I'm using a multimeter. I assume this is done with no battery power connected to the unit?
Any time you're measuring resistance with a multimeter, you have to do that with the item being checked disconnected. With your meter in Ohms position, it uses the internal battery to run the meter, putting a little voltage through the item. Outside voltage (if connected) will throw the reading off completely.
You can do a cold check of a coil on the bench with a battery, a wire to a spark plug, some wiring to the battery. Connect it up, then disconnect power to the primary terminal and it should fire a spark (that's the function the points serve if installed with a distributor.) As stated above, that wouldn't tell you if the insulation breaks down as it heats up with use though.
