Revelation 22:18 And the building of the wall of
it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like to clear glass. 19
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; 20 The fifth,
sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth,
beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a
jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve
pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city
was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. AKJV
Returning once
more to one of Isaiah's chapters of prophecy about the New Jerusalem.
Verses 11 & 12 contain the same language as Johns vision of the same
thing. Isaiah 54:1 Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break
forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child:
for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the
married wife, said the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let
them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen
your cords, and strengthen your stakes; 3 For you shall break forth on
the right hand and on the left; and your seed shall inherit the
Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Fear not; for
you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not
be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall
not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. 5 For your Maker
is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the
Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For
the LORD has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a
wife of youth, when you were refused, said your God. 7 For a small
moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you. 8
In a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with
everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, said the LORD your
Redeemer. 9 For this is as the waters of Noah to me: for as I have sworn
that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I
sworn that I would not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you. 10 For the
mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall
not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
said the LORD that has mercy on you. 11 O you afflicted, tossed with
tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will
lay your stones with fair colors, and lay your foundations with
sapphires. 12 And I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of
carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all
your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace
of your children. 14 In righteousness shall you be established: you
shall be far from oppression; for you shall not fear: and from terror;
for it shall not come near you. AKJV
The same
type of illustrative language is used to describe Gods people in
1st Corinthians 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: you are God's
husbandry, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God
which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the
foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how
he builds thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build on this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work
abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any
man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall
be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know you not that you are the temple of
God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man defile the
temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,
which temple you are. The point in using this as a comparison is
to show the common usage of gold and jewels to illustrate the value of
something.
Exodus 28:6
And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of
scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. 7 It shall have the
two shoulder pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it
shall be joined together. 8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which
is on it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of
gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 And you
shall take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children
of Israel: 10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names
of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. 11 With the
work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shall you
engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: you
shall make them to be set in ouches of gold.
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