In prophetic writings the gates to Jerusalem/heaven are stated to be made of pearls. Thus the oft quoted term "the pearly gates".
What is the significance/symbolism of the gates being Pearl ?
Eg:
Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl
They are not 'pearly gates' in the sense of gates made of many pearls or gates made of material made from pearl. Each gate is a pearl.
Thus it is symbolic and visionary for, in the nature of mollusks, pearls can only be small objects but a gate needs to be large enough for humans to pass through.
Pearl occurs not because, as is commonly supposed, a grain of sand irritates the creature and it produces a protective material : the process actually involves an 'intruder' :
It is thought that natural pearls form under a set of accidental conditions when a microscopic intruder or parasite enters a bivalve mollusk and settles inside the shell. Pearl - Wikipedia
Thus the formation of pearl is a matter of another life form within the animal which produces a structure that is harder than bone, as strong as tooth enamel.
I see, myself, in this scenario that the way into the city is by way of a new life forming inside. And the new life forms a structure that is strong and is very valuable : extremely precious for its great beauty.
I see in this what Paul describes in his epistle to the Galatians :
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you ... [Galatians 4:19 KJV]
By a baptism of repentance whereby they are filled with the water of word until such a time as they are utterly filled and the water becomes wine and is a satisfying experience for the Governor of the feast, the archetricline the 'chief of three who reclines' - by a birth that is 'again', or 'anew' or 'of God' or 'from above' or 'of water and of Spirit' - is Christ himself formed within in a structured way that will last for ever and is a thing of beauty within, that is without price.
This is the way to enter into the holy city, New Jerusalem.
The whole of this is fully described in a freely downloadable book 'The Gates of Pearl' available on my website.
The safest and simplest explanation for the symbolism of pearls [μαργαρίτης margarites] is its regular and consistent usage in the NT. Apart from a literal use in 1 Tim 2:9, the pearl is used in the New Testament as a symbol of Jesus and His saving power of the Gospel:
This is evidently the case in Revelation:
Further, the fact that there are 12 such pearls at the 12 gates has an obvious significance (Rev 21:10-14):
Note the text of Eph 2:19-22 -
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
In this way, the New Jerusalem can be seen as a continuation and extension of the the metaphor of God's household as shown here.
In every case, outside of Revelation, the New Testament portrays pearls as exceedingly valuable.
Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 13:45-46 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive apparel,
The occurrences in Revelation, except for the one the OP refers to, refer to the wealth of Babylon. And Babylon is portrayed as an evil city. So, these verses reflect a parody. It suggests the question, How could something of such value be given or appropriated by something so evil? And the great benefit of having something so valuable is portrayed as taken from her.
So, the idea of incredible value is presented in Revelation, too. We find the same association in history. The historian Suetonius writes that the Roman General Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling one pearl earring.
The number '12', in Hebrew Numerology, symbolizes 'completeness'. So, there is a complete set of gates. No other gate is needed. Since gates are the way to enter the city, and, when closed, there's no other way in, the provision for entering is complete.
So, my conclusion from these observations is that no expense has been spared to provide a complete way into the Celestial City. So, the Gates of Pearl represent the person and work of Christ and point to his death, burial, and resurrection.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me."
No expense was spared. Nothing further is needed.
