The Measuring Rod

Sometime between 573 and 572 BC, the prophet Ezekiel was given a detailed vision of a sanctuary being measured with “a measuring rod” (Ezekiel 40:3). Less than a decade prior, the Jewish nation had broken with God, choosing to worship the pagan gods of neighboring kingdoms. As a result, its people plummeted into immorality—and were eventually defeated in 586 BC by the Babylonian army, who seized their capital city, razed the temple to the ground, and took many as prisoners.

Yet, even in their degraded state, God did not forsake them completely. He gave to Ezekiel a glorious promise for His disgraced people: the blueprint of a sanctuary that was yet to be built, where God could once more dwell with His people (Exodus 25:8). “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB). God was ready, willing, and able to reconcile with His wayward children—but did His children want to be reconciled to Him?

Unfortunately, they did not. The Jewish nation never built the temple in Ezekiel’s vision. Ultimately, they killed Jesus (John 11:53; 19:15, 16) and murdered the disciple who dared rebuke them for it (Acts 7:57).

But Ezekiel’s vision is not to be wasted. Measurement means judgment (Matthew 7:2). We have learned that God’s “hour of … judgment” (Revelation 14:7) began in 1844, when Christ moved from the Holy Place into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. That is exactly what is happening in today’s verse: “The temple of God … and those who worship there” are being measured—that is, judged.

Notice also the reference back to the sixth church and Christ’s promise to those who overcame: “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God” (3:12). We have been given the chance to complete what the Jewish nation failed to—to allow God to build His temple within us that His Spirit may dwell in us ?(1 Corinthians 3:16, 17).

Heavenly Architect, build Your temple within me that I will be filled by the Holy Spirit and judged righteous.

For Further Study: 2 Chronicles 36:17–20; Ezekiel 43:10; Zechariah 2:1, 2

Key Bible Texts

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. (Revelation 11:1 KJV)