The Sacred Gemstones of Revelation

Ezekiel 28:13-16 references the same gemstones called “The Stones Of Fire”. In Revelation, chapter 21, there are 12 gemstones listed that are believed to be the same gemstones from the Mountain of God. These are the 12 sacred gemstones of Revelation: Jasper, Sapphire, Chalcedony, Emerald, Sardonyx, Sardius, Chrysolite, Beryl, Topaz, Chrysoprasus, Jacinth, and Amethyst.

Revelation 21:15-21

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[a] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[b] thick.[c] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[d] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

The mention of “12 stones” can be found multiple times throughout the bible, creating a theme of importance. 

In the readings of the Old Testament, there is mention of 12 sacred stones that came from the Mountain of God. The Mountain of God is where Moses received the Ten Commandments of God. In Exodus, Moses was given specific instructions to create a breastplate of judgment for his brother, the high priest Aaron, using sacred stones: Exodus 28:15-30

There is a clear association between the 12 gems and the 12 tribes of Israel from the walls of Jerusalem denoting that each stone is inscribed accordingly with each tribe’s name.

Apostle John viewed New Jerusalem from all four sides because he described the gates on each side in his vision. Rev. 21: 12-14 It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates, twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates; on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

“21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.”

Foundations

Jasper 
Jasper is present in the breastplate and The New Jerusalem wall itself was made of jasper. It is opaque, comes in most colors, and gives courage and wisdom.

Sapphire
Sapphire is found in the breastplate, wall foundations, and king’s treasure. It represents the Dan tribe. It is a beautiful blue color and promotes constancy, truth, and virtue. The ancients gave the name “sapphire” also to lapis-lazuli which is also a blue stone often speckled with shining pyrites that look like they are sprinkled with gold. Sapphire is too hard to engrave whereas lapis lazuli is much softer.

Agate
Agate was the second stone in the third row of the breastplate. The stone was associated with health, longevity, and wealth. Agate was considered to have medicinal powers in the Middle Ages, supposedly countering poisons, contagious diseases, and fever. Agate comes in various bright colors. Red agate was meant to improve eyesight.

Emerald
Emerald is in the breastplate, the wall foundations, and the Tyre treasures. It glitters and is a brilliant green. Emerald is actually a green beryl. It was thought to preserve or restore sight. It signifies immortality and incorruptibility.

Onyx
Onyx appears in the breastplate and it relates to marital happiness. Its color is white and black and sometimes includes brown.

Ruby
Ruby was a stone in the foundations of the wall. Ruby has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and would have been impossible to engrave. It is translated as either a sardius or a carnelian stone in the six other versions of Scripture. Rubies are also mentioned in other places in God’s word.

Like all reddish gemstones that resembled the color of blood, this gemstone was thought to make the wearer invincible to wounds.

Beryl
Beryl is in the breastplate and the wall foundations. It can be pale blue to yellowy green, although it can also be white or rose. It relates to happiness and everlasting youth. 

Topaz
Topaz also features in all three of the important biblical references to precious stones. It signifies friendship and happiness.

Turquoise
Turquoise, carnelian, and lapis lazuli were the most used gems by the ancients. There are more legends associated with turquoise than with any other gemstone. Turquoise was believed to prevent accidents, and to cure diseases of the head and the heart. It was also believed to make one invulnerable and it was placed on body armor, turbans, swords, and knives.

Jacinth
Jacinth is a breastplate and a foundation stone. It is reddish-orange in color and was thought to give second sight.

Amethyst
Amethyst appears in the breastplate, the wall foundations, and among the king’s treasures. This stone was thought to prevent intoxication. Drinkers would wear an amulet of amethyst for this reason. It is supposed to provide deep and pure love. It is a brilliant purple, close to the color of red wine.