The Angel Stood

[phareztamar]

The Angel Stood

And the angel stood, saying, rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

And which temple do we suppose John is to measure? The heavenly temple of God, or the earthly one? Is he to measure the same temple that Ezekiel measured some seven hundred years earlier? If he's measuring an earthly temple of God; it would either have to be before 70AD, or a new temple yet to be built.

A new earthly temple would never be recognized...let alone measured...by my Lord. Silly rabbit, the temple of God is fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ of God.

Consider that the wilderness tabernacle was uncomely on the outside, but pure gold within. Moreover it was a mobile temple of God, walking about with the people. This was the days of my Lord's flesh...which is the veil.

In contrast, Solomon's temple was regal within and without. Neither did it move about with the people, but was stationary in Jerusalem. Here is my Lord in his glorified state. There is no need for another earthly temple.

Add to this the unbending requirement...from ancient times...for righteous judgment. The sinless blood of a human man must be sprinkled on the mercy seat, to atone for the sin of a fallen human race. All of those years of animal sacrifice wouldn't do. And this my Lord did with his own sinless blood. To build, then, a new earthly temple and re-instate animal bloodshed would be pointless. The sacrifice was accepted, and the promise of the fathers poured out.

So we consider a heavenly temple which John is to measure. And in heaven again we must ask, which temple is John to measure? Moses was shown a tabernacle in heaven. Isaiah too:

saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

And of course Ezekiel measured a heavenly temple. But given that this is the book of Revelation...a book about the end...we may want to consider that heavenly temple which all of these others foreshadowed. For we know that my Lord built no temple in his thirty three years of life. And yet it is written:

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, behold the man whose name is the branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.

Now if the branch will build the temple of the Lord...and he appeared not until the four thousandth year...then it sorta rules out him building any temple of God in heaven prior to his resurrection. Moreover we know that during the last 2,000 years, no new earthly temple has been built.

We might posit then...as did Paul...that the temple of the Lord which the branch will build, has been a temple-in-building since his glorification.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit.

The construction materials here, are the born again souls of men. We who are alive today are the finishing touches...upon our death...to this 2,000 year old project nearing completion.
Perhaps this is the temple that John is to measure.

We're told little about this temple, as John's measurements are never revealed. We know that it has an altar of incense...which brings us full circle to the start of this sixth trumpet.

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God.

If the veil is rent from top to bottom, then the golden altar of incense is directly before God.

We also know that this temple has them that worship therein. And oddly; they are not to be counted or numbered...but measured. That'll preach.

And finally...by extension...we are assured that the Lord is in this temple:

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

As these two witnesses embark upon their ministry, so begins the final three and one-half years of this sixth trumpet judgment.

[mfblume]

It was neither. It was a visionary symbol since the outer court not being measured meant to give jerusalem over to Gentiles to destroy. That proves it is symbolic.

[phareztamar]

Originally Posted by mfblume

It was neither. It was a visionary symbol since the outer court not being measured meant to give jerusalem over to Gentiles to destroy. That proves it is symbolic.

By extension then, is the tabernacle that Moses saw in heaven a visionary symbol that has since evaporated? And did Isaiah see a real heavenly temple, or a visionary symbol? And Ezekiel's temple?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by phareztamar

By extension then, is the tabernacle that Moses saw in heaven a visionary symbol that has since evaporated? And did Isaiah see a real heavenly temple, or a visionary symbol? And Ezekiel's temple?

I think bible reveals bible. The bible itself, upon comparison with all its references reveals the truth.

Ezekiel saw a temple with a river flowing from it with trees on either side its banks. the trees' leaves were medicine and 12 different fruit.

Revelation 22 shows the river with trees on either side. The trees' leaves were medicine and the fruit for food. But instead of flowing from a temple as in Ezekiel, it flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. Rev 22:1.

However, we find the answer to the link between the two accounts when we read the city had NO TEMPLE, BECAUSE GOD AND THE LAMB ARE THE TEMPLE. So, we find Ezekiel saw a SYMBOL of God and the Lamb, indicating the temple is not a physical building but is God and the Lamb.

And when we read Rev 22:1, we find the river was available for John and anyone else who was thirsty to drink 2000 years ago. In fact, the words of Rev 22:17 match Christ's words in John 7:37-39 when He told us to come to Him (the lamb) and drink if we're thirsty. This shows us the river is the Holy Ghost.

When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he said the Holy Ghost was POURED OUT and SHED FORTH because Jesus went to the throne in glory! Rev 22 is a prefect picture of that!

And Ezekiel's temple is related to Isaiah's temple as well because Isaiah showed the inside ready to burst forth, and Ezekiel saw it from the outside bursting out. And This even corresponds to Zechariah 14 where the river of Life flows east and west, flowing east through the Mount of Olives, which is on the east of Jerusalem where the Holy Ghost was poured out, and west to the sea. Ezekiel saw the same river flow east and down to the Dead Sea, prefiguring the Holy Ghost giving new life for new birth.

It all focuses on apostolic truth of Acts 2 Holy Ghost infilling!

[mfblume]

PS: I really mean what it says in my signature, "...My Thoughts, Anyway," lest some say I am closed minded to anything aside from what I've stated.

[Sean]

The MILLENNIAL Temple is too descriptive to be symbolic....

Those who have discovered that the key to interpreting God's Word properly is to understand it in a normal/literal way, will also discover that Ezekiel 40-48 is not a burden to the Bible student, but a delight. What joy God brings to the heart of the believer when he realizes, perhaps for the first time, that God did not give us any portion of His Word to confuse us, but rather to enlighten us. God really does mean what He says!.....
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...80185997,d.cGU

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Sean

The MILLENNIAL Temple is too descriptive to be symbolic....

Those who have discovered that the key to interpreting God's Word properly is to understand it in a normal/literal way, will also discover that Ezekiel 40-48 is not a burden to the Bible student, but a delight. What joy God brings to the heart of the believer when he realizes, perhaps for the first time, that God did not give us any portion of His Word to confuse us, but rather to enlighten us. God really does mean what He says!.....
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...80185997,d.cGU

Please respond to my points I made in sequence in which I wrote them, showing what part fo the verses I quote say differently than what I claimed. Don't just say I am wrong and not respond to my points sequentially.

[phareztamar]

Thank you both for your comments.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by phareztamar

Thank you both for your comments.

Thank-you for your good spirit in such discussions.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I think bible reveals bible. The bible itself, upon comparison with all its references reveals the truth.

Ezekiel saw a temple with a river flowing from it with trees on either side its banks. the trees' leaves were medicine and 12 different fruit.

Revelation 22 shows the river with trees on either side. The trees' leaves were medicine and the fruit for food. But instead of flowing from a temple as in Ezekiel, it flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. Rev 22:1.

However, we find the answer to the link between the two accounts when we read the city had NO TEMPLE, BECAUSE GOD AND THE LAMB ARE THE TEMPLE. So, we find Ezekiel saw a SYMBOL of God and the Lamb, indicating the temple is not a physical building but is God and the Lamb.

And when we read Rev 22:1, we find the river was available for John and anyone else who was thirsty to drink 2000 years ago. In fact, the words of Rev 22:17 match Christ's words in John 7:37-39 when He told us to come to Him (the lamb) and drink if we're thirsty. This shows us the river is the Holy Ghost.

When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he said the Holy Ghost was POURED OUT and SHED FORTH because Jesus went to the throne in glory! Rev 22 is a prefect picture of that!

And Ezekiel's temple is related to Isaiah's temple as well because Isaiah showed the inside ready to burst forth, and Ezekiel saw it from the outside bursting out. And This even corresponds to Zechariah 14 where the river of Life flows east and west, flowing east through the Mount of Olives, which is on the east of Jerusalem where the Holy Ghost was poured out, and west to the sea. Ezekiel saw the same river flow east and down to the Dead Sea, prefiguring the Holy Ghost giving new life for new birth.

It all focuses on apostolic truth of Acts 2 Holy Ghost infilling!

Mike, there's many things that we've disagreed about in discussions here on AFF, and will most likely do so in the future, however, in this I feel compelled to extend to you a most "hearty Spot On!" Excellent explanation, indeed!