The Eleventh Chapter: The Temple Measured

AND THERE WAS GIVEN ME A REED LIKE UNTO A ROD: AND
THE ANGEL STOOD, SAYING, RlSE, AND MEASURE THE TEMPLE
OF GOD, AND THE ALTAR, AND THEM THAT WORSHIP THEREIN;
BOT THE COURT WHICH IS WITHOUT THE TEMPLE LEAVE OUT,
AND MEASURE IT NOT; FOR IT IS GIVEN TO THE GENTILES:
AND THE HOLY CITY SHALL THEY TREAD UNDER FOOT FORTY
AND TWO MONTHS, V. 1, 2.

i. — The double computation by days and months explained, and why they are here set together.

The contents of this chapter, to the fourteenth verse, are reducible to three heads. I. The above double computation of times; ii. The occurrences in these times of Antichrist; in the age (wherein we live) just before their fatal period; unto the accomplishment of which those occurrences conduce, in. The description of the two witnesses interwoven in the angel’s discourse, in order to the explanation of what should at last befall them. Now for the times here mentioned: First, They are both the same as Daniel’s “time, times, and half-a-time;” which, Secondly, Are shewn, by the forty-two months, to be three years and six months; meaning twelve hundred and sixty years; (reckoning thirty days to the month, which prophetically are so many years; as a week is seven years, a month thirty, a twelvemonth three hundred and sixty, &c.) Thus the “three days and a half” v. 11, must be so many years, wherein the witnesses are to lie in the view of all nations,

KEV. XI. 1, 2.] RECKONED BY MONTHS AND DAYS. 633

(as perhaps banished among them,) their enemies meanwhile sending gifts to one another. Thirdly, By thus linking the two modes of dating the times, they are shewn to be the same when mentioned also apart in c. xii. and xiii. Fourthly, Though here and in Daniel, only the times of the Pope’s reign, (the last head of the Roman monarchy,) are mentioned; (not bearing date from John’s days;) yet the whole period of the Revelation may hereby be calculated, and the contemporaneousness of things in both prophecies; the principal aim being to shew the time and end of the beast’s reign, as c. xvii. 8, shews who he is, and what he should be at last. Now to demonstrate all these; 1st, This explication of the times is a date whence to compute the whole period of the Revelation, if we know either the beginning or ending of the Pope’s reign: but c. xvii. 12, shews his rise to be one hour with the ten kings; which being after A. D. 400, he must continue till after A.D. 1660, (see p. 603); and the Turk’s ruin is yet to follow under “the second woe”ofv. 14; and then comes the new Jerusalem state of the church; whence we may conjecture the space from the incarnation to that fifth monarchy. 2dly, This computation shew the synchronism of the seal and book-prophecy; and here most fitly between them both; for the sixth trumpet of the seal-prophecy, (v. 14, with c. viii. 13,) ends with the Pope’s reign, whose story belongs to the book-prophecy; and the passing away of that woe is the sixth vial in the book-prophecy, affecting the Turk’s ruin, or a preparation thereto by the calling of the Jews: and then the seventh trumpet begins with the seventh vial; and so the beast’s times, and the rising of the witnesses, end with the fifth vial; after which the sixth shall not stay long. 3dly, The division of things into the double series of six seals and six trumpets, is suited to the angel’s division of all times; the primitive being those before the beast’s rise and reign: so that ascertaining how the two propheciesmeet towards theirclose downward, we conjecture how they run along upwards. For the seal-prophecy being branched into two such equal divisions of six seals, c. vi. and the six trumpets, c. viii. ix. the seals containing the story of the empire through all that tract of the primitive times before the beast, the trumpets do likely contain the story of the empire during the beast’s times; and as they end, so they no doubt begin, not far off from each other. 4thly, The Holy Ghost specifies only the times of the beast, as a rule and measure whereby to sum and cast up the account of all the times of this book; For, The beast’s was to be the longest monarchy after Christ, and the Pope the most long-lived of all the heads of the Roman monarchy fore-going him; indeed as long as from the rise of Rome itself, to the rise of Antichrist. 2, The matters of this book being not so fully to be opened “till about the time of the end,” (as in Dan. xii. 4;) if the beast’s times should then come to be known, the whole time from John downward would be known also by them that live in these latter days, for whose benefit and

634 GENERAL VIEW AND DIVISION [REV. XI. 1, 2.

comfort this computation was given. 3, This last head of the Romish monarchy, (which but for him had failed, but was in him healed and restored again,) is inkling enough of the approach of Christ’s kingdom. 4, This beast being the most eminent oppressor of the church in the times after Christ; the computation of this time, (beginning and ending,) and the oppression of the witnesses by him, being most acceptable to be known, would be most enquired after by the church.

ii. — The several occurrences of measuring the temple, altar, Sfc. leaving out the outward court; and of treading down the holy city; towards the expiration of the above times.

First, For a general view and division of these occurrences: As Christ was careful to give us the above computation of times, so for our comfort he relates such events to fall out towards the end of these times; which is the second head to be explained, and it is also twofold; The re-delivery of the outward court to the Gentiles, with the treading down of which ends their reign of the time of the city’s treading down; and, The killing of the witnesses, which terminates in particular the days of sackcloth -prophesy ing, as the former terminated the months of the beast’s reign in general, each of which occurrences have two others with them as congenial appendices to them, or occasions of them: The giving up again the outward court is accompanied by, The measurement of the temple, and The killing of the witnesses is much occasioned, and specially provoked by, The hurt done by there of these witnesses just before, in revenge of which they are encouraged to kill them: Or thus: John and the angel standing here in the very extremities of the times of the fourth vial, (the present age,) wherein Antichrist’s reign is drawing near to the end; John hath represented to him, (as an introduction to all that follows,) the face of the church in this age, and is himself bidden to represent the work of the godly towards her: and, First, She is represented to him as the inward temple standing in the holy city Jerusalem, (as in Ezek. xl. 1, &c.) into which the priest only was to come, and wherein stands the altar, with a company of true worshippers; but a vast outward court lies around it, into which all sorts of professors of true worship come, as used the crowds of Jewish professors. This temple-church is also represented as adorned within with golden candlesticks and two stately olive trees, (v. 4,) being two eminent witnesses and prophets that minister before God therein. Now the Gentiles have for a long time possessed the city, and are still to possess it, till the expiration of their months; but the temple, and its court of late erected in this city, they have been kept out of, and so could not come at these witnesses who are within the temple, nor overcome and kill them as formerly; yet are they mad again with vexation and eagerness for vengeance, because of their being tormented by them with fire and other plagues out of

REV. XI. 1, 2.] OF OCCURRENCES. 635

this temple: But now, before the termination of their months, The angel, (being angry both with the carnal worshippers in the out ward court so profanely mixing themselves with his worshippers, and laying themselves to his building and temple; and also with the carnal gospelling of the two witnesses among them; and with the imperfections of this temple-building, not yet answering the pattern,) intending to erect a purer temple, Secondly, Bids John, (the representative of the godly of this age,) to measure the temple anew; and so begins to make a new reformation therein more answerable to the pattern in the mount; for he is not pleased with the old one that hath stood so long, and whose outward court John is to leave out, as to be given up to those Gentiles, (after that his purer churches shall thus, as it were, have excommunicated them;) who having already taken possession of the city, and kept it a long time, shall now again enter on and over-run this outward court, as within their lease and demise; thus accomplishing their reign over the whole city; and then they are to be driven out of all for ever; which makes them so angry, v. 18. Thirdly, Having thus won the outward court, which fenced and kept safe the witnesses from Popish persecutions, the beast, (vexed and plagued by their shooting wild-fire out of the temple, and in turn shooting back what had hurt him,) can now come to them to overcome them and kill them quite, and scatter their power; ending withal the period of his oppression, and the last war wherein he shall any way prevail; for though he shall again make head, (what of him is left,) before the seventh vial, it shall not come to another victory.

Secondly, For the holy city, temple, and outward court. It is wonderful to me to see how exactly this vision, in the whole series of it, represents the present face, the affairs, stirrings, and alterations, now a working in the churches of Europe; the type and antitype so fully answering and suiting each other; Yen,Jirst, This holy city, (wherein these Gentiles have a lease of forty-two months’ reign,) are those kingdoms of Europe which for more than a thousand years have been the metropolis and chief seat of Christian profession, as Jerusalem of old was of the worship of the true God; which therefore in the following part of the book-prophecy are made, (from the rise of the beast,) the only stage of all, until the new Jerusalem and holy city from heaven succeeds this: Yet, secondly, God permits this city, (for the punishment of the world,) to be trodden down of the Gen tiles, (Luke xxi. 24,) for forty two months: But, thirdly, towards the end of the times of this idolatrous crew of the beast, who have set up such an image of Gentilism, a great part of this city falls from them; and an inclosure and separation is made, wherein a temple is built of churches separate from Antichrist, (c. xv.) as in the northern parts of Europe, see Ps. xlviii. 2, with Isa. xlix. 12; Dan. xi. 44: Unto this temple, fourthly, An outward court of carnal and unregener-

636 THE HOLY CITY, [REV. XI. 1, 2.

ate persons hath been laid, who have made the greatest shew in this building; and who take up so much of the room, that although true churches and temples have been set up by reason of the true worshippers among them, yet they have been defiled with the addition of an outward court, into which all sorts come: so that indeed these Reformed churches have become outward courts more than inward temples; through which mixture great corruptions and defects in the form of the temple, (or church-fellowship,) have been continued among them, and impurities in the worship and about the altar. Now to the temple there went, first, The most holy place inclosed at one end, and separated as our cathedralchoirs; and next, The body of the temple, for the priests only, (where stood the altar of incense,) surrounded by the inner court; and then, The large outer court, (1 Kings vii. 12; 2 Chron. iv. 9; Ezek. xl. 17, 27,) admitting people of all sorts, and encircling the whole buildingbesides, (like our church-yards,) and here said to be “without” the compass of the temple: Herod indeed built a fourth court for strangers. Thus then the true church with its true worshippers, is the true temple with its priests, (see 1 Cor. iii. 16; Eph. ii. 21; 1 Pet. ii. 5; Heb. x. 22;) and the uncircumcised in heart, not being, by regeneration, Jews and the Israel of God, and having no right to approach this altar, are “the court of the Gentiles:” And whether temple or church be taken mystically for the elect and sincere worshippers, or for churches instituted and congregations of true public worshippers, (as Eph. ii. 22; Heb. x. 22, 25;) in both cases others are without in comparison of them, see 1 Cor. xv. 12, 17; Rom. ii. 28, 29: so that in what sense soever the Papists may be called “The outward court,” these also may; as alike arrogating the name of” the church,” and in some places, under that name,casting out the true worshippers; for so great is their number, that in view they are only or chiefly the church; the best congregations of the first Reformation, having numberless more bad than good among them; and many being made up of unregenerate persons; whilst the true visible worshippers, comparatively, are a company of hidden ones: Indeed these unregenerate Protestants are much rather to be accounted “the outward court,” and so are mainly here intended: For, 1st, “The outward court,” is here opposed to all else enumerated for measuring, as temple, altar, and worshippers; and therefore it means not merely an outward face and place of worship, but carnal outward worshippers also: and as heaven and earth are put for their inhabitants, so here the Holy Ghost speaks not of the material court, as neither, elsewhere, of churches as material buildings: so that take the persons worshipping away, and the face of the outward court ceaseth, and its place is lost. Cornelius a Lapide saith,” In that part of the temple where the priests worship, the faithful are symbolically represented; who in Antichrist’s time will be the best, most devout.

REV. XI. 1,2.] TEMPLE, AND OUTER COURT. Cy

most close to God, and most stedfast in his worship.” By “the court without,” are meant, the more unstable and less strict livers, (therefore those further from God,) who are to be cast out without the church; as if the angel had said, “Reject them among the unfaithful and apostate, as unworthy to be numbered with the faithful, because they give way to the Gentiles and those who cleave to Antichrist.” 2dly, These outer-court worshippers are distinct from the Gentiles, to whom they are given: and there fore not being either Papists or true worshippers, must be carnal Protestants filling our churches. 3dly, The Papists, as possessing the outward face of the church, could not so fill this court, as to be the sole contra-distinct and opposite party to the true worshippers; unless all Protestants were of this inner temple, whereas not one of a hundred are so, according to these rules of this reed-measurement: the mere nominal Protestants must there fore be the third party distinct from both, as cast out by the one, and siezed on by the other; and according to apostolic institutions, such ought to be left out of the building, for true churches to be measured anew without them: and therefore if this measuring the temple fall under the sixth trumpet, I cannot but imagine that a new reformation, begun again, is intended; and that the re-entry these Papists are now making upon the outward court of our churches, and our yielding to them, is this giving of the same to the Gentiles. 4thly, The Papists are no court at all to this temple, being by name “Satan’s synagogue,” and “worshippers of the beast and of his image,” and also “Sodom and Egypt,” &c. whereas these, being neither such Gentiles, nor such Israel of God, must be “Jews outwardly,” who have the same worship as the true Israelites, and therefore are discovered to be “the court without,” by the reed and light of God’s word; and those treaders of that court, (Isa. i. 12,) of which the others are treaders down; God bringing on such outward Protestant despisers of the gospel and of true worshippers, the worst of the Hea then, to tread them down by violence, either of conquest over their bodies, (as in Germany,) or over their consciences, in making such again submit to their superstitions and idolatries, as they still go on to do in other places. Now all this must be ascribed to the glorious wisdom of God, who means to have a church most holy to himself under the seventh trumpet, in which “the ark shall be seen in the Holy of holies;” and as he perfects her by degrees, therefore about mid-way between the first Reformation long since made, and the seventh trumpet, he sets his builders on work, (here represented by John,) to endeavour to erect a new frame and reformation of that Reformation, and to take the reed, and measure over anew both temple, altar, and worshippers; and to cast out that outward court of worshippers, with these corruptions of theirs which hindered that thorough Reformation; and so to contract his temple into the narrower compass of the

G38 THE MEASU11EMENT OF THE [REV. XI. 1, 2.

inner temple, yet purer and more refined; he delighting more in truth of worship, than in magnitude or multitude of sacrifices and worshippers: thus he makes to himself a church of priests, into which the faithful are called up from that court before common to both. Here then is the inner temple of the first Reformation, more imperfect, unfurnished, and besides, defiled by having a court attached: Here is also a second Reformation more pure, represented by that temple remeasured for finishing and cleansing from similar mixture; for the Holy of holies is opened, (v. 19,) “into which no unclean thing shall enter,” (c.xxi. 27,) for though the reed of the second Reformation keeps out those whom the godly, (here represented by John,) judge civil and profane, yet many a hypocrite “that loveth and maketh a lie,” (c. xxii. 15,) may escape and crowd into this inward temple still: but there shall be “a golden, reed” (c.xxi. 15,) to measure the new-Jerusalem temple: At present however we must proceed

Thirdly, For the measurement of the temple, altar, and worshippers therein. As a reed is put into the hands of a builder, so Christ puts into the hearts of the rulers of his people the light of his word, as the only sufficient rule whereby to square the worship and worshippers of churches; and by no frame of other reeds unwarranted in scripture: This principle was never yet fully taken up and practised by our Reformers, though long contended for as the ground-work of this building. 1st, The temple here is not only the church of the elect, (for there is a distinct consideration made of the worshippers therein,) but congregation sin church-fellowship, as in Eph. ii. 20 — 22, where the saints are not only part of the temple of the elect, but as an assembly, are an habitation apart, and a little sanctuary unto God, every particular church bearing the name of the whole; and in such a temple alone the ordinances of church-communion and worship, (the sacraments, excommunications, &c.) are to be administered; as at Jerusalem alone sacrifices were to be offered: Therefore, 2dly, The altar being the main and only ordinance of temple-worship serving for sacrifice here, means the church-ordinances of public worship and sacrifice. 3dly, The worshippers, as the priests of old, are those alone to be of this temple and to approach this altar, as in 1 Pet. ii. 5; being persons with qualifications meet for saints, and requisite for the true temple-worship; and thus they become themselves a temple, as gathered up in a church-assembly, according to Christ’s institution. 4thly, The measurement of temple, altar, and worshippers by a reed, is, 1, The drawing a true platform according to the rules of the word, by shewing, What a true church or temple is, and how to be built; next, What is the way of duly administering all church-worship and ordinances, as excommunications, sacraments, ordaining officers of holy things who partake of and serve at thea/tar,and in short whatRom. xii. 1, called LOGICEE LATREIA, word-service, (speaking of a church-REV. XI. 1, 2.] TEMPLE, ALTAR, AND WORSHIPPERS. 639

body, as the next chapter speaks to the same persons as members of a common-wealth;) and then, What is true saintship, and who are meet worshippers in this temple, being admitted or rejected according to the rule and reed of God’s word, whereby we judge them that are within, 1 Cor. v. 12,13. That measuring is “drawing a platform of all these things,” appears by Ezekiel’s shewing Israel the pattern, form, and fashion of the house, its goings out and comings in for administration, &c. all the ordinances with their forms, and laws thereof: and as the prophet saw, distinctly and apart measured, the temple and the altar; and then heard the laws given concerning the worshippers, blaming the admission of strangers uncircumcised in flesh and heart, and shewing who should be priests and Levites, and what their duties; so here the outer court of strangers to God, and unclean, who use strange forms of worship, is to be cast out; see Ezek. xli. xlii. xliii. 10 — 13; xliv. 7 — 9. 2, It means also that such temple, altar, and worship, should now in this age begin to be built and erected, and men set on work to do it; that so the people seeing the true pattern, might be ashamed of their former aberrations, and in future keep to that pattern, anc do after it, and square all by it. Nor does the angel speak of the temple hitherto standing, but, of a new building, or finishing of a church, as in Zech. ii. 5; iv. 10. 3, It imports also protection, as when God is “a wall of fire round about his people, and the glory in the midst of them.” So here the worshippers are called up from the unmeasured court, given to the Gentiles; and by getting into this temple, they are preserved from the re-entry of these Gentiles upon them, and from such power over them, as they had over the outer-court worshippers; the saints being thus preserved from the overgrow ing corruptions and defilements of these Gentiles; and God being to them “a little sanctuary,” (Ezek. xi. 16,) they will be at least preserved for that resurrection to come after, v. 11, 12.

Fourthly, For the leaving out of the outward court unmeasured. 1st, This is “to take the precious from the vile,” (Jer. xv. 19,) and “to discern between the righteous and the wicked, and him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not,” (Mai. iii. 18,) by such marks and signs and spots of God’s people, (Deut. xxxii. 5,) as the word of God sets forth. By this exclusive work, way is made for the right constitution of purer churches; and by these excommunicating gifts, (where the ordinance of excommunication is wanting,) men’s natural or regenerate states are set forth, where by carnal men are convinced and discovered to themselves and others: a spirit being set up in the hearts of the godly by this light, to discern between the clean and the unclean, and so to hew and to set apart the material for this temple, as were the stones for Solomon’s. 2dly, This implies a rejecting them from church-fellowship and not admitting them into this new-reared temple, as unfit matter for the building; which is a kind of excommu-

640 REASONS FOR LEAVING OUT [REV. XI. 1, 2.

nication of them. 3dly, It may further imply a rejecting such forms of administration in worship, and corruptions therein, as are not found agreeable to the word; though left in the first Reformation, (as the filth which the sea leaves behind it at an ebb;) for “the temple, altar, and worshippers,” and “the outward court,” are in full opposition to each other.

Fifthly, For the reason of the leaving out the outward court. Those forms of worship that came from Popery, (the worshippers themselves being inwardly Gentiles,) are ordained, for glorious ends, more or less to be subjected to it again: and therefore God puts it into the hearts of his builders thus strangely and suddenly to reject them, as the time of his decree draws near; only ere these Gentiles seize on them as their prey, the true church-templers leave them out, and they forthwith become as Heathens, cast out and withered, (John xv. 6;) Popish opinions and practices take them again: And how by degrees do these Gentiles win ground upon the outward court in England! and how does their winning ground drive the true worshippers into the inner temple, and cause them to abandon their mixture with the outward court! thus as the new Reformation makes way for ruining the outward court, so the Gentiles’ winning more upon the outward court furthers the new Reformation; God carrying on these two works at once. Now this word “given” shews an easy kind of conquest obtained by the Popish party, to whom the fort is yielded and given up without much or long holding out: and in such a dispensation towards carnal Protestants, thus to give them up again to the Gentiles, God may have many and glorious ends before he brings in that glorious church to come; as 1st, To have a purer church, according to the primitive institution, these treaders of his courts becoming loathsome to him with their oblations: and though the first Reformation was outwardly in shew more specious and glorious for the multitude of the reformed, and this is to be a much smaller and narrower building; yet this second building of a temple without a court, consisting of purer worship and worshippers, squared by the word, shall in true glory excel the other. 2dly, To let many taste of the fruit of their own ways, who though church-zealots, and defenders of religion against the Papists, yet cast out God’s true worshippers and their ministers* saying, “Let God be glorified,” (Isa. lxvi. 5,) whilst they beat their fellow-servants, (Matt. xxiv. 49:) yet herein they are retaliated, being cast out in turn; and their protection and defence ceasing, they are given up to the Gentiles. 3dly, God let Popery come into the world, because men “received not the love of the truth,” (2 Thes. ii. 10,) and therefore it will overflow again after so clear a shining of the prophecy of the witnesses. 4thly, To throw out the rubbish that would hinder the glory of the temple to be built; for such Protestants, like the Samaritans in Ezraiv. 1, 2, offering to assist the building, yet not called of God unto it, would only be a hin-REV. XI. 1,2.] THE OUTWARD COURT. 641

iterance. 5thly, That true worshippers only, and faithful witnesses who stood the trial against the invasions of Popery, might have the honour and praise of that glorious restauration and resurrection of the church and witnesses, yet to come, v. 12, 13. This trial upon all the churches burns up and consumes the dross, and discovers the unsoundness of these carnal Protestants, (that have spoken as big words, and talked as hotly as any against Popery, making it the evidence of their sincerity,) by their base yielding to the Popish Gentiles; that when Christ revives his church again, (v. 12, 13,) he may appear to his people’s glory and to their shame. 6thly, That the Gentiles might thus accomplish their time and period of forty two months, with an investment of the Pope into his old territories, towards the expiring of his lease, when he will himself expire almost in full possession; that so the confusion of Antichrist, (the greatest work to be done for the church since the apostles’ days,) may be the more glorious unto God. Thus Dan. xi. 44, 45, seemed to foretell, That after these “tidings out of the north should trouble him, (the seceding of the northern kingdoms,) as also “out of the east,” (through the Turk’s prevailing so near his territories;) enraged hereby, he would “go forth in great fury, and plant his tabernacle again, (his power and jurisdiction,) upon the glorious holy mountain, (where the temple stands,) between the seas;” yet after all this recovery of his power over the Reformed churches, “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” So when the whore of Rome begins to sing her sister Babel’s song, just afore he fall, and “saith in her heart, I sit as a queen, and am no widow, (as having her ancient paramours again,) and shall see no sorrow; therefore shall her plagues come in one day, for strong is the LORD that judgeth her,” and omnipotently confounds her, c. xviii. 7, 8: and inc. xvii. 13, 17, the ten kings or states of Europe are twice mentioned; first, as giving their power to the beast, and then as agreeing to do so through some special hand of God “to fulfil his will,” even till the words of God (in Daniel) be fulfilled.

In conclusion, From the above interpretation I exclude not the idea of a measuring the temple, &c. at the first Reformation, when churches were erected by our worthies, in separation from Popery, they casting out that Catholic Romish church as not agreeing with the rule. And so that Reformation and separation falling out when the Turks possessed the eastern empire, (being the sixth trumpet, c. ix. 13, &c.) this chapter beginning with that Reformation, should thereby orderly continue the story of the sixth trumpet, without any chasm between c. ix. and xi. whereas to draw it down to our time leaves an interim or vacuity of near three centuries; yet the one being a true measuring, as the other is the finishing of that building whereof the Reformers’ hands laid the foundation, (like Zerubbabel, whose hands were also to finish the temple, Zech. iv. {),) therefore I verily think that the Holy

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642 DIVISION, ORDER, AND TIME [REV. XI. 3, 4.

Ghost bad an aim to both, as two several gradual accomplishments of it, as in other prophecies, (when the last of several in his eye is yet mainly intended:) and this double aspect here, I shall shew when I come to the killing of the witnesses.