Today’s gate completes the circle of gates visited in our trip around the walls of Jeru­salem, a gate that is linked by the wall to the Northeast corner, and this then turns westward and significantly links on to the Sheep Gate, where we began our journey. The name of this last gate is one that is not always translated. In the AV it keeps the name Miphkad, meaning number (Oxford Concordance), while RSV uses the fuller Hammiphkad. Elsewhere it is variously trans­lated the Muster Gate, the Judgment Gate or the Inspection Gate. All these conjure up the picture of a large gathering of people. Mustering, which we in Australasia use most often to describe gathering together sheep or cattle from every corner of a property, but which originally referred to soldiers as­sembled for inspection. Judgment, like a full courtroom sitting for a trial. Inspection, reminding us of the Trooping of the Colours before the monarch, or of the assembling of troops for the disciplinary inspection of uniforms, arms, deportment, punctuality and general bearing. Each raises in our minds the portrait of Israelites assembling at this very gate for a variety of purposes; judging, legal transactions, giving instructions, preparing for battle.

The Final Gate⤒🔗

How appropriate it is to the devotional aspect of this series, that the final gate is the Gate of Judgment or Inspection. The final assembly of mankind in this age, the consummation of history, will be the global gathering of Judgment. We have been con­sidering the gates as they teach us things concerning our Saviour and our salvation, and have seen in the gates, the ordered, logical unfolding of God’s purposes. Beyond human comprehension is the planning and fulfillment of each little detail of God’s work­ings, both in creation and in history. Also beyond comprehension is the perfection of inspiration with which God moved his human servants to write his Divine book, orderly and complete, every jot and tittle!

The quotation at the top, from Acts, declares this consummation of the present age, anticipated by both Old and New Testa­ment. It takes us to the Day of the Lord, to the final eschatological visitation of Em­manuel, God with us, the day of Inspection by the King of kings. So this gate belongs to an event still to come. The prophets foresaw it. Amos and Joel both speak of it as a dreadful day of destruction and darkness. Zephaniah gives dire warning of the Day on which God “has decided to assemble the nations”. The New Testament has much to say, both words of encouragement and words of warning. But is a day of fear, but it is also to be a day of singing and salvation. Zechariah, in chapter 14, tells of “that day when the Lord will be King over the whole earth”. Visible to all, for “every eye shall see Him.”

The IVF Dictionary in its section on escha­tology suggests,

The Day of consummation is necessary to bring the fullness of the eschatological blessings now experienced in part. The events attending the Second Coming of Christ do not represent some­thing new. What Christ accomplished by His death and resurrection will be brought to consummation by His coming to glory. We live between the two, between the First and Second Comings. There is much work to be done between the two.

This meditation, however, is not to be a treatise on eschatology or an account of eschatological opinions. It is better not to be dogmatic about the latter, anyway. Some proclaim to know exactly how the events surrounding the end are to occur. They have even produced films to portray what will hap­pen. How unwise. There were many surprises in the fulfillment of His First Coming, and all I would dare to predict dogmatically, apart from its certainty, is that there will be many surprises at His Second. Instead of dwelling on the when’s and how’s, let us think about Him who is the judge, and about our own preparedness for that great Day.

The Judge←⤒🔗

We have already met the glorious One at the Gates of the King of kings, the Horse Gate. We were also reminded of the Second Com­ing at the East Gate. Take another look at the passages that were listed in these; Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 1:12-17 and 19:11-16, and Matthew 24:27, 30-31. While reading an article such as this, there may be the temptation to skip looking references up, but great blessing comes with taking the time to do so. Yet our puny minds cannot really contemplate what He is. We cannot imagine even from these vivid descriptions, what the reality will be. The extreme limit of human words cannot express the magnificence of the Judge of the Inspection Gate. We are hampered by the inadequacies of human speech and by the inadequacy of our knowledge. “Eyes have not seen nor ears heard, neither has entered the heart of man...” So God tells us.

How puny are my own words

The Certainty of Judgment Day←⤒🔗

One thing the Bible assures us of: ‘He who is coming will come, and will not delay.’ (Heb. 10:37) We may doubt it, and say, “Where is the promise of His Coming?” The message of the Judgment Gate is: Do not doubt; it is Certainty. This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way... As lightning comes from the east and shines to the west... The Son of Man will appear in glory with all the angels... Every eye will see Him...

All nations will be gathered – at His In­spection Gate.

A Warning against Rejecting His Grace←⤒🔗

Heb. 10:26,

If we deliberately keep on sin­ning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment, and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled under foot, and who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? ... It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

Light enough has been given us to make faith rational and unbelief without excuse.Charles Bridges

What of those who have never Heard?←⤒🔗

This must be left to the judge. A huge de­liberation that we can only leave for God to resolve. This statement may seem glib, and a wriggle to escape a difficulty. “But God has not promised to answer every question. He has not chosen to reveal everything to us. Some things are concealed both for our own good, and as His right, maintaining His sovereignty.” (Bridges)

And, we are assured, – “Shall not the Judge of the earth do right?” For us, the pertinent question and challenge is – Are we doing as much as we can and should do, to enable these others to hear?

What of those who have Received Him?←⤒🔗

There is no judgement of sin for those who belong to Him. Sin was removed, taken away, wiped out, as far as the east is from the west. Like a thick cloud, blotted out. At Calvary. Yet for these, there will be judg­ment. Our judgment will be for reward. It will reveal whether we have built with gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay and stubble. A man’s worthless works will be burnt, although he himself will be saved. Let’s heed how we build.

“Reward is an index of LIVING FAITH, which results from our salvation, not salva­tion a reward for our works. It is not a claim upon God,” wrote a saint of God. Scripture does speak of reward, in whatever form God has ordained. We should not be slothful servants who lose the reward.

Yet nor should we work with the reward in mind. Surely our service is to be simply for joy and for the love of Him who first loved us, who died for us, but whom death could not hold. As the resurrection is our surety that these things will be, so should the resurrec­tion be manifest in all the lives of those who have received life through His death. For, to live is Christ.

The Day of Judgment will cause us to sing for joy in our Saviour.

Day of Judgment! Day of wonders!
Hark the trumpet’s awful sound,
Louder than a thousand thunders,

Shakes the vast creation round.
How the summons
Will the sinner’s heart confound!

See the Judge, our nature wearing,
Clothed in majesty divine;
You who long for his appearing

Then shall say, This God is mine!
Gracious Saviour,
Own me in that day as Thine.

At His call the dead awaken, Rise to life from earth and sea; All the powers of nature shaken by His looks, Prepare to flee. Godless sinner, What will then become of thee?

But to those who have confessed, Loved and served the Lord below, He will say, Come near, ye blessed, See the Kingdom I bestow. YOU FOREVER SHALL MY LOVE AND GLORY KNOW.John Newton, 1774

And the circuit brings us back to the Sheep Gate, for without that gate, there would be nothing.

Rev. 5:5, 6

The Lion of the tribe of Ju­dah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Then I saw a Lamb, look­ing as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne ... (v.9 ff) And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seven seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and nation. You have made them to be a Kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth...

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise... To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power forever and ever.”

Even so, Come, Lord Jesus