Revelation 11:1, commentary and pictures

The command to rise and measure the temple and altar and worshipers means the grand judgment is now taking place, with every case reviewed and assessed before God. Christ Himself does the measuring by examining every church and heart and action, weighing deeds in heaven's scales and recording the result, while observing angels record names and characters and sins and words and actions and spirit in the books of heaven. The measure tests whether those who received light have been transformed by grace and brought it into life and character, in ordinary words and actions and spirit at work and at home, and especially in love for brethren, exposing selfishness and covetousness and hardness of heart and neglect to help by encouraging words and deeds. Those given many blessings are measured by whether with self-denial they impart to the needy and suffering, for God marks the longing of souls and the cries of suffering humanity, and all conduct is examined by the great moral standard of His holy law in exact fairness and justice toward others. The same prophecy must be read verse by verse to learn the things yet to take place in the cities, giving warning of a wonderful display of God's power in destruction because of their sins, which must not be ignored or made light of but calls for heeding His voice and making amends.

The Measuring as Judgment

The command to rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it means that the grand judgment is taking place, in which God measures the temple and its worshipers. Every case is being reviewed before God, and the people in His temple are being assessed. This is a present work, understood as going forward in 1899 and as going forward now. Christ Himself does the measuring by examining every church and every heart and every action. He weighs deeds in heaven's scales and records the result, and no sin escapes His sight, even one hidden from people.

The worshipers are examined under the eyes of observing angels. Their names and characters are recorded, including their sins, and some names are blotted out of the book of life. Their words and their actions and their spirit are written in the books of heaven, so faithfully that even the history of a single meeting is preserved there. The measurement concerns whether those who have received light and instruction have been transformed by Christ's grace and have brought that light into life and character.

This measuring goes forward while the world advances in rebellion against God's law. At the same time professed Christians join the man of sin in trying to make that law void.

What the Measure Requires

The measuring asks whether those who have received light and instruction have been transformed by Christ's grace and have brought that light into life and character. It is an examination of who will remain faithful and fit for the Lord's kingdom and who will stand in the last day. God watches the spirit in which work is done, and calls believers to serve Him in everyday and domestic duties.

Ordinary conduct is under examination, for words and actions at work, at home, and in conversation are examined and recorded in heaven. Angels observe the worshipers, and their words, actions, and spirit are recorded, so that even the history of a single meeting is faithfully preserved in the books of heaven. The spirit in which work is done is watched, calling believers to serve God in everyday and domestic duties.

The measuring is an examination of works and character, especially love for brethren, exposing selfishness and covetousness, hardness of heart toward one another, self-love, self-deception, and neglect to help brethren by encouraging words and deeds. It is given as a present warning to find out whether love is lacking, to be watchful, repent, hold fast, and strengthen the things that remain. Works found not perfect before God prove the love of Christ is not an abiding principle, and leave those with a name to live spiritually dead.

The measuring tests those placed where they have received many blessings to see whether with self-denial and self-sacrifice they impart to the most needy and suffering who have few blessings and little encouragement. This work of helping is laid upon every saint, and for neglect of it they will be held accountable. Those who have freely received must freely give, and those with comforts are called to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus by helping others. God is watching and testing how people use the blessings and opportunities given them, placing on those in privileged positions the responsibility to minister to those who have few blessings and little encouragement.

The Lord marks the longing of souls for privileges to become better informed and better clothed, and for privilege, instruction, and clothing. Angels look to see what testimony about this suffering class they can carry to the courts above, watching to report and to carry testimony of help given. The cries and prayers of suffering humanity come up before Him just as surely as the blood of Abel, for God is not indifferent to the pressing need of white or black anywhere. The measurement includes His awareness and record of what destitute parts of His vineyard have needed and not received, and His angels wait to carry to the courts above testimony of what help the highly privileged gave to them. God notices their longing and hears their prayers, and is not indifferent to the needs of His suffering children crying to Him.

Conduct is examined by the great moral standard of His holy law, including whether they care for the souls near them. It requires dealing with others with exact fairness, equity, and justice, for God accepts no fraud or injustice from those entrusted with His goods. Those who devise for self-profit and say to the needy to be warmed and clothed and fed yet do nothing to relieve them fail the measurement.

The measurement examines whether religious service is acceptable, and it applies to workers' conduct as well as worship. Service is unacceptable when words, expressions, listening, or actions reveal Satan's attributes instead of God's Spirit. In Melbourne He acknowledges efforts to know God and Jesus Christ and to cultivate Christian character, and disapproves of slothfulness and indifference. It puts ministers and physicians who will connect with the sanitarium on trial. Because of profession of faith it demands close work in families and in all associations and institutions, with truth kept pure, principles unweakened by imperfect lives, and character made Christlike and free from corruption.

Prophecy Warning for Cities

Revelation 11:1 belongs to a prophecy that must be read every verse and studied verse by verse to learn the things yet to take place in the cities. It contains God's special indication of a wonderful display of His power in destruction because of the sins of cities. That meaning was made plain by the city recently destroyed, in which such a display had been seen.

The warning is for all who believe and for all who have witnessed such destruction, and it must be heeded rather than ignored, treated with indifference, or made light of. Those addressed are to hear God's voice in it and to make amends for abused privileges and for wrongs done to fellow men. They are not to defiantly invest means to rebuild greater buildings as before, lest God exercise His power to counteract them.