The Visions of Pearly Gates

The first time I heard about heaven’s pearly gates, I wondered how people knew what those gates looked like. The reason why many people believe that heaven’s gates are made from pearls is a reference in the book of Revelation. “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” (Rev 21:21 NASB) Indeed, in John’s vision, the streets are made of gold, and gates are made from pearl, only upon a closer look this is not heaven; this is Jerusalem that descends to the earth. And there is not one gate but twelve. But this is not all; each gate is inscribed with some names. Let’s read a little more:

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.” (Rev. 21:10-13)