Revelation 11:1; Measure the Temple of God and the Altar

Revelation 11:1 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. 

The writer is told to get up and measure three parts: the temple of God, the altar, and the people worshiping there. He fails to identify the speaker. The purpose of making these measurements is to delimit the area that is holy from that which is profane; measuring means to protect God’s temple, altar, and people. John’s task is to safeguard that which God has set aside as holy and to shield it from intrusion and desecration. The destroyer cannot enter the place that God has marked off as holy and within whose boundaries his people are secure.

The place where the people are safe is God’s temple, which throughout the Apocalypse means not the temple complex but the temple building, which includes the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place. God opened to full view the inner sanctuary when at the time of Jesus’ death the curtain separating these two places was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51). This area is the very presence of God, where He welcomes and dwells with the saints after Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and removed the sins of his people (Heb. 9:12). The temple of God, therefore, is a symbol of the true church that worships the triune God. In the church, God meets his people, accepts their praise and adoration, listens to their petitions and confessions, and acknowledges their expressions of gratitude. As the saints in heaven are always in God’s presence, so the saints on earth have the divine promise: “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20 KJV).

John presents a picture of the inner sanctuary he must measure. No measurements are listed because the assignment of measuring an area where the saints meet their God proves to be an impossible task. The saints are a great multitude that no one can number (7:9). Measuring the temple of God symbolizes the knowledge and care God provides for his people.

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

What is the significance of the altar? It can be either the altar of sacrifice or the incense altar in front of the curtain. The altar of burnt offerings stood outside the temple building in the outer court. Because John is told not to measure the outer court (v2), which was the court of the priests, I interpret the altar to be the one on which incense was offered. This is the altar in the heavenly sanctuary (6:9; 8:3 [twice], 5; 9:13; 14:18; 16:7).

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 

Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer itwith the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 

Revelation 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast itinto the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 

Revelation 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 

Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

Revelation 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous arethy judgments. 

By contrast, there are no references to the altar of burnt offerings, for the death of Jesus terminated its usefulness. The incense offered is the prayers of the saints (8:3, 5), and measuring the altar’s dimensions signifies that the saints have access to God and enjoy his protective care. At the altar they are safe.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 324–325). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.