Apocalypse Revealed # 899
899. And twelve gates. This symbolizes all the concepts of truth and goodness by which a person is introduced into the church.
Gates symbolize concepts of truth and goodness from the Word, because a person is introduced into the church by them. For the wall that had the gates symbolizes the Word, as explained just above in no. 898. Moreover we are later told that "the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was of one pearl" (verse 21), and pearls symbolize concepts of truth and goodness (no. 727). Clearly it is by these concepts that people are introduced into the church, as through gates into a city.
That the number twelve symbolizes all people may be seen in no. 348 above.
Gates symbolize concepts of truth and goodness also in the following places:
I will... lay your foundations in sapphires; I will make your pinnacles of garnets, and your gates carbuncle-stones. 1 (Isaiah 54:11-12)
Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! (Psalms 87:2-3)
Enter through His gates with confession... Confess Him, bless His name. (Psalms 100:4)
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that holds fast together. (Psalms 122:2-3)
Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem! ...For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children in your midst. (Psalms 147:12-13)
...that I may recount all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion. (Psalms 9:14)
Open the gates, that a righteous nation which keeps its fealties may enter in. (Isaiah 26:2)
...raise your voice... that they may enter the gate of the princes. (Isaiah 13:2)
Blessed are those who do His commandments... and enter through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
Lift up your heads, O you gates... that the King of glory may come in. (Psalms 24:7, 9)
The roads to Zion mourn... All her gates are desolate; her priests groan... (Lamentations 1:4)
Judah mourned, and her gates have been made to languish. (Jeremiah 14:2)
Jehovah has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion... Her gates have sunk into the ground. (Lamentations 2:8-9)
...who make a man to sin against the Word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate... (Isaiah 29:21)
They chose new gods; then he began to attack the gates. (Judges 5:8)
And so on elsewhere, as in Isaiah 3:25-26; 14:31; 22:7; 24:12; 28:6; 62:10; Jeremiah 1:15; 15:7; 31:38, 40; Micah 2:13; Nahum 3:13; Judges 5:11.
Since gates symbolize introductory truths, which are concepts from the Word, therefore the elders of the city used to sit as judges at the gates, as is apparent from Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 22:15; Lamentations 5:14; Amos 5:12, 15; Zechariah 8:16.
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1. A name variously applied in former times to precious stones of a red or fiery color.
Revelation 22
1
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2
in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
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There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.
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They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
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There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
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He said to me, "These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon."
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"Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
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Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.
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He said to me, "See you don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
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He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
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He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still."
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"Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
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I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
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Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
15
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
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I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star."
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The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him Come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
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I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
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If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
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He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I come quickly." Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
