Mensuration of the Temple of Christ

XXII. THE MENSURATION OF THE TEMPLE - Dual Plan

In the 11th chap. of Revelation, the mensuration or the restoration of the temple of Christ is symbolized. John officiates as the representative of the first act and is commissioned thus:

"And a reed was given me like a rod,—saying: Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar and those who worship in it. But that court which is outside the temple cast out, and do not measure it. Because it was given to the nations; and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty-two months." (v. 1, 2.)

The temple of the spiritual dispensation consists of the true believers converted into a united family and spiritually developed by the grace of God into the Truth as it is revealed in Christ. It is not connected with wood, brick, or stone churches. Such only misrepresent and hide the Truth. The Spirit of God is the builder of the spiritual church, and God cannot make use of dead material in his work. Building with dead material belongs to the typical system if it is done according to the laws of Moses, and if not done according to those laws, it is a continuation of the works of heathenism, the works of Baal.

The church or temple of the spiritual system is based upon the death and the resurrection of Christ—the Word made flesh raised by the Spirit from the world of sin and death. Hence, it cannot in any way be connected with material things, such as churches. Connecting material things with the spiritual temple would be the same as making a denial of Christ as the Word made flesh and the Beginner of the new creation. The following testimonies make it clear that the church of the spiritual dispensation has nothing in common with what is generally called "the Church of Jesus Christ," "the Church of St. Peter," "of Paul" and so on. Such names applied to piles of wood, brick, or stone are simply blasphemies.

The Church of Christ is the body of Christ. They apostle Paul, referring to the gospel of Christ as developing the spiritual church, says:

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and, having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ." (Col. 2: 12-17.)

Being dead to sin and to the world, buried with Christ and resurrected by faith as a member in the spiritual body, moulds a human being as a part of the Church of Christ. There is nothing dead connected with that, not even a law or a regulation outside of the resurrected Christ. All such beings are in the power of the Holy Spirit, which builds them up together as the Church of Christ by the influence of faith. Or, it may be said that Christ's resurrected body develops into a living and truth-unfolding church. That this and nothing else is the doctrine of the gospel of Christ concerning his church, is evident from the following texts:

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things … And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Acts 17: 24, 25; 2 Cor. 6: 15, 16.)

Belial, or Baal, is the founder and builder of the tower of Babel and all churches made by the heathens and their so-called Christian followers. By following the practices of the heathens in building churches the Christians have perverted the gospel of Christ and have cast away the foundation of his temple. His temple-foundation is described thus:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens 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 corner stone; 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." (Eph. 2: 19-22.)

Christ, as the ,chief corner stone of the church built by the Holy Spirit, could in no way unite with clay and stone. That is entirely outside of his sanctuary, because there everything is living and active. The "little horn" should cast down the place of his sanctuary (Dan. 8: 11) which has been done to completeness. It has built churches of dead material and of heathen construction there instead. Paul calls the Church of Christ God's building, and adds:

"According to the grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how be buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth In you? If any man defile the temple of God, hint shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3: 10-17.)

Everyone that builds or influences people to build any other church in the name of Christ than a living structure which is to develop in the truth—the naked and practicable truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus—defiles the temple of God and makes himself liable to destruction by the wrath of God, who will finally avenge the insult and the wrong done to his temple. The Lord says by the prophet that the vengeance of his temple shall come upon all the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jer. 50: 28; 51: 11.)

At the time the restoration of the temple was about to take place, the temple was absorbed by the Babylonian church-powers and mixed with the brick-creation; here Antichrist rules over it as a god. But the prophetic Word of God must be fulfilled and the great work of separation will begin in due time. All the different parts of the temple are measured off: i. e., they are separated from Baalism by a process similar to the cutting and measuring of stones that are intended to fill some particular place in a building.

John, as the actor, was told to take the little opened book from the angel and eat it up.

That book, of course, is the same book that John saw in the hand of the great Judge of the universe who sat on the throne. (Chap. 5: 1.) The book was then sealed with seven seals. But he saw the Lamb go, take the book and open its seals, which had a wonderful effect on the company connected with the throne. They began to sing a new song, and the words ran as follows:

"Thou art worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; because thou wast killed and didst redeem us to God with thy blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation; and thou didst make them to our God a royalty and priesthood, and they shall reign on the earth."

This testimony shows that the gathering of the whole family of Jacob is connected with the opening.of that book. When John received the book out of the hand of the messenger, it was open. What book is that? It is the book of God's judgment. Its contents are written in the Books of Daniel and the Revelation. The writing on its "backside" is seen in the judgment of God during the material dispensation. In the degree that the judgment over, Babylon is revealed, the book is opened, and it becomes a "reed" like a "rod'' or like a rule, containing certain measures. When applied to the people, it measures off the temple of God, the altar and the worshippers.

The reed like a rod. Reed was used to write with in the time of John. In his third epistle he says: "I had many things to write, but. I do not wish to write them to thee with melanos (ink) and kalamos (reed)." Thus we understand that the "reed lake a rod" means a writer's pen which brings to light the judgment of God revealed by Daniel and John. John not only received the open book from the angel, but was told to "eat" it. He represents those beings God chooses to lead his work of judgment, who, in order to understand the wisdom of God, must digest by practical experience the doctrines of their mission.

In the Word of prophecy, we see that Christ, when he returns to the earth, comes to his temple. (Mal. 3: 1.) His temple, therefore, must be in its place by the time he comes.

a. The mensuration of the temple. The rule is laid on, as it were, or proclaimed to the "Christian" nations, and what is the result? Is the temple as represented in the apostolic church to be found anywhere to-day? No! What has happened to it then? It has been defiled and trodden down in the camp of the Philistines, in the house of their god Dagon, by the feet of the unclean. Go to any religious denomination, and you will find that the simple true-hearted souls who seek the God of righteousness are trodden down by the feet of the oppressive class. Let them speak to the congregation regarding the true condition of the apostolic church, about its relation to the world and the things of the world, and you will see some depressing results. The Bel-worshippers will soon check such sounds. They may talk about the poor Nazarene as much as they please, but are never allowed to mention that he is opposed to the greatness of man—be it with respect to church-building, luxury; or anything that elevates one man above another with an oppressive system between them which is brought to bear on the toilers.

In order to get the temple back to its original foundation—outside the camp of Bel's kingdom—it must be moved out of Babylon. This special movement is plainly spoken of by the prophet Zechariah and by other prophets, also by John, in Rev. 18: 1-5. John says:

"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried with a strong voice, saying: Fallen! fallen! is Babylon the great! and is become a habitation of demons; and a haunt of every impure spirit, and a haunt of every unclean and hateful bird; because (of the wine) of the wrath of her fornication all the nations have fallen ... And I heard another voice from heaven saying: Come out from her my people, so that you may have no fellowship with her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues," etc.

This measure is one part of the reed, which is proclaimed in due time. It brings down the glory of Babylon, and the people of God come outside of it. Then the temple of God, the living and moving sanctuary, will develop in the light of prophecy. It is measured off from those who have defiled it. The condition of the apostolic church is seen again.

b. The mensuration of the altar. What altar is that? It is the altar of incense. A unity of the hearts of God's people will then be restored; in strength and harmony their souls will flow together, as seen in the apostolic assembly. The proclamation of the living Truth by the servants of Elohim will bring about that heavenly union—a distinct contrast to the confused state brought about by the religious influence in Bel's kingdom. Their united prayers will ascend to heaven like smoke sailing upward.

c. The measuring of the worshippers. As the proclamation of the opened book is pressed upon the great multitude coming out from the sinful Babylon, which then is a seething caldron of wars and revolutions and, consequently, falling, the worshippers of the temple unite with the living temple of God. Having had no religious experience previously, they now make a start to serve the King of heaven instead of the powers in Nimrod's kingdom. though the words of the Lord, "By your patience you shall possess your life" (Luke 21: 19) , cannot be applied to them because of their lack of tried faith, still, if slain by the dragon as martyrs, they are within the measure of the reed. John, in describing the movements and what took place when the fifth seal was opened, says:

"I saw under (about) the altar the persons of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, how long, 0 sovereign Lord the holy one and true! doest thou not judge and take vengeance for our blood from those who dwell on the earth? And there was given them severally a white robe; and it was told them to rest yet for a time, till both their fellow servants and their brethren, who were about to be killed, even as they, should be completed." (Rev. 6: 9-11.)

Here we have a description of what happens to the worshippers in the temple. The angry "Christian" nations kill them as revolutionists; but, their innocent blood, like the blood of Abel (against Bel) , cries for vengeance in the ears of the Lord of hosts. Cain's time is at hand. This terrible vengeance-act indicates about how far the people of Elohim then are from the opening of Paradise which is to be restored by the Messiah.

The promise of giving white robes to the martyrs is the pledge of a glorious resurrection which is to take place at the time the temple or the living saints are translated. The slaughtering-scene continues until the two special witnesses of Jesus are killed; their blood seals the covenant. Then it is established forever.

d. The court about the temple. "Measure it not!" says the angel. "It is given to the Gentiles." The court of the old covenant temple was much larger than the temple, and it stood open to the Gentiles, or the strangers. When the living temple moves out from the brick-creation, the court will be open for comers and goers dur­ing the three and one-half years that the temple is subject to the mensuration-process.

e. The nations will tread down the holy city during the forty-two months, or the remaining time of the week of the covenant. What holy city is that? It is the capital-city of the world to come. That city develops from the holy temple and after the forty-two months, the resurrection begins, by which act the city, the New Jerusalem, becomes a reality.