The Gates Of Death And Of Heaven

We know from many scriptures that our entry into heaven is on the basis of His righteousness but there are some considerations of this subject which have teaching for us while we remain upon the earth. Praise to God is not something which will be done only in a future state in heaven. David shows this clearly in Psalm 9. for verse 14 shows that he had a place in mind where he could render the praise of which he had been speaking. It was to be

"In the gates of the daughter of Zion."

God has a place upon the earth where He delights to dwell. It was once a city but now it is not a material place, but is that which is called in the Scriptures the House of God.

That the House of God to-day is composed of believers who have responded to the will of God for them is abundantly clear from the Scriptures, as in Hebrews 3.6, and it is a place where the will of Christ is absolute, for He is over God's House. If praise is to be uttered to God by men who have been lifted up from the gates of death, or who know that those gates have now no terrors for them, it must be the same kind of praise as Christ can offer, and indeed it would be vain for men to offer up praise according to their own understanding for all has to be offered to God through the Great High

Priest, and surely He will not pass that which is unfitted to His lips. It is indeed needful for men to study how to praise God.

It may be asked, What has this got to do with the gates of heaven? Please read again in Genesis 28. how Jacob had a revelation from God which affected his whole life. In that heavenly vision he saw a company of angels ascending and descending into and from heaven. He had an insight into the fact that heaven was a place of great activity and service, a place where life really meant something, and we repeat what we said earlier that life and activity should go together. The place of that revelation is described by Jacob as follows

"How dreadful is this place!

This is none other but the house of God,

And this is the gate of heaven"

(Genesis 28.17).

Much has been said about the stone which he set up which also he called God's House, a pillar of testimony, and a symbol of offering on the part of Jacob. Henceforth he saw himself as a pilgrim upon the earth dedicated to the service of God. Now please note that Jacob not only discerned the character of the House of God but he also discerned that it was the gate of heaven, and this is a profound lesson for all who are in the House of God, or are searching unto the truth of God, that there is a gate of heaven on the earth which is the House of God. It is an earthly but very practical symbol of the heavenly things. We are already heavenly men in character tied to earthly bodies, but we have a place of access through Christ, and in spirit we have the things of heaven practised upon the earth, a gate of heaven which is more precious to us than the gates of Jerusalem which uplifted the hearts of the godly Israelites.

unknown | May 1954
The Gates Of Death And Of Heaven