Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.

Title: Seeing the Lord in the Cloud

Topic: Second Coming

Summary: Why do so many passages in the Bible mention a cloud and glory at the same time? What do they have to tell us about the Second Coming and how we see the Lord?

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 9:11, 13
Exodus 16:9-10; 24:16-17; 40:33-34, 38
Numbers 16:41-42
Isaiah 4:5; 6:1, 4; 6:5, 8
Ezekiel 1:26, 28; 10:1-4
Matthew 24:30
Mark 13:26
Revelation 15:8
Matthew 5:8
Ephesians 1:15, 18
Exodus 14:19-20
Hebrews 12:1
Luke 17:20
Isaiah 25:9