THE NORTHERN GATES
In the 7th Trumpet of Revelation, the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom’s of our LORD and His Christ. And as the Temple of God opens, the Ark of His Testament in Heaven is revealed. (Rev 11: 15-19) It is here, the ‘sceptre of rule’ bound in Judah’s Prophecies, pass to Shiloh; those ‘redeemed first-fruits’ who believe ‘JESUS is both LORD and Christ.’ For as the Ark of the Covenant dwelt in the midst of Israel’s Tribes in Moses time, so the Temple of God in New Jerusalem dwells in the midst of the Twelve Angels of JESUS Israel.
While in his day, Joshua sang the blessings and curses of Moses to Israel on the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal, in the border of Ephraim’s inheritance. In the Plagues of Revelation, we hear the Songs of Moses and the Lamb, as the ‘Ark of JESUS Testament’ is cleansed in the multitudes of Ephraim gathered from all nations. And as the 7th Plague declares “It is done,” we then hear JESUS in Mount Zion testify; “It is done, I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” (Rev 21: 5-6)
Of these things the Apostle Paul said; “We shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption. (1Corinthians 15:51-53)
Through the Gates of the East, come those cleansed in the Lamb’s Blood and Testimony. In the Angels of the Gates of Judah, Reuben, and Gad, dwell the tenants of JESUS Salvation in the ‘Water, the Blood, and the Spirit.’ Therefore, if we have not already, let us “Repent and be baptised in the Name of JESUS Christ for the remission of sin, that we might receive the ‘seal’ of JESUS Spirit.” (Acts 2:36-38)
And so, the Israel of God, having passed through the Trumpets and Plagues, come to Mount Zion, the Ark of JESUS Salvation; His Christ. To the 8th day and ‘Seal of Christ’s circumcision in us; the passing away of an earthly dominion, and the coming of the Sceptre of JESUS Heavenly rule.
We come now to the Angels of the three Northern Gates. (Revelation 7 & 21)
ASHER
JESUS Testimony in the Angel of Asher’s Gate. When Zilpah, Leah’s maid bare a second son, Leah said; “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed:” (Genesis 30:12-13) Asher’s name means, ‘happy and blessed.’ Jacob said of him: “Out of Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal delicacies (Genesis 49:20) Moses said: “Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren and let him dip his foot in oil. His shoes shall be iron and brass…” (Deut 33:24-25)
Asher’s tribal banner is that of a ‘Golden Cup’ and an ‘Olive Tree.’ And as Judah is the main Gate of the East, so Asher is the central Gate of the North. As such, the Spirit of Prophecy bound in Asher holds the pure purpose of Christ in the three Northern Gates. In the ‘fat of Asher’s bread’ and ‘royal fruits’ we find JESUS Heavenly Gospel, and the fruits thereof.
In Asher we find the fruits of love, joy, and peace born of Christ’s Spirit. And as Leah saw Israel’s daughters call her blessed, so in Asher, we find JESUS blessings. Not the blessings of earthly gain that sit in Moses’ Law; but the blessings that come from Christ in Heaven, where there is nothing to gain in this world; to turn the other cheek and to pray for those who spitefully use us. Let this be the Sceptre of Shiloh’s rule in us.
In Asher’s shoes of ‘iron and brass,’ and ‘his feet dipped in oil,’ we find judgement, mercy, and faith in equal measure. In Moses’ time, the Northern Brigade led by Dan came last. However, in the order of Zion’s Gates, Christ’s Royal Law follows JESUS Witness bound in Judah. And, whereas the Angel in Dan sought to place Mount Sinai’s yoke upon us, from Asher come children born free of Mount Zion above.
NAPHTALI
JESUS Testimony in the Angel of Naphtali’s Gate. When Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, bare her second son, Rachel said “I have wrestled my sister and have prevailed; and she called his name Naphtali.” (Gen 30:7-8) So Naphtali’s name means ‘to wrestle.’ From Jacob we hear; “Naphtali is a hind set loose: he gives good words.” (Gen 49:21) And Moses said, “Naphtali filled with favour and full of the blessings of the LORD: possess the west and the south.” (Deut 33:23)
Naphtali’s banner is ‘a hind set free.’ Now, Jacob and Esau ‘wrestled’ in Rebekah’s womb. And Jacob, having wrestled with the LORD’S Angel and prevailed was named Israel; so also, Rachael prevailed in her ‘wrestling’ with Leah. For in the children born of these women lived two Covenants that battle each other; just as the LORD placed enmity between the Serpent and Eve’s seed.
Of this Paul says: “I see a law in my flesh warring against the law of my mind and bringing me in captivity to the law of sin. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I serve the law of God but with the flesh, the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-23)
From this separation, comes the Circumcision of the Spirit. Not that we should sin, but that our conscience should not condemn our Faith; for when Jesus’ Faith prevails, we are set free to live in Spirit and in Truth. And here Jacob’s blessing manifests: “Naphtali is a hind set free.” Which blessing in the of tenants of Moses Law, released those fallen into slavery every seven years, just as JESUS forgives our sin and sets us free when we believe.
In Naphtali’s Angel, is found the ‘Spirit of Forgiveness’ that we forgive one another’s trespass, and to indeed forgive ourselves. And this, as Moses said of Naphtali, is the full favour and blessing of the LORD. And this Spirit of Release, as seen by Moses, goes beyond the borders of Naphtali’s inheritance to possess the west and south. Just as the ‘Fruit of Forgiveness’ in New Jerusalem, abounds in the Angels of the Western and Southern Gates.
MANASSEH
JESUS Testimony in the Angel of Manasseh’s Gate. Manasseh and Ephraim are Joseph’s sons, and their blessings are bound in his. Born of Rachael, Joseph’s name means ‘The LORDS’ Increase.’ Manasseh’s name means to ‘Forget, or to Remit.’ We see from Jacob’s blessing; “Manasseh shall be a great people, but his younger brother shall be greater and become a multitude of nations.” (Gen 48:19) And Moses said of Joseph; “His glory is the first-born of his ox and his horns the horns of a wild ox: with them he shall push the people to the ends of the earth: they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh.” (Deut 33:17)
In Joseph dwell two portions; Manasseh the first-born, and Ephraim. Manasseh is named in the Tribes of JESUS first fruits in Heaven. And his tribal banner is that of an ‘olive branch, and an Ox.’ JESUS Angel in Manasseh rests in the promise that our sins are blotted out and remembered no more. In Manasseh, is the ‘Feast of the First-fruits’ of grace. And in Ephraim, the ‘Feast of Ingathering’ of those Multitudes in who grace is perfected.
In Joshua’s time, Manasseh’s inheritance lay on both sides of the Jordan River. Their inheritance in the Lawgivers’ portion east of the Jordan, lay in the north. In the promised-land they surrounded Ephraim’s inheritance in the south and west. And as Joseph’s sons embraced in brotherly love then, so the Spirit of Grace binds them now.
In the ‘two horns’ of Ephraim and Manasseh, are the two witnesses of Revelation 11; JESUS Gospel and Moses Law, put to death by the religious in every generation. And like Joseph’s times of ‘plenty and famine’ they have gathered the Israel of God to Jesus. In the ‘thousands of Manasseh,’ the ‘Tribes’ of the Lambs redeemed first-fruits. And, in the ‘ten thousands of Ephraim’ the ‘Multitudes’ washed in the blood of the Lamb. For by Grace, we are saved.
So, through the Northern Gates of Zion are those drawn by Jesus ‘Heavenly Gospel’ made new. Out of Asher comes the ‘Fruits of the Spirit,’ born of JESUS Royal Law. In Naphtali a ‘Law of Faith’ that prevails over the sin in our flesh. And from this is the ‘Fruits of Forgiveness’ that go beyond us and set our neighbours free. And in Manasseh, the ‘First-fruits of Grace’ purchased by the blood of the Lamb in its generations, (lest any man boast) that has brought forth a multitude of nations.
I end this sharing on the Northern Gate with a portion of JESUS Song. Asher’s royal fruit – Naphtali set loose – Manasseh forgive.
LORD, lay upon the Foundation Stones of the Apostles Faith your Walls of Salvation. And open in us the Angels of Gods Israel, who have borne your Everlasting Testimony. In JESUS Christ’s Name I pray. Amen.
