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2. Arrival at the Eastern Gate

Approaching the door of Heaven through lush Garden of Eden beauty, and the overwhelming brilliance and massive stature of the Jasper Wall. With glory shining out to welcome the faithful, a traveler enters, having viewed the twelve Apostles' names, considering their great witness (and meeting them soon). The new arrival is greeted by a glorious angel with the Book of Life in his hand.

How great it is to see the familiar names of the twelve Apostles we have gotten acquainted with through Scripture study on earth. It's like old friends meeting us: Peter, James, John, and Matthew being four of the best known. The Book of Ephesians says, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (2:20 NKJV).

The traveler looks up to see names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. At the door of Heaven both Old and New Testament heroes of faith are brought together.

Perhaps the most significant of the twelve gates around Heaven's wall is the one in the center on the East side. This would follow the pattern God gave Moses for his tent of meeting in the Wilderness which had one entrance on the East side. Moses, Aaron and his sons also camped near the entrance toward the sunrise (Numbers 3:38). The Gate of Eden where humankind was expelled was east of the the garden (Gen. 3:24). A vision of the millennial sanctuary in the future was given to Ezekiel and mentions the East outer gate (40:6). (Also see Rev. 22:14).

There are three gates on each side of the City of God. We're not told the distance between these gates which would most likely be placed equidistant around the Jasper Wall. If we guessed that the length between the gates is about twelve times the depth or thickness of the wall or 880 yards (1/2 mile) then the distance between gates would be 499.5 miles. This is simply a guess as we have no measurements given in the Bible other than the length and depth (thickness) of the wall. Fortunately no one is sick or infirm in Heaven and walking will be more like space walking in our spirit bodies (or transformed bodies later). Walking hundreds of miles will be a snap.

A mighty guarding angel is there to greet the newcomer. The lush green of the Eden-like entry has already brought much peace.

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