Satan," who will give them "all power and signs and lying wonders." Could it be that Paul, speaking by the Spirit of God, was warning us of the modern charismatic movement which is rapidly spreading over the world? In these last dark days, Paul tells us that, because men receive not the love of the truth, "God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth." In the last days, God will allow truth to be trodden in the streets for a season. It will seem to disappear from the face of the earth for a time, symbolized by the two witnesses lying dead in the streets for three and a half days. The idolatrous religion of antichrist, free willism, ceremonialism, the religion of works in one form or another, will be universally accepted as the truth of God. This is the terrible judgment with which God shall afflict the world. The last days will be marked by great religious revival. But it will be a revival of false religion, a revival of apostacy! And that apostate religion will seal up those who embrace it in reprobate darkness unto eternal damnation.
These are the things which John saw in this eleventh chapter of Revelation. They would have been too great to bear, the vision of such judgment would have crushed the old preacher's heart, but for one thing. Before the Lord showed John the judgment that must fall upon the earth, he assured his servant that the church and kingdom of God was to be kept and preserved in perfect safety. Were it possible, the religion of antichrist would deceive even the elect. But, thank God, it is not possible. This is what we read in verse 1. "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel (that is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Angel of the covenant) stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 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."
This vision is entirely symbolical. No doubt, in the vision John saw the temple at Jerusalem. But the temple, the altar, the outer court and the measuring reed were symbolical. What do these things represent? The temple of God symbolizes the true church of God, all true believers, those men and women in whose hearts Christ dwells by his Spirit. All true children of God, all who worship him in Spirit and in truth are measured and protected. While the judgments of God are inflicted upon the world, his elect are preserved in safety. But this protection does not extend to the outer court. That outer court represents those who belong to the church by profession only. They are not true believers. The world invades this outer court with its religious doctrines, practices and customs, and takes possession of it unto the end of the age. In other words, the religion of antichrist becomes the religion of the professed church of God.
Proposition:This is what John saw – though the world must be engulf in false religion, by an act of Divine judgment, God will preserve and keep his church from apostacy and ruin.
Divisions:Tonight, I want to briefly explain three things represented in this vision:
This does not have any reference to a rebuilding of a Jewish temple. That temple was destroyed by God in 70AD when he sent Titus, the Roman general, to destroy Jerusalem. God will never return to Judaism. The old covenant was forever abolished when the new covenant was established by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 8:8-13; 10:9).
The temple of the Old Testament, and the temple of John's vision, symbolically represented the church of God. The temple of God is the place where God dwells.
A. Those Who Worship In The Temple, In The Holy Place, Are The Priests OF God.
The outer court was the place of the common people. Only the priests of God were allowed to worship in the sanctuary, the holy place. And these priests, by symbol, represent all true believers – We are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood (I Pet. 2:5, 9). As such:
1. We continually serve at the Altar. And our Altar is Christ.
2. We approach God through the Person and work of Christ, trusting his righteousness, his blood and the merits of his sacrifice.
3. All priests are praying people.
God's saints approach God directly. As priests unto God, we have direct access to the throne of grace through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:18; Heb. 10:19). Waiting at the Altar of incense, with a true heart of faith, worshipping God in Spirit and in truth is the daily habit of God's priests.
4. And as priests, consecrated to the Lord, we offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Christ Jesus (Heb. 13:10-15).
B. The Temple Itself Is a Beautiful Type And Picture Of The Church, Which Is The House Of God, The Pillar And Ground Of The Truth – (I Tim. 3:15).
1. Solomon, a man of peace, is the one who built the Temple. And Christ, the Prince of peace, is the One who builds his church – (Matt. 16:18).
2. The Temple was built out of hewn stone, made ready and prepared before they were brought into it. And the Church of Christ is built out of chosen stones, hewn from the quarry of fallen humanity, fit and prepared by the Spirit of God – (I Pet. 2:5) (Zech. 4:6).
3. The Temple was built for the worship of God alone – And the church, both local and universal, exists in this world only for the honor and worship of God (Eph. 1:3-14; 3:20-21).
II. First John saw the temple, the church of God. Then, secondly, He saw within the temple The Altar.
In the temple of God the altar was the place of sacrifice. There the priests would make their sacrifices as they approached the Lord God. None would dare come before his presence without the blood of an innocent victim. And we have an Altar today, by which we draw near to God.
NOTE: You cannot worship God without an Altar of Sacrifice. And you cannot worship God if your worship at any altar other than that Altar which he has appointed.
III. John saw the temple of God, and the altar, and them which worship therein. Then he was given a reed and commanded to measure the temple of God. So, for my third point, I want to show you what is meant by The Measuring Of The Temple.
The purpose of this measuring, as it is represented in the Scriptures, is twofold: (1.) Separation and (2.) Protection. By measuring the temple the holy was separated from the profane and the worship and people of God were protected and preserved from the idolatrous abominations of the world – (Ezek. 22:23-31; 40:3-5; 42:20).
Now try to get the picture: John, the servant of God, was given a measuring reed by Christ, the Angel of the Covenant. With the reed, he was commanded to measure God's Church, to separate it and protect it from the profane influence of false religion. The measuring reed, like unto a rod, by which God's Church is enclosed, separated and protected, is the Word of God – (Ps. 19:4, 7-11; 110:2; II Tim. 3:16-17).
It is the responsibility of God's servants in this world to constantly measure, enclose, separate and protect his church by the faithful ministry of the Word.
God separates the precious from the vile by the preaching of the gospel!
A. The Rule Of All Doctrine And Faith Is The Word Of God.By this Book all doctrine is to be tried and measured. Whatever is not taught in this Book we must reject. Whatever is taught in this Book we must receive.
B. The Rule Of All Worship And Practice In The House Of God Is The Word Of God.
NOTE: The most dangerous thing the Church of God can ever do is seek to appease, accommodate and placate the world.
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