The Eastern Gate determined who could and could not enter God’s Temple

(Ezekiel 43:1-2, 4) Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east; and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. … And the glory of the Lord entered the house by way of the gate facing east.

The glory of God entered the Jerusalem Temple through the Eastern Gate.

Gate:

  • Ø  an opening
  • Ø  a means of entrance
  • Ø  a door, valve, or other device for controlling the passage or flow of something or people

A gate is a space that provides a way to enter something or some place. A gate (or gatekeeper) controls, regulates or decides who or what can enter, or cannot enter.

The Eastern Gate provided access to the Jerusalem Temple when it was open, and it prevented access to the Temple when it was closed. In the future it will do this again.

As I thought about the Eastern Gate determining who could or could not enter Jerusalem, I remembered that Paul teaches us that some people are now temples of God’s Spirit because God has entered their “gates.”

First, I must ask you, “Does God’s Spirit live in you?” “Has God’s Spirit entered your ‘gates?’”

Second, I want to ask you (who are temples of God’s Spirit), what did you need to do that made it possible for God’s Spirit to live inside you?”

We are all God’s creation. God is the One and Only Creator. He made everything and every person. But although we are all God’s creation, not all people can be close to God, or enter His “gates.”

(1 Kings 8:46) When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin).

(Ecclesiastes 7:20) Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

(Isaiah 64:6) For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away [from God].

These Bible verses do not mean that all people are evil. It simply states that we all sin. The Hebrew word for sin refers to missing the mark or bullseye when throwing darts or arrows. This simply means that no person always hits a bullseye or does exactly what God asks. Sometimes we miss the mark of doing what God expects us to do.

Sadly, there is a serious consequence for sinning or missing the mark that God has for us.

(Isaiah 59:2) your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God.

God is holy, distinct and different. He is not common or ordinary. He will not allow sin in His presence. As a result, our sin pushes us away from God. It creates a distance between us and God. Sin keeps people outside the “gates” of God’s presence.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (sinned), God removed them from the Garden of Eden, and placed angels there to prevent them from coming back into His presence (Genesis 3). The “gate” to the Garden of Eden was guarded by cherubim which prevented Adam and Eve from coming back into the Garden and kept them separated from God.

The consequences to sin are tragic. You do not want to experience everlasting separation from God. But I have really GOOD NEWS for you. God loves you so much that He provided a remedy for our grave problem. Keep watching for my next blog when I will continue this story and share how you can have your relationship restored with God and enter the gates to His presence.

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