Rob Dalrymple, «The Use of ka1/ in Revelation 11,1 and the Implications
for the Identification of the Temple,
the Altar, and the Worshippers», Vol. 87 (2006) 387-294
Thus, by means of the symbolic act of measuring ‘the temple’, which is
composed of those who will suffer martyrdom (‘the altar’) and those who
remain faithful to the end (‘the worshippers’) John reassures the entire
covenant community that their eternal destiny is firmly within the sovereign
judge’s control. The epexegetical use of ka1/ in 11,1b explains why it is ‘the
altar’ and not some other piece of furniture that is measured. Finally, the
distinction between the righteous who are martyred and those who are not
confirms that John did not perceive all of the righteous as suffering
martyrdom.
The Use of kaiv in Revelation 11,1 393
altar’ and ‘the worshippers’ specify two groups within the righteous. If this
translation proves correct, then the next objective is to identify whom the
designations ‘altar’ and ‘worshippers’ incorporate.
I have already suggested that ‘the worshippers’ likely connotes the
entirety of the righteous community. Who, then, comprises ‘the altar’? It is,
in fact, the failure to associate ‘the altar’ with a specific group within the
community of the righteous that has likely contributed to the oversight of
scholars and commentators in regards to the appositional function of kai; to;
qusiasthvrion kai; tou;" proskunou'nta" ejn aujtw/'.
It is my contention that ‘the altar’ signifies the righteous who in
sacrificial obedience follow the Lamb in death. This designation has already
been established in Revelation. For, in 6,9-10 ‘the altar’ is explicitly
associated with ta;" yuca;" tw'n ejsfagmevnwn (the souls of those who were
slain). The reference to the ‘worshippers’, would then seemingly incorporate
the rest of the covenant community who remain faithful in their witness to the
end. If so, John then distinguishes between those whose fate is martyrdom and
those who remain faithful without suffering martyrdom. The measuring of the
temple is thus meant to assure them both that they enjoy God’s sovereign
protection.
That both ‘the altar’ and ‘the worshippers’ function appositionally to ‘the
temple’ in Rev 11,1 is, furthermore, supported by a similar occurrence in Rev
13,6. There the phrase tou;" ejn tw/' oujranw/' skhnou'nta" (those who are
tabernacling in heaven) is appositional to th;n skhnh;n (the tabernacle) (42). In
fact, in his comments on 13,6, Beale contends that, “The equation of the saints
with the heavenly tabernacle is virtually the same identification made in 11,1-
2, where true believers living on earth were equated with the invisible,
indestructible sanctuary of Godâ€(43). Thus, it is not uncommon for John to
provide an appositional phrase that further identifies who it is that comprises
a given reference to a temple structure.
*
**
Thus, by means of the symbolic act of measuring ‘the temple’, which is
composed of those who will suffer martyrdom (‘the altar’) and those who
remain faithful to the end (‘the worshippers’) John reassures the entire
covenant community that their eternal destiny is firmly within the sovereign
judge’s control. The epexegetical use of kaiv in 11,1b explains why it is ‘the
altar’ and not some other piece of furniture that is measured. Finally, the
distinction between the righteous who are martyred and those who are not
confirms that John did not perceive all of the righteous as suffering
martyrdom.
701 Brewster Rd. Rob DALRYMPLE
Collegeville, PA 19426
(42) AUNE, Revelation, II, 745-746; BEALE, Revelation, 697; CAIRD, Revelation, 166-
167; MORRIS, Revelation, 163-164; MOUNCE, Revelation, 250.
(43) BEALE, Revelation, 697.