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.
time God’s Glory will not abandon its earthly sanctuary. The sense of preservation with regard to the sanctuary is created by the contrast with the non-measured items and their fate; there is no need to search for OT passages where measuring symbolizes protection.
4. John’s Mission?
Before concluding, perhaps we may resuscitate an idea that was first put forward over half a century ago by Farrer. He noticed that John was not only given a scroll to eat, but also a "pen like a rod" to measure with, and proposed that "[t]he digesting of the scroll is a metaphorical reading, the measuring of the temple will be a metaphorical writing. St John the inspired prophet by his written prophecy is to effect what the ‘measuring’ describes"63. Could it be that just as the mission of the Church to the world is symbolically presented in vv. 3-13, so is the mission of John to the Church portrayed in vv. 1-2? After all, John is a servant of Christ, who wields the "rod of iron" that can be used to shepherd or break the nations, depending on their response to him (see Ps 2,9; cf. Rev 2,27; 12,5; 19,15). John’s rod-like pen thus places the ultimate challenge before the audience: the lines are being drawn, and it is time for them to decide whether they stand with John or his opponents and ultimately, whether they will dwell in the New Jerusalem or come under God’s judgment and be cast out.