1 A REED [as a measuring rod] was then given to me, [shaped] like a staff, and I was told: Rise up and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar [of incense], and [number] those who worship there.
Chapter 11 begins John’s new prophesy. John is shown just how great the number of the Church will be. John is shown how we measure up, the measuring reed is shaped like a staff and we measure up because Jesus is our Shepherd. Jesus is our Head, our Lord, Our Vine, our Groom, and our Master. We are only because He is. He is greater within us then anything that is in this world. We are strong in the power of His might. This has to be sweet to John; Jesus shows His beloved just how many will be saved throughout the ages. John has been shown so much devastation in this vision of the end times and now he is shown how great the number of the saved will be. He is shown how the Bride of Christ will be used by our Father to proclaim the Truth. John sees the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit working through us. It has to be marvelous and refreshing after all of the devastation that he has been shown.
2 But leave out of your measuring the court outside the sanctuary of God; omit that, for it is given over to the Gentiles (the nations), and they will trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months (three and one-half years).
Notice here that John is to only measure the Temple, the saved, and not Jerusalem, the Holy City, which is given to the Gentiles, the unsaved. Now the prophecy becomes bitter for John, because Jerusalem will be trampled under foot for 3 ½ years and John is shown the lost and how wicked and tormented they will be during the Great Tribulation.
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