[162]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JEWELS OF GOD’S REFLECTED BEAUTY

This was a difficult poem to write trying to get it right the way I wanted. It is probably an unusual subject anyway. By jewels, I mean literal jewels. I love gemstones though I have none. Can’t afford them, but my God has so many we will all share one day. The poem brings that out.

The New Jerusalem that will be the future home of the Bride in eternity, is beyond our appreciation. I can’t stand it when certain commentators say this is only imagery and not literal. Perhaps the cross on Golgotha is just imagery and not literal. What gives these people the right to cut out the literalness of God’s word!

{{Revelation 21:1-3 “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea, and I SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.”}}

The New Jerusalem is in the shape of a cube with each side being of length 1,500 miles (2 400 km)!! {{Revelation 21:10-11 “and he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.”}}

Revelation 21:16-17 “The city is laid out as A SQUARE, and its length is as great as the width, and he measured the city with the rod, FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES. ITS LENGTH AND WIDTH AND HEIGHT ARE EQUAL, and he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.”}}

One thing I will say about the names of gemstones in the bible. Their names are sometimes indefinite as translators can’t be exactly sure which gem is meant. That is why in different translations you will find different lists. All my material is taken from the NASB.

{{Revelation 21:18-21 “The material of the wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 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, and the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”}}

What can we say about all this? Well. It leaves me astounded and maybe the verse here answers that – {{1 Corinthians 2:9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”}}

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JEWELS OF GOD’S REFLECTED BEAUTY

How I love the varied light that comes from every precious gem;

The colour brilliance of heavn’ly flashes found in each of them.

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God made these jewels with special care; of Him they speak so much.

Inherent in these exquisite stones, are messages as such.

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So distinctive are those jewels, whose names are frequently heard,

That commonly He has mentioned them in pages of His word.

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It’s no mistake God has made these gems shine with splendid delight

To reflect His righteous character, in whose sight all is bright.

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The firelight of the opal lit with all the colour spectrum.

The flashy brilliance of the sapphire in divergent colours.

The pigeon-blooded ruby gleaming a magnificent red.

The dulled lustre, yet brilliance of pearl in its whites, and black forms.

The sparkling faceted diamond in whites, and blues and yellows.

The enticing emerald with its delightful tones of green.

The rich alluring reddish purple of the amethyst’s hues.

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Precious gems portray the qualities that to God we assign:

The parts of each one for excellence beyond compare, combine.

God’s character is reflected in the gems He created,

And from them, His attributes and merits are radiated.

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PURITY is fully God, without any imperfection.

BEAUTY embraces holiness in divine intersection.

PRECIOUSNESS belongs to God and to our costly salvation.

GLORY surrounds His Presence and throne in strong declaration.

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Select gems chosen by God will form the foundation of the New Jerusalem.

This majesty we can’t appreciate until we see them.

The wall is 66 metres wide; of jasper erected,

With 12 foundation stones adorned with gems that God selected.

The city will be of pure gold, and God has made the gems known.

He loves to share with His children, and these delights He has shown.

For human minds, indescribable glory is infinite,

But not for the Lord; and about these gems, He is definite.

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This exquisite beauty will radiate from all these gemstones –

Jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, beryl, sardonyx,

Sardius, chrysolite, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst.

They are the foundation stones of perfection chosen by God.

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The New Jerusalem is an unbelievable city,

Huge, ultra magnificent to view, and immensely pretty.

The dimensions are great, and beyond human understanding.

Sides are of twenty-four hundred kilometres; outstanding.

In it, all the colours of the rainbow are represented.

There are 12 gates, each a single pearl; their beauty accented.

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Who can appreciate the flawlessness of God’s creation,

Or comprehend on that day, the perfection of elation,

When bathed in all the sparkling gemstones, and purity of gold?

Until our eyes behold that city, nothing more can be told.

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R E Ferguson Began 16 December - Finished 20 December 2020

15 metre throughout except for one line.

Was difficult to write. Rhyme AA BB CC DD EE etc. but not in every stanza