The Gate in
Waiting (A Poem by Terry Gibson)
There is a gate in
waiting, in the city of the King.
It waits above the
valley, and adorns a tranquil scene.
Jerusalem is churning,
on the north, south and west.
Yet the Eastern Gate
waits quietly, above multitudes at rest.
On Olive Mount, I stood
one day, and view this Golden Gate.
Amid singing saints
and setting sun in the spirit was my state.
Looking o’er this
glorious Gate, from atop that blessed mount.
Two scenes of great
events, I saw, and now recount.
One scene took place
in ages past, the other is soon to be.
In both there was the
Son of God, and the Gate of Destiny.
The first scene was
triumphant, they hailed Him as a King.
There was thousands in
the valley, and “Hosannas” loud did ring.
Many miracles of
greatness, had He done before their eyes.
Giving sight to the
blind, calling forth the dead to rise.
His disciples were
elated, as they joined this happy throng.
But little did they
know, that their hopes would soon be gone.
So long ago the
prophet told, that lowly He would come.
Riding on a donkey’s
colt, unbefitting the Righteous One.
Yet thousands upon
thousands, stood in the valley on that day.
And up the path to the
Eastern Gate, with Palm branches did array.
“Save us Son of David,”
the multitudes did cry.
When suddenly, the
crowd did change, hey shouted “Crucify!”
Oh! What price out God
did pay, while sinners yet we were.
The mocking ones – the
crown of thorns, pierced hands – what agony!
And so the only Son of
God, was hung upon a cross.
He’d come to earth in
godly love, to save those that were lost.
Then the scene did
fade away, and another scene took its place.
For Jesus had said He would
return, to redeem mankind’s disgrace.
On Olive Mount I stood
again, and viewed the Eastern Gate.
Yet, it was closed,
sealed with stone, awaiting a King to coronate.
Ezekiel long ago had
said, the gate would thus be so.
Until the Prince
returned to earth, then all the world would know.
Around the city armies
stood, from nations of the world.
As smoke and fire were
everywhere, the armaments were hurled!
Yet the Golden Gate
still quietly stood, while looking upward it seemed.
Suddenly the trump did
sound, it was the coming of the King!
And then I saw the
Lord of Lords, descending from on high.
With multitudes of
Heavenly Hosts, behind Him in the sky.
He came and stood on
Olive Mount, and then the earth did shake.
He spoke and all
armies fell, and the evil power did break.
Upon a white and
valiant steed, down Olive Mount did ride.
Through Kidron Valley
up to the Gate, while the Jewish remnant cried.
They looked upon Him,
Whom they had pierced, and grieved as for a son,
So bitterly they wept
in shame, yet with grace He did respond.
And all the while the
number grew of Angels and the Saints.
Millions upon
millions, joined Him in the ranks.
They sang “Hosanna to
the Son of David,” “Hosanna to the King.”
Throughout all heaven
and the earth, the loud Hosannas ring.
The Gate in waiting
trembled, and the stones then blew apart.
And the Holy One did
enter, His eternal reign to start.
Oh! What sweetness in
that Day, the redeemed of God shall know.
From Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
the living waters flow.
Are you yearning for
that day, when the Lord of Host shall come?
Or do you flee in
fear, before the Holy One?
Call upon His name,
before that coming day.
Flee into His loving
arms, He will wipe all tears away.
