OBSERVING REALITY
We should each ask ourselves: "How can I know if I really believe and love the Truth of God?" We should all know and admit we are imperfect, that we are sinners (Rom 3;23), that our knowledge and understanding of Truth is incomplete (1Cor 13:12), perhaps, in some cases, terribly wrong. If we refuse to readily admit this then it is pointless listening any further.

However, can we know with certainty that our direction is at least in accord with the five wise virgins of Matt 25:1-13? Yes, we can come to know that we really believe and love the Truth! Belief and love for the false notions of men, as with Iraqis for Saddam Hussein, as with juvenile minds for Coca Cola, McDonalds and Metallica, as with lovers of false prophets-is far easier than commitment to love of God, who transforms-painfully-minds, hearts, motivations, attitudes, behaviours, choices, and even personalities into disciples who always seek, hunger and thirst for and struggle for the Will of God (Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; 7:17).

In view of the current bombing (16th to 19th Dec) of Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the anxious feelings such events produce let's review some prophecy.

It seems, according to prophetic understanding in the Radio Church of God of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, early 60s, the Worldwide Church of God of the late 60s, 70s, 80s, early 90s, that Europe led by Germany should be doing what the USA is now doing in the Middle East. This is illustrated in the cruise missile bombardment that started in the darkness of early Thursday morning-at about 1am Baghdad time-about 9am here in Melbourne. Can the EU do what the US is doing?

If the USA should suffer some "deadly wound" economically and politically, does anyone presently believe that the American people and their power brokers would just lie down and let the evils steal their growing materialism, their growing military power, their growing global influence, their control of world issues and cultural influences?

The General Secretary of the United Nations in despair about the present unilateral US action, with Britain's material and political support, said (on Thursday), "Today is a sad day for the United Nations and for the world!" What did he mean? On December 8, 1998, in Paris, while addressing the French National

Indeed, the opening words of its (the United Nations) Charter, "We the peoples of the United Nations"; clearly indicate that the Organization was intended to serve as an expression of popular sovereignty, on a global scale. … the world in which we live is undergoing a sea change involving transformations so profound that they affect the very structure of our societies at the political, economic and social levels. Faced with these transformations, we must take a hard look at the objectives of the United Nations and its raison d'être in the new world order. … The context for our reassessment must also be that of globalization. Markets have been liberalized. Capital, goods and services, as well as technologies and ideas, circulate more freely than ever before and the barriers of space and time have fallen. But the political structures have not evolved accordingly. While many aspects of our daily lives are influenced by global forces, political thinking and structures have retained, with few exceptions, a resolutely national character. This results in distortions which you, as parliamentarians, are responsible for trying to eliminate by opening up to international life, so that the people you represent can truly take part in building the world of tomorrow. … I wish to reaffirm that while regional organizations undoubtedly (like the EU, ASEAN, NATO) have an important role to play, any military intervention by the international community must remain subject to the approval of the Security Council (of which Russia, China, France are permanent members and would have vetoed expressed US desires with regard to the present cruise missile bombing). Dispensing with its assent, as some are tempted to do (i.e., the US and Britain) would mean setting unfortunate precedent. It would call in[to] question the very first article of the Charter of the Organization, which provides for "effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace". … the United Nations…can seek to be a kind of "conscience of the world"… It can contribute to the establishment of a new system of norms (whereas the USA acts as if to impose US norms upon the whole earth)… (Last sentence of the address) They are the necessary condition for enabling the French people to make its voice heard and assume its responsibilities in the search for the new world order.

The beginning of this section is entitled "Observing Reality." Perhaps I should rename it as: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Everyone has ears, but not everyone understands. This statement is made some sixteen times in the NT and gives answer to why people do not see nor hear, do not perceive and refuse to know what God offers, hence realities are denied. Denial is the food of blindness and deafness. Scripture has much to say about this.

Matthew 13 has seven parables with the first one being the parable of the sower. Having briefly given it Jesus ends it with the statement in Matt 13:9, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
Matt 13:10-16 continues:

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered them: "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says (from the Greek Septuagint rather than the Hebrew Masoretic of Isa 6:9-10): 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hardened to hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.' 16 Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.

In Matt 13:43, at the end of the explanation to the parable of the tares, Jesus says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

During Paul's imprisonment in Rome, under house arrest, he met with Jewish religious leaders, as Acts 28 records.

Acts 28:25-27 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one [final] word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our [fore]fathers [and persistent hypocrites], 26 saying, 'Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn [to the true God in repentance and in the humility of discipleship], so that I should heal them."'

Let's look at what Isaiah said on the subject.

Isa 1:18-20 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD (for as with Job, one must be willing to answer questions-and then this happens): "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as [pure white fine] wool. 19 If you are willing (to hear, to see, to do the Will of God) and obedient, you shall eat the good of the [Promised] Land; 20 But if you refuse (to see, to hear, to do the Will of God rather than the will of men who claim to speak on behalf of God) and rebel (against the Word of God), you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isa 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight (for these will not hear nor see what God says for they hear their own imaginations)!
Isa 6:9-10 And He (the LORD) said (to Isaiah as he was being told to go and do what he was commissioned to do rather than assume God had sent him as we are so often have been expected to believe modern prophets), "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes (for since they want to be blind the LORD will not intervene to give them sight for they must seek to be healed); lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed."

Here is some prophetic description of Jesus' qualities-so different to carnal man:

Isa 11:2-3 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight (a matter of choice, determination, clear comprehension) is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears (for He wills to hear God rather than the self-deceits of men).

Isa 28:14-18 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, 15 because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through (i.e., when things get really bad for the world) it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves." 16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a Stone for a Foundation, a tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone, a sure Foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily. 17 Also I will make justice the measuring line (We are measured by the Cornerstone of the Temple), and righteousness the plummet (every direction of measure is according to God's standards); the hail (reminiscent of end time plague) will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place (cf. Rev 12:15, which speaks of the dragon's flood of falsehood against the righteous). 18 Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol (the grave) will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it (Those who think they will be given safety, a place of safety, who have lies as their refuge, will be trampled as Rev 11:2 says; cp. Isa 51:23).

Isa 29:9-13 (continues this theme). Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. 10 For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets (those who claim to describe what is ahead for the people); and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." 12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I am not literate (i.e., I can't understand this! It's too difficult to live perfectly-according to the Will of God. I'll live by the standards my false ministers work out for me)." 13 Therefore the LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honour Me with their lips (See Matt 7:21-23; 10:34-41), but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment (and invented traditions) of men (so then they receive the rewards those men can give).

Isa 30:9-11 This is a rebellious people, lying children, [self-professing children of God] who will not hear the [spiritual] Law of the LORD; 10 who say to the seers (their religious leaders), "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits (i.e., "Lower the standards for us; demand less for us; you try to be perfect for us; and as when Lot dragged his wife to safety; you drag us along with you when the scourge comes-then we will be saved. Meanwhile preach to us smooth things"). 11 Get out of the Way (because it is too difficult as Matt 7:13-14 and Lk 13:24 say); turn aside from the Path (of perfect righteousness), cause the Holy One of Israel (i.e., the true Jesus Christ, who is the Stone of stumbling and the Stone that will crush all that is false) to cease from before us (and we will meanwhile enjoy the comforts of spiritual self-satisfaction)."

Jer 5:20-21 Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah, saying, 21 'Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not.
Jer 5:30-31 An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so (How strange that we've not heard religious people saying, "We want falsehoods taught to us. Make it an easy Christianity for us. The demands you make on us we like-they're not up to God's standards). But what will you do in the end?

"SIGNS OF THE END TIME"-THE OLIVET PROPHECY
With the next year, 1999, almost upon us, we should consider what will further influence our responsiveness to what is truly right and good in the eyes of God. 1998 was a very difficult year for us. We've had several tragedies within our midst. Next year, 1999, will be worse, Why? Because God loves His children He chastens them, strengthens His children, provides excellent education for their future, trains and disciplines His children for the times ahead. God wants His children to be the best on the face of the earth! A lower standard precludes one from the Kingdom of God. And all trends indicate worsening. So let us review some prophecy, as we did in The Olivet Prophecy in April, 1998.

I'll review, from Matt 24 as a base, some key elements of the sequence of events Jesus gave.

Matt 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the SIGN of Your Coming, and of the end of the age?" (Mk and Lk say the same!) 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My Name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. (This would include those who claim they are Christ, or a christ, and those who teach a gospel about a false christ. See 2Thess 2:9-12; 2Tim 3:1-5,12,13; 2Pet 2:1-3; Matt 7:21-23; 2Cor 11:13-15). 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (We should note that the sequence in Mk 13 and Lk 21 is parallel to Matt 24). 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows."

Mk 13:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the SIGN when all these things will be fulfilled?" 5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My Name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are the beginnings of sorrows."

Lk 21:7 So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what SIGN will there be when these things are about to take place?" 8 And He said: "Take heed that you are not deceived. For many will come in My Name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions (Gk akatastasia: civil strife and turmoils, rebellions, insurrections-note that the Matt & Mk do not have this) do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." 10 Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."

THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE
It should be observed that there is seeming parallelism in events as above compared with:

Rev 6:1-8 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow (as opposed to the returning Christ on a white horse with His two-edged sword in Rev 19:11-16); and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer

3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." 4 Another, a fiery red horse, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword (many wars, which is the second major thing Jesus warned of in the Olivet prophecy which is recorded three times).
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine" (famines are here symbolized).
7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." 8 So I looked, and behold, a (sickly) pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades (i.e., the power of the grave) followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth (pestilences, famines, warfare).

"SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS"
Let's consider the following possibilities-and perhaps they all will apply:

2Thess 2:3-12 Let no one deceive you by any means (Please recall Matt 24:5; Mk 13:6; Lk 21:8); for that Day will not come unless the falling away (apostasia: apostasy, rebellion) comes first (What are the causes for such large scale apostasy?), and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (This has not occurred as described here). 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining (It seems that Paul had done the explaining but we can only guess at what he taught the Church on this matter), that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness (iniquity and rule by self-will and self-interest) is already at work; only what now restrains will do so until taken out of the way. (Because the Greek is ambiguous here, scholars are disagreed as to what the restraining power is. I have translated v 7 to reflect that ambiguity). 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing with the brightness of His (Christ's Second) Coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie. (What provokes the 'man of sin' to suddenly make his appearance very evident to the world?)

12 [then all those who believe the lie] … may be condemned who did not believe the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (as opposed to the righteousness which is defined by God and not men).

Perhaps the following Scriptures have relevance to Lk 21:11b also?

Rev 12:9-12,17 So the great Dragon was cast out, that Serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the Accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down (i.e., the freedom to accuse is curtailed). 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Those who love God, His Will, His Way must be prepared to give everything-including their lives-for the Faith). 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! The Devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time" (And this coming is with signs and wonders?) 17 The Dragon was enraged with the woman. He went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (which is the spirit of prophecy; 19:10).

Furthermore, we are reminded of Isa 14:12,13 where we have the parallel of the king of Babylon and Satan: How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who lay the nations low! For you have said in your heart: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." Lucifer, (Satan), and the son of perdition are parodied with Jesus Christ: the Morning Star, the Son of God, the Messiah who will come with signs and wonders.
The question to ask is: What would provoke Satan to suddenly behave as described above?

THE TRIBULATION AND PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

Matt 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name's sake. (Why should the entire world be troubled by a small (?) group of believers? How will they become so powerful in delivering the Truth? Surely in the same way the prophets and apostles were! Surely as Joel 2 and Acts 2 describe! By the might and power of the gifts of God-an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And that can be only to those whose standards are as Scripture demands!) 10 Many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (cf. Cain and Abel). 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this GOSPEL of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (It should be noted that the preaching of the Gospel here, in context, is not the commission. That is in Lk 24:44-49).

Mk 13:9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, FOR A TESTIMONY TO THEM. 10 The GOSPEL must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Lk 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My Name's sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for TESTIMONY. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My Name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.

It is quite obvious that more must happen to bring about what we have briefly looked at here.

If we obsessively assume we know certain prophetic things which have not yet occurred we will misperceive some events as confirming our false scenarios. We should watch the greater trends, the larger trends, the things that actually move history along. Let me illustrate what I mean using Rev 13.

Rev 13:1-13 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea (The four beasts of Daniel 7 arose out of the sea-the historic outcome of geo-political events. They did not rise out of the literal sea, but arose out of the sea of nations that mix, swirl, clash, foam). He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns (Dan 7:24; i.e., ten kings over ten kingdoms), and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion (like the fourth beast of Dan 7:4-6; symbolic of the final world empire). The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority (Satan is the ruler of this world; Matt 4:8-10). 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

4 Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his Name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.

And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language (the means of control of ideas and ideology) and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear.

10 (According to the original Greek v 10 has this meaning): If anyone is for captivity, into captivity he will go (Who believes certain people must go into captivity?) If anyone is for killing by the sword, he deserves death by the sword (Who believes certain people must die in warfare?) This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints (because they will be in the thick of so many confusing activities; Matt 24:13). 11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb (a parody of Jesus Christ), but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed (The new spiritual head of the world turns the world to worship the militarism and materialism of the new world power that has been miraculously restored). 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.

CONCLUSION: THE STANDARD OF MEASUREMENT
God's standard for measuring ourselves is addressed throughout the entire Bible. One excellent source, with prophetic overtones, and expressed in parable is Ezk 43:6-12. Ezekiel had been shown in vision the future temple which is a parable of the Church (see for example: Heb 8:5; 9:23; 12:22-23; Rev 13:6; 15:5; 21:3,22).

Ezekiel's visions of this temple begins in chapter 40:

Ezk 40:2-3 In the visions of God He (the LORD) took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. 3 He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.

Ezk 43:6-12 Then I heard Him speaking to me from the Temple, while a man (an angel) stood beside me. 7 And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy Name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places. 8 When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy Name by the abominations which they committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. 9 Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever. 10 Son of man, describe the Temple to the house of Israel (the house of Israel as described in Rev 11:1-2; 7:1-8; 14:1-4; Heb 12:22-23), that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern (There is only one pattern of righteousness, one Faith, one God, one Christ (Eph 4:3-6). 11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the Temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them (Matt 5:48 Become perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect!) 12 This is the Law of the Temple. The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the Law of the Temple.

The last of the great servants of the early NT era, John, is asked (between 85 and 96AD) to measure the Holy of Holies-and this is after the total destruction of the physical temple. It would seem to me that since God's Church is built on Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone with the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:19-22) then it is incumbent upon each of the saints to measure themselves against this God-given standard. Notice how the revelation is worded.

Rev 11:1-2 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple (Gk naos, i.e., the Most Holy Place) of God, the altar, and those who worship there (i.e., those who have God-given right of access beyond the curtain). 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months."

Deut 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deut 12:32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

Rev 22:18-21 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book (which are cross-referenced to other parts of the Bible so the principle applies to all the Word of God); 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He (i.e., Jesus Christ) who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly."
(John replies): Amen ("I'm in full agreement!"). Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (He cries out in the anguish of seeing so much death and destruction).