February 25: HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE
Also, she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. Revelation 21:12
We tend to think of city walls as the way to keep enemies out of the city. There is imagery in John’s description of the heavenly city, the home of Christ’s bride, borrowed from Ezekiel’s vision of a temple and a city that was never built; it was only a dream of what could have been. But John is describing that which will certainly become reality.
You may wonder why the holy city would need a wall. After all, we are taught that a day is coming when the enemies of God will no longer exist. The New Jerusalem actually descends to the earth before the execution of the final judgment of those enemies, as evidenced in 20:9 & 22:15.
While it is fascinating to study the physical aspects of the New Jerusalem, there are powerful spiritual messages contained in John’s description. Let us consider the symbolic imagery in this great and high wall. In eternity, the influx of enemies will no longer be a threat. Not only is this great and high wall an architectural masterpiece, it powerfully symbolizes eternal safety and security. The only true bastion against the rise of evil is the character, or name, of the LORD.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
Ezekiel’s vision may have inspired hope among the exiled Jews of his day for a reestablishment back in Judah. But they subsequently rejected their Messiah, so the vision was never fulfilled.
In the fallen earth’s last days, the only ones who will be left standing are those who accept the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3). This seal signifies a great and high wall of protection around their minds—the seat of their decision making. The time to choose heavenly citizenship—which means abiding by the law of the God of heaven—is now!
This wall has twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. The number twelve, here mentioned three times, alludes to the number for leadership. The only leadership that counts for eternity is that which points to the Lord Jesus Christ. These welcoming gates into the holy city, with their names, cast our gaze back to the sons of Jacob, renamed Israel (Overcomer or Prevailer with God). In the New Testament, these symbolize all of those—whether Jew or Greek—who choose to walk with the One who declares: “I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33) These are the bride of the Lamb! Understanding the reality of spiritual Israel (Galatians 3:29) brings clarity to Paul’s statement: And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Romans 11:26)
“For I,” says the LORD, “will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” Zechariah 2:5
For further study: Isaiah 62:5-7