Revelation 11:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

John speaks of the authority that he, having been released from judgment, later exercised in the churches. For he also wrote the Gospel later.

When Valentinus, Cerinthus, and Ebion existed, as well as other teachings of Satan scattered throughout the world, bishops from neighboring cities came to him. They asked him to write down the testimony concerning the Lord.

The measure of faith is the commandment of our Lord to acknowledge the Father Almighty, as we have been taught, and also His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

He was begotten of the Father in the Spirit before the beginning of the world, became man, and, after conquering death, was taken up by the Father in the flesh into the heavens.

The reed indicates that everything seen in heaven, though we regard it as inanimate, is rational. This includes the altar, the throne, and whatever else is there.

For the words "Arise and measure the temple of God" are spoken by the reed given to him. This points to the measuring of the temple of God by angelic understanding.

If someone says that he heard these words from the angel who gave the reed, one must answer that the reed signifies the measure of knowledge and reason appropriate to the recipient.

All who are distinguished before God and His angels for good works will be counted worthy of this. For the word of God says, "The Lord knows those who are His" (2 Tim 2:19).

It should be known that some understood the temple of God as the Old Testament, [...]

The previous vision showed the divine John a multitude of saints abiding with Christ and contemplating the throne of God. Among them there were far more Gentiles than Israelites (cf. Rev 7:9).

This vision shows him how many saints were glorified in the times of the Old Testament, and how many in the times of the New. See how subtly it outlines this.

A measuring reed is given to John so that he may measure the temple of God and the altar in the temple, obviously the temple in Jerusalem, and those who worship. And he measured.

Those who pleased God in the times of the Old Testament were capable of being measured because they were few in number. "But exclude the outer court of the temple and do not measure it, for it is given to the Gentiles."

The Lord commands that the invention of vain faith and participation in impious customs practiced outside, among heretics, Jews, and pagans, be excluded. Such people must not approach the holy of holies.

The Apostle says, "For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those inside whom you judge?" (1 Cor 5:12).

When all Jews, heretics, and pagans continuously attack the Church in various ways, they will, as it were, trample her. The number of months not only points to the final persecution, but also signifies the whole time of Christianity.

It says "rise," not because John was listening while seated, but because by this word the hearts of all men are moved to measure their deeds, taking their start from Scripture. Then it becomes clear how far each has advanced on the path of perfection, and how far his life agrees with the divine ordinances.

The measuring of those who worship in the temple probably signifies the numbering of believers, or the testing of the degree of their progress on the path of sanctification.

By the name of the outer court of the temple is meant the unbelieving and morally corrupt people. It also means those who, although they have received Holy Baptism and apparently belong to the Church, and love to call themselves Christians, do not live or think as Christians.

They are attached to earthly things or fall into heresy. After the coming of the antichrist, the dreadful persecution of Christians will continue for three and a half years, or 1,260 days, as is said in the following verse.

"Measure the Church of God and the altar and those who worship in it." The measuring of the temple and the altar serves as a sign that, after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, the Christian Church will be raised up in its place.

In the same way, the measuring of the temple seen by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 40 foretold the restoration of the ruined temple.

Only the court of the temple is not measured, but is condemned to be trampled by the Gentiles for forty-two months, that is, three and a half years.

This shows that Christians, namely those of Palestine, would undergo persecutions only in an external, that is, political respect. The period appointed here, three and a half years, is not a definite time.

After this, a reed like a rod was given to the Apostle, and it was said: "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it. But exclude the outer court of the temple and do not measure it, for it is given to the Gentiles. They will trample the holy city forty-two months."

According to St. Andrew's interpretation, "the temple of the living God is the Church, in which spiritual sacrifices are offered by us. The outer court is the assembly of unbelievers and Jews, unworthy of angelic measurement because of their impiety."

In this Revelation we continually see the true Church. Further on, she appears as a temple with an altar and worshippers, which John is commanded to measure.