The names upon the foundation-stones of the city wall, indicate that each stone is representative of an apostle, as a foundation-element of the New Jerusalem Body Politic. Each of these great polished gems, or precious “living stones”, would be beautiful alone; but how much more beautiful when decorated, embellished, or adorned, by all manner of precious stones beside. The significance of this symbol is expressed in Paul’s words to them in Thessalonica whom he had been instrumental in “sealing in their foreheads,” and had brought into fellow-citizenship with the saints of Israel. “What,” saith he, “is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye before our Lord Jesus Christ in his presence? Ye are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19,20). They were not “wood, hay, and stubble,” but “gold, and silver, and precious stones”. Such destructible materials as wood, hay, and stubble; or ignoble vessels of wood and earth, are useless; and unfit for incorporation in the glorified Bride of the Lamb; it is only those who can stand fire “in a day of Inspection,” en hemera episkopes, who will find themselves the “stones of fire” by which she is adorned for her Divine husband. Such were many, not all, of the apostles’ converts to the faith. They will rejoice together in the presence of Christ, the Jasper Light and Wall of the great city ; and those who have been brought to the obedience of the faith by an apostle, or by the apostolic teaching, and are declared worthy in the day of fiery revelation (1 Cor. 3:13); will be to an apostle- foundation gem of sparkling glory the garnishment of precious stones upon the foundations of the city.
The elements of the wall, and the precious gems, are built upon the jewels (Mai. 3:17) of the foundation. The reality incorporated into this symbol is found in the words — “Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of the Deity through the Spirit;” which Spirit, in the Holy Jerusalem Association of the Saints, issues from the Deity out of heaven, and flows through every member of it, as “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal” §.
§ The twelve gems are identified with the twelve apostles, and they, in turn with the twelve tribes of regenerated Israel over which they will rule (see Matt. 19:28). The twelve basic gems are “garnished with all manner of precious stones” (Rev. 21:19), representing the work of the Apostles decorated with the jewels of Yahweh’s selection (Mai. 3:17), the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16), gathered in from all nations (Eph. 2:11-15). All the Redeemed will find place as members of the Lamb’s Bride, the New Jerusalem. They are “added”, “decorated” or “garnished” to the twelve Foundation Gems, because they have been brought to the state of preciousness through the testimony of the Apostles (see John 17:20; 1 Cor. 3:10; Eph. 2:20), or if they lived before the witnessing of such, because they were motivated by the same faith. Accordingly Paul wrote to the Thessalonian brethren: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (1 Thess. 2:19). They will constitute precious stones garnishing Paul’s crown of rejoicing.
As the foundation wall of the New Jerusalem lies foursquare, and comprises twelve gems, the general shape and formation of the wall of the New Jerusalem answer to the Urim and Thummim of the High Priest’s Breastplate (Exod. 28:30). The Urim and Thummim represented the Lights and Fulnesses of perfect Israel. Evidently the gems of the breastplate were set in order in such a way as to reproduce the encampment of Israel, leaving the square in the centre to represent the Holy Place of worship. Though contrary to general belief, this arrangement of gems is strongly implied in that Moses was instructed to place the gems in the Breastplate “according to the twelve tribes” (Exod. 28:21). This suggests the placing of them, as the tribes were encamped around the Tabernacle.
Certainly that is the order of the gems surrounding the New Jerusalem as described in The Apocalypse. The New Jerusalem will constitute the Most Holy in the midst thereof.
The Foundation Gems of the New Jerusalem are not only identified with the Apostles, and they, in turn, with the twelve tribes over which they will rule; but the various colours of the gems suggest the sevenfold colours of the rainbow, the token of the covenant (Gen. 9:151. The combination of those colours produce the white light of the sun (for which see Matt. 13:43) figurative of the Sun of Righteousness and his healing beams (Mai. 4:1-2). As the Rainbow is the reflected multicoloured glory of the Sun, so the gems represent the various aspects of God Manifestation, to be seen in its ftilness in the age to come. The twelve gems of the Apocalypse should be considered with the twelve gems of the Breastplate, and the tribes represented thereby. The Author of Eureka has not dealt with these gems in detail, though he has referred to them generally. A detailed examination of them is provided in The Christadelphian Expositor in the volume on The Apocalypse. We direct the reader to what is there outlined — Publishers.