Ezekiel 48:30-35 – Enjoying the presence of God

In Ezekiel 48:30-34, the prophet returns to talk of the twelve gates in the city of the New Jerusalem. The city like a square has four sides. On each side, there are three gates. The gates are named after the twelve tribes of Israel. The north three gates are named after Reuben, Judah, and Levi. The east three gates are named after Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan. The south three gates are named after Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun. And the final three in the west are named after Gad, Asher, and Napthali.

In Revelation 21:10, John narrated that he was carried in the Spirit “… to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” After describing the brilliance of the city which shines like the combination of jasper and crystal, he talks about the wall and the gates. We are told in verses 12-14 that there are twelves gates, three on each side of the square city. Here in Revelation, we have the addition of the wall, the foundation of which bears the names of the Lamb’s or Christ’s twelve apostles.

Putting Ezekiel 48:30-34 and Revelation 21 together, we get the picture of the whole community of God. They comprise both the old and new covenant people. The twelve tribes of Israel represent the renewed old covenant people and the 12 apostles of Christ represent the new covenant people saved by Him. The combination of the two tells us that this New Jerusalem that God has prepared is intimately related to the renewed community gathered in Christ’s name.

Today we, members of the New Community of God, await that glorious day where we shall dwell in the city where the Lord is there, forever. This is our destination. The dimension given in Ezekiel 48:35 appears incidental. What’s critical is that the Lord will be there, ever-present. This is probably John’s source when he wrote his conclusion in the book of Revelation. This is how he puts it in Revelation 21:23, concerning this, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

In the New Jerusalem, we will forever enjoy the divine presence of God. However, even now, we can start to enjoy His presence. All we need is to take the time and draw near to Him. He promises to draw near to us as we do so. Why don’t we start today?