Explanation posted by John Wesley on 2007-01-01 00:00:00
In this chapter is shown how it will fare with "the holy city," till the mystery of God is fulfilled; in the twelfth, what will befall the woman, who is delivered of the man-child; in the thirteenth, how it will be with the kingdom of Christ, while the "two beasts" are in the height of their power. And there was given me - By Christ, as appears from the third verse. And he said, Arise - Probably he was sitting to write. And measure the temple of God - At Jerusalem, where he was placed in the vision. Of this we have a large description by Ezekiel, Ezek. xl - xlviii; concerning which we may observe, 1: Ezekiel's prophecy was not fulfilled at the return from the Babylonish captivity. 2: Yet it does not refer to the "New Jerusalem," which is far more gloriously described. 3: It must infallibly be fulfilled even then "when they are ashamed of all that they have done," Ezek. xliii, 11. 4: Ezekiel speaks of the same temple which is treated of here. 5: As all things are there so largely described, St. John is shorter and refers thereto.