Reviving the Two Witnesses -Measuring the Temple Sanctuary

 John is told to  "measure the temple sanctuary of God  and the altar and those worshiping in it."  What does this imply?  In the Hebrew prophecies, such measuring provided a guarantee that justice would be rendered on the basis of Jehovah' perfect standards.  In the days of wicked  King Manasseh, the prophetic measuring of Jerusalem testified   to an unalterable judgment o destruction on that city.  ( 2 Kings 21:13; Lamentations 2:8)  Later, however, when Jeremiah saw Jerusalem being measured, this confirmed  that the cituy would be rebuilt.  (Jeremiah 31:39; see also Zechariah 2:2-8.) Likewise, the extensive  and detailed  measuring of the visionary witnessed by Ezekiel was a guarantee to the Jewish exiles in Babylon that true worship would be restored in their homeland.  It was also  a reminder that, in view of their errors, Israel henceforth had to measure God's holy standards. - EZEKIEL  40:3 4; 43:10.

Therefore, when John is commanded to measure the temple sanctuary and those priests worshiping in it,is is a sign that nothing can prevent the fulfillment of  Jehovah's  purposes  regarding the temple arrangement and those associated with it, and those purposes are nearing their climax. Now  that all things  have been placed under the feet of Jehovah's strong angel, it is the time for "mountains of the  house of Jehovah" to become "firmly established  above the top of the mountains."  (Isaiah 2:2-4) Jehovah's pure worship must be exalted, after centuries of Christendom's apostasy. It is also time for those of Jesus'  faithful brothers who have died to be  resurrected  into "the  Holy of Holies."  (Daniel9:24; Thessalonians 4:4-16; Revelation 6:11; 4:4)  And the last sealed ones  on earth of "the slaves of our God" must be measured according to the divine standards in order to qualify for their permanent place in the temple arrangement as spirit-begotten sons of God.  The John class today is fully aware of those holy standards and is determined to measure up to them.  - REVELATION 7:1-3; MATTHEW 13:41, 42; EPHESIANS 1:13, 14; compare ROMANS 11:20.

Next time:  Reviving the Two Witnesses - The Trampling of the Couryard

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