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WMM E-Mail Bag!
 Messiah's Return & The Eastern Gate!

Q Hey Sam, I’m searching for the verse that says Yeshua will return through the Eastern / Golden gate in Jerusalem. Any ideas as to where to search? Thanks, Kara*

A Though this ‘Eastern Gate idea’ is found in traditional Jewish thought, it does reflect certain Scriptural ideas on the matter. First to clarify one thing, this refers not to the Rapture, where believers are caught up to “meet the Lord in the air,” (see 1 Thes. 4:16-5:5, John 14:3), but to Messiah’s Second Coming to rescue Israel and establish His kingdom (see Malachi 4:1,2, Zech. 12:8-10).

The Glory Departed
When the God’s presence left the Temple during the ministry of Ezekiel, He left through


The Temple mount viewed from the Mount of Olives.
Eastern Gate is in center.

the Eastern gate (see Ezek. 10:19, 11:23). God’s glory did not return until Messiah Himself came to the Temple, fulfilling the word of the prophet Malachi: “...the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple...” (Mal. 3:1).
But He was to be rejected, and thus Messiah said to His people Israel:

 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, ...how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. You shall not see me again until you say- Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai- ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord’” (Matt.23:37-39).


The Future Return of Glory
Ezekiel the prophet saw the glory of the Millennial Period, coming from the East, (Ezek. 43:1-4) and Israel’s Millennial leader (Messiah the Prince) entering the Temple it is by the East gate: Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. The LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut” (44:1,2; see also 46:12).
Interestingly the Eastern gate remains shut even today, and it is the only one of the eight gates in Jerusalem that is sealed. Legend tells us that since Muslims believed the Jews expected Messiah would come through this gate, they would prevent this from happening. So in AD 1530 the Eastern gate was walled up by its Muslim conquerors, the Ottoman Turks. Zechariah says Jerusalem will be the center of controversy in the Last Days (Zech. 12:1,2), and with current events in the Middle East, that isn’t hard to imagine.


The Eastern, or Golden Gate,
remains shut since AD 1530

 Zechariah goes on to note Messiah’s eastern approach at His return: “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east”(14:4). From there, whether or not He enters through the Eastern Gate, we aren’t certain, but I wouldn’t be surprised if He did. Though Yeshua was rejected and became our Passover Lamb, He is faithful, and will return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! So as we se the stage being set, we recognize the Bible knows what it is talking about. God’s Word is true, and one day Messiah will come and reign in righteousness forever. That’s Good News! Y
 

Related Story: "Terrorism, Jerusalem, & The God of Israel"

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