THE TWELVE GATES OF PEARL (2024)
THE TWELVE GATES OF PEARL
(Revelation 21:21)
January 21, 2024, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Last week Prophetess Andrea McDougal ministered from the entrance of the spiritual gates of New Jerusalem. Our Sunday evening study of the Book of Revelation (21) has brought us to the twelve gates of pearl. I had purposed to preach on the gates this evening. Since it has been seventeen years since I preached on the gates of pearl, I decided to bring it forth this Sunday morning.
This evening, I will preach on the twelve foundation stones of the walls of New Jerusalem.
New Jerusalem 21:2: is prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:9b: Come here I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife having the glory of God: and her light was like to 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.
21:21: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Ez. 43:4: The glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
In Revelation 21, the Lord is speaking to John in metaphorical language. This is one of the languages of God through which he has always spoken to His prophets and he still does.
Whether he has used a temple, a city, the Bride, the Sons of God, the tabernacle, etc. etc. All of these images are used to describe a people in whom dwells the fullness of God. This is the Body of Christ, the Lamb’s wife, The church in glory and perfection. This is God’s dwelling place among men. There is no need of a separate temple. If the Lord is there, then the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. In the present Gospel order, the “Temple,” “City,” and commonwealth are all in that dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
The Twelve Gates = twelve experiences which do progressively unfold from the Christ. (The God or divine) nature from within us.)
1 Cor. 3:9-10: For we are laborers together with God. You are God’s husbandry; you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon, but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.
The twelve gates are twelve entrances into the Light of the Gospel church.
21:27: There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, nor makes a lie; but which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
21:8: The 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.
21:25: And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations to it.
The Lord spoke to me once, “Carolyn teach New Jerusalem as purity.”
The “City” has God’s Glory which is God’s nature. The “City” is a people who are the expression of the Spirit, soul, and body of Christ – a place of rest wherein God becomes all in all. The light of this Glory of the Gospel church is prophesied by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zachariah. There is no shadows only substance and reality. God is Glory land.
Each Gate is made of Pearl. Pearl represents that which is costly and painful. This is the fellowship of His sufferings:
1. Not just one experience but many.
2. All twelve experiences are costly.
Pearls are created because of a foreign deposit. Pearl oysters are found in clusters and in the depths. One must dive into the depths and search.
Each of the twelve gates is a manifestation of the nature of God in us kicking hard to be birthed from within. Each is an experience and expression of His nature.
Before going into the twelve gates, I want to briefly mention Ezekiel 48. 1-35: This is the final chapter of Ezekiel and concerns the distribution of the land and the permanence of the City of the Lord’s Presence. Thus, we see the permanence of the Glory! Verses 1-29 reveal the portion of the twelve tribes. Verses 30-35 provides the size and the gates and the name of the “City.”
Ezekiel prophesied, (vs 31) The gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel… (vs 35) It was round about eighteen thousand measures; and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
The portion of the Zadok priesthood is a thing most Holy (Ez. 48:12). The goings out of the city (48:30) are its ministries. Rev. 21:25, the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day.
Ez. 48:31: The name of the city from that day shall be, ‘THE LORD IS THERE’ (Jehovah-Shammah). BLESSING, PEACE, SECURITY, AND GLORY.
All the sons of Jacob moved from their position of birth (Genesis 29) either by rising or dropping from Genesis 29, Numbers 2, Ezekiel 48 and then sealed in Revelation 7. This shows us on our spiritual journey, we may not remain in the same position. Also, the position of birth is not a guarantee of our positioning. It is rather where we end up in final position (sealed) in relationship to our God and our brethren that counts.
Deuteronomy 33 is the blessing of Moses on the twelve tribes.
I am not prepared today to point out why the tribes fell or were elevated in the Book of Revelation. It would take an in-depth study of the rise and fall of each tribe.
Revelation 7: 4-8 is the sealing of the twelve tribes. The principle of the 144,000 who have Christ’s name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads (Rev. 14:1) identifies them as “The Elect.” Twelve Thousand (12,000) from each tribe were sealed. For this study of the twelve gates of pearl, the order in Revelation 7 is in view:
(1. Judah.
(2. Reuben.
(3. Gad.
(4. Asher. (Aser).
(5. Naphtali.
(6. Manasses.
(7. Simeon.
(8. Levi.
(9. Issachar.
110. Zebulon,
111. Joseph,
112. Benjamin.
The tribe of Dan is removed from the New Jerusalem and replaced by Manasseh. Joseph is removed in Numbers 2 and replaced with his son, Ephraim, yet Ephraim is not in the sealed tribes of Revelation 7. Joseph is back in 11th place. In Genesis 49, he started out in 11th place.
1. 1. First Gate (Rev. 7:5; 4th in Gen. 49: 8-12): – “Judah” (Gen. 29:35) “to praise, revere, or worship (with extended hands).” This gate speaks of the experience of Praise (confidence, faith, trust in God) coming from the Christ nature within us. Real praise does not come from the mind, but from the belly. When this lion of the tribe of Judah begins to roar from in us, the power of praise is released to heal, deliver, and to set free! True praise destroys the confusion of Babylon and every prison or place of limitation.
2. Second – Reuben (Rev. 7:5; 1st in Gen. 29:32; 49:3): – “ Behold a Son.” This gate speaks of the experience of the New birth which is the impartation and deposit of the very nature of God. This is the seed of life of the divine nature. This emphasizes the ministry of the Holy Ghost as he draws an individual and brings Him to the place of repentance and faith. This marks the beginning of our salvation; the beginning of the descent of New Jerusalem into the visible realm.
3. Third – Gad (Rev. 7:5; 8th in Genesis 30: 9-11; 49:19): = “Troop or good fortune…to crowd upon, attack, invade, overcome, assemble by troops, army band of men armed and prepared.” This gate speaks of the knowing that we are in the bosom of the Father. We have been set apart and separated. This is the point of no return. I am persuaded” – no turning back – no stumbling block and no offenses! Partakers with the armies of heaven.
4. Fourth – Asher (Rev. 7:6; 9th in Genesis 30: 12-13; 49: 20): = “Happy; to be level or straight or right; to go forward; be honest; prosper; blessed.” This gate speaks of the experience of being content in every circumstance. This is manifested by worship in every situation. This nature cannot be bound. This nature will flow even while hanging from a cross. Jesus was anointed with more happiness and joy than any other (Heb. 1:9).
5. Fifth – Naphtali (Rev. 7:6; 10th in Gen. 30: 7-8; 49:21): = “Wrestling,” From a root to twine or struggle. This gate speaks of the experience of being an overcomer who is releasing the creative word. There is a negative side to Naphtali. He was born as a result of sister wrestling enviously against sister (strife among believers).
6. Sixth – Manasseh (Rev. 7:6; Gen. 41:51); 8th in Numbers 2:20): “causing forgetfulness;” Joseph’s firstborn. For God said he, has made me forget my toil, and my father’s house. His brother, Ephraim was blessed by his grandfather Israel above Manasseh. Ephraim would be greater, but Manasseh’s seed would become a multitude of nations.
7. Seventh – Simeon (Rev. 7:7: 2nd in Gen. 29:33; 49:5): = “Hearing.” This gate speaks of three experiences of the Holy Ghost Baptism infilling. Note that another five gates come after this one. This experience moves us from tradition to truth. We begin to “hear” after we are filled with the Spirit. This is why the Pharisees fight this so hard, for to hear from God is to know truth.
8. Eighth - Levi (Rev. 7:7); 3rd in Gen. 29:34; 49:5 ): “Union, twined; joined; adhesive; cleave; attached.” This gate speaks of the experience of spiritual ministry through the gifts of the Spirit. This is vertical union with God in the Spirit and here is horizontal union with man in the Spirit. This is the growth whereby we are not ministering in fleshly fellowship or worship. We do not come to meetings to be ministered to, but we come to minister unto Jesus and unto one another. We do not come to meetings to “party.” Although a good time and great joy are part of the overflow of all Holy Spirit fellowship and worship.
9. Ninth – “Issachar” (Rev. 7:7; 6th in Gen. 30:18; 49: 14-15): = “Reward, hired, payment of contract, compensation; also benefit, price, wages, worth. This gate speaks of the experience that we do love our master and that we cannot be bought… We are bought by the Lord and cannot serve another. We’re under contract (covenant) to Him and He has exclusive rights to us! Jesus returned in power of the Spirit in His ministry after being tested. Our reward is the Lord, with no abuse of the gospel.
10. Tenth– “Zebulun” (Rev. 7:8; 5th in Gen. 30:20; 49:13): “Habitation (to be desired). This gate speaks of the experience of identification with the body of Christ. These are those who are able to be planted in a local church or local assembly. The church is the body of Christ. We are the dwelling place of God. We are his place of rest. We are God’s habitation, temple, tabernacle, house, sanctuary, building, and mansion. You will sense Zebulun coming forth when you want to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Get to know the family and the “City” that you are going to live in forever. Let this gate always be open.
11. Eleventh – Joseph (Rev. 7:8; 11th Gen. 30: 1-2, 22-24: – Let him add or augment, continue to do a thing.” “Abundance of life.” This gate speaks of the experience of being a preserver of life to others (family and nation). We shall liken both Joseph and Benjamin to the 100-fold who constitute a first fruits company. He was highly favored and was exalted to rulership to feed a nation. He was rejected, hated, and envied and then revealed to his brethren.
12. Twelfth - “Benjamin” (Rev. 7:8; Gen. 49: 16-18; 9th in Numbers 2:22; 5th in Eze. 48:23).
This is the principle of sitting with Christ in the throne as a full brother. This would include the adoption and our coming into Christ’s full stature. The son of the right hand; fortunate, son of good fortune, son of prosperity, son of happiness, son of the south, productiveness. Hid and preserved by his elder brother. Note the two men of the tribe of Benjamin: (a) Saul of the O.T. – beginning of the kingdom. Saul of the N.T. revelation of sonship (Eph. 3: 1-5). Both Joseph and Benjamin speak of the overcomer who will sit with Christ in the throne.
Rev. 21:12: The twelve gates had twelve angels, and the names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. The Angels are messengers and sent to fulfill and proclaim the message of the Gospel Church to all who will dig into the deep for the Pearl.
Ezek 43:10-11b: Son of man show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities and let them measure the pattern, and if they be ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof.” Ezekiel’s temple was never built in the natural but is a vision of the Glory of the Gospel Church.
In Ezekiel 43 and 44, the Eastgate is the Gate that was shut when the Glory of God departed from the temple. We are now the Temple of the Lord and the Glory of God has returned through His Gospel Church as we give him place and repent of our sins that He may dwell in us and the Glory of God will dwell and abide in the Bride of Christ.
Rev. 21:3: Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them and be their God.
The Eastern Gate in within a people. Let us not miss the Glory.
DAN - Seventh Gate in Gen. 30:6: Rachel said, God has judged me. “Judge”, umpire, execute judgment, Minster judgment.” Gen. 49:17: Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so his rider shall fall backward. Det. 33:22: And of Dan he (Moses) said, Dan is a lion’s whelp; he shall leap from Bashan. The tribe of Dan is not mentioned in the New Testament. This gate speaks of the experience of righteousness judgment flowing from in us to produce life. The old nature can do nothing but minister death and condemnation. Judgment is past, present, and future. There are a people being judged now. The children of Dan committed a grave sin of idolatry Amos 8:14: Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, who say, "As your god lives, O Dan!" And, as the way of Beersheba lives, they shall fall and never rise again. However, his stone in the breastplate is Beryl and is the eighth stone in the foundation of New Jerusalem.Also Jesus went to Samaria, and saved the Samaria woman as well as the whole town.
The New Testament speaks of God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, goodness, and patience. Bearing with each other, forgiving grievances against one another, bonding together with love and perfect unity.
Psa. 118: 19-21: Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.B. I entered into the labors of The Twelve Gates of the City, by: Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I entered into their labors. Taught by: Carolyn Sissom December 2, 2007; For a more in-depth study see “The Blessings of the House of Jacob 11/25/2007.