Pearly gates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pearly gates, in Christian beliefs, is an informal name for the gateway to Heaven, inspired by the description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:21— The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate being made from a single pearl.[1]
The image of the gates in popular culture is a set of large, white or wrought-iron gates in the clouds, guarded by Saint Peter (the keeper of the "keys to the kingdom"); those not fit to enter heaven are denied entrance at the gates, and thus descend into Hell.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Lang, J. Stephen (2003). "59: Imagine the Size of Those Oysters", What the Good Book Didn't Say: Popular Myths and Misconceptions about the Bible. Citadel Press, 185. ISBN 080652460X.
- ^ Ferguson, Everett (1996). The Church of Christ: a biblical ecclesiology for today. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 53. ISBN 0802841899.
| Concepts of Heaven | |
|---|---|
| Christian | Kingdom of God | Garden of Eden · Paradise | New Jerusalem | Pearly gates |
| Jewish | Gan Eden | Olam Haba |
| Islamic | Jannah | Houri | Sidrat al-Muntaha |
| Mormon | Celestial Kingdom | Spirit world |
| Ancient Greek | Elysium | Empyrean | Hesperides |
| Celtic | Annwn | Tír na nÓg | Mag Mell |
| Norse | Valhalla | Asgard |
| Indo-European | Paradise | Svarga | Aaru | The Summerland | Myth of Er | Fortunate Isles |
| Related concepts | Nirvana | Millennialism | Utopianism | Golden Age | Arcadia | The guf | Well of souls |
