The Trinity Brings People into New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:12-13 describes the gates of New Jerusalem. It has “twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel: on the east three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
The city has three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. There are three gates in each direction. Gates are usually located in a convenient place to go in and out. Therefore, the fact that this city has gates on all four sides indicates that it is located in a very central position and that it is the center of everything. The New Jerusalem is the masterpiece in the center of God’s heart.¹
New Jerusalem is central and it has gates facing all four directions. This matches the Lord’s word in Luke 13:29 that people “will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.”
That there are three gates on each side signifies that the three of the Trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Spirit — work together to bring people into the holy city. This is indicated in the three parables in Luke 15 and implied in the Lord’s word in Matt. 28:19.²
The gates signifying the Trinity working to bring people into New Jerusalem shows that everything about the city is involved directly with the Triune God. He is everything to His people; He is the way (John 14:6 and the street of the city), the life (John 14:6 and the river of life and tree of life in Rev. 22:1-2), the light (John 8:12 and Rev. 21:23), the temple (John 2:19, 21 and Rev. 21:22).
¹ 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.
² A portion of footnote 1 on Revelation 21:13 in the Recovery Version Bible, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim CA, 2003.
Graphic courtesy of pixabay.com.
Posted by Don on June 3, 2022
