From Revelation 21:13 we learn that the twelve gates were distributed equally on the four sides of this city. We may surmise, then, that John from his vantage point on the high mountain could not see all twelve gates at the same time. The point we wish to make is that John’s tour guide is telling him particular information (or drawing it to his attention), which underscores that these details are important for John’s readers (the church of all ages) to note.
12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed