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Measure The Temple
(Revelation 11:1-19)
Chapter 11

"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."                                                                                                   (Revelation 11:1).

The ultimate goal of God's purpose being wrought out through he ages, is to have a people with whom, in whom to dwell, a place where He can PRESENCE HIMSELF without controversy, and say, "This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it."  (Psalm 132:14).  So He is preparing man, both individually and corporately, to be partakers of His divine nature, to be IN HIS OWN IMAGE, so that He might have communion with them.  It is a vital part of the work of redemption to restore man into that state of being wherein he can fellowship God.

One Scholar has suggested that the ego, striving for its own independence, to shape things for itself alone, is an expression of the fall; that the basic "faulting" in man's nature is when he chooses to pursue a purely aberrant way of life for his personal interests and gain.  Thus, mystics say that the wish to be an independent self is the primary and root sin.  When man "turned everyone one to his own way,"  (Isaiah 53:6), there was a breach made, a fellowship broken, and inheritance lost, a controversy begun.

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other." (Galatians 5:17).  Well did the prophet ask, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3).  For "what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" (2 Corinthians 6:16).

In the garden of Eden, Genesis 3 tells us, God was there.  He did not have to call to man until man had sinned, but He presenced Himself and they communed.  But when Adam turned to his own way, his will in contra-distinction to God's will, the controversy was on.  Spontaneous fellowship ended, and thereafter it was intermittent, limited, coming far short of God's plan.  All the way through the Old Testament we trace this on-again, off-again, way of fellowship.  Betimes men seeking God, betimes going their own way.  Times of awareness of His presence, times of emptiness when they wondered, "Where art Thou, Lord?" 

God said to Moses, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."   (Exodus 25:8).  Sanctuary-- literally, a place set apart.  It was necessary for them to set apart a little area of earth with a tent on it, for His place of dwelling.  But this was only an interim thing, for He yet planned to SET APART A PEOPLE for Himself.  But for the time being, Israel had too much of Egypt's god in them, along with all their own self-will and rebellion, so God said, "I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiff-necked people: lest I consume thee in the way, - So Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that ever one which sought the Lord went out unto the Tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp."   (Exodus 33:3, 7).

What a commentary on the state of the people, that even though God had brought them up out of Egypt so "that I might dwell among them,"  yet there was so much controversy in them, they had to set apart a place outside the cap for Him, where they might go and find Him.  Had He stayed in the camp He would have "consumed them in the way,"  for "our God is a consuming fire," consuming all that is not one in His holiness.

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.  Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp..."  (Hebrew 13:12-13).

And so there has been a going without the camp-- beyond the forms of religion, beyond symbol and ceremony, to be joined unto Him in on Spirit.  We leave all else behind, that He might become First and Foremost in our life.  We are identified in the "fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death."  And in this union with Him, we find that we are BECOMING HIS TEMPLE, "Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.  In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."  (Ephesians 2:20, 22).

Truly, "We are His workmanship..."  (Ephesians 2:10), and He is vitally interested, personally involved in the progress of how HIS building is coming together.  So committed is He to our welfare, we read, "That Thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment."  (Job 7:18).  No wonder Jesus taught the necessity for us to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness..."  (Matthew 6:33), so that we might be ready for the gentle nudges that would keep us headed in the right direction.  And while, perhaps, there are areas where we yet need much cleansing and purging, yet, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  There are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Furthermore, "We are confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  (Philippians 1:6).  He is both the Author and the Finisher, and He will bring to a successful conclusion the work which He has begun within us.  Indeed, this new creation temple which He is building, becomes part of the "the revelation of Jesus Christ," to manifest Him, that He might be glorified.

And so the hour came, John saw in his vision, that it was time to measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein."  "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod."

A rod-- the Greek word is "rhabdos" meaning: rod, staff, sceptre.  The comparable Hebrew word "shebet" is used by David in Psalm 23:4, "Thy rod, and Thy staff they comfort me."  Our Lord guides us, corrects us, etc.  And, "A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom."  (Hebrews 1:8).  Thus, HE IS THE ROD, the STANDARD, the CRITERION whereby all must be measured.  All must be "conformed to the image of His Son."

"Measure the temple..."  It is significant that there are two Greek words translated as "temple," the word "hieron," referring to the building; and the word "naos," referring to the inner sanctuary.  from the time when "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom," (Matthew 27:51), as far as God was concerned, it ceased being a temple (naos), and from thereafter it was just a building, hieron.  But Paul picks up this word "naos" and uses it when speaking of the temple which we become, saying, "Ye are the temple (naos) of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  (2 Corinthians 6:16).

Well Peter wrote, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God... first begin at us."  (1 Peter 4:19).  We wonder why we are so dealt with by His Spirit-- why His probings go so deep--  why He exacts such faithfulness and complete surrender from us-- why others are allowed to go their own way, play their religious games-- why He has stripped away our desire for these empty realms?  Ah, it is because He is dealing with us as His firstfruits, HIS INNER SANCTUARY, and we are being duly measured and qualified to become His habitation.

Judgment-- the correctional inworkings of God, begin AT or literally, FROM the House of God.  The temple is the focal point, the starting point, and it first must be found approved, before judgment moves outward.  Not until the temple is fully qualified is the ministry ready to reach out and bring others into alignment with the same Standard.  All else will measure up to the temple, once the temple has measured up to, come into the fulness of Christ.  Then we'll be able to say, in the words of Paul "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." It will not be a "do as I say," but a "do as I am, and as I live," for in state of being we also become one with our Standard.  No wonder this is even more "a revelation of Jesus Christ."

"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." f (1 Peter 1:16).  HIS HOLINESS is our standard, and when we are one IN and WITH that holiness, the, and not until then, will we be a part of that living manifestation of His standard for others.

This brings new meaning to the verse, "For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."  (Luke 6:38).  Jesus Christ is the Measure, the Stature, and because He is giving this measure out to us, this is what He shall receive back again-- a creation restored into fulness and perfection.  If our vision is for a partial redemption, God receiving a few, the Devil receiving the rest, then such is the measure that we shall receive back again-- a partial redemption.  But when our vision is enlarged and we come into the fulness of the TRUE MEASURE, then we'll give out of that Supply, and receive back accordingly.

We read, "Divers weights, divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord."  (Proverbs 20:10).  For the phrase "divers weights" the Hebrew text reads, a stone and a stone," both the same size perhaps, but one of much heavier substance than the other.  A crooked merchant would substitute the one for the other to his own benefit.  Two cups, but one with a false bottom, to cause a lesser measure.  True, in all natural dealings this is an abomination to the Lord.  But it also has a spiritual application.  God does not have a double standard, one for men, and one for Himself.  The principles He gives to men are MUCH MORE fulfilled in Himself and His dealings with His creation.  His own righteousness becomes the ultimate standard for all creation.

"The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, and wisdom shall see the name:  HEAR YE THE ROD, and who hath appointed it."  (Micah 6:9).  Then using Moffatt's translation, and he places verse twelve before verses ten and eleven,  "Hard and harsh are the classed, deceitful are the masses, with mouths full of falsehood.  Can I forget what rogues have hoarded, and these accused scant measure?  Can  condone wrong balances and short weights in the trader's bag? Nay, nay."

No wonder people are confused, they have had to contend with such strange standards and diverse measure.  The religious systems have said, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."  (Revelation 3:17).

But now the voice cries, "HEAR YE THE ROD..." Give your attention to the measuring rod which God has appointed-- it is a sceptre of righteousness, the sceptre of His Kingdom, His total rule within.  He measures and works in us "that we might arrive at really mature manhood-- the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection, and the completeness found in Him."  (Ephesians 4:13, Amplified).

In Ezekiel's vision, (chapter 40), they measured the temple, and then every chamber therein-- each room signifying the office and position of its occupant.  Every room, pillar, gate, etc. had to measure up to the divine specification.  Every man had to qualify for his position in the temple, and each room had to be duly fitted to the needs of that office.  There must be perfect harmony, hence the measures were exact.

So also, the callings of God upon His firstfruits are tremendous, and the position, to become a pillar in the temple of our God, requires that we fully OVERCOME, even as He also overcame.  EVER AS-- in like manner, of the same quality and kind, for we are to be made perfect in Christ's own perfection.

How often it has been necessary for Christ to come with a "scourge of small cords"  and rive "out of the temple,"  a (John 2:15), so many things which are displeasing to Him, till we are cleansed of all that would defile, that we might measure up to the specification for His dwelling place.

"And the altar..."  The altar bespeaks of the place of sacrifice.  The root thought in sacrifice is that TABLE-BOND between the worshipper and his God.  Made with the design of expressing, securing, or promoting friendly relations with Him, based upon the belief that the worshipper and God are capable of holding personal relations which can become closer, or more hostile.  The altar become the focal point over which communion, fellowship, worship take place, as God, and the worshiper, come together for this time of sharing.  It is a place where we draw night unto God, while He also draws nigh unto us.

Israel had various offerings, each signifying a particular area that needed attention-- God's forgiveness, His peace, His love, His care while in turn man surrendered himself evermore to His creator.  And as to the gifts offered, the law was specific, there could not be an offering of that which was blind, broken, or maimed, etc. (see Leviticus 22:21-25).  And the prophet Malachi charged the people with profanity and irreverence because "they brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick,"  (Malachi 1:13), while they kept the best of the flocks for themselves.

Jesus asked His disciples, "Whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? (Matthew 23:19).  The answer is obvious, the altar is greater, and whatever gift is placed on the altar, is sanctified, set apart to the degree of holiness of the altar, and, in a sense, becomes identified in oneness with the altar.  First and Foremost, Jesus Christ is our Altar!  And He sets us apart to His realm.  As we present ourselves to Him, daily to be "a living sacrifice,"  we are set apart to His holiness, glory, and the victory of the Altar.

"Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."  (Psalm 50:5).  Coming into a covenant relationship with Him-- a union forged in "the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."  His was the perfect sacrifice, and only IN and BY Him can we offer ourselves upon the Altar.  Obviously, to be acceptable, what we offer is not the old man of the adamic nature, but the new man, the new CHRIST-LIFE in which He is well pleased. "Spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5).  This is a higher calling, with access to another altar, to stand before the Lord, to minister unto Him.  It was to this, that the writer to the Hebrews made reference, when we read, "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle."  (Hebrews 13:10).

Moffatt gives, "Our altar is one of which the worshippers have no right to eat."  This implies a realm beyond where we satisfy ourselves, while we offer our sacrifices, for it is ALL TO HIM.  No reservations for self-- totally we are offered to Him! Christ, "through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God," (Hebrews 9:14), and it is in our union with Him, that body, soul, and spirit, all that we are, we give to Him, to bless Him.  An altar beyond all altars, this is measured, and found to His praise.

"Them that worship."  "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him."  (John 4:23).  Worship speaks of the complete abasement of self; not just a will-worship, nor a lip-service, but that total abandonment before Him, bowing at His feet, to magnify Him alone.  Yes, even our worship is to be measured, that is be pure, from the heart, in spirit and in truth, to glorify God.

He called God a Spirit," that He might distinguish Him from bodies, directing our eyes of of man, that we might have a single eye unto our Lord. He named Him The Truth," to distinguish Him from a shadow or an image. "Though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh." (2 Corinthians 5:16, Amplified).  Hear it, dear reader, He is measuring the worshippers, to see if they have GONE BEYOND types and shadows, traditions and creeds of men, to worship Him in sprit, and in truth.  There is a realm beyond human bodies, and beyond all image and shadow, allegories, etc. and he would bring us into that reality.

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the nations..." (Revelations 11:2).

The application is two-fold.  First, in speaking of our becoming the temple, He is dealing with our inner man, "the hidden man of the heart." "For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."  (1 Samuel 16:7).  And so Jesus reproved the Pharisees, because they "make clean the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess."  (Matthew 23:25).  And again, emphasizing that it was not the outward, but the inward that mattered, He said, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."  (Matthew 15:11).

Religion concerns itself with the measuring of the outward, the physical, the self-worth, the fame and success, etc.  And they set standards for dress, and code of action, ignoring the fact that the outward is but a portrayal ground for the inward-- and sooner or later all masquerades are stripped away, and we will be seen for what we are.  In the measuring of the temple, altar, worshipper, and the instruction was to place the emphasis upon the spiritual, not the natural-- it is the spiritual realm which is being dealt with. 

Secondly, another application can be drawn-- for the intense dealings of God are first upon the remnant firstfruits of the new creation order-- the OVERCOMER, which He is leading onward.  These are being dealt with in ways and depths that the multitudes know nothing of.  But the people of the court will carry on with their ministries and programs, often blessed by God for the realm in which they move, though they are totally ignorant of the "wheel within a wheel," of the separated walk of those who go on to worship in spirit and in truth.

It is while the "measuring" is going on, the processing, purging, up-building of the temple-body, that we find this "other ministry" taking place out in the court, "And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy... clothed in sackcloth.  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."  (Revelation 11:3-4).

Again we are directed back into the Old Testament in regards to these symbols, and their meaning.  "What seest thou?  And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and the two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. -- And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be?  And I said, No, my lord.  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."  (Zechariah 4:2-3, 12-14).

First, it is to be noted that Zechariah did not ask about the identity of the golden candlestick in the middle.  It is the ministry of overcoming victory, possessing the seven spirits of God.  It was prefigured in Zerubbabel, and revealed in Jesus Christ.  It is also to be seen in the TEMPLE once it is duly measured and become one in Him.

But when it came to the two olive trees, (literally, the sons of oil), then the prophet asked who they were.  Two is the number of witness, as it is written in the Law: "At the mouth of two witnesses, ... shall the matter be established."  (Deuteronomy 19:15).

And it is noted that they are clothed in sackcloth" which bespeaks of a ministry of repentance.  Also, it is a type of the present body of our humiliation.  They are not clothed with immortality, since they can be slain. They are anointed of God, but it is a limited anointing, for they "empty the golden oil out of themselves."  Anything that can be emptied has not yet been brought into His fulness.  They represent a supportive ministry, and a forerunner to the greater ministry which shall follow. Even as John the Baptist was a forerunner to Jesus Christ.  Theirs is a ministry of discipline, punishment. "fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies. - These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy. - (they) smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."  (verses 5-6).  It is a valid ministry, but in great contrast to the greater ministry which will follow, when the sons, who are one in the divine nature of love, are used to help RECONCILE and RESTORE all things to God.  But, when this special "two witness ministry" has run its course, fulfilled its purpose, then to them also is extended the call "Come up hither." Thus all the lesser is ultimately swallowed up in the greater, to the glory and praise of our Lord.

Through all God's workings with man, let us join in with those who "fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned."  (verses 16-17).  Every working, whether it appears negative or positive, regardless of its level, is being used to bring forth "a revelation of Jesus Christ," and so we worship Him.

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."  (19).

When the temple, God's living habitation, His overcoming body, has been duly measured, fully judged and stands approved, coming up to His standard of perfection, then comes the UNVEILING-- the temple is opened, and that which is within is made manifest, and the purpose of God continues its operation throughout the next age.  For so long God has quickened truth to His "hidden ones," and sealed it up within them, to work in their own being its transformation process.  "Until the time that his word came: the Word of the Lord tried him."  (Psalm 105:19).  "I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world. - They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14,16).  It was HIS WORD, and we receive it, not to immediately run and broadcast it everywhere, casting it as pearls before swine, but it is to WORK IN US until we are fully changed.  However, not forever does the process continue-- though the "bread corn is bruised; (yet) He will not ever be threshing it." (Isaiah 28:28).  Threshing-- breaking-- NOT FOREVER, only until it has done its work, then follows a joyful victory.  There came a time, when on the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." And there shall come that day when He will have brought to a successful conclusion His redemptive work in His people.

When the temple is opened, "there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." All of the Christ now within His elect shall be revealed, seen in His temple.  He is the Ark of the testament, the Center of our testimony and victory, and it is to Him that we shall bear witness-- of His salvation, of His life!

Well did Jeremiah prophesy of this moment, saying, "It shall come to pass... in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more."  (Jeremiah 3:16). They will remember no more the former dispensation, typified by the ark of the first covenant, with all its types, shadows, symbols.  The new Ark is personified in Christ, not a shrine to be visited, nor a form and ceremony to be ritualized-- HE IS LIFE, HE IS TRUTH. This is the Christ that shall be revealed in His christed ones.  The Ark of the covenant of the Old Testament did symbolize His presence, for He "dwelleth between the cherubims." (1 Samuel 4:4). And wherever the Ark was, thither the people went to worship Him.  But when He fills this LIVING TEMPLE with Himself, then wherever one of this corporate temple goes, He is there, to be seen, to manifest His power and victory.

There are five glorious manifestations that proceed out of this temple, to establish the reality of His kingdom in the earth.  It is a ministry that is fully equipped for the task, ready to execute the full counsel of His will.

"And there were lightnings." Lighting speaks of the discharge of power accompanied by brilliant flashes of light piercing the darkness.

"Canst thou send lightings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?  (margin, or say, behold us)." (Job 38:35).  The spiritual reality and fulfillment of this is none other than the manifestation of the sons of God, sent forth to do the bidding of the Lord. "Who maketh His angels (messengers) spirit; His ministers a flaming (flashing) fire."  (Psalm 104:4).

"He shot out lightnings, and discomfited (troubled) them.  Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at Thy rebuke, O Lord."  (Psalm 18:14-15). What a beautiful description of the ministry ready to unfold.  Sent forth by God, and the enemy is troubled.  The illumination exposes the whole situation, until the very foundations are discovered, and the channels are seen.  The patterns and ways will be revealed.  Waters often speak of people, and in this day the psychologist and psychiatrist probe and search, guess and wonder at the ways of man, and try to learn the patterns so as to elp them solve their problems.  But when the blazing light of the seven-fold Spirit of God; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, etc. makes these God-sent messengers "of quick understanding,"  then they shall "not judge after the seeing of the eye, neither reprove after the hearing of the ear: but with righteousness shall they judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth.."  (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Then shall this glorious ministry deliver mankind out of his bondage and grief, to follow in the way of the Lord.  "To heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."  (Luke 4:187-19).

"And there were voices." Greek, "phone," a voice, sound. "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them without signification." (1 Corinthians 14:10).  We try to listen and make sense out of them, but it is very confusing.  One man gives forth his message, followed by another that contradicts the first.  And so we learn to "tune out" all such voices.  But these VOICES are identified as coming from an OPEN TEMPLE, and their message is like unto none other ever heard. "The kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which hath not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." (Isaiah 52:15).

Nor will there be the confusion of voice and outward manifestation, as when Isaac said, "the voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."  (Genesis 27:22).  Far too often we have seen the handiwork of the flesh, and tried to join it to the voice of the Spirit, and it was confusion.  But when the message and the messenger become one, there will be a life lived that is true to its message-- a clear word that brings glory to God, and blessing to its hearers. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God: and they that hear shall live."  (John 5:25).

"And there were thunderings." A sound,  due to the sudden expansion of the air in the path of the discharge of power.  The word is the same in the Greek for "roar." Ministries have often seemed so impotent, but when God releases HIS POWER to begin "the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began,"  (Acts 3:21), it shall burst forth with a roar, a thundering, striking terror into the camp of the enemy, and awaken new hope in the heart of the prisoner that has long been waiting in the region of the shadow of death.

"Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder."  (Psalm 81:7).  Who can comprehend the power of our God?  Who can tell the workings of His energy-force? There shall come a demonstration of His might, the roar of His deliverance, turning things upside down, shaking everything that can be shaken, till only His kingdom remains.

"And earthquake." It is significant that throughout the scriptures earthquakes often denote the ending and beginning of dispensations.  Climaxing a victory won, and opening new operations.  They are another symbol of God's irresistible power, which now shall be personified in a people.  It signified that an age has ended, namely the "church age," I.e. the calling out of a people unto Himself, to be His firstfruits of the new creation order.  It also signified that there is anew age beginning, with further unfolding of His grace to bring new advances in the restoration of mankind.  Earths will quake, stones will be rolled away, graves will be opened, bands will be loosed, nothing will remain unmoved in this manifestation of the Lord coming forth from His temple.

"And a great hail."  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the HAIL shall sweep away the refuge of the lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place."  (Isaiah 28:17).

Although it is written, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall still as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the Lord," (Deuteronomy 32:2-3), yet it is equally true that the truth shall have a SOLID IMPACT upon the lies and false doctrines of the religions of our day, and shall utterly demolish the refuge of creedal error and the traditions of men.

Men have built their kingdoms, walls and barriers seem to abound, but when God sends forth HIS HAIL from His temple, it will bring an end to the works of man.  Who can tell of all the ways and methods this shall be fulfilled, for prophecy has amazing ways of fulfillment, far beyond the speculation of man.  But the vision is sure-- John saw the temple measured, and he saw the finished temple OPENED-- and so shall God's truth be declared, and established in all the earth. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14).  God will have a people through whom this tremendous work shall be accomplished.  His power and glory shall be revealed, and His name shall be glorified in all the earth!