Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
In its first setting the verse is a summons for the gates of Jerusalem to open wide to receive the ark as the sign of God's presence and kingship entering the city in triumph. Its great fulfillment is the ascension of Christ after His resurrection, when the everlasting gates and portals of heaven are commanded to lift up and open for the King of glory to come in. He rises from the Mount of Olives in a cloud of angels, leading the captives freed at His rising, acclaimed with shouts and song as the conquering King triumphant over death and darkness. As He draws near the escorting angels give the call, the waiting host answers with the question who He is that they may hear His praise exalted, and He is proclaimed the Lord strong and mighty in battle and Lord of hosts, then enters to take His place upon the Father's throne amid adoration. From that throne He continues as Advocate and Intercessor for His people, and He will come again through the opened heavens with myriads of holy ones as King of kings to call the righteous dead to immortality and open the city of God for the faithful to enter.
Gates and Original Setting
The verse belongs to David's triumphal procession bringing the ark into Jerusalem, when the gates of the city are called to open wide to receive it. It is the second call for the gates of the Holy City to lift up as the procession carrying the ark draws near. The ark is the sacred sign of God's presence and kingship, so its entrance is the entrance of the King of glory. That King is the Lord Himself, Israel's invisible King. He is acclaimed as mighty in battle and as Lord of hosts.
Triumphant Ascension to Heaven
The verse is fulfilled when Christ, risen from the dead, enters the city of God and heaven's everlasting gates and portals are commanded to lift up and open wide for the King of glory to come in. He ascends as a conquering King in triumph after victory over death, the grave, and the prince of darkness. The escorting angels give the call as He draws near the heavenly city, and the command is repeated a second time after the question and answer.
He rises from the Mount of Olives in a cloud of angels, leading the way with the multitude of captives freed and raised when He rose, followed by the heavenly host with shouts, acclamations, celestial song, joy, triumph, and rapturous music. Among those attending Him is Moses himself, already raised, with the multitude opening the everlasting gates to receive Him. He ascends as God in humanity, as the King of saints and covenant-making Redeemer of believing sons and daughters made His through faith, not in His own interest but for them. Those brought with Him enter as firstfruits and pledge of the captive dead who will rise at the last trumpet.
The waiting sentinels and innumerable company at the portals answer, Who is this King of glory, not from ignorance or because they do not know Him, but because they desire to hear His exalted praise. The challenge and answer are repeated because the angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. The answer proclaims Him the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts, Emmanuel, God with us, gone up with a shout and with the sound of the trumpet.
Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide and the angelic throng sweeps through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music, adoration, and songs of joy and triumph. Christ takes His place upon the throne of the Father surrounded by all the heavenly host, welcomed as the returned Commander. His entry does not mean immediate assumption of royal honors alone, for He first asks the Father to receive those given Him and pleads for His church to be where He is and share His glory, after which the angels worship Him as the slain Lamb who lives again and has conquered.
The heavenly escort, opened gates, and triumph were veiled from the disciples' mortal sight, hidden because the full glory and brightness would have overwhelmed them. It was kept from them so they could return to earthly work, trials, and mission with courage, keeping Christ's life and character before them as their pattern. Ascended to occupy His Father's throne, He continues the work of atonement as humanity's Advocate and Intercessor.
Christ's Work Beyond Ascension
On the morning of the resurrection He entered heaven as glorious King amid angels like a cloud calling for the eternal gates to open, coming into the Father's presence surrounded by the bright host and the glory of God. He ascended to hear that His sacrifice was accepted and to receive power in heaven and on earth, power to return to earth and give power to His followers. He did not forget His disciples, but came back the same day to show Himself to them, and because that ascent to the Father was finished and power had been received He thereafter permitted them to touch Him.
In death the King of glory lay shut in the tomb as in a prison-house, while the angelic host watched His resting place with intense and untold interest, earnestly waiting for God's command to act their part in liberating Him. At His resurrection He appeared glorified as Jesus Christ the crucified Son of God, proclaimed by an angel as the Majesty of heaven and King of glory, to which even the Roman soldiers who saw Him bore testimony. Even in trial and humiliation, when soldiers treated Him as a pretender and mocked Him, He remained the King of glory, and their contempt could not diminish His purity or majesty. He will come again in His own glory, when those who mocked Him will see Him as He is.
The verse also reveals Him coming in by stooping low to take humanity at His first advent: though divine and worshiped amid majesty and splendor by all the heavenly messengers, He veiled His divine glory in rude and forbidding earthly surroundings. He became a frail, helpless infant like other infants, born in poverty in a stable and cradled in a manger among animals and beasts of the stall, shunning all outward display. Angels who had witnessed His glory heralded His birth and ministered unto Him without revealing their glory to men, and could still bow before Him in that lowly condition without disloyalty to Jehovah or forfeiting allegiance to Him. The Jews missed Him because they looked only for a mighty prince to reign upon David's throne with a kingdom enduring forever, and even angels were unprepared to find Him in such great humiliation. That veiling was purposeful, so that riches, worldly honor, human greatness, outward display, and majesty of form would not attract followers and call men to His side, since these can never save a soul from death. Men were to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God concerning the long-foretold character of the Messiah, drawn only by the beauty of heavenly truth.
By humbling Himself to take fallen humanity and man's fallen nature He met the strong foe who had overcome and triumphed over Adam, and by overcoming Satan where Adam fell He opened the way for all who believe to be redeemed from the shame, disgrace, and consequences of Adam's failure and fall. As He suffered on the cross He prayed for His persecutors and asked the Father to forgive them, a prayer embracing every sinner who would live until the end of time. Through that suffering He earned the right to be humanity's Advocate in the Father's presence, and having given Himself as a ransom He deserves the deepest homage and the service of every ability and possession.
The verse points to His future appearance with the heavenly angels when, in triumph and victory over death, He will call the righteous dead from their graves to immortal life. Those who came from their graves when He rose were a pledge of that resurrection. It also describes His second coming to this world when the full kingdom of glory is established, as the lifting up of the gates is the opening of the heavenly gates and He comes forth through them with ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy ones as King of kings and Lord of lords. At the last the King of glory, Christ the slain Lamb, opens before the resurrected faithful dead the gates of the city of God, and the nations who have kept the truth enter in to beauty and glory far beyond fallen earth. Then Adam, after losing Eden by disobedience, again beholds Paradise and regains it with access to the fruit and leaves of the tree of life through repentance and faithful obedience, first bowing in adoration at the feet of the King and then joining the redeemed host in the song Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
The King of glory is the Son of God who tabernacled in humanity on this earth, where He lived and suffered and died. This same earth, claimed by Satan, is to be not only ransomed but exalted above all other worlds, for here when He makes all things new the tabernacle of God shall be with men and He shall dwell with them as their God through endless ages.
Following the Humble King
The King who comes in is Christ, the Majesty of heaven and mighty Counselor, who left the royal courts, laid aside His robe and crown, and took humanity upon Himself. He was born in poverty, shared the burdens of the family, chose a lowly position, and dignified labor, so that humble means do not diminish royal glory. He came to this world to reveal God, to show what those who serve Him may become, and to bring salvation by preaching and healing, even giving His life to save. His coming and death is a great gift that must not be received in vain.
He trod a hard, rugged path before His followers, leading the way through humility, hardship, self-denial, and suffering to redeem souls by His blood. He bore the cross, the crown of thorns, and the bitter cup, enduring reproach, ridicule, rejection, and crucifixion. That path is the example His followers are called to follow, bearing suffering for His sake cheerfully in hope of sharing His glory in heaven. They are to reveal His humble, meek, lowly, self-denying spirit rather than seeking honor for themselves or outward show, serving as He served His disciples.
That same spirit must give character to institutions and to the cause, not by large buildings or needless expenditure but by maintaining true religious principle with noble Christlikeness. The light of truth is to shine through good works so that God is glorified, especially by using the best methods to restore the sick and relieve suffering. Accepting His gift means becoming laborers together with God in obeying the principles of His Word, living a life of simplicity apart from the world and its flattery and compliments, and doing what can be done to save the world by raising up churches in new places. He calls men and women to whole-hearted service, and those who pledge themselves as followers, bear the fruit of the true vine, and seek a higher life will be presented to Him.
He is the source of power, strength, and efficiency, and staying close to Him through the Holy Spirit leads believers to work together in unity. The everlasting gates open not to the proud or self-exalted but to the humble, even to the trembling touch of a little child, so that the weakest may receive heaven's reward through grace by following Christ in simple faith and love. He is to be welcomed among His people in the closing scenes of earth's history to work in their midst with power and love. There He cleanses the vessel so the message bears no taste of the dish, sweeps back the cloud of darkness and unbelief, and by the Holy Spirit breaks down every barrier in hard hearts, that a reconverted, sanctified people made fit to bear the message of the Lord may stand on the very eve of the day of God when His judgments are in the land.
In its first setting the verse is a summons for the gates of Jerusalem to open wide to receive the ark as the sign of God's presence and kingship entering the city in triumph. Its great fulfillment is the ascension of Christ after His resurrection, when the everlasting gates and portals of heaven are commanded to lift up and open for the King of glory to come in. He rises from the Mount of Olives in a cloud of angels, leading the captives freed at His rising, acclaimed with shouts and song as the conquering King triumphant over death and darkness. As He draws near the escorting angels give the call, the waiting host answers with the question who He is that they may hear His praise exalted, and He is proclaimed the Lord strong and mighty in battle and Lord of hosts, then enters to take His place upon the Father's throne amid adoration. From that throne He continues as Advocate and Intercessor for His people, and He will come again through the opened heavens with myriads of holy ones as King of kings to call the righteous dead to immortality and open the city of God for the faithful to enter.
Gates and Original Setting
The verse belongs to David's triumphal procession bringing the ark into Jerusalem, when the gates of the city are called to open wide to receive it. It is the second call for the gates of the Holy City to lift up as the procession carrying the ark draws near. The ark is the sacred sign of God's presence and kingship, so its entrance is the entrance of the King of glory. That King is the Lord Himself, Israel's invisible King. He is acclaimed as mighty in battle and as Lord of hosts.
Triumphant Ascension to Heaven
The verse is fulfilled when Christ, risen from the dead, enters the city of God and heaven's everlasting gates and portals are commanded to lift up and open wide for the King of glory to come in. He ascends as a conquering King in triumph after victory over death, the grave, and the prince of darkness. The escorting angels give the call as He draws near the heavenly city, and the command is repeated a second time after the question and answer.
He rises from the Mount of Olives in a cloud of angels, leading the way with the multitude of captives freed and raised when He rose, followed by the heavenly host with shouts, acclamations, celestial song, joy, triumph, and rapturous music. Among those attending Him is Moses himself, already raised, with the multitude opening the everlasting gates to receive Him. He ascends as God in humanity, as the King of saints and covenant-making Redeemer of believing sons and daughters made His through faith, not in His own interest but for them. Those brought with Him enter as firstfruits and pledge of the captive dead who will rise at the last trumpet.
The waiting sentinels and innumerable company at the portals answer, Who is this King of glory, not from ignorance or because they do not know Him, but because they desire to hear His exalted praise. The challenge and answer are repeated because the angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. The answer proclaims Him the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts, Emmanuel, God with us, gone up with a shout and with the sound of the trumpet.
Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide and the angelic throng sweeps through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music, adoration, and songs of joy and triumph. Christ takes His place upon the throne of the Father surrounded by all the heavenly host, welcomed as the returned Commander. His entry does not mean immediate assumption of royal honors alone, for He first asks the Father to receive those given Him and pleads for His church to be where He is and share His glory, after which the angels worship Him as the slain Lamb who lives again and has conquered.
The heavenly escort, opened gates, and triumph were veiled from the disciples' mortal sight, hidden because the full glory and brightness would have overwhelmed them. It was kept from them so they could return to earthly work, trials, and mission with courage, keeping Christ's life and character before them as their pattern. Ascended to occupy His Father's throne, He continues the work of atonement as humanity's Advocate and Intercessor.
Christ's Work Beyond Ascension
On the morning of the resurrection He entered heaven as glorious King amid angels like a cloud calling for the eternal gates to open, coming into the Father's presence surrounded by the bright host and the glory of God. He ascended to hear that His sacrifice was accepted and to receive power in heaven and on earth, power to return to earth and give power to His followers. He did not forget His disciples, but came back the same day to show Himself to them, and because that ascent to the Father was finished and power had been received He thereafter permitted them to touch Him.
In death the King of glory lay shut in the tomb as in a prison-house, while the angelic host watched His resting place with intense and untold interest, earnestly waiting for God's command to act their part in liberating Him. At His resurrection He appeared glorified as Jesus Christ the crucified Son of God, proclaimed by an angel as the Majesty of heaven and King of glory, to which even the Roman soldiers who saw Him bore testimony. Even in trial and humiliation, when soldiers treated Him as a pretender and mocked Him, He remained the King of glory, and their contempt could not diminish His purity or majesty. He will come again in His own glory, when those who mocked Him will see Him as He is.
The verse also reveals Him coming in by stooping low to take humanity at His first advent: though divine and worshiped amid majesty and splendor by all the heavenly messengers, He veiled His divine glory in rude and forbidding earthly surroundings. He became a frail, helpless infant like other infants, born in poverty in a stable and cradled in a manger among animals and beasts of the stall, shunning all outward display. Angels who had witnessed His glory heralded His birth and ministered unto Him without revealing their glory to men, and could still bow before Him in that lowly condition without disloyalty to Jehovah or forfeiting allegiance to Him. The Jews missed Him because they looked only for a mighty prince to reign upon David's throne with a kingdom enduring forever, and even angels were unprepared to find Him in such great humiliation. That veiling was purposeful, so that riches, worldly honor, human greatness, outward display, and majesty of form would not attract followers and call men to His side, since these can never save a soul from death. Men were to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God concerning the long-foretold character of the Messiah, drawn only by the beauty of heavenly truth.
By humbling Himself to take fallen humanity and man's fallen nature He met the strong foe who had overcome and triumphed over Adam, and by overcoming Satan where Adam fell He opened the way for all who believe to be redeemed from the shame, disgrace, and consequences of Adam's failure and fall. As He suffered on the cross He prayed for His persecutors and asked the Father to forgive them, a prayer embracing every sinner who would live until the end of time. Through that suffering He earned the right to be humanity's Advocate in the Father's presence, and having given Himself as a ransom He deserves the deepest homage and the service of every ability and possession.
The verse points to His future appearance with the heavenly angels when, in triumph and victory over death, He will call the righteous dead from their graves to immortal life. Those who came from their graves when He rose were a pledge of that resurrection. It also describes His second coming to this world when the full kingdom of glory is established, as the lifting up of the gates is the opening of the heavenly gates and He comes forth through them with ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy ones as King of kings and Lord of lords. At the last the King of glory, Christ the slain Lamb, opens before the resurrected faithful dead the gates of the city of God, and the nations who have kept the truth enter in to beauty and glory far beyond fallen earth. Then Adam, after losing Eden by disobedience, again beholds Paradise and regains it with access to the fruit and leaves of the tree of life through repentance and faithful obedience, first bowing in adoration at the feet of the King and then joining the redeemed host in the song Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
The King of glory is the Son of God who tabernacled in humanity on this earth, where He lived and suffered and died. This same earth, claimed by Satan, is to be not only ransomed but exalted above all other worlds, for here when He makes all things new the tabernacle of God shall be with men and He shall dwell with them as their God through endless ages.
Following the Humble King
The King who comes in is Christ, the Majesty of heaven and mighty Counselor, who left the royal courts, laid aside His robe and crown, and took humanity upon Himself. He was born in poverty, shared the burdens of the family, chose a lowly position, and dignified labor, so that humble means do not diminish royal glory. He came to this world to reveal God, to show what those who serve Him may become, and to bring salvation by preaching and healing, even giving His life to save. His coming and death is a great gift that must not be received in vain.
He trod a hard, rugged path before His followers, leading the way through humility, hardship, self-denial, and suffering to redeem souls by His blood. He bore the cross, the crown of thorns, and the bitter cup, enduring reproach, ridicule, rejection, and crucifixion. That path is the example His followers are called to follow, bearing suffering for His sake cheerfully in hope of sharing His glory in heaven. They are to reveal His humble, meek, lowly, self-denying spirit rather than seeking honor for themselves or outward show, serving as He served His disciples.
That same spirit must give character to institutions and to the cause, not by large buildings or needless expenditure but by maintaining true religious principle with noble Christlikeness. The light of truth is to shine through good works so that God is glorified, especially by using the best methods to restore the sick and relieve suffering. Accepting His gift means becoming laborers together with God in obeying the principles of His Word, living a life of simplicity apart from the world and its flattery and compliments, and doing what can be done to save the world by raising up churches in new places. He calls men and women to whole-hearted service, and those who pledge themselves as followers, bear the fruit of the true vine, and seek a higher life will be presented to Him.
He is the source of power, strength, and efficiency, and staying close to Him through the Holy Spirit leads believers to work together in unity. The everlasting gates open not to the proud or self-exalted but to the humble, even to the trembling touch of a little child, so that the weakest may receive heaven's reward through grace by following Christ in simple faith and love. He is to be welcomed among His people in the closing scenes of earth's history to work in their midst with power and love. There He cleanses the vessel so the message bears no taste of the dish, sweeps back the cloud of darkness and unbelief, and by the Holy Spirit breaks down every barrier in hard hearts, that a reconverted, sanctified people made fit to bear the message of the Lord may stand on the very eve of the day of God when His judgments are in the land.