The fact that the names of the
apostles are inscribed on the foundations and those of the sons of Israel on the
gates, seems to indicate the hagiographer’s intention to signal the return of
Israel into the salvation community on the basis of the faith of the apostles.
Chronologically it would appear to be more coherent if the tribes of Israel
were on the City foundations and the names of the apostles on the gates. Yet
theologically, the Apostles are the real foundation of the Church as the real
people of God, and only through them do the Old Covenant people enter the City.
To counterbalance this sequence, ‘Israel’ is mentioned first. Hence, Old and
New Testament are ingeniously joined by means of the historical and the
descriptive order standing in inverse position to one another. (Andreas Hoeck, The
Descent of the New Jerusalem: A Discourse Analysis of Rev 21:1-22:5 [European
University Studies; Series XXIII Theology Vol./Band 769; Bern: Peter Lang,
2003], 227)
