Saturday, July 2, 2016

The Golden Gate and the King Who Will Walk Through


This picture was used with yesterday's blog. It was taken on my Israel trip while standing on the Mount of Olives. Since someone asked about it, I thought I'd explain.

The gate you see in the center of the photo is known as the Golden Gate, located in the eastern wall of the Temple Mount. This, of course, is not the original gate, as the walls around the city of Jerusalem were torn down, but it is the rebuilt gate, thought to be in the exact location of the original Golden Gate. (Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in the 16th century.)

This is the gate through which Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey for his Triumphant Entry. As you likely remember, people lined the street with palm branches as he passed inside and shouted loud Hosannas. (John 12:9-16) 

He began Holy Week with the praises of the people. Just a few days later, those praises had turned to cries of "Crucify Him!" and He met death on the cross. He died, was buried, and He rose again, conquering sin and death. 

A lot happened the last time Jesus came through that gate.

This is also the gate through which He will enter Jerusalem on His return. Even more exciting things will happen when Jesus enters His city again.

As you can see from the picture, the gate has been walled up, just as Ezekiel said it would be. (Ezekiel 44:1-3) The story is told that the gate was sealed by Suleiman to prevent Jesus from coming through the gate and fulfilling prophecy. 

To ensure that The Anointed One, King Jesus, will not be able to enter through that gate, a Muslim cemetery was built just in front of the gate. The assumption was that a Jewish holy man would not be able to walk through the cemetery because it would make him unclean. If He couldn't walk through the cemetery, He couldn't enter the gate, nor Jerusalem, and Jesus would be unable to retake His rightful throne.

As if a cemetery would stop Jesus, who touched lepers and healed them, the cemetery is still in place today, and I have seen it. 

Ezekiel wrote that the glory of the Lord would enter "by the way of the gate which faces toward the east". (Ezekiel 43:4) 

Jesus said He will return, and He will. It will be at just the right time to fulfill all prophecy, just as His birth, His triumphal entry, His death, and His resurrection exactly fulfilled prophecy. He'll open the gates that have been sealed for more than one thousand years in a vain attempt to keep Him out, and He will rule on earth again.

You'll see photos of the Golden Gate in my blog posts quite a bit. That's because Jesus rode through them in triumph more than 2000 years ago, and He will pass through them in triumph again. There is nothing that can keep Him out. 

When He does return and go through those gates, all the sorrow and trouble of this world will come to end, for King Jesus will be on His throne. Forever.


“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” 
Revelation 21:2-5 NIV

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: The Quick Work of God
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In case you want to read more about the Golden Gate, here's an interesting article:

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