Mystery of the Precious Gems: A Study of the Twelve Tribes
First, there is prophetic meaning in the number twelve all throughout the bible. It symbolizes God's power and authority and perfect governmental foundation. It may also symbolize God's completeness. God made a covenant with Father Abraham that he would have seeds that no man can number like the stars in the heaven and like the sand on the seashore. Abraham's grandson that was naturally born named Jacob, and later renamed by God, Israel who had twelve sons, each son would come to represent a tribe of Israel that were God's Chosen People. Exodus 24:4) says, "And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses constructed the twelve pillars of stone at the foot of the Mount Sinai as a memorial to God. The stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel and signifies a new generation committing to a covenant as they establish themselves in the land. Joshua followed after Moses example in Joshua 4:1-24. God told Joshua to have a man from each of the twelve tribes to set up the 12 stones in remembrance at the Jordan River at Gilgal to commemorate God's parting of the river for everyone's safe passage as they carried over the Ark of the Covenant into the new promised land. Just as God had split the waters of the Red Sea for his people to cross over on dry ground and escaped the army of Pharaoh under the leadership of Moses. In Exodus 24:13 Joshua watched Moses do this same rock formation at the bottom of Mount Sinai after getting the word from the Lord. Joshua instructs the people when their descendants ask about the 12 stone monument to tell them as a reminder about God's faithfulness and that every time people look upon the stones that everyone on the earth will know that the hand of the LORD is mighty and like no other. These twelve tribes of Israel laid the foundation that formed the nation of Israel.
There is one more mention of precious stones being worn on a garment that is found in Ezekiel 28:12 that reads, "Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13) Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was they covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of they tabrets and of they pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16) By the multitude of they merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17) Thine heart was lifted up because of they beauty, thou hast corrupted they wisdom by reason of they brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Here we read that Lucifer (devil) was created as an anointed cherub that was covered with an anointing by God. He was an angelic leader over worship and walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones in Eden the garden of God on the mount of God. What are these fiery stones? We read in Psalms 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: It is very possible that the fiery stones mentioned in Exodus 28:14 &16 is a description of other cherub/angels that Lucifer walked among until his fall. We find the description of Lucifer here in Exodus 28 in a covering much like the high priest covering in Exodus 28. Lucifer was created with a covering which bore precious jewels but unlike the High Priest covering that had 12 jewels, his covering only had 9 jewels. God is the beginning and the end he knew that Lucifer would sin against him and that there were three attributes that describe the 3 sons of Israel that satan would not be able to uphold. Exodus 28:21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. Genesis 29 gives the order by birth of the sons of Jacob: they are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph Genesis 30:6, Benjamin Genesis 35:18. By Pairing the stone with the birth order we are given the attributes of each in Genesis 49.
See below the name of the gemstones & the attributes of each of the twelve tribes of Israel by the blessings given to each from their father:
Row 1
1. Sardius (odem) red, Lam 4:7 - related to the tribe of Reuben (The First): Blessing given to Reuben in Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power; Powerful energy of everything that comes first unstable like water, water can be a life source but can also destroy.
2. Topaz (Pitdah) greenish-yellow, Job 28:19 - related to the tribe of Simeon (The Aggressor): Blessing given to Simeon in Genesis 49:5 Simeon instrument of cruelty are in their habitations. 6) O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Fierce anger and cruel wrath that can consume a person that turns into weapon of violence.
3. Carbuncle (Bareqeth) Emerald -green, Dan 10:6 - related to the tribe of Levi (The Cleric-attached or joined): This is the tribe chosen to serve in the Temple and has the personality to serve a higher calling for the divine service.
Row 2
4. Emerald (Nophek) reddish black, Ezek 27:16 - related to the tribe of Judah (The Leader): Blessing given in Genesis 49:8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: they hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; they father's children shall bow down before thee. 9) Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10)the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11) Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12) His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Judah's descendants would be the kings of Israel.
6. Diamond (Yahalom) - related to the tribe of Naphtali (The Free Spirit): Blessing in Genesis 49:21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. The free spirit personality yet must always take care to deliver words of beauty.
There are three things that satan was incapable of doing which is possibly why they were not included in his covering. Our all knowing God and his plan is much greater than a prideful devil who God knew would sin against him. 1 John 3:8 "The devil has sinned from the beginning.
Row 3 If you line up the scriptures from Exodus 28 and Ezekiel 28 you will find that these are the three missing jewels from Lucifer's covering which is row 3 that are Ligue; Agate and Amethyst. As these jewels we read were embedded in Lucifer's covering from the beginning of his creation, God put these limitations before he even sinned.
7. Ligure (Lesem) amber- related to tribe of Gad (The Warrior): Blessing given to Gad in Genesis 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. Satan will never be an overcomer as his fate is assured in his fallen state. Jesus took the keys from death, hell, and the grave away from him by overcoming death itself. Jesus is victories when he comes back with his saints and wins the final victory in the Battle of Armageddon.
8. Agate (Shebuw) - related to tribe of Asher (The Prosperous One): Blessing to Asher in Genesis 49:20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties (fruit). Lucifer lost his position on the mount of God when he sinned. Jesus is our King of kings and Lord of lords forever he shall reign. Satan will never attain the status of royalty. Satan will never produce good fruit or good seed. Satan will never take the throne of God that he so desired.
9. Amethyst (Aclamah) purple- related to tribe of Issachar (The Scholar): Blessing given to Issachar in Genesis 49:14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: 15) And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. Satan is not a burden bearer. Satan is the one who begat the burden to begin with. Jesus took on the burden of sin for all mankind.
Gathering from these three missing stones and our knowledge from scripture that satan will never be an overcomer. Nothing he ever does will prosper as God uses satan's evil for His good, and he will never set on a throne or find a reward in heaven. His days are numbered and he literally can't win for losing.
Row 4
10. Beryl (Tarshish) yellow, Ezek 1:16 - related to the tribe of Zebulun (The Businessperson): Genesis 49:13) Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. The business personality to redeem the Divine sparks within the material world like the secret treasure hidden in the sand.
11. Onyx (Shoham) white Ex 28:9 - related to the tribe of Joseph (The Sufferer): Blessing to Joseph in Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23) The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24) But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the might God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25) Even by the God of they father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 26) The blessings of they father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
12. Jasper (Jashepheh) - related to the tribe of Benjamin (The Ravenous Consumer): Blessing to Benjamin in Genesis 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. To passionately seek out the Divine energy embedded in matter, devour it, consume and elevate it.
The scriptures we have from the Old Testament are often types and shadows of the spiritual things to come in the New Testament. Just as the Old Testament where God took a tribe to serve as the high priest for the natural men, we also have a high priest in the New Testament for the spiritual man. We can find this in Hebrews chapter 8 which reads, "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3) For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4) For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5) Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Jesus told his 12 disciples in John 14 2 that he must go and prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 29) And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30) Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. The New Testament Hebrews 4 tells us that we have a high priest who is Jesus Christ who was tempted and sinned not. Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi who was the lineage of the high priests but Jesus is high priest after the order of Melchizedek who was not made after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Hebrews 7:16. 17) For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus will be the High Priest forever and hath an unchangeable priesthood.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was God in the flesh called 12 men to follow after him. These twelve men will lay the foundation of the new church that was born out of Jesus death as the soldier pierced Jesus side blood and water flowed breaking the old covenant as it rent in half and the church was born. The 12 disciples followed after Jesus and learned his ways and even though they did not understand all that he told them then Jesus said the Holy Ghost would bring it back to their remembrance later. They learned that Jesus did not come to setup his kingdom here on this earth as they had once thought, but his kingdom was in a heavenly place. A place that he had to go away and prepare for his people once he fulfilled all that he came to earth to accomplish. He instructed them on how to continue the work that he started after his ascension. A church body made up of faithful people established by the Holy Ghost and Fire. We that are born again of the water and of the spirit are called to be the sons of God and represent the stars in the heaven just as God spoke to Abraham. We are the spiritual Israelites as Paul mentions in Ephesians 2: 19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20) and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21) in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22) in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Just as the sons of Israel are the twelve stones in the priest's breastplate who were the foundation of God's chosen people on earth so are the twelve Apostles who continued the work of the Lord laying the foundation of the spiritual nation of the Lord. Both representation of the natural man and the spiritual man of God in a perfect governmental foundation.
That cunning devil does not want the spiritual Israel to understand who we truly are even though it is written in God's Holy Word. 1 Peter 2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner, 8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Priesthood in Greek form here means to execute the priest's office, however the New Testament is spiritual whereas the Old Testament is the natural. This is a theme found all throughout the whole bible. We are the spiritual children of God. Revelations 1:6 says, "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. If we are made kings and priests then this possibly is why the armor of God refers to the breastplate of righteousness in Ephesians 6. I am going to start in verse 10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, again spiritual wickedness in high places. 13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand. 14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness: These scriptures is not referring to armor such like the Roman soldiers wore. Remember the New Testament is spiritual. The Old Testament breastplate of the high priest was referred to as the breastplate of judgement. For we know that Moses was given the Law of God but the law had its faults. However, Jesus came to fulfill the law and made a new covenant with people who faithfully given their life to him. In Isaiah 59:17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head. the He in this scripture is referring to Jesus Christ as He is our final high priest. Through Jesus act of unconditional love, God's righteousness is a gift we receive by grace as it states in Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence (sin) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. We being the spiritual priest must put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts against the enemies attacks.
We are instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 which states, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. The breastplate here listed faith and love which are also mentioned along with 7 other fruit in Galatians 5:18 that says, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." 22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23) meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. We read in Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23) for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24) being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded, By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. When a person totally gives up their will to follow after God he implants a seed of grace within their spirit that will produce the fruit of righteousness. In Matthew 7:16 tells us that "You will know them by their fruits." There is a major change in the attributes of a born again believer, as you get closer to Jesus you will take on righteous characteristics that the bible calls the fruit. We read in Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. We on our own are not capable of producing our own fruit of righteousness as the bible tells us in Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnessess are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Now we that have the fruit of righteousness become witnesses to others we sow our seeds to others. You will find in Proverbs 11:30 that says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. John 4:35 Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Left up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And in John 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. God wants us to minister to others just as he did while there is still time on earth. From the beginning Adam and Eve in the natural earthy man was commanded to be fruitful and multiply. We who are under Grace, we are also called spiritually to be fruitful and multiply but not for this earth, we are to multiply the kingdom of heaven. We do this by sharing the Gospel message of salvation of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 61:3 says, "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Oh the reward for all the suffering we will have to endure on this earth will be worth it all when we are glorifying God for all eternity in heaven. Revelation 21:1-8 John said, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea; and I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. Behold, I make all things new. It is done. He that overcometh shall inherit all things. I will be his God, and he shall be my son." In the New Jerusalem each of the tribes of Israel will also have their names inscribed for all eternity, on each of the city's twelve gates which are each made from one single pearl that will have an angel placed to watch over it. (Rev 21:12-13, 21). Then there are twelve foundations that will have the 12 Apostles names inscribed, Rev 21:10, 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and written on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Each foundation has it's own sacred gemstone just like the priests breastplate that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. This is for a memorial to the Apostles who carried on the ministry of Jesus Christ the founding forefathers of the church Jesus bore on the cross. Satan who was once the leader over worship had a covering that had 9 precious gemstones as I have already mentioned above. He forsook his gift of authority and power freely given to him by our Creator to use for his own selfish and prideful lusts. Now that authority and power and worship has been given to the church, the ones who are made righteous through being covered in the blood of Jesus. He has made us spiritual kings and priests. The enemy who was once the angel of light has no power or authority over God's chosen people who are now the light of the world. The precious stones that reflect God's light forever and ever. There are twelve sacred gemstones mentioned in Revelations much like the ones found on the breastplate of the high priest in Exodus 28. They are Jasper, Sapphire, Chalcedony, Emerald, Sardonyx, Sardius, Chrysolite, Beryl, Topaz, Chrysoprasus, Jacinth, and Amethyst. Each stone has its own color which are attributes of God's grace and His gifts to his church as Matthew 5:14-16 states, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Revelation 18:12 lists two different types of stones. There are the jewels of the harlot that are corrupt these stones are called isotropic which means they remain dark when observed under light, but God's gemstones are holy, His city is holy, God is holy. The city shines with God's holiness. The stones radiate God's glory which are what scientist call anisotropic. Anisotropic means light passes through the gem as it is rotated producing colors of the rainbow of light thus reflecting God's glory. We are the precious stones that will reflect God's light in the Holy City as we will worship God for all eternity.
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