Are there pearly gates in heaven?

The concept of pearly gates in heaven is not explicitly described in the Bible, but it has become a popular cultural image representing the entrance to heaven. The image seems to originate from Revelation 21:21, which describes the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem as being made of pearl. While the New Jerusalem refers to the future holy city where God will dwell with His people, the pearly gates have been imagined in popular culture as the gates one must pass through to reach heaven.

There are a few key points to understand about the biblical basis and meaning behind this concept:

• The pearly gates are mentioned only once, in Revelation 21:21, which describes the New Jerusalem. The twelve gates are said to be made of pearl, emphasizing the beauty, value, and purity of the city.
• The New Jerusalem represents the future dwelling place of God and the redeemed (Revelation 21:1-3). It is described as coming down out of heaven, so it is distinct from heaven itself.
• Passing through gates was associated with gaining admission and citizenship in a city in biblical times. The pearly gates, then, likely represent admission to the New Jerusalem for God’s people.
• Heaven is not described as having literal gateways or entrances. However, Jesus spoke of the narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14), which may be where the idea of “pearly gates” as the entrance to heaven originated.
• Heaven is depicted as a garden, city, and God’s dwelling place. But the details given about heaven are limited. Focus is much more on being with God Himself.

In summary, the Bible does not explicitly describe pearly gates as the entrance to heaven. This is an idea that developed later in church history and popular culture. However, passages about the New Jerusalem and Jesus as the gate for the sheep (John 10:7-9) likely contributed to this idea. The pearly gates serve as a vivid symbolic representation of the beauty, value, purity, and exclusiveness of heaven. They picture heaven as a place set apart for God’s people to dwell with Him.

Other biblical details about heaven

While the Bible does not describe literal pearly gates in heaven, it does give us glimpses of what heaven will be like. Here are some key biblical details about heaven:

• Heaven is where God dwells (Psalm 33:13-14) and where His throne is (Isaiah 66:1).
• Heaven is free from sin, suffering, and corruption (Revelation 21:1-4, 27).
• Heaven is described as a garden paradise (2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7) and a great, holy city (Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:10-27).
• Heaven will be a place of great joy, treasures, and rewards (Matthew 5:12; Luke 12:33; 1 Peter 1:3-4).
• Believers will have glorified resurrection bodies in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49; Philippians 3:20-21).
• There will be no marriage in heaven (Matthew 22:30).
• Believers will worship God, serve Him, and reign with Him (Revelation 22:3-5).
• Heaven’s citizens will see God face to face (Revelation 22:4).

Heaven is thus depicted as the magnificent, holy dwelling place of God, where believers will joyfully worship Him, serve Him, and fellowship with Him forever. The focus is relationally on being with God Himself.

Will there be literal gates and walls?

While the Bible uses imagery of a great city, garden, and God’s temple to describe heaven, some wonder if there will literally be walls, gates, and other architectural structures in heaven. Several factors lead many Bible scholars to believe the descriptions of heaven are symbolic rather than literal:

• Heaven is outside the physical, earthly realm, so physical descriptions likely help us understand spiritual realities.
• The New Jerusalem is said to be shaped as a cube (Revelation 21:16), which would be implausible as an earthly city, indicating symbolism.
• Gates signify dwelling, citizenship, safety, and exclusion of enemies – spiritual realities.
• A physical temple would be unnecessary in heaven, since God Himself will dwell with people (Revelation 21:22).
• The tree and river of life (Revelation 22:1-2) recall Eden’s garden, indicating spiritual paradise.

At the same time, heaven is described as a physical realm where believers will have resurrected bodies. So differences from our current physical realm likely reflect the new creation more than pure symbolism. But the architectural details are probably symbolic representations of spiritual truths about heaven.

Why are the gates made of pearl?

The pearly gates show that even small details given in Scripture about heaven hold symbolic meaning. Why are the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem made of pearl? Several interpreters suggest it is because:

• Pearls represent great value (Matthew 13:45-46; Revelation 18:12). The gates emphasize the worth of entrance to heaven.
• Pearls also represent purity and perfection. The gates picture the flawless purity of the New Jerusalem.
• The pearl’s smooth, luminous sheen symbolizes the radiance of God’s glory filling the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11).
• The immense size of the gates – each a single, huge pearl – represents the grandeur of heaven.

So the pearly gates powerfully convey that heaven, as the dwelling of God, is supremely valuable, pure, radiant, and glorious. The lavish use of “pearl” shows heaven surpasses anything we have known on earth.

Will people literally pass through gates?

As magnificent as the pearly gates sound, will believers literally pass through giant pearl gates to enter heaven? Again, many Bible scholars see the gates, like other architectural features, as a symbolic rather than literal description. Here’s why:

• Heaven transcends earthly dimensions. Gates imply a physical separation between two places that likely does not exist in heaven.
• Gates also represent exclusivity and approval for entry. Believers gain admission to heaven through faith in Christ, not literal passage through gates.
• Christ said He Himself is the gate for the sheep (John 10:7-9). He is the spiritual means of access to salvation and heaven.
• Old Testament writers sometimes used gates to convey access, power, shelter, citizenship, and military strength in a symbolic way.

At the same time, gates in ancient cities did regulate and restrict access. So it is possible there are actual entrances to the New Jerusalem, which the gates beautifully picture. But the emphasis seems to be more on the spiritual reality of being approved to dwell with God in heaven.

What do the twelve gates signify?

The New Jerusalem is described as having twelve gates, with twelve angels at them and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them (Revelation 21:12). The number twelve, and multiples of it, frequently signify completion and heavenly perfection in the Bible. So the twelve gates likely convey:

• Access to the city for all the people of God (the twelve tribes represented the people of Israel).
• Entry for people from every direction (north, south, east, and west).
• Perfect, complete inclusion of all God’s chosen people in heaven.

Having the names of Israel’s tribes on the gates also shows:

• Fulfillment of God’s covenant relationship with His people Israel.
• The continuity between spiritual Israel on earth and in heaven.
• That redeemed people from throughout history will inhabit the New Jerusalem.

So the twelve gates signify that heaven includes people from all nations who belong to God through faith in all ages.

Do only some enter through the gates?

Because popular imagery pictures the pearly gates as the entrance to heaven, some wonder if only some special or elite group of believers get to pass through those gates. However, the Bible suggests all believers will inhabit the New Jerusalem. Passage through the gates seems to symbolize:

• Acceptance by God into the holy city, rather than any inherent human merit (Revelation 22:14).
• Purification from sin by Christ’s blood (Revelation 22:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
• The universal offer of salvation and heaven to all people (Luke 14:16-24; John 10:7-9).

While only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27), all who trust in Christ as Savior are included in that book. The gates represent the open invitation of the gospel to everyone who will come to God through Christ.

Are there literal angels guarding the gates?

Revelation 21:12 states that each of the twelve gates has an attending angel. What does this mean? Several possibilities exist:

• The angels emphasize heaven’s exclusivity – only those approved by God can enter.
• The angels are symbolic guardians of God’s holiness.
• They perhaps conduct actual examinations at judgment.
• Angels rejoice over each soul saved (Luke 15:7, 10).
• Their presence stresses the importance and honor of entering the New Jerusalem.

While intriguing to picture massive angels guarding huge pearly gates, this is likely symbolic imagery. Heaven’s citizens have already passed from death to eternal life (John 5:24). But the angels powerfully convey God’s majesty and holiness as King of the New Jerusalem.

Will unbelievers be able to see inside heaven’s gates?

Some passages have led to speculation about whether those outside heaven will be able to see into heaven’s gates. For example:

• Passages about “outer darkness” where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30) could imply seeing heaven from afar.
• The story of Lazarus and the rich man pictures the rich man in Hades seeing Lazarus in “Abraham’s side” (Luke 16:19-31).

However, these passages are likely using symbolic language to convey spiritual realities about judgment and separation from God’s kingdom. They do not necessarily indicate literal visibility. Other factors that weigh against unbelievers seeing into heaven include:

• Heaven is described as utterly separated from all sin, corruption, and unbelief (Revelation 21:27).
• Hell is described as darkness, which would obstruct viewing heaven’s glory.
• The focus in Scripture is on one’s own state of salvation or damnation, not what others can see.
• Barriers between the spiritual states of the lost and the redeemed likely exist that prevent visibility.

So while intriguing, the idea of unbelievers peering through heaven’s gates probably says more about human curiosity than biblical reality. The ultimate separation between the lost and saved is clear.

What matters more than the gates?

Debates about the metaphysical features of heaven, such as pearly gates, can distract from the breathtaking spiritual truths conveyed in Scripture. The immeasurable blessing of heaven is closeness to God. Dwelling with Him is presented as the highest joy, honor, and hope for believers (Revelation 21:3-4; John 14:2-3). The radiance emanating from God’s presence far outshines even the most elaborate adornments of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11, 23). Heaven is defined not by what we pass through but by Who we will be with – the wonder of seeing God face to face for eternity.