The Extent and Limit of the True Church of God
C. Clemance, D. D. Revelation 11:1-19 And there was given me a reed like to a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar… At the time of this prophecy the literal temple was no more. The once-holy city was defiled by the "abomination of desolation." Then the true temple, the true holy city, existed in "the Church of the living God." The outer enclosure is not to be reckoned as a part of the temple in this Divinely appointed remeasurement. All this most impressively sets forth the fact that Zion's external buildings cover a much wider space than the real heartworshippers whom God. will own. There may be, and there are, large masses of people at the outer fringe of our Christian services. But ii now a heavenly messenger were to come among us who was appointed to measure the real living temple of God, would it not turn out that, of a very large part of our surroundings, the order would be, "Measure it not"? This measurement from on high is ever going on. And if the great Lord of the Church saw fit to show us in a vision who are in His Church and who are not, many would be without whom we thought were in, and many within whom we thought were out. But not by any human hands can the true temple of God be built; nor yet by any human eye can its limits be discerned. (C. Clemance, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. WEB: A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise, and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it.