21:12 And [had] HAVING a wall great and high.—The pictures here are all pictures of the Bride. Nevertheless, the wall, the protection of that Heavenly City, in a special sense represents our Heavenly Father. No picture of the Bride would be complete that did not include Him who dwells within us, who is the Author of the Plan, and the Source of all our joys. Now as to the application of the picture of the wall to the Bride herself, one of Pastor Russell's coworkers has aptly said: “We are like living stones, in the plural—144,000 stones in one, if you will. There was one perfect Stone to begin with, and all the others had to be conformed to the image of that Stone. Men have discovered a way of taking two glasses of different density and fusing them together, so you cannot tell where the point of fusion is. And so, with this Little Flock of 144,000, they are going to be welded together in one—there will be but one mind in that whole 144,000. There is only one thing they have in view, and that is to perform Jehovah's will; and they rejoice in doing His will absolutely.”
And [had] HAVING twelve gates.—The twelve mystical tribes of Israel.—Rev. 7:5-8; Ezek. 48:31-34.
And at the gates twelve angels, and THEIR names written thereon.—The entire Little Flock; twelve thousand of each tribe, each working together, under God's direction, as one angel, or messenger. Doubtless certain special work is reserved for each tribe. All who gain membership in that tribe will be particularly suited to the work to which they will be assigned.
Which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.—Their names, and the characteristics they signify, are given in Rev. 7:5-8.
21:13. On the East.—Toward the Sun-rising, toward the Dawn, toward the Little Flock, specially honored and blessed in their sacrifices on behalf of the Church. The side of the Amramites.—Num. 3:19; F. 128.
Three gates.—The mystical tribe of Joseph, Benjamin and Manasseh—Manasseh taking the place of Dan.—Ezek. 48:32; Rev. 7:5, 7, 8.
AND on the North.—The side of the Merarites, the Great Company.—Num. 3:33; F. 129.
Three gates.—The mystical tribes of Judah, Reuben and Levi.—Ezek. 48:31; Rev. 7:5, 7.
AND on the South.—The side of the Kohathites, the Ancient Worthies.—Num. 4:2; F. 129.
Three gates.—The mystical tribes of Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun.—Ezek. 48:33; Rev. 7:7, 8.