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Honey From The Rock Psalm 81:16 |
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THE GATED CITY This entry was posted on 07-02-2009 and is filed under HEAVEN. "It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev. 21:12-14 NIV).
Today I received an email from a good friend who is moving West to a city where he and his wife will live in a "gated community." He says that when he "launches" to Heaven that he wants to be able to leave his wife in a secure situation. I applaud him for that. And I applaud God for creating for us a divine "gated community" in a place we call Heaven. There are twelve gates (remember, the wall runs 1,400 miles each way), spaced out as described in our text. Each of these gates are guarded by an angel. On each gate is inscribed the name of a tribe of Israel. (Which one is your favorite?) On each massive foundation stone (elaborately decorated with precious stones - vs. 19-20) you will find the name of an apostle (Which one is your favorite?). Heaven - the ultimate "gated community." But there is more information about The Gated City. "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl" (v. 21). Now that just blows my mind! My mother always wore a simple strand of pearls on Sunday morning. I loved to look at their luster. But here are massive gates - 12 of them - and each one made of a single pearl! Remember that the city is as high as it is wide and long (v. 16) - 1,400 miles! Only God could make a city like this! He must like pearls because they are mention in Rev. 17:4; 18:12; 18:16; and 21:21. Pearls are made through tribulation. Heaven is for those who have been born out of great tribulation (Rev. 7:14). Won't it be wonderful to visit each one of these gates, reach out and touch them, enjoy their beauty, think about the relevance of the name of Jacob's sons on each one? And then to meet them (and the apostles) in person? And our loved ones! "Dad! Mom! I'm so glad to see you again!" And of course the Lamb? Heaven! Don't miss it for the world! Oh, one more thing! "On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there" (v. 25). As Charles Gabriel wrote in his great hymn "Where the Gates Swing Outward Never." Hymn: "My loved ones are gathering yonder, My friends too are passing away, And soon I will join their bright number, and dwell in eternity's day; They're safe now in glory with Jesus, Their trials and battles are past, They overcame sin and the tempter, They've reached that fair city at last. In that bright city, pearly white city, I have a mansion, a harp, and a crown; Now I am watching, waiting, and longing, for the White City that's soon coming down!" (Arthur Ingler) CommentsDisplay comments as (Linear | Threaded)
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