Bible Question: Why were walls and gates needed in Heaven? A wall is intended to keep things in, and/or keep things out. |
Bible Answer: Dear Alfalpha, I have been thinking about your question. In fact, listening to a talk, by the archaeologist Dr. Joel Drinkard, on excavations of gate complexes in Jordan, particularly brought your question to mind. I think that you are talking about the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-27) rather than heaven. We certainly understand that the reality of the new Jerusalem will be far different than anything we humans have experienced. Nonetheless, the notion of walls certainly imply security; something that separates those who are gathered together as a people from that which is outside. The gates of a city were the places from which access was controlled; places of commerce, judgment, and fellowship. They were the places where the elders gathered, and even places of worship. Would not the ancient human experience of cities have good analogies with how the "city foursquare" the City of God is described? In Him, Doc |