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Tuesday, February 2 2010
The English word crystal originated from the Latin word crystallus, which itself was formed from a Greek word, kystallos, from kryos, meaning frost (other words and terms are based on that same Greek word e.g. cryogenic which means low temperatures). In nature, crystals can form from a wide variety of substances at a range of temperatures, but the Biblical references all refer to a precious crystal that is perfectly clear.
"21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (Revelation 21:10-11 KJV)
"Her light was like unto a stone most precious ... clear as crystal"
After His resurrection, the triumphant Messiah returned to The Father and "before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal" (the apostle John was given to see the event a few decades after it happened, as recorded in the Book of Revelation; the prophet Daniel was given to see the same event centuries before it happened, as recorded in the Book of Daniel - see the Fact Finder question below):
"4:1 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. 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 4:3 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. 4:4 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. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:1-11 KJV)
In the future, that Throne of God is coming to earth "and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (see The Throne Of God, From Heaven To Earth):
"21:1 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. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4 KJV)"21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (Revelation 21:10-11 KJV)
The "clear as crystal" purity of the "sea" (see Living Waters) that will flow from God's Throne on earth will still represent what it always has - the pure, spotless "clear as crystal" Holy Spirit of God.
"22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5 KJV)
Fact Finder: Who was the "Ancient of Days"? Why was that term used?
See The Ancient of Days
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This Day In History, February 2
962: Pope John XII crowned Otto I as the "Holy Roman Emperor" (see Emperors and Popes). When Otto succeeded his father Heinrich (Henry) as German king in 936, the people raised their right hand to show approval and shouted "Sieg und heil" ("victory and salvation"). Later historians would view 962 as the beginning of what would later be officially styled the Sacrum Romanum Imperium Nationis Germanica ("The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation"). "The First Reich." See also Ein Volk! Ein Reich! Ein Euro!
1461: The Lancastrians (founded by the son of Henry III, the Earl of Lancaster in 1267) defeated the Yorkists (founded by another son of Henry III, the duke of York) at the second Battle of St. Albans'.
1509: The Portuguese, led by Francisco de Almeida, destroyed the Muslim fleet in the Battle of Diu, establishing Portuguese control of Indian waters.
1536: Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires.
1556: The world's worst earthquake on record, in China's Shaanxi, Shansi and Henan provinces, killed an estimated 830,000 people.
1626: Charles I, the son and successor of James I (after whom the King James Version of the Bible was named), was crowned king of England.
1653: The Dutch established New Amsterdam as a city. After the British took over the colonies that became known as New England, the city was renamed as New York.
1709: British sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued after being marooned on a desert island for 5 years. His story was the inspiration of Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe."
1808: French forces under Napoleon occupied Rome. Pope Pius VII was arrested and held in custody.
1848: The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ended the war between the U.S. and Mexico.
1916: The U.S. Senate voted independence for the Philippines.
1945: During the Second World War, 1,200 British Royal Air Force planes bombed Wiesbaden and Karlsruhe in Germany.
1972: The British Embassy in Dublin was burned down after a day of anti-British demonstrations.
1983: The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) resumed in Geneva.
