- the measuring reed:
- Estimating the reed at 10+ feet, 500 reeds will be nearly equal to a mile; so that from this statement we find the temple, with its outbuildings, was built on a square, nearly an English mile on each side, and four miles in circumference. This not only far exceeds the size of Solomon's temple, or that after the captivity, which was only 500 cubits, or a furlong, on each side, and exactly half a mile in circuit; but is nearly equal to the whole extent of Jerusalem itself, which, when greatest, was but 33 furlongs in circumference, somewhat less than 4+ miles. This seems clearly to intimate, that the vision cannot be explained of any temple that has hitherto been built, or indeed of any literal temple, but figuratively and mystically of the spiritual temple, the church under the gospel, and its spiritual glory. "And he broughtª° me thither,¹ and, behold,¹ [there was] a man,ª whose appearanceª [was] like the appearanceª of brass,ª with a lineª of flaxª in his hand,ª and a measuringª reed;ª and he¹ stoodª° in the gate.ª" {Ezk 40:3} + "I lifted upª° mine eyesª again, and looked,ª° and behold¹ a manª with a measuringª lineª in his hand.ª" {Zch 2:1} + "Andª there was givenª° meª a reedª like² unto¹ a rod:ª andª the¹ angelª stood,ª° saying,ª° Rise,ª° andª measureª° the¹ templeª of God,ª andª the¹ altar,ª andª them that worshipª° therein.ªª ... Butª the¹ courtª which² is withoutª² the¹ templeª leaveª° out,ª andª measureª° itª not;ª forª it is givenª° unto the¹ Gentiles:ª andª the¹ holyª cityª shall they tread under footª° forty² [and] twoª¹ months.ª" {Rev 11:1-2}
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