The Pearl Gates of New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:21 says about New Jerusalem, “the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was, respectively, of one pearl.”
The New Jerusalem consists not only of pure gold and precious stones, but also of pearls. Pearls are…the result of a gradual formation within a sea creature after it has been wounded. Therefore, the meaning of pearl is life which issues from death. Pearl signifies the life released by the Lord Jesus in the non-redemptive aspect of His death.
Pearls function as the gates of the city. This means that everything of God starts from here. In other words, in order for man to obtain life before God, the life must not be something of man, but of the death of Christ, of the non-redemptive aspect of Christ’s death.*
The Lord Jesus spoke of the non-redemptive, life releasing aspect of His death in John 12:24. “Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” A seed contains life, but that life is only released when the seed dies, when it falls into the ground and is buried there.
The release of the Lord’s life is also in John 19:34, “one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.” Blood is for redemption and water signifies life. This is the life which we receive from Christ and which brings forth New Jerusalem.
Pearl Gates: Our Beginning for New Jerusalem
Pearl Gates Signify Regeneration for New Jerusalem
Jesus Opened the Pearl Gates, Let’s Enter!
* From chapter 5 of The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, available at www.ministrybooks.org/ and www.livingstream.com/en/the-church/8012401-glorious-church-the.html.
