Many Preterists often use Rev. 11:1 to make the case that the entire book of Revelation was written prior to the destruction of the temple in 70AD. They say that because John is told to go and measure the "temple of God" meaning the physical temple in Jerusalem is still standing when the book was written. While that view may appeal to many who try to make the book of Revelation about historical past events, it does not satisfy my own curiosity for why an an "inanimate object" like the physical temple would be the focus or object of such an amazing prophecy. If it can be shown that the physical temple in Jerusalem was not the object that the angel was told to go and measure, than this particular passage that HyperPreterism uses to date the book completely falls apart because the physical temple was NOT the object of concern. If it was Jesus who was the object "the true temple of God", then using Rev. 11:1 to date the book based on the physical temple still standing becomes insignificant and irrelevant to their argument.
First, the temple of God referred to in Rev. 11:1 was not a inanimate object. Jesus was the "true" temple of God. Jesus was accused in Matthew 26:61 “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the "TEMPLE OF GOD" and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” The man who accused Jesus, believed Jesus was referring to the physical temple. However, it is clear that Jesus was referring to himself as being the "true" temple of God. When Jesus was accused of making this statement about destroying the "temple of God", he was referring to his body NOT the physical temple. This is common knowledge among Preterist. Yet, in Revelation 11:1-2, measuring the temple means "the physical temple is still standing" yet in other places in the Bible the temple is known to be Jesus Christ and his body. Preterists want it to be both, and they are certainly NOT consistent in making the claim about Rev. 11:1-2 about the physical temple as a proof text for when the book was written.
Second, the outer courts did not mean the outer court of the physical temple. It did however mean those who were outside of Jesus Christ. Those outside of Jesus are those who were from below, not from above. They where allegorical seen as children of the "bondwoman" and part of those who would remain in the bondage after the flesh resulting in separation from Jesus. (Gal 4). How can anyone possibly think that this applied solely to the first century Jews? Only in a horizontal system like Preterism, can one be so narrow minded to believe the first century Jews represented all of those outside of Jesus Christ.
Third, The metaphor of measuring a city has nothing to do with determining its physical dimensions of the physical temple. It is a symbol of setting all men aside either for preservation or for destruction. It was a symbol of harvest and judgment towards those outside Christ, who stood outside of the "temple of God" and who were given over to death and destruction. It certainly does not mean "physical Roman armies" in 70AD was when all of this occurred. Those outside in the courts outside the temple were of the bondage Hagar and would not be allowed to enter the temple of God, or the Jerusalem from above.
(Revelation 11:1-2) Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Don Preston says "Revelation chapter 11:1-19 depicts the temple (note: Preston applies this to the physical temple) in Jerusalem as still standing. John is told to measure the temple and altar and them that worship therein. (v. 1) "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." (v.2) This passage CLEARLY indicates that the temple and city are both in existence at the time of John's writing."
eschatology.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=359&Itemid=61
To a Preterist, there is only two options, either you are a Preterist, or you are a Futurist. In their very narrow view, it can only be one or the other. However, both views express a horizontal view that is solely about time, solely external from the real object which is Jesus Christ. Both place the fulfillment in terms of history. I do not believe that the book of Revelation is a mystical message about revealing historical happenings. I can't believe historical events was the mystery hidden since the foundation of the world. I do believe the book of Revelation is laying out higher principles expressed in terms of inclusion and separation from Jesus. It reveals Jesus in such a way that he remains concealed from those outside of him, while opening up and revealing himself to those who are of him throughout ALL GENERATIONS.
