Your book, Footsteps of the Messiah, states
that nothing unrighteous will ever enter through the gates of the city.
Why are there gates? Does this suggest that something less than perfection
exists outside the New Jerusalem? If the New Jerusalem is in effect Heaven
on Earth then what is happening on the rest of the earth? "...light
unto the nations," hmm. You mean to tell me that there will still
be nations?
The
purpose for the gates of the New Jerusalem is to have a way in and out
of the city since there is more to the Eternal Order than just the New
Jerusalem. There will also be the remainder of the New Earth, which will
also be for our enjoyment. The gates, therefore, are not to keep anyone
out, but, as ornaments, they will allow free passage in and out of the
city. Since nothing will threaten the city, the gates will never need
to be closed. No, there will not be "nations" in the Eternal
Order, but the Greek word simply means "Gentiles." The point
is that the Jewish-Gentile distinction will still be maintained throughout
eternity, though there will be no functional difference at that time.
All believers will be living in the New Jerusalem, but we will have access
to the remainder of the New Earth for our enjoyment.