JASPER by Christian at Work

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 15, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 36.

JASPER.

By Christian at Work

AMONG the precious stones often referred to in the Bible we find the jasper, a stone clear as crystal, or rather of a crystal hue. It was the last of the twelve inserted in the breastplate of the high priest, and the first of the twelve used in the foundations of the New Jerusalem. It is also mentioned among the stones that adorned the king of Tyre. John says that "one sat on the throne; and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone."

It is spoken of as a stone most precious, and as we infer of a brilliant and transparent light. It is said that the stone that we call jasper is not the same, as that is an "opaque species of quartz, of a red, yellow, green or mixed brownish-yellow hue, sometimes striped and sometimes spotted, in no respect presenting the characteristics of the crystal. The only feature that at all accords with the scriptural account is that it admits of a high polish." A writer thinks that the diamond would more adequately answer to the description in the Book of Revelation, and that the term rendered "diamond" in Ex. 28:18 refers to the emerald.

How glorious it will be to see "that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal"—when we shall serve God, and see him not as through a glass, not with our finite eyes that are so often dimmed with tears, not with our heads aching with the cares of this life, but, bless God! we shall see him face to face.