THE BIBLE GATEWAY AND PORTAL

There are eight gates in the Old City walls of Jerusalem, which were constructed by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent at the beginning of the 16th century. All of them, with the exception of one (which is called the Gate of Mercy), continue to serve Jerusalemites and visitors who are flooding to the city’s markets, as well as its sacred and historic monuments.

The following is a brief description of each of the gates, going from south to west in a counterclockwise direction:

The Gate of Zion :

This entrance, which bears Jerusalem’s earliest historical name in Hebrew and English, is known as the Gate of the Prophet David in Arabic. This is due to the proximity of this gate to the Tomb of King David, which is located on the neighboring Mount Zion. Zion Gate is the entrance that goes straight to the Jewish and Armenian districts.

The strange name of this gate, “The Dung Gate,” comes from the fact that garbage used to be thrown here in ancient times, at a location where the prevailing winds would drive odors away. Nehemiah 2:13 makes reference to a Dung Gate, which most likely stood nearby to this gate. Through this gate, one can access the Southern Wall Archaeological Park as well as the Western Wall immediately.

This gate, located in the eastern wall of the Temple Mount, is possibly the most well-known of all of them. It is called the Gate of Mercy. It has been closed for generations and is claimed to be waiting for a miracle opening when the Messiah comes and the dead are revived. It is also known as the Golden Gate or the Eastern Gate.

Lion’s Gate:

The two carvings of vicious-looking animals that are found on either side of this portal are the inspiration for its name. In reality, these beasts are tigers, which served as the family crest for the Sultan Beybars throughout the 13th century. It is also known as St. Stephen’s Gate, after the first Christian martyr, who, according to tradition, was stoned to death in the immediate vicinity of the gate. During the Six Day War, Lion’s Gate gained a lot of notoriety because it is the entrance that leads to the Pools of Bethesda, the Via Dolorosa, and the markets.

The Gate of Herod:

This renowned Judean king had nothing to do with the construction of this gate, despite the fact that it bears his name. This entrance, which faces north and leads to the marketplaces in the Old City, is referred to as the Flowers Gate in both Arabic and Hebrew. Some people believe that the name comes from a rosette that was carved on top of it. However, a term that sounds quite similar in Arabic means “awakened,” and it may be referring to a cemetery that is nearby as well as the hope of being resurrected.

Damascus Gate:

This impressive entrance to Jerusalem also faces north and was given its name after the great city that formerly provided Jerusalem’s rulers. Because of the bustling markets that are located within, the road is always very busy. Archaeologists have discovered, beneath the gate that dates to the 16th century, a portion of the gateway that Emperor Hadrian constructed in the second century CE.

The Brand New Gateway:

This is the sole entrance to the Old City that was not a part of the original plan for the walls when they were built in the 16th century. In the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, a breach was made in the wall to facilitate easier access for Christian pilgrims to the holy sites that were contained within the walls.

The Jaffa Gate got its name because it was the final stop for Jewish and Christian pilgrims after they disembarked from their ships at the port of Jaffa. It led (and still leads) directly to the Jewish and Christian neighborhoods, as well as to the most popular portions of the market, and to the Tower of David Museum, which was once Jerusalem’s citadel and is now an exhibition of its history. In addition, it led immediately to the most popular areas of the market.

A fortified home that is encamped around our belief system is an example of a stronghold. Our flawed ways of thinking and false convictions at the heart of our being are the strongholds that prevent us from agreeing with what God’s Word says. To experience the complete victory and power that God has for us, it is necessary to locate and destroy the strongholds we have built up in our lives.

A stronghold thought pattern might be something like dread, uncertainty, negativity, anticipation of rejection or betrayal, a performance-based mentality, thinking like a victim, or any number of other countless possibilities. These are the strongholds that have grown in us as a result of our experiences in life, and they are in opposition to the truth that is found in the Word of God. They modify our understanding of God, His nature and promises, as well as who we are in relation to Him and the authority that we possess through Christ Jesus.

The protection of our entrances and exits is of the utmost significance. The way in which we take in information and digest it determines the manner in which things enter our soul through its various doors and gates. Each of our five senses acts as a gateway or gate via which information might enter our bodies. It is essential to satiate the soul rather than the flesh in order for us to successfully defend our boundaries.

The Old Testament of the Bible makes it abundantly obvious to us that the gates of a fortress or stronghold have always been the source of both its vulnerability and its strength. The spiritual realm adheres to the same fundamental principle that was made known to us in the natural realm. In order to take a city that had been defended in biblical times, several crucial facts needed to be recognized. Therefore, we can utilize these concepts to bring down the strongholds in our own lives.

The Old Testament paints a picture for us of a fortress consisting of sturdy walls, a draw bridge, and fortified gates all around it. Massive gates constructed of stone, iron, brass, or wood that are commonly sheeted with metal can be seen at the entrances to ancient cities. These gates do not resemble modern city gates in any way. They were stout and broad at the same time. Brass was used in the construction of “The Beautiful Gate” of Herod’s temple (Acts 3:2), which had to be shut by a team of twenty people. These gates were normally locked and barred at night as a safety measure to keep out any potential attackers from the outside world, but during the day they were opened so that citizens could freely enter and exit the city. Whoever had control of the stronghold’s entrances also had control of the city.

The entrances and exits to cities were given a great deal of importance. Joshua 2:5 commands that the gates be closed at sunset since they were the primary entry point from which the enemy attacked (Judges 5:8). At the gates, abominable acts of idolatry were carried out (Acts 14:13). Ezekiel 21:22 says that battering rams were placed against the gates, and then the gates were destroyed by fire once they were broken down (Nehemiah 1:3).

The gates served as points of control and authority (Ruth 4:11). At the entrance, words of insight were spoken (Proverbs 1:21). It is said in Deuteronomy 16:18 that judges and officers were stationed at the gates to administer justice, and that the councils of state were held at the gates (2 Chronicles 18:9). From the gates, the prophets shouted the word that God had given them (Jeremiah 17:19-20), and the Word of God was read (Nehemiah 8:2-3). In order to worship the Lord, the people were also required to enter via the gates.

“Stand at the entrance to the temple of the Lord and declare from that location the following message: ‘All you people of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the Lord, hear the Word of the Lord.’”

Jeremiah 7:2 (NIV)

The Bible describes gates as being present not only in towns but also in camps, households, temples, and palaces. We, the people of God, are often referred to be the dwelling place of God. People sometimes refer to the human body as a tent or a temple for the Holy Spirit.

There are a lot of passages in the Bible that talk about the entrances. In the natural world, gates are the things that you go through to get somewhere. The same can be said for the spiritual realm. Every individual possesses entrances that lead to their spirit, soul, and physical self. According to the Scriptures, when we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit will place a seal of approval on our spirits. When our spirit transforms into a new creation, the doors leading to our spirit are sealed shut.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption,” it says. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”

4:30 in the book of Ephesians (NIV)

We should give thanks to God because He is the one who guards our spirits. But both our physical body and our spiritual selves have entrances that the adversary may and will try to breach. Jesus, on the other hand, is our provider; He is the one who paid the price for our salvation by bearing the sins of the world. He came to earth to lead humans in the right direction, to open the route to God for us, and to give us the ability to walk in God’s might and victory. Because of his sacrifice, we are now able to enter the kingdom of God. This was made possible. Jesus is the one and only way to enter God the Father’s presence, as there is no other gate or door that leads there.

“Jesus spoke to them once again, telling them, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.’”

John 10:7 (NIV)

“At that point I turned, and there in front of me was a door that was wide open in heaven…”

4 of the Revelation (NIV)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus proclaimed. No one can approach the Father unless they first come to me.

John 14:6 (NIV)

The kingdom of Satan imitates everything that exists in the kingdom of God, thereby generating a copy. If this is the case, then it stands to reason that if there is an entrance to heaven, there must also be a gate to hell.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not be able to overcome it,” Jesus said to Peter. “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

18 of Matthew’s Gospel (NIV)

Jesus referred to the path that leads to the Father and salvation as being very narrow. Entering the route of one’s adversary, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. On the road that leads to Satan, there are numerous gates, and each one of them leads a person to their own damnation.

“You must get in through the small gate. Because the gate is large and the path that leads to ruin is vast, and a great number of people enter through it. But the entrance to existence is modest, and the path that goes there is difficult to navigate; very few people succeed in doing so.

13–14 of Matthew’s Gospel (NIV)

We cannot allow the adversary to enter through our open gates. The gates that are currently accessible to us are shown to us by our strongholds. Even if one of our gates is left unguarded or open, those who wish to subjugate us and establish a foothold among us will be able to easily do so. God cautions us against giving the devil any room in our lives. The opening of the gates of pride, rebellion, incorrect ideas, or bad intentions makes it possible for Satan to create a fortress and provides a location for the enemy to set up his camp. It is imperative that we maintain vigilance over our gates. This requires us to examine our hearts with the help of the Holy Spirit and to keep watch over the entrances and exits of our bodies and souls.

We each have a responsibility to make a conscious decision to recognize and destroy mental strongholds, as well as to prevent the adversary from entering our homes through our front and back doors. The ways in which we nourish either our physical or our spiritual selves, as well as our views of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, as well as the patterns and beliefs that we follow, all hold a significant amount of weight. This is not just for the purpose of destroying strongholds, but also for the purpose of securing the doors and gates that let in deception and lead us in the wrong route. Because we are striving to have the mind of Christ, you must keep your doors and gates secure and destroy any strongholds that run counter to the teachings of the Bible. Put your trust in God to protect you.

“The LORD is my rock; he is my fortress; he is my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; he is my shield and the horn of my salvation; he is my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

Welcome to Bible Gateways Blog! Let us discover and learn about Gates in the Bible that has spiritual significance in Christianity.