Pearl gate

Part 35 of 35 Everything new

The last book of the Bible tells of a vision given to the apostle John: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God" (Revelation 21:1–2). God will live with his people, and "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain." The One on the throne said: "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:3–5).

The city's twelve gates are twelve pearls, and "its gates will never be shut" (Revelation 21:21–25). It needs no sun, "because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp" (Revelation 21:23). The Lamb is Jesus.

The Bible ends with an invitation: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'… And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely" (Revelation 22:17). As Paul wrote: "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). That is the good news of Jesus.

Bible The pearl of great price

Jesus once said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45–46).

Imagined The gate

A giant shining pearl stands in a white marble wall between two golden towers. The gate is open all day and all night, and every visitor is greeted by name.

Real world How pearls grow

A pearl forms inside an oyster or a mussel when something gets in that the animal cannot push out. The animal covers it, layer by layer, with nacre, the same shiny material that lines its shell. A pearl takes years to grow, which is one reason pearls have always been precious.

Think about it

1. What will be gone from the new city, according to Revelation?
2. Who does the Bible invite to "come"?
3. What would a city whose gates are never shut be like?

Key words

Revelation

Something made known; also the name of the Bible's last book.

Lamb

A young sheep; in Revelation, a name for Jesus.

Nacre

The shiny material that makes pearls and lines shells.