The Temple in Revelation; Made by God
We begin with Revelation 11:1-4.
Like the majority of the Revelation letter, these four verses stir up a variety of controversies. It is not my intention to discuss them but rather to mention them and give what I believe to be the correct understanding. Revelation does not stand alone any more than Romans or James do. The entire New Testament has to be considered as a whole or we risk taking one part out of context. Much of the imagery in Revelation, as we would expect, is also found in the Old Testament. That often gives us a clue to its New Testament use. We know for certain that the Bible in its whole has one true message and does not offer contradictory thoughts.
Some readers see these verses as describing a physical temple building that will be erected in the last days. Some see a similar building that existed in the time of Jesus and destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. Others see a non-physical building made up of believing Jews and unbelieving Jews that will exist just before the second coming of Christ. I believe this passage refers to the church established by Jesus while on earth. As God manifested His presence in the earthly physical tabernacle/temple prior to Jesus’ coming, He now lives in the spiritual temple of His son and those who are a part of him.
The measuring taking place in these verses implies that the people of God, who make up this temple are secure. God is in control. No nation or power can destroy this temple as it is protected by God. We just need to return to Ezekiel 40-48 where an angel is measuring the future temple Ezekiel is seeing. That measuring will take place again in Revelation 21:15-17. God has the temple measured to assure us that His promised presence with us through eternity is certain. That eternal presence has already begun in the Christian age. Christians are in Christ who is in God.
God and Jesus are the new temple. There will not be a physical building made by mankind to provide a dwelling place for God. They are the temple not made with hands and not for this earth.
We continue with Revelation 21.
Revelation 21:2 echoes Revelation 3:12. These two passages show us the relationship between the temple and the new city which is the new Jerusalem. In Ezekiel we learned that the new temple was the size of a city and in Revelation we are made to understand that the temple of God and the city of God are the same. God will dwell in the temple with His people forever and He dwells in the city with them forever. In the next chapter, we see again that the new creation will be like a garden; like the first garden. It and the city and God and Christ are the promised temple of God and we will live there with God.
Philip Dampier's Blog 