Twelve Foundation Stones of the City Wall of New Jerusalem
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February 22, 2009 |
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 "The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst." (Revelation 21:19-20)
The kingdom of heaven is beautiful beyond description using any words on this earth. New Jerusalem is the best and most beautiful dwelling place that exists. God is exquisitely making everything in New Jerusalem beautiful with the most blessed meaning. He let the apostle John record this beautiful New Jerusalem in the Bible about 2,000 years ago. He did it because He wanted many children to long for and advance toward New Jerusalem.
Just as a picture puzzle requires that every piece be put together for a competed picture, we need to possess the composite of twelve kinds of spiritual hearts to enter New Jerusalem. I wish for you to understand the meanings of twelve foundation stones and possess the hearts of perfect spirit by examining your heart against these twelve meanings.
1. The Meanings of the Twelve Foundation Stones
The wall of the city of New Jerusalem has twelve foundation stones, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lord. The foundation stones indicate the city wall has twelve pillars.
The twelve apostles refer to twelve disciples of the Lord and instead of the name of Iscariot Judas the name of Matthias was recorded on one of the twelve foundation stones. The twelve apostles refer to those who have become fully sanctified and been completely faithful to the point of sacrificing their lives. So, anyone who is saved by faith, accomplish sanctification and is faithful until death can enter New Jerusalem.
The number "12" that appears with the twelve foundation stones, the twelve tribes, and twelve apostles is closely related to the providence of God. Jesus said in John 11:9 "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world." The twelve hours in the day refers to perfect light in which there is no darkness at all. The light refers to the everlasting and perfect God in whom there is no darkness at all. Twelve is the number of light that represents perfection and completion, and God uses this number as the sign of the most blessed promise.
The twelve foundation stones consist of twelve kinds of precious gem stones. Each precious stone respectively represents a special heart of spirit. These attributes of these twelve hearts of spirit are included in the Beatitudes as recorded in Matthew 5, the spiritual love of 1 Corinthians 13, and the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. The composite heart of these twelve hearts is the heart of Jesus Christ and God.
The core of the composite of the twelve hearts symbolized by twelve foundation stones is 'perfect love.' In order to accomplish this perfect love you have to possess spiritual faith, and you must be fervent, sacrificial, faithful, merciful, and you must exercise self-control.
For this reason, God did not make the twelve foundation stones with one jewel but with twelve different jewels symbolizing the twelve hearts. If you accomplish all the hearts embedded in these twelve foundation stones, you can enter New Jerusalem
2. Jasper, the First Foundation Stone
The aspect of the spiritual heart that is represented by this jasper is 'faith.' The faith that jasper symbolizes as one of the foundation stones is spiritual faith, which is the opposite in aspect to fleshly faith. It is the faith to completely believe every single word of God from the depths of one's heart. Spiritual faith is one of the most basic fundamentals of a Christian life. It is because we cannot lead a secure Christian life without spiritual faith any more than a building can safely stand when its foundations are not stable. Those who have spiritual faith believe the word of God without changing, so they will always have the deeds of obedience.
Abraham was called 'the Father of Faith' because he unchangingly showed perfect deeds of faith. He received a word of great blessing from God when he was 75. It was the promise that God would make a great nation through Abraham and Abraham would be the source of blessing. He believed this word and left his hometown, but he couldn't have a son who would become his heir. So much time passed that Abraham and his wife Sarah both became too old to have a child. Even in this kind of situation, Romans 4:19-20 says, "He did not waver in unbelief." It says he grew strong in faith, giving glory to God. Abraham believed the word of God completely, and at the age of 100 he gained his son, Isaac.
But there was one more occasion where Abraham's faith shed its light even more brightly. When God commanded Abraham to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, he immediately obeyed the word of God. Abraham did not doubt the word of God saying that God would give him countless descendants through Isaac. Because he had firm faith in the word of God, he thought God would revive Isaac, even if he offered him as a burnt sacrifice. Through Abraham's descendants, the nation of Israel was formed, and the fruit of his faith was abundantly borne in the flesh as well.
Because we believe God, we believe His word, and obey it as it is. Even though God's word does not agree with our thoughts, if we have spiritual faith, we can just believe it and practice it. Even if it seems that we will face loss when we practice the word of God, we will still just follow the word.
Because God is living, He most assuredly shows His power to those children of God who show their true faith. He proves that the word of God on which His children depend is true. For example, when Peter believed the word of Jesus and obeyed, what happened? When Jesus told him to lower the net in the deep water, he obeyed it, and he was able to catch so many fish that it even caused the net to break. Also, Jesus told Peter to go to the sea and fish to get a coin to pay the Temple tax for the two of them. Jesus said if Peter opened the mouth of the fish, there would be a coin. Likewise, spiritual faith has amazing power to make things that are impossible by men into things that are possible.
Because this spiritual faith is the treasure of treasures, it is the first among the twelve foundations of New Jerusalem.
3. The Second Foundation Stone Is Sapphire.
Sapphire is dark blue in color and is transparent. It is the quality of upright and straightforward honesty and integrity. It is the heart of truth itself with which once a person has made a choice in the truth of God he does not submit to any temptation or threats of this world.
The person who gave out the lights of truth from his heart like this sapphire is Daniel and his three friends. First, Daniel did not obey even the order of the king when it was against the will of God. He knew he was going to be thrown into lion's den because of it, but he was never shaken in his decision. God received this integrity and uprightness of his faith so pleasingly. God sent His angels to close the mouths of the lions so that Daniel was not hurt at all.
In Daniel chapter 3, we can see how Daniel's three friends kept the integrity of their faith. They were arrested because they did not obey the command of the king to bow down before an idol. Because the LORD God is the only God and who is alone to be worshipped, they could never bow down to any idol. It's because God's Law clearly says we must not bow down to any idol. We can never bow down to idol on the outside to avoid that dangerous situation. Those who are upright and who truly fear God cannot compromise.
Daniel's three friends were to be thrown into fiery furnace if they did not bow down to an idol. But their hearts were not shaken at all. Even in the face of fearful threats of the king, they rather made a very bold confession in faith. Daniel 3:17-18 says, "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." How beautifully jewel-like their hearts were that they would not forsake their righteousness in God, even though they might have had to lose their lives!
We can feel the sublimity and nobleness of the sapphire, which is upright and dark blue. God did not forsake these people who maintain their righteousness by giving up their lives. God protected them in the furnace so completely that they were not hurt at all.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have looked into the first foundation stone of jasper, which stands for spiritual faith, and the second foundation stone of sapphire, which stands for the uprightness and integrity. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you will all accomplish heart of whole spirit and become souls who are more precious than any jewel in the sight of God.
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