The city of New Jerusalem has twelve pearl gates. There is an angel guarding each gate, and just by seeing the angels guarding the gates of the city, we can feel the great honor of New Jerusalem. When we take a closer look at one of the gates of New Jerusalem, it is an enormous arch-shaped gate made of a single pearl. It opens to the two sides and has handles made with pure gold and set with jewels. When one stands before the gate, it automatically opens.
After we pass through the magnificent arch-shaped pearl gate thinking of the life journey of faith on the earth, the first thing coming in our sight is the endless road of New Jerusalem. It is made of pure gold and looks like transparent glass. Then, why does God make the gates of pearl, not other jewels in Heaven and the road of gold? What does it signify spiritually?
"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass" (Revelation 21:21).
Pearl is made very differently from other jewels. It forms through pain and patience, so it is deemed very valuable. That is why the twelve gates of New Jerusalem are made of pearl. And the road is made of pure gold which stands for spiritual faith because New Jerusalem is the place people who have faith and earnest hope can enter with pure hearts.
To Pass through the Twelve Pearl Gates, We Should Overcome Trials of Faith Patiently
God allows refining trials to His children. He lets them discover sins and evil in their hearts in various kinds of situations. When children suffer in trials, it is God who suffers in heart most. Nevertheless, He cannot but allow such trials to His children because they have to discover their sins and evil and cast them away in order to enter New Jerusalem.
When you are in trials, you may come to think you are so evil and you are nothing and you may lose heart and feel distressed. But if you pray, fast, and rely on God with all your strength, He will give you grace and strength. As much as you throw away hatred, you will bear the fruit of love. As much as you cast away hot temper and ill feeling, you will bear the fruit of kindness. When you make all your efforts to cast away sins and evil, you will be able to achieve the heart of spirit.
If you understand the love of God who allows the trials, however hard they are, you can overcome everything by the grace of God and become sanctified
Those who obey the truth will not lose fullness of the Holy Spirit but overcome the trials with joy and thanks in any kind of difficulty. They will not even think of them as trials. They will win over all the trials and enter New Jerusalem through the glorious and magnificent pearl gate like a general returning from a victorious battle.
To Walk on Golden Roads, We Should Have Spiritual Faith, Earnest Hope, and Pure Heart
On both sides of the river of the water of life is the golden road. The source of the river of the water of life is the thrones of God and the Lamb. This river flows from New Jerusalem, passes all dwelling places in Heaven, and flows back to the throne of God (Revelations 22:1-2). 'Water' spiritually symbolizes the Word of God. We can gain life in the Word of God and enter the way of eternal life by Jesus Christ (John 14:6). That is why the water of life flows from the thrones of God and the Lamb.
Since the river of the water of life flows through all places of Heaven, by following the golden road beside the river, we can find the city of New Jerusalem where God's throne is located. Not only New Jerusalem, but all dwelling places in Heaven have the golden roads. As the brightness, material, and beauty of houses in each of the dwelling places are different, the brightness of golden roads in each dwelling places is different.
When we walk on the golden road it feels very soft. There is no dirt, nothing dirty in Heaven, and things do not wear off. The roads are not damaged no matter how many people walk on them. On both roadsides are various colorful and beautiful flowers that warmly welcome God's children.
There are other roads such as flower roads and roads of jewels as well. We will feel different happiness and joy on each road. The flower roads in Heaven are made up of flowers themselves, that is, we will actually walk on flowers. Even though we walk on them, the flowers will not be damaged or even pressed down. We will feel very comfortable and soft as if we are walking on a very fine carpet. The flowers will be delighted so much and give out their scents when we walk on them. Their scent will be absorbed by our whole body, so that we will be all the more blissful, refreshed, and inspired.
The jeweled roads are covered with many kinds of jewels that give out light that is clear and bright. These roads give out very bright and colorful lights from the jewels, yet when we walk on them, these jewels give out even more beautiful light. The jewels even give out scent that will make us feel more joy. Walking on the road will give you a kind of thrill, refresh you, and fascinate you. But this road of jewels is only in some special places. It is made for those who resemble the Lord and contributed much to fulfilling the providence of human cultivation. The road will be placed in their houses and surrounding areas.
All the days of our earthly life and all our thoughts, hearts, words, and deeds offered up to God will be materials for our dwelling place in Heaven. So, at the pearl gates, we will be reminded of our days of patience we have gone through, and on the golden road, of our days of faith on the earth. Therefore, we should not waste our life given on the earth but should try our best to become sanctified quickly and work faithfully in all aspects. We will thereby be able to be praised as faithful sons and daughters in Heaven and live near the throne of God.
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