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.
Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit to the "house of Yahweh" in Jerusalem, and shown the idolatry that is rampant there. The prophet is taken around the temple compound and finally brought to the courtyard outside the sanctuary. There, between the altar and the entrance to the sanctuary, twenty-five men are worshiping the sun, their backs towards the sanctuary where Yahweh’s Glory dwells:
kai_ ei)sh/gage/n me ei)j th_n au)lh_n oi!kou kuri/ou th_n e)swte/ran kai_ i)dou_ e)pi_ tw=n proqu/rwn tou= naou= kuri/ou a)na_ me/son tw=n ailam kai_ a)na_ me/son tou= qusiasthri/ou w(j ei!kosi a!ndrej ta_ o)pi/sqia au)tw=n pro_j to_n nao_n tou= kuri/ou kai_ ta_ pro/swpa au)tw=n a)pe/nanti kai_ ou|toi proskunou=sin tw|= h(li/w|
(Ezek 8:16 LXX) 52
This is the height of abomination. The only thing that can follow is the judgment of Yahweh. Next Ezekiel sees seven angels who are told to kill the entire population of Jerusalem, save the small remnant "who grieve and lament over all the detestable things" that are done in the house of Yahweh (9,4). The faithful ones among God’s people receive a mark on their foreheads so that they will not be judged with the rest. Then the angels are told to begin slaughtering at the sanctuary (v. 6) and to desecrate it (v. 7). They do as commanded, and finally Ezekiel is shown how the Glory of Yahweh departs from his house that had been defiled by the idolaters among his people.
Against this background we can better grasp what John is trying to communicate. If the sanctuary represents the faithful church, as the majority of the proponents of the figurative view believe, then it would appear that the worshipers and the altar in the court outside the sanctuary symbolize corrupt cult and idolatrous/syncretistic Christians. Possibilities here might include "Jezebel", those following