Transformed to Precious Stones
New Jerusalem, the conclusion of the Bible, is the peak of God’s accomplishments throughout the ages. It is a city designed by God and built by God through His operation in all His people.
Revelation 21:14 tells us that “the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
The New Jerusalem as the city of the living God is the city having the foundations (Heb. 11:10). These foundations, which are solid and unshakable, are composed of twelve kinds of precious stones represented by the twelve apostles (Rev. 21:19-20). As men created by God, the apostles originally were clay, but they were regenerated and then transformed into precious stones for God’s eternal building. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. In Hebrews 11:10 we see that the city has the foundations, and in Revelation 21:19 and 20 we see the twelve foundations of the city.*
The precious stones in the foundation and in the appearance of the whole city (Rev. 21:11) are the outcome of the Spirit’s transforming work in all of us. This work is presented at the end of 2 Corinthians 3 based on our turning our hearts to the Lord. The result is glory, a prime characteristic of New Jerusalem.
This transformation is not merely for the apostles but it is for all of us to be “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5) for the building of God’s spiritual house unto New Jerusalem.
* Life-Study of the New Testament, Conclusion Messages: The Church, the Kingdom, and the New Jerusalem, message 256, p. 2681, by Witness Lee. Published 1998 and © by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California.
Posted by Don on October 9, 2024
https://newjerusalem12.wordpress.com/2024/10/09/transformed-to-precious-stones/
