Revelation 21:12-25 “Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (13) three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. … (21) The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. … (25) Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).”
Also regarding the wall, the above passage describes its gates for us. In this passage we learn that there are twelve gates, with three gates on each side of the city. And so, because each side of the city will be 2400 kilometres long, each gate will be located at 600 kilometre intervals in the wall. That is a huge distance between each gate. We are told that each gate is made from one pearl. Each gate will also be seventy metres high, but we can only speculate on its width. Nevertheless, as we have seen when discussing the width of the street of the city, it is more than likely that the width of the gate will not be any less than its height. Nevertheless, that will still be a giant pearl. And then we are told, that the names of the twelve tribes of Israel will be inscribed on each gate. We are also told in this passage, that an angel will be stationed at each gate. But at the same time, we are told that the gates will never be closed. For the passage says that the gates will not be shut at all by day and that there will be no night there, which in effect means that the gates will never be closed. So why will it be necessary for an angel to be stationed at each gate then? Again on this point we can only speculate, but it may be to ensure that only those sanctioned by God are allowed to enter there.
Michael E.B. Maher
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