“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” (Rev. 21:1212And 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: (Revelation 21:12)).
The heavenly city, New Jerusalem, had three gates on the east side, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. Each gate was of one pearl, suggesting the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:4646Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:46)). When the merchantman, seeking goodly pearls, found that one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. This is the bride, the Church that cost Him so much.
Most who are saved enter at the east gate. This is when a person is very young and the heart is tender. The north gate suggests a mature man trying to make a living. If he puts first things first — eternal life — he will enter the north gate, though fewer enter there than at the east gate. The south gate suggests retirement when the things of this life are so important. Few enter this gate. The west gate suggests old age when the mind is not clear and decisions are hard to make. One man I know entered the west gate. Very, very few enter there.
Might this be a warning to you, dear friend? There are twelve gates with plenty of room for you to enter. Why not enter now before it is too late?
“The foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones” (Rev. 21:1919And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; (Revelation 21:19)). “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires” (Isa. 54:1111O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. (Isaiah 54:11)). Whether this description refers to the Church only, or to all saints, matters little. A stone is known by its color, not its origin. Each stone reminds us of the individual believer’s being put under heat and pressure until the right color and hue are achieved.
In this glorious city there will be no sun —the Lamb is the light — and there will be no night. We shall see His face. His name will be in our foreheads. The street of the city is pure gold, as it were transparent glass. The Lord God and the Lamb are the temple of the city.
“Behold, I come quickly, and My reward with Me, to render to every one as his work shall be. . . . Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life, and that they should go in by the gates into the city. . . . He that testifies these things says, Yea, I come quickly. Amen; come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:12,14,2012And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)
14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20) JND).
The bride shall live forever with the Bridegroom, Christ, in His own home, the Father’s house. She will be the joy of the Father and His Son, the Bridegroom. So ends the story of the Bridegroom and His bride, the Church.