East, North, South and West Gates Revelation 21:13

After all the events of the tribulation period, the millennial reign of Jesus and the “Great White Throne” judgment, John the apostle wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” John added how God will wipe away all tears and allow no more death, sorrow, crying or pain”, and He is to make “all things new”. He also gave a warning to those who are “fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”, and he continued, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show your the bride, the Lamb's wife.And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel”. In Revelation chapter twenty-one and verse thirteen John shares about, “the east, north, south and west gates”surrounding the “city” where we read:

On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

The verse reads, “On the east three gates; on the north three gates;” John began with the words, “on the east” which means “on the direction of the sun's rising” “three gates” or “three portals or vestibules”; “on the north” which means “on the northern direction” “three gates” or “three portals or vestibules”. John saw “three gates” located on the “east” and “north” directions of the “city”.

The verse continues, “on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.” John added the words, “on the south” which means “on the southern direction” “three gates” which means “three portals or vestibules”; “and on the west” or “and on the region of the sunset” “three gates” which means “three portals or vestibules”. John also noticed “three gates” located on the “south and west” directions of the “city”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we notice how there were “three gates” intentionally placed in all four quadrants of this “city”. “East, north, south and west” covers every direction this building would face, and there were “three” entries and exits flowing from it. The idea is “access” from anywhere, and as God desires that people from the “north, east, south and west” to come into His Kingdom through a relationship with His Son Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, and regardless of whether they live in the “north”, God desires to have them come. If they dwell in the “south”, He wants them to come, and if they abide in the “east or west”, God wants them to be with Him. May all who read these words, irrespective of their location, come unto the Heavenly Father today and receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time John shares how “the wall of the city had twelve foundations”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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