Revelation 21:12: And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

In Revelation 21:12-21, there are many symbols that describe the resurrected earth as a glorified city called the holy Jerusalem.¹ The same images describe the New Jerusalem identified in Revelation 21:2.² In other words, both cities fit the description of the holy Jerusalem in verses 12-21. Based on the very large dimensions given for the holy Jerusalem,³ the imagery in these verses also symbolizes the entire celestialized earth.⁴ The vision also incorporates common features from cities in John's day to describe the heavenly features of both celestial cities.⁵ The number twelve is used repeatedly as a symbol of exalting priesthood power.⁶

In Revelation 21:12, the wall great and high symbolically protects⁷ the inhabitants⁸ within the city.⁹ The wall symbolizes salvation¹⁰ and a barrier that prevents unworthy people from entering the celestial kingdom.¹¹ The wall is glorified like the rest of the city.¹²

Twelve gates¹³ (large portals)¹⁴ are built into the massive wall,¹⁵ but the gates never close because there are no threats to the city.¹⁶ At each gate an angel stands as a sentinel¹⁷ to grant access to those worthy of celestial glory¹⁸ and to deny access to those that are not.¹⁹ Celestial citizens worthy of exaltation shall pass by these angelic sentinels²⁰ and shall divulge to them the key words, the signs, and the tokens pertaining to the Holy Priesthood that they receive during their endowment in an earthly temple.²¹

The twelve gates are inscribed with the names²² of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel²³ (sons of Jacob).²⁴ Celestial citizens worthy of exaltation enter the celestial city as members of the twelve tribes of Israel,²⁵ either as a matter of birthright or through adoption.²⁶

Revelation 12:13: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

The twelve gates of the holy Jerusalem (heaven)²⁷ are arranged with three gates on each side of the celestial city.²⁸ This arrangement roughly corresponds with the position of the ancient tribes of Israel when they camped around the tabernacle during the exodus.²⁹ The four cardinal points of the compass symbolically include all four quarters of the celestial earth as part of the city.³⁰ The gates on every side also symbolize universal access from every direction to all persons worthy of celestial glory.³¹ Glorified people shall come from all cultures and nations,³² adding their own glory to that of the celestial city.³³

Revelation 12:14: And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The wall of the city had twelve foundations³⁴ to symbolize the permanent and eternal nature of both the wall and the city.³⁵ The foundations are twelve (12) in number to numerically symbolize the everlasting priesthood,³⁶ which gives the wall and city a firm foundation with enduring quality.³⁷ By way of contrast, the great and spacious building in Lehi's dream represents worldly pride that has no foundation and this leads to its inevitable fall.³⁸

The twelve foundations include twelve jewel-studded thresholds beneath the twelve gates.³⁹ These twelve living stones of the royal priesthood⁴⁰ are engraved⁴¹ with the collective names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.⁴² The twelve apostles as a quorum, rather than individual quorum members,⁴³ are a sure foundation for God's kingdom.⁴⁴ Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone⁴⁵ and the rock upon which all people must build their spiritual foundation.⁴⁶

The quorum of the twelve apostles of the Lamb holds all the necessary priesthood keys⁴⁷ that prepare and qualify people to cross the threshold into the celestial kingdom⁴⁸ as exalted members from the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.⁴⁹ This is the spiritual connection between the twelve tribes (gates) and twelve apostles (foundation). The two images do not represent the church of the Old Testament associated with twelve tribes or the church of the New Testament associated with the twelve apostles as some suggest.⁵⁰ Instead, the imagery represents the apostolic keys⁵¹ that include the power to seal the family of Israel together⁵² within the Patriarchal Order of the Melchizedek Priesthood.⁵³ Joseph Smith received these keys from Elias and Elijah in 1836,⁵⁴ and he bestowed those keys on the twelve apostles in 1843.⁵⁵ The keys of the Patriarchal Order are exercised through the temple sealing ordinance.⁵⁶ Through this ordinance, the entire house of Israel⁵⁷ is sealed or linked by family lineage⁵⁸ back to Adam.⁵⁹ These family relationships within the exalted house of Israel are symbolically depicted by the lineage-specific gates leading into the celestial city.⁶⁰