Evidently geographical directions will exist in the new creation as they do in the old, suggesting that space will exist throughout eternity as well as time (cf. Revelation 20:10). Which names will be on which gate-towers remains to be seen. The placement of the tribes around the tabernacle in the wilderness and the gates in the millennial temple do not necessarily provide this information. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Revelation 21:9-27 - "the Holy City"
The "new Jerusalem" is the redeemed Church united with her Lord in the act of governing the whole world. A city is obviously the seat of imperial rule. In that blessed condition the saints will rule the earth as the powers of darkness rule it now. We shall enjoy the fellowship of the good and great of every age. In a literal sense we shall be fellow-citizens with the saints. All ages and dispensations will blend there. Angels at the gates; the names of the twelve tribes and twelve Apostles engraved in imperishable characters to indicate the blending of the dispensations; the differing stones, representing variety of character and function but all blending in the light of the Lamb on the throne.
The happy throngs pour through the gates with never-ending rapture. Those gates, facing every quarter, stand always open; but none desire to go forth, except commissioned on some errand by the King. All the glory and honor of the world are gathered within those walls, because Jesus will be king over every department of human life. There will be room for all beauty, art, and culture in the city of eternal light and love. [source]
Chapter Summary: Revelation 21
1A new heaven and a new earth 10The heavenly Jerusalem, with a full description thereof 23She needs no sun, the glory of God being her light 24The kings of the earth bring their riches unto her
Greek Commentary for Revelation 21:13
Three gates [πυλωνες τρεις] (πυλωνες τρεις pulōnes treis) on each of the four sides as in Ezekiel 42:16.; “on the east” (απο ανατολης apo anatolēs as in Revelation 16:12, starting from the east), “on the north” (απο βορρα apo borrā from the north, as in Luke 13:29), “on the south” (απο νοτου apo notou from the south, as in Luke 13:29), “on the west” (απο δυσμων apo dusmōn from the west, as in Matthew 8:11). [source]
Greek Commentary for Revelation 21:13
(πυλωνες τρεις pulōnes treis) on each of the four sides as in Ezekiel 42:16.; “on the east” (απο ανατολης apo anatolēs as in Revelation 16:12, starting from the east), “on the north” (απο βορρα apo borrā from the north, as in Luke 13:29), “on the south” (απο νοτου apo notou from the south, as in Luke 13:29), “on the west” (απο δυσμων apo dusmōn from the west, as in Matthew 8:11). [source]
See on Matthew 2:2, and see on day-spring, Luke 1:78. See the tribes arranged by gates in Ezekiel 48:31-34. [source]
Lit., the goings down or settings. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 21:13
John returns, after the parenthesis in Revelation 21:11, to the structure in Revelation 7:1-8 only to use the accusative εχουσαν echousan as before to agree with πολιν polin but the nominative εχουσα echousa as again with “twelve gates” Πυλων Pulōn is an old word (from πυλη pulē gate) for a large gate as in Luke 16:20 and six times in Rev for the gate tower of a city wall (Revelation 21:12, Revelation 21:13, Revelation 21:15, Revelation 21:21, Revelation 21:25; Revelation 22:14) as in 1 Kings 17:10; Acts 14:13. See Ezekiel 48:31. for these twelve gates, one for each tribe (cf. Revelation 21:10,). [source]