Wall Foundations with Precious Stones Revelation 21:19

After all the events of the tribulation period, the millennial reign of Jesus and the “Great White Throne” judgment, John the apostle wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” John added how God will wipe away all tears and allow no more death, sorrow, crying or pain”, and He is to make “all things new”. He also gave a warning to those who are “fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”, and he continued, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show your the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass”, and in Revelation chapter twenty-one and verse nineteen John shares how, “the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones” where we read:

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

The verse reads, “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.” John began with the words, “and the foundations” which means “the beginnings or substructure of the wall of a building” “of the wall” or “the wall around or surrounding” “of the city” or “belonging to the heavenly city” “were garnished” which means “were trimmed and adorned” “with all manner” or “within each, every, the whole and everyone of the foundations” “of precious stones” which refers to “jewels of great honor, price, esteem and reputation”. John saw how each of the “foundations” within the “city” were constructed of “valuable” jewels.

The verse continues, “The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;” John added the words, “the first foundation” which means “the chief and principal substructure” “was jasper” which means “was made of the precious stone of various colors for some are purple, others blue, others green and others the color of brass”; “the second” or “the second substructure was made of”, “sapphire” which means “a deep blue colored jewel”; “the third” or “the third substructure was made of”, “a chalcedony” which means “a precious stone of misty gray color, clouded with blue, yellow, or purple”; “the fourth” or “the fourth substructure was made of”, “an emerald” which means “a transparent precious stone noted especially for its light green color ”. John saw the first, second, third and fourth “foundations” as they were constructed with “jasper, sapphire, chalcedony and emerald”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we may marvel at God's use of these “precious stones” for “foundation” plates for the “heavenly city”, however, God created everything, and these jewels are expendable at His desire. Many believe He employs such opulence to demonstrate just how powerful and wealthy He is. God owns it all, and He desires to have a relationship with people who receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. When they accept His offer, they become “heirs of God and joint-heirs” with Jesus Christ (See Romans 8:17) and all the glory of this beautifully adorned city shall be theirs to enjoy.

Next time John shares more of the precious stones used for the “foundation wall of the city”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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