Lesson 3863 | THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #177
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3863
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #177
THE LIFE OF MOSES #158
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#57
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 16)
THE 12 GEMSTONES OF THE BREASTPLATE ARE THE FOUNDATION STONES OF THE NEW JERUSALEM IN REVELATION.
Why have my lessons focused mainly on the Breastplate of the High Priest?
The simple reason is that these precious stones are featured again in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.
But English traslations do not all agree with the names of the 12 stones - and this has led to a lot of confusion.
But we read that there in the future to come, the stones mentioned in the Ephod will uncannily feature again as the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.
Look at how John envisaged this heavenly city that will land on planet earth?
The New Jerusalem will be fantastically huge. John records that the city is nearly 1,400 miles long, and it is as wide and as high as it is long—the New Jerusalem being in equal in length, width, and depth (Revelation 21:15–17). The city will be dazzling in every way. It is lighted by the glory of God (verse 23). Its twelve foundations, bearing the names of the twelve apostles, are “decorated with every kind of precious stone” (verse 19). It has twelve gates, each a single pearl, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (verses 12 and 21). The street will be made of pure gold (verse 21).
The New Jerusalem will be a place of unimagined blessing and beauty. The curse of the old earth will be gone (Revelation 22:3). In the city are the tree of life “for the healing of the nations” and the river of life (verses 1–2). It is the place that Paul spoke of: “In the coming ages [God] might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).
The New Jerusalem is thus the ultimate fulfillment of all God’s promises. In short, the New Jerusalem is God’s goodness made fully manifest.
And it will be fantastically huge. John records that the city is nearly 1,400 miles long, and it is as wide and as high as it is long—the New Jerusalem being in equal in length, width, and depth (Revelation 21:15–17).
The city will be dazzling in every way. It is lighted by the glory of God (verse 23). Its twelve foundations, bearing the names of the twelve apostles, are “decorated with every kind of precious stone” (verse 19). It has twelve gates, each a single pearl, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (verses 12 and 21). The street will be made of pure gold (verse 21).
In particular John wrote that
"The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst."
(Revelation 21:19)
Sounds familiar?
The challenge to interpret their spiritual meaning for us in the here and now.
It is beyond the scope of this devotion to discuss them all.
But here are two notable attempts:
1. The twelve foundations of the city are composed of twelve kinds of precious stones (Rev. 21:19-20).
This signifies oneness in variety or unity in diversity.
We are many members in the one Body of Christ, “and all the members do not have the same function” (Rom. 12:4). “There are distinctions of ministries, yet the same Lord” (1 Cor. 12:4-11). And we cannot say to others, I have no need of you (12:18-21).
In Christ today, we are of one Body. The same will be true in New Jerusalem, the city built by God on twelve foundations.
2. The first jewel is a jasper, probably a crystalline red. This jewel is also mentioned in Exodus 28:20 as one of the twelve jewels placed on the breastplate of Israel's high priest.
In Revelation 4:3 jasper is mentioned in connection with the appearance of the one John saw seated upon the throne. Revelation 21:18 informs us that the wall of New Jerusalem is constructed of jasper.
Sapphire, agate, and emerald are also listed in Revelation 21:19.
These jewels also adorned the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:18, 19). Sapphire is the blue of lapis lazuli. Agate is perhaps blue quartz with stripes. Emerald is green.
Thus only 4 gems are identified out of the 12 on the Breastplate/Ephod.
Controversy will always remain on this topic because of differing translations.
N.B. Tomorrow we will study the modern research of a jeweller on the unique beauty of the 12 foundational stones.
