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:
As I read this verse, it appears that one angel is posted at each of the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem. The text does not tell us exactly what their function is, but it does cause me to think of other places in Scripture where angels were connected with guarding holy things.
I am reminded of the cherubim God placed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned. Genesis 3:24 tells us that God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to keep the way of the tree of life. Fallen mankind was not permitted to enter.
I am also reminded of the cherubim associated with the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. There again we find angels connected with the holiness and presence of God.
Then I notice another statement concerning the New Jerusalem:
Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Could the angels be posted at the gates to ensure that this truth is maintained? The passage does not directly say so, and we should not go beyond what Scripture reveals. Yet it seems reasonable to see a relationship between the two. Throughout the Bible, angels are often associated with God's holiness, God's presence, and God's protection of sacred things.
At the same time, there is something else to consider. By the time we arrive at Revelation 21, the final judgment has already taken place. The lost have been cast into the lake of fire. Sin has been judged. There are no rebels left attempting to enter the city. The angels are not standing watch because there is any danger outside the gates. Revelation 21:25 tells us that the gates are never shut. Ancient cities closed their gates because of threats from outside. The New Jerusalem has no such threat.
Perhaps the twelve angels stand as eternal reminders that this city belongs to God, that it is perfectly holy, and that entrance into it is possible only through God's grace. They are visible witnesses that God's holiness has not been diminished and that only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life have a place there.
Whatever their exact function may be, their presence at the gates declares that this is no ordinary city. It is the eternal dwelling place of God with His redeemed people.
#Revelation21 #NewJerusalem #BibleProphecy #LambsBookOfLife #KJVBibleStudy
Angels at the Gates: What Are the Angels Guarding?
What do you think? Why do you believe God placed twelve angels at the gates of the New Jerusalem? Do you see a connection between the cherubim of Eden, the cherubim of the mercy seat, and the angels of Revelation 21? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
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