|
DIRECTORY
Home
General LDS Information
Basic LDS Beliefs
LDS Videos
Critics' Questions
Submitted Questions
Scriptures/LDS Literature
Genealogy/Family
LDS Temples
Missionary
Music and Arts
LDS Online Stores
Priesthood, Humor, Miscel.
Site Map
Suggest a Site
Now accepting banner ads!
|
|
YHOMY - Who is in the 7 gates of heaven that will come to us in judgement time?
JOEL - I am not sure I understand your question. You would have to give me a scripture reference related to your question.
There is a fairy tale or myth involving "seven gates of heaven" and also a book by that title that talks about the teachings and customs of different religions, but nothing in the scriptures using that specific term.
In his vision John the Revelator saw 7 angels whom God designates to enforce the judgment on the wicked. We don't know exactly who they are but they must be high ranking beings, as suggested by the golden girdles they wear like that of the Son of Man (see Rev. 1:13, and 15: 6). Because this all happens at the end of the world they are most likely beings that have already been resurrected and dwell with God. One of of four beasts spoken of in Revelation hands each of the angels of doom a vial, or bowl, filled with God's wrath in the form of seven plagues that will spread over the earth (Rev. 15: 7).
The Book of Revelation also speaks of 12 angels that will stand as sentinals at the twelve (not 7) gates of heaven:
"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev 21: 10-14)
The twelve angels may be representatives from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, or they may be Christ's Twelve Apostles, who will judge the worthiness of the people to enter the holy city (Rev. 21:27). It may be that these angels represent the angels Brigham Young described when he defined the temple endowment:
"Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 2:31.)
|
|
|
