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#36. The Two Witnesses (11: 1-14).
pp. 169 - 173
The second woe finishes with the testimony of the two witnesses, who are introduced
by the measuring of the temple, the altar and the worshippers. This section therefore, like
that of the opening one of the second woe, has to do with worship, and is a temple
section.
"And there was given to me a reed, like a rod, and he said, Rise, and measure the
temple of God, and the altar, and take account of those who worship therein. But the
court that is without the temple cast without, and measure it not: because it is given up to
the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."
We are inclined to translate "a reed, like a sceptre". Moses Stuart and Dr. Bullinger
show that the Hebrew equivalent is used for a measuring rod (Psa. 74: 2; Jer. 10: 16;
51: 19). These references, however, are not very convincing. The word rhabdos is used in
the N.T. with the meaning of:--
1.
An ordinary staff (Matt. 10: 10).
2.
A rod for correction (I Cor. 4: 21).
3.
A sceptre as of a King (Heb. 1: 8).
4.
A rod as of the High Priest (Heb. 9: 4).
The shepherd's club (Rev. 2: 27, rule = to shepherd. The word occurs four times in
5.
the Revelation: 2: 27; 11: 1; 12: 5; 19: 15).
It will be seen therefore that three references speak of shepherding the nations, and
one is connected with measuring the temple.
Two passages of the O.T. may throw a light on the meaning intended here.
"And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even whatsoever passeth under
the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord" (Lev. 27: 32).
"I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the
covenant" (Ezek. 20: 37).
In these passages the Lord is either claiming a portion as His special tithe, or referring
to the gathering again of Israel. In both cases there is an emphasis upon peculiar
possession, protection and reservation.
It will be remembered that before the seventh seal was opened 144,000 of the tribes of
Israel were sealed. Here, before the seventh trumpet sounds, the temple and its
worshippers are measured. Taking the suggestion of peculiar ownership from Lev. 27:
and Ezek. 20:, and that of sealing and preservation from Rev. 7:, it appears that such is
the meaning of the measuring of the temple. Another parallel is found in Zech. 2:
"I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in
his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem,