Revelation 11:1; Them that Worship Therein

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 multitude of saints, counted in chapter 7 and measured in chapter 11, are worshiping in Christ’s church anywhere and everywhere. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob that the time had come that true worshipers would neither worship on Mount Gerizim nor in Jerusalem, but everyone would worship the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:21–24).

John 4:21-24 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.God isa Spirit: and they that worship him must worship himin spirit and in truth.

Christians worship anywhere, and wherever they are God shields them from spiritual harm. Although from time to time they endure physical suffering, they will never experience spiritual death. They are safe and secure in the hollow of God’s hand. “The ‘measuring’ of the temple is a variant of the ‘sealing’ of the Church in 7:1–8.” Only God’s people are measured or counted, not the profane, who are in the outer court outside the church and are doomed.

Revelation 7:1-8 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there weresealed an hundred andforty andfour thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph weresealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin weresealed twelve thousand. 

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