The Tribes of Israel Reconsidered, The new way into the New Jerusalem - the way of Issachar

by Rev. Michaël Merle
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In Chapter 21 of The Revelation to John (The Book of the Apocalypse: Revelation) we read part of the description of the New Jerusalem, a picture of a mighty vision experienced by John in the Spiritual World: “The city has a great and high wall and twelve gates. And on the gates twelve angels, and names were written on them: the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.” (verse 12)
 
This year we hope to uncover an understanding of the twelve ways in which we can enter the New Jerusalem.

The way of Issachar 
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Issachar was a scholar. Scholarship provides wisdom in understanding, clarity of comprehension, and direction. Good scholarship is the foundation of any system. Issachar represents the inspiration to immerse in study and education.

The symbols associated with Issachar provide us with the two fundamental aspects of what he represents for us as one of the ways into our future unfolding. The first symbol associated with Issachar is an astronomical configuration: the sun surrounded by stars. Issachar was to give the whole of Israel’s family and descendants knowledge of the unfolding of time. This symbol speaks to the various great cycles of time that pass in the course of time: each star representing a constellation of time and development. It is not unusual for eight stars to be represented in a circle around the sun. These speak of an eight-fold path or steps on the way that remind us that the true understanding of development is not only an outer one but also an inner one. The second symbol of Issachar is that of the donkey: the strong, hard working, humble donkey. Here we understand that the inner attitude of humility, strength and hard work are the hallmarks of all true scholars.