Pearly gates

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "other uses".

File:Hans Memling 017.jpg
The Blessed at the gate to heaven with St. Peter (1467–1471) by Hans Memling

Pearly gates is an informal name for the gateway to Heaven according to some Christian denominations. It is inspired by the description of the New Jerusalem in Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".: "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl."[1]

The image of the gates in popular culture is a set of large gold, white, or wrought-iron gates in the clouds, guarded by Saint Peter (the keeper of the "keys to the kingdom"). Those not fit to enter heaven are denied entrance at the gates, and descend into Hell.[2] In some versions of this imagery, Peter looks up the deceased's name in a book, before opening the gate.

The pearly gates provide the background for a joke cycle: "the premise of these jokes is that admission is not automatic but that the criteria for admission are somewhat arbitrary."[3]

Script error: No such module "Multiple image".

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Template:Heaven Template:Authority control

Template:Asbox