Rebuilding

Rebuilding the Gates and Walls

A Picture of Christian Renewal

Ancient cities were often more like fortresses than cities, as we understand the term "city" today. The perimeter consisted of a massive stone wall (or walls) with gates to permit or prevent the entry of people and animals. In times of war, enemy forces often concentrated their attacks on these openings, typically the weakest part of the city wall, so the gates were usually constructed in such a way that they were flanked by, or actually part of, one or more defensive guard towers.

If you possess the gates you possess the City (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28) - this speaks of important truths that relate to the church and our own lives. How can I say that the restoration and possession of these physical walls and gates relates to personal and church restoration? I believe that the primary author of Scripture is the Holy Spirit and that He purposely places typological images in salvation history that point to truths that would not have been at all evident to the human authors, recipients, or even Old Testament believers reading these Scriptures. However, Jesus filled all the Old Testament to its fullest and correctly interpreted all the practices, ceremonies and images that foreshadowed His reality (See Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27; Hebrews 10:1). Through Jesus we now have wonderful truths revealed to us through the Old Testament feasts, sacrificial system, Tabernacle worship and so forth. I believe that the restoration of the temple and the walls/gates of Jerusalem are prophetic pictures of the restoration of God's people, both the Jews (God still has plans for them) and the Church. I can be confident in saying this as the New Testament says that we are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) and the Church is "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22).

The Meaning of the Walls and Gates...

"Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise."

Isaiah 60:18(KJV)

The Walls of Jerusalem..

As soon as we are saved a protective wall of Christ's blood is put around us - a wall of Salvation. This wall stops enemies from coming in - at least for a time! The enemies can come through the gates to possess the city if the gates are not restored properly.

The Gates of Jerusalem..

Gates were well made (Psalm 107:15; Isaiah 45:2) and heavily defended (2 Samuel 18:24-26). To possess the main gates was to possess the whole city (Genesis 22:17).

The gates would be shut at night, but in the New Jerusalem there will be no night with the gates always open (Revelation 21:25). That's the ultimate desire of God for these gates in our lives, but in this age where Satan and his forces are on the prowl we need to build up and maintain a strong guard on each of our spiritual gates.

Gates were places of..

(1) POWER - A gateway was possessed (Genesis 24:60) by one or two forces who would set up authority (Jeremiah 1:15) after they won the war (Judges 5:8,11). Enemies were burned at the gates (Joshua 8:29) and idols cast down (Judges 18:16,7). When the gate was taken it belonged to the King (2 Samuel 19:8; 2 Samuel 18:4). The gates were then guarded by watchmen (1 Chronicles 9:18;26:13). See also Psalm 9:13-14; Matthew 16:18 and Proverbs 14:19.

(2) PURITY - The Gates of Jerusalem were not to have any impure things pass through them (2 Kings 7:3). There was a purging at the gates (2 Samuel 3:27-28).