April 14 – A Real Place (pt. 2)
Revelation 21:18-21
“The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.”
William Barclay (scholar and commentator on scripture) gives an excellent description of the gems that comprise the foundations of the city. We don’t know which disciple is which. We don’t know which list of disciples’ names is used on these foundations. All we really know is that this is extravagance beyond our imaginations.
Jasper – a translucent rock crystal
Sapphire – the gem has changed names over the years, this is like Lapis Lazuli – sky blue flecked with gold. In Exodus 24:10, this is the stone of the paving on which God stood.
Chalcedony – green silicate of copper
Emerald – the greenest of all stones
Sardonyx – like onyx. White broken by layers of red and brown – found in cameos today.
Sard / Carnelian – blood red
Chrysolite – radiant gold
Beryl – like an emerald, but seablue or seagreen
Topaz – transparent – greenish – gold stone
Jacinth – bluish-purple, like the modern sapphire
Amethyst – more brilliant than Jacinth
Look at those colors! Try to imagine that as you picture this in your mind.
1 Peter 4:10 is a beautiful image of God. It’s difficult to find what I’m looking for in the NIV translation, so I will quote from the King James. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
The word I want to point out is ‘manifold.’ This word means ‘many-colored, variegated.’ The grace of God is colorful! Isn’t that beautiful? All of those colors. The foundations of the city of God is beautiful in all its colors.
The twelve gates are each a pearl! A single pearl. I’m sure that most of you know how a pearl is made. It’s an irritation, a small irritation for an oyster. Every time the oyster feels pain because of this, it coats the grain of sand with a smooth substance to lessen the pain. From the pain of an oyster we are given something so grand.
In ancient times, the pearl was the most treasured of all gems. These gates are made of immense pearls. But, the gates are always open, never closed. Everyone will have access to the city of God.
Revelation 21:18-21
“The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.”
William Barclay (scholar and commentator on scripture) gives an excellent description of the gems that comprise the foundations of the city. We don’t know which disciple is which. We don’t know which list of disciples’ names is used on these foundations. All we really know is that this is extravagance beyond our imaginations.
Jasper – a translucent rock crystal
Sapphire – the gem has changed names over the years, this is like Lapis Lazuli – sky blue flecked with gold. In Exodus 24:10, this is the stone of the paving on which God stood.
Chalcedony – green silicate of copper
Emerald – the greenest of all stones
Sardonyx – like onyx. White broken by layers of red and brown – found in cameos today.
Sard / Carnelian – blood red
Chrysolite – radiant gold
Beryl – like an emerald, but seablue or seagreen
Topaz – transparent – greenish – gold stone
Jacinth – bluish-purple, like the modern sapphire
Amethyst – more brilliant than Jacinth
Look at those colors! Try to imagine that as you picture this in your mind.
1 Peter 4:10 is a beautiful image of God. It’s difficult to find what I’m looking for in the NIV translation, so I will quote from the King James. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
The word I want to point out is ‘manifold.’ This word means ‘many-colored, variegated.’ The grace of God is colorful! Isn’t that beautiful? All of those colors. The foundations of the city of God is beautiful in all its colors.
The twelve gates are each a pearl! A single pearl. I’m sure that most of you know how a pearl is made. It’s an irritation, a small irritation for an oyster. Every time the oyster feels pain because of this, it coats the grain of sand with a smooth substance to lessen the pain. From the pain of an oyster we are given something so grand.
In ancient times, the pearl was the most treasured of all gems. These gates are made of immense pearls. But, the gates are always open, never closed. Everyone will have access to the city of God.
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