"... It is a pity that we cannot determine the precise nature of the institution al­luded to in Pesher Isaiah. Were this text preserved in its entirety, it would probably provide us with clear information regarding the origins of the early Christian institution of the twelve apostles. For we find striking parallels be­ tween the New Testament and the pre-Christian Qumran writings with re­gard to the religious and conceptual underpinnings of the twelve apostles, the inner circle of Jesus. Consider Revelation 21:12-14 which, like Pesher Isaiah, describes eschatological Jerusalem ... It is evident that the author bases himself first and foremost on Ezekiel 48:31-34, interpreting "the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel" (Ezekiel 48:31) as if the names of the tribes are inscribed on each of the twelve gates. Revelation then goes on to characterize the gates as follows: "And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass" (Revelation 21:21). Scholars have rightly recognized that The Apocalypse of John here echoes the words of Isaiah 54:12. The similarity to this verse, or, more precisely, to the Qumran Pesher's inter­pretation of this verse, becomes more pronounced once we consider John of Patmos' description of the twelve foundation stones of eschatological Jerusa­lem ..."