Gates in the Old and New Testaments -- #3 Quiz

Answer: Bethel

After having his dream of angels ascending and descending a latter to heaven, Jacob called the place Bethel. According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Bethel means 'House of God'.

Jacob obviously thought the name was applicable because after his dream, he proclaimed: "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"

Scripture tells of Jacob taking a stone he had used as a pillow the night before and setting it up as a pillar and pouring oil on top of it. He then named the location Bethel, although it had been known previously as Luz.

For complete details, see Genesis 28:10-22.

Answer: Absalom

Absalom was bound and determined to become king of Israel, even if it meant deposing his father David. The 15th chapter of 2 Samuel tells of Absalom's treason with the first couple of verses telling of him riding in a chariot with fifty men running before him to show he was a king in waiting. Details are also given of Absalom being at the city gate to meet people who had lawsuits for the king to settle.

By being at the city gate, Absalom was showing his power and using the opportunity to promote himself as king to those involved in lawsuits, telling them he would make just decisions on their behalf.

Before long, Israel would be embroiled in a civil war with one side supporting David as king and the other side supporting his rebellious son Absalom.

Answer: Ahab

It was Ahab who joined Jehoshaphat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. While the two kings sat on their thrones, Scripture tells of "all the prophets" prophesying.

In a nutshell, the two kings were told by the prophets their armies would be victorious if they went into war against the Syrians. However, Micaiah told Ahab he would die in the battle. As a result, Ahab disguised himself when he went into battle by not putting on his royal robes. Nevertheless, Ahab was killed in battle, just like Micaiah had told him.

Ahab was the husband of Jezebel, generally perceived as the most wicked woman in the Bible.

Answer: leprosy

The four men suffered from leprosy, as per 2 Kings 7:3. Due to their condition, the four unnamed lepers were not allowed into the city even though it was under siege by the Syrian army. The men apparently had no choice but to stay by the entrance to the gate of city. According to Scripture, the siege by the Syrians resulted in a severe food shortage and the four lepers decided to visit the camp of the Syrian army, even though it could very well have resulted in their execution.

Amazingly, when the lepers visited the Syrian camp, they found it completely empty. 2 Kings 7:6 states, the LORD had caused the army of the Syrians to hear "the noise of chariots and the noise of horses" and they fled in fear.

After enjoying food and drink left behind by the Syrians, the lepers returned to their city and informed the gatekeepers the Syrians had fled.

Answer: Jezebel

Jezebel is the correct answer. Just before her violent death, 2 Kings 9:30-31 states Jezebel put "paint on her eyes and adorned her head" and when she looked through a window, she saw Jehu entering "at the gate". A few moments later, she would be dead.

After entering through the gate, Scripture tells of Jehu looking up at Jezebel in the window and asking boldly: "Who is on my side? Who?" When "two or three eunuchs looked out at him", Jehu commanded them to "throw her down."

The unnamed eunuchs complied and tossed Jezebel out of the window with her blood splattering on the wall and horses trampling her underfoot.

Later, when they went to bury Jezebel, generally regarded as the most wicked person in the Bible, "they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands."

Answer: Nehemiah

The verses are found in Nehemiah 7:1-2. The Seventh Chapter of Nehemiah goes on to provide details about the number of people who had been help captive in Babylon, but travelled to Jerusalem rebuild the wall and gates around the city after they received approval to do so from King Artaxerxes.

Nehemiah was the son of Hachaliah and the author of the Old Testament book that bears his name. He played a major role in rebuilding the wall and gates around Jerusalem.

Answer: Song of Solomon

The verse comes from Song of Solomon, Chapter 7, Verse 4. Basically, the Song of Solomon is a passionate love story involving Solomon, king of Israel, and an unnamed woman known simply as the Shulamite. The book appears in the Old Testament and consists of eight chapters in the Protestant Bible.

Answer: John

Peter was with John when he miraculously healed the paralyzed man at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem, as per Acts 3:1-26. When Peter and John approached the unnamed man, Scripture states he begged them to give him money. Verse 6 quotes Peter as responding to the man: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Incredibly the paralyzed man did just that -- he got up and walked!

Going strictly by Scripture, this was the first miracle performed by members of the original Twelve Disciples.

Answer: Lazarus

The correct answer is Lazarus. Christ's parable of the rich man and Lazarus is found in Luke 16:19-31 and nowhere else in the Bible.

The parable tells of a helpless beggar named Lazarus who "was full or sores" living at the gate of an unnamed rich man. His condition was so bad that Scripture states dogs came and licked his sores.

The parable goes on to tell of Lazarus and the rich man dying, with Lazarus being carried by angels to Abraham's bosom while the rich man ended up being tormented in Hades. The situation was so desperate for the rich man, seeing Lazarus from afar, he asked him to "dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

It's at this point Abraham interjects, telling the rich man: "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us."

Answer: New Jerusalem

The 21st chapter of Revelation tells of all things being made new, with details provided about the New Jerusalem. In addition to having "a great and high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates", the New Jerusalem boasts mindboggling wealth and opulence. Revelation 21:23-24, in the NKJV, states, "the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light."

Revelation was written by John while in exile on the island of Patmos. Tradition holds he was the same John who was one of the original Twelve Disciples.