Revelation 21:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The great and high wall of the Church, which guards the inhabitants of the holy city, is called Christ. Its twelve gates are the holy apostles, through whom we have access and entry to the Father.

In this we are helped by twelve angels, who preside over others and are nearer to God in knowledge and holiness. For if a guardian angel follows each believer, then with greater certainty we should think that the foremost angels accompany the founders of the Church and sowers of the Gospel teaching in the preaching of the Gospel.

On the apostolic entrances are written the names of the tribes of Israel, that is, of spiritual Israel. Likewise the names of sensible Israel were written on the breastplate of the ancient high priest.

Zechariah said: “And I will be to her, says the Lord, a wall of fire round about” (Zech 2:5). Who is so great and high a guardian, if not the Lord of majesty, who surrounds His holy city with the covering of His presence?

The city has twelve gates, and on them twelve corners. On the gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. In the Gospel we read what the Lord said of Himself: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (Jn 10:9).

Therefore Christ is the door. The leaders of our faith are not together called doors, but it is said that their names are written on the gates, that is, on the doors. By this our Lord Jesus Christ shows that He is the door of truth and freedom for all the saints.

John indicates that the twelve gates and the twelve angels are the apostles and prophets. For, according to what is written, we are established upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (cf. Eph 2:20). And the Lord said to Peter: On this rock I will build My Church (Mt 16:18).

It is said, “It has twelve gates,” which signify the twelve apostles who proclaimed to us the way of faith in Christ. “And on the gates, twelve angels.” I am convinced that the divine angels cooperate with the holy apostles in establishing the faith of the world.

For since the Law of Moses was proclaimed through angels, according to the Apostle’s words, “If the word spoken through Angels was firm” (Heb 2:2), how much more do angels cooperate with the proclamation of the Gospel?

It is said: “And the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written.” There is a visible Israel, those descended from Jacob and the patriarchs. But there is also a spiritual Israel, those who are founded on the faith of our father Abraham.

The wall of the Church is Christ, whom we read to be both great and high: “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, on His holy mountain” (Ps 47:2), and “High above all nations is the Lord” (Ps 112:4).

The prophet Isaiah spoke of this wall: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city. He has given salvation for a wall and rampart. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps truth may enter. The ancient sin will depart” (Isa 26:1-3).

These passages, written by one and the same Spirit, agree with one another and therefore describe similar things.

This is the invincible power of faith, hope, and love. Under this great wall, which protects the Church on every side, the Lord Himself may also be understood. Isaiah also spoke of Him: “He will set a wall and rampart” (Isa 26:1), that is, the Lord’s protection and the mediation of the saints, who prepare the way into the city by addressing their teaching to the hearts of believers.

“It has twelve gates.” These gates are the apostles, who by the whole body of their writings and words first opened to the Gentiles the gates into the Church.

“On the gates, twelve angels.” These are the teachers who follow in the footsteps of the apostles in the mystery of faith and the word.

According to some interpreters, the wall surrounding the holy city means not a boundary perceptible to our senses, arranged by the power and wisdom of God. It may also mean the very power and wisdom of God, inaccessible to every other force, guarding the dwellings of His glory.

This boundary, or wall, according to such interpreters, is invisible to the eyes of sinners. Therefore it does not prevent them from seeing the blessed dwelling of the righteous, as is said in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (see Lk 16:23). Yet at the same time this boundary is impassable for every attempt to cross its line.

By what features does the seer of mysteries depict the New Jerusalem, which came down before his eyes from heaven? Here are some of these remarkable features.

“The city has the glory of God, and its light is like a most precious stone” (Rev 21:11). This signifies a certain special nearness of the Lord God to it, so that the whole city is illumined with divine light.

A high wall surrounds the city as a sign that no unworthy person can enter there. The same thought is expressed by the fact that Angels of God keep watch at its twelve gates.

The gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. For as these tribes on earth formed the society of God’s chosen people, so their names are also assigned to the chosen ones of heaven.