Marko Jauhiainen, «The Measuring of the Sanctuary Reconsidered (Rev 11,1-2)», Vol. 83 (2002) 507-526
The act of measuring in Rev 11,1-2 does not portray the Church as spiritually protected but physically vulnerable, as normally thought. Not only are there lexical and interpretive difficulties with the traditional view, it is also not supported by the OT and extra-biblical evidence commonly adduced. Reading two kai/j differently and recognizing an allusion to Ezek 8:16 LXX addresses both the lexical and interpretive issues. The act of measuring is used to communicate the fact that contrary to Ezek 8–9, this time God will not abandon his earthly sanctuary, though idolatry among his people will still be judged.
A somewhat better candidate for an OT background can be found in Zech 2,1-2. In a vision, Zechariah sees a man with a "rope of measuring" (hdm lbx) in his hand, on his way to measure Jerusalem. The purpose of the measuring here is not to protect the city but to find out "how wide and how long it is", as the man explains to Zechariah. Measuring precedes building and is therefore a necessary step in preparation for the rebuilding of the city and its walls34. This also fits the larger context of Zechariah’s visions which concern the restoration of Jerusalem and its temple. But if measuring connotes rebuilding, the sense of protection in this chapter as a whole derives from Yahweh’s explicit promise that he will come and dwell in Jerusalem amongst his people, and be "a wall of fire around her" (v. 5).
The third possibility for an OT background of the measuring of the sanctuary is Ezek 40–4835. Here the prophet is taken in a vision to a very high mountain near a city, where he sees a man with a "line of measuring" (hdmh hnq, ka/lamoj me/trou) in his hand. Ezekiel is told to observe everything carefully as the man measures the various structures of the temple compound (including nao/j in ch. 41), and explains what the future temple will be like, what the dimensions of its various parts are, how it will function, and how the land is to be divided between the tribes. Ezekiel is then to describe the temple and its plan to the people of Israel (40,4; 43,10). If they are ashamed of their sins, he is to make known to them the design of the temple and all its regulations and laws so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations (43,11). Thus the purpose of measuring is not to signify security or protection but to reveal to Ezekiel Yahweh’s plan regarding the return of the Glory, the restoration of pure worship, and