Sardine Stone

by Wayne Blank

"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold." (Revelation 4:1-4 KJV)

Red Carnelian

Carnelian is a precious stone of blood-red color that during Bible History was sometimes called "Sardine stone," or "sardius" because in ancient times it was obtained from Sardis in Asia Minor (Sardis was also the location of one of the prophetic Seven Churches of Revelation). As described in the verses above, Sardine stone/carnelian is found at God's Throne in heaven (while God's Throne remains in heaven, see The Throne Of God, From Heaven To Earth). It also was chosen by God as one of the precious stones in Aaron's high-priest breastplate, as well as in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.

Carnelian in Aaron's breastplate (see Aaron):

"And you shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and double, a span its length and a span its breadth. And you shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius [i.e. Sardine stone, carnelian], topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree. There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel [see Children of Jacob]; they shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes." (Exodus 28:15-21 RSV)

Carnelian in the foundation of the future (see the Fact Finder question below) New Jerusalem:

"The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its breadth; and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length and breadth and height are equal. He also measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits by a man's measure, that is, an angel's. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst." (Revelation 21:16-20 RSV)

Fact Finder: Contrary to what many have been incorrectly taught, The Bible plainly says that the famous "pearly gates" will be on earth. Where does it definitely say that in God's Word?
Revelation 21:1-3,21
See also The City To Come

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