In the Old Testament the temple of God was a building of specific dimensions, built of stone and timbers and precious metals, standing in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 6:1–38). In this temple of God the men of Israel were expected to assemble three times per year (Exodus 23:14–17; Deuteronomy 16:16; Psalm 120:1 – 134:3) because here the Lord God was pleased to dwell with his people (Psalm 132:13–14). This temple was destroyed at the time of the exile into Babylon (2 Kings 25:9). The prophet Ezekiel received a vision concerning the rebuilding of this temple (Ezekiel 40:1–49), yet not literally but spiritually. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:4), Paul could tell the “church” in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2) that “you are God’s temple and…God’s Spirit dwells in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16; see further Ephesians 2:21–22; 1 Peter 2:5). The “temple of God” that John is told to measure is the church. Heaven has great interest in and love for the church.
1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there,