Tony Brown “Let us rise up and build” The Gates of Jerusalem Tony Brown “Let us rise up and build”

Exiled

God’s dealings with Israel Two exiles 721 BC – 10 tribes taken by Assyria 586 BC – 2 tribes taken by Babylon Three deportations 606 BC The court (Daniel) – The rulers 597 BC The craftsmen (Ezekiel) – The wealth 586 BC The rest Three returns 537 BC Zerubbabel (50,000) – Social 457 BC Ezra (1,800) – Religious 444 BC Nehemiah (a few) - Physical

Why 70 years? 2Ch 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: 2Ch 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2Ch 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2Ch 36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

Three returns to Jerusalem Zerubbabel Restored the Temple Ezra Restored the Law Nehemiah Restored the walls and gates

Things to learn from Nehemiah It was a team effort Everyone had something to offer Rebuilding began close to home The work is voluntary God is a recorder of names

Gates were pictures of: Power Purity Protection or Prosecution Purchase Prophecy Proclamation Praise

41 Gates listed in the Bible: Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:10) Benjamin's Gate (Jer 38:7; Zech 14:10) Corner Gate (2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chron 25:23; 26:9; Jer 31:38; Zech 14:10 East Gate (1 Chron 26:14; 2 Chron 31:14) Ephraim, Gate of (2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chron 25:23; Neh 8:16; 12:39) First Gate (Zech 14:10) Fish Gate (2 Chron 33:14; Neh 3:3; 12:39; Zeph 1:10) Foundation, Gate of the (2 Chron 23:5) Fountain Gate (Neh 3:15; 12:37) Horse Gate (2 Chron 23:15; Neh 3:28; Jer 31:40) Joshua, Gate of (2 Kings 23:8) King's Gate (1 Chron 9:18) Middle Gate (Jer 39:3) Miphkad Gate (Neh 3:31) New Gate (Jer 36:10) North Gate (1 Chron 26:14) Old Gate (Neh 3:6; 12:39) Potsherd Gate (Jer 19:2) Prison, Gate of the (Neh 12:39) Refuse Gate (Neh 2:13; 3:13-14; 12:31) Shallecheth Gate (1 Chron 26:16) Sheep Gate (Neh 3:1,32; 12:39; John 5:2) South Gate (1 Chron 26:15) Upper Gate (2 Kings 15:35; 2 Chron 23:20; 27:3) Valley Gate (2 Chron 26:9; Neh 2:13,15; 3:13) Water Gate (Neh 3:26; 8:1,3,16; 12:37) West Gate (1 Chron 26:16) Dung Gate (Neh 2:13; 3:13-14; 12:31; RSV, NIV, NEB, KJV; Refuse Gate, NKJV) Dung Port (Neh 2:13, KJV; Refuse Gate, NKJV) Former Gate (Zech 14:10, RSV, NEB; First Gate, NKJV) Guard, Gate of the (Neh 12:39, RSV, NIV, NASB, Gate of the Prison, NKJV) Guardhouse, Gate of the (Neh 12:39, NEB; Gate of the Prison, NKJV) High Gate (2 Chron 23:20; 27:3; KJV; Upper Gate, NKJV) Higher Gate (2 Kings 15:35, KJV; Upper Gate, NKJV) Inspection Gate (Neh 3:31, NIV, NASB; Miphkad Gate, NKJV) Jeshanah Gate (Neh 3:6; 12:39; NIV, NEB; Old Gate, NKJV) Muster Gate (Neh 3:31, RSV; Miphkad Gate, NKJV) Mustering Gate (Neh 3:31, NEB, Miphkad Gate, NKJV) Shalleketh Gate (1 Chron 26:16, NIV; Shallecheth Gate, NKJV) Sheep Market (John 5:2, KJV; Sheep Gate, NKJV) Sheep-Pool (John 5:2, NEB; Sheep Gate, NKJV) Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary

10 Gates in Nehemiah 3 Priority gates 2 Purifying gates 3 Power gates Sheep, Fish, Old 2 Purifying gates Valley, Dung 3 Power gates Fountain, Water and Horse 2 Prophetic East, Miphkad (Muster)

Sheep Gate

The Sheep Gate Modern Day Lion’s or St Stephen’s gate

The Sheep Gate First to be restored Rebuilt by the High Priest (Eliashib) Eliashib means “God restores” It represents the experience of Salvation Jesus always went into Jerusalem via the Sheep Gate except his last entrance. Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

Fish Gate

The Fish Gate Modern Day Damascus gate

The Fish Gate This was one of the main entrances It represents our witness to others Jesus calls us to be “fishers of men” We must also “repair the walls” – i.e. to: Strengthen Encourage Make strong (Disciple) Don’t be like the Tekoite leaders

Old Gate

The Old Gate (Corner gate) Modern Day location of the Church of Holy Sepulchre

The Old gate “Jeshanah” means old or storage Represents us coming into the truth of the Word of God It was a pivotal corner stone (Corner Gate) It is where we make Jesus Lord of our lives and submit to His word. Built by: Goldsmiths Perfumers

Valley Gate

The Valley Gate Still the Valley gate

The valley gate Leads to two valleys: Hinnom (rubbish tip) Kidron (gloomy) First gate that Nehemiah went through Represents trials and problems Long distance between Old gate and Valley gate To get to the valley gate you go past: The Broad wall The Tower of the ovens

The valley of Hinnon

The Sultan’s pool (19C photo)

Dung Gate

The Dung Gate

The dung gate Used for the disposal of rubbish and dung Quite a distance from Valley gate At this point is the tightest corner Represents becoming holy (after repentance) Remove the rubbish: Sin Self life Rulers did the work

Fountain Gate

The Fountain Gate Modern Day near Pool of Siloam

The fountain gate It was the gate in most ruin It represents the experience of receiving the living water and its resulting fruitfulness Baptism of the Spirit Subsequent re-fillings It’s the first Power gate It comes after holiness

Water Gate

The Water Gate

How the water gate would have looked

Underground water feed

The water gate The gate did not need repairing, only the wall next to it. It was where Ezra read the law (Neh 8) It represents the time when we start to live by the Word of God We gain constant cleansing by the Word The baptism of the Spirit opens up the Word to us in a new and living way. Here we receive our orders for the next gate

Horse Gate

The Horse Gate

The horse gate The horse gate reminds us that we are in a spiritual warfare. It is a requirement for every Christian The horse represents: Strength Power The horse gate leads to the King’s house We get the whole armour of God to use

East Gate

The East Gate Modern Day Golden gate

The north side of the gate (on the left) is called the repentance entrance The southern side is called the mercy entrance

The gates were sealed up in 1517 AD by Suleiman the Magnificent Ezekiel 44 v 1-3 1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The LORD said to me, "This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way." The gates were sealed up in 1517 AD by Suleiman the Magnificent

The East Gate Leads to the Temple Now called the Golden gate (in Acts it is called the beautiful gate) Looks to Mount of Olives where Jesus will return It represents the return of the Messiah Before the Messiah’s return: The Jews will return to their land The temple will be rebuilt The gospel will be made known to every ethnic group

Muster Gate

The Muster Gate Miphkad/ Inspection gate

The muster gate The final gate The inspection (muster/Miphkad) gate “Appointed place” It represents the Bema seat of Jesus at the final stage of the world. We will get our rewards Judgement of the nations The culmination of all the gates.

The gates Sheep gate (Salvation) Fish gate (Evangelism) Old gate (Knowledge of the Word) Valley gate (trials and problems) Dung gate (repentance and cleansing) Fountain gate (Baptism of Spirit) Water gate (Living by God’s word) Horse gate (spiritual warfare) East Gate (return of the Messiah) Muster gate (Judgement and reward)

Which gate are you working on?