The book of Revelation in the Bible contains rich symbolic imagery that has sparked much discussion and debate over the centuries. One particularly intriguing feature described in Revelation 21 is the New Jerusalem, depicting the holy city where God will dwell with his people after the old order passes away. This magnificent city has twelve gates, each made of a single pearl and bearing the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The twelve gates first appear in Revelation 21:12-13, which states: “It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.” The passage goes on to list the specific tribes corresponding to each gate, beginning with Judah on the east and proceeding clockwise around the city.
Bible scholars have proposed several possible meanings regarding the significance of the twelve gates:
1. Completion and perfection
The number twelve often represents completeness or perfection in Scripture. There were twelve tribes of Israel, comprising the people of God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus had twelve disciples, representing the foundation of the church. The twelve gates in Revelation 21 likely symbolize the fullness and perfection of the new creation that God is establishing.
2. Continuity with Old Testament Israel
Though the New Jerusalem represents the new covenant people of God, the twelve gates tie it to God’s work with Israel in the Old Testament. The specific naming of the twelve tribes demonstrates continuity between God’s purposes in the Old and New Testaments, centered on the redemptive work of Christ.
3. Access to God’s presence
In the Old Testament temple, the priests controlled access to God’s presence in the Holy of Holies, which was blocked by a large curtain. But Revelation 21 shows unlimited access to God’s presence in the New Jerusalem through twelve perpetually open gates. This signifies free access to God for all his people from every tribe and nation.
4. Security and exclusion
The gates imply security, with angels guarding each entrance. Nothing unclean can enter the city and defile it (Revelation 21:27). At the same time, the gates are never shut during the day (Revelation 21:25), suggesting the city is always open to God’s people from all places. The gates keep out sin and danger but welcome the nations redeemed by Christ.
5. Mission and movement
Some commentators note that listing the gates in the four cardinal directions suggests the city is designed to facilitate mission and movement. Its gates welcome people from every direction, not just ethnic Jews but Gentiles too. This fits Revelation’s theme of people from every tribe, language and nation worshiping God together (Revelation 5:9).
So in summary, the twelve gates in Revelation 21 hold theological significance related to completion, continuity, access, security, and mission. They underscore that God’s redemptive purposes which began with Old Testament Israel come to fruition with the New Jerusalem, the holy city of God’s eternal kingdom. Only those cleansed by Christ’s blood can enter through the gates, which exclude all sin and impurity. The gates picture the redeemed invited from every direction to enjoy perpetual access to God’s presence.
6. Foundation Stones and the Apostles
Connected to the twelve gates are the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21:14: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” This ties the structure of the city to the twelve apostles, who were the foundation of the early church (Ephesians 2:20).
By linking the twelve tribes to the gates and the twelve apostles to the foundations, Revelation connects Old Testament Israel with the New Testament church. God’s chosen people in both covenants play a role in the eternal city, which spans all of redemptive history. Yet Christ is the cornerstone and shared foundation for the city and its people (Ephesians 2:20). The church of Jews and Gentiles finds unity in Him.
7. The Gates as Pearls
The stunning image of the gates as giant pearls likely represents the value God places on entrance to His eternal city. Pearls are formed naturally when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters an oyster shell. The oyster coats the irritant with layers of lustrous material, transforming the irritant into an object of beauty and worth. For admission through the gates of Revelation 21, sinful human lives must be transformed by God’s work of grace.
Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven as a priceless treasure, compared to a merchant finding a pearl of great value (Matthew 13:45-46). Those who place their faith in Christ gain access to the kingdom and receive the gift of eternal life in God’s presence. The pearl gates signify that entering God’s kingdom is of surpassing worth compared to any earthly wealth or treasure.
8. The Radiance of the City
The river of life and the street of the city were pure gold, like transparent glass (Revelation 21:18, 21). The foundations sparkled with precious stones and the gates shined like pearls (Revelation 21:19-21). The jeweled gates and gold streets likely signify the stunning radiance and glory of God’s presence illuminating the city. The beauty reflects Eden restored and the curse of sin completely erased.
9. The Gates are Always Open
Revelation 21:25 notes that the gates of the city “will never be shut by day.” At night, with no sun or moon in the new creation (Revelation 21:23), the gates presumably close. But during the day, the gates stand open perpetually. This demonstrates the city’s security and peace – closed gates protected ancient cities from attackers, but open gates here show no enemies will ever assault it.
The open gates also picture open access to God’s presence at all times for those dwelling in the city. Closed gates barred access to the temple and God’s presence in the Old Testament, but Christ’s finished work grants His redeemed people confident entrance before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
10. Parallels to Ezekiel’s Temple Vision
The vision of the New Jerusalem and its gates parallels the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of a restored temple and city in Ezekiel 40-48. Both contain twelve gates in a perfect square, with three gates on each side. Ezekiel specifically mentions that the name of the tribes of Israel will be on the gates (Ezekiel 48:31-34). This highlights how Revelation’s imagery builds on earlier prophetic visions of restoration.
11. The Number Twelve in Revelation
The number twelve appears frequently throughout the book of Revelation, underscoring its symbolism of completion and perfection:
- 24 elders around God’s throne (Revelation 4:4)
- 12,000 sealed from each of the 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:5-8)
- The woman with a crown of 12 stars (Revelation 12:1)
- The tree of life with 12 kinds of fruit (Revelation 22:2)
The recurring use of 12 emphasizes the perfect redemption and restoration God accomplishes through Jesus Christ.
12. Entry Restricted to the Redeemed
Revelation 21:27 notes that only those written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter the city through its gates. The book of life contains the names of Christ’s redeemed people (Revelation 13:8). Sin and impurity cannot pass through the gates. This underscores that enjoying the blessings of God’s kingdom requires salvation through Jesus, the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:9-10).
The twelve gates of Revelation look back to the twelve tribes who received God’s covenant and forward to the diverse multitudes redeemed by Christ from every tribe, tongue and nation (Revelation 5:9). The gates represent the entry of God’s chosen people into the blessings of His eternal kingdom restored through Jesus Christ. They stand open continually for those cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.