Revelation 21:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He was caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2) and draws there all who obey him, to the place where his citizenship is. The third is chalcedony. Chalcedony was not worn on the high priest’s shoulder-piece, but anthrax was, which is not mentioned here. Therefore we think that the holy anthrax may be named by this term. Anthrax is coal, and it signifies blessed Andrew, kindled by the Spirit. The fourth is emerald. Emerald has a green color, is nourished by oil, and receives brilliance and beauty from it. It signifies the preaching of John the Evangelist. He softens the grief and despondency of our soul over sins with divine oil, and by his Theology has given us unweakened faith.

Having said that the foundations are adorned with every precious stone, he now lists the stones in order. In the images of all these stones, the beauty and foundation of the virtues are portrayed, by which each of the saints is spiritually adorned. The city itself also appears in the narrative as wholly adorned with stones, varied in strength and elegance.

For this reason both the wall is built of this stone and, according to Isaiah, the city’s stronghold is adorned with it; see Isa 54:12. Moses speaks of the color and meaning of this stone when he describes the house of God: “Under His feet there was something like a work of pure sapphire, and like the very heaven in clarity” (Ex 24:10). Ezekiel also declares that the place on which the throne of God stands is as though made of sapphire; see Ezek 1:26; 10:1. The glory of God dwells in this color, which bears within itself the image of what is above the heavens. Any person like it can cry out with the apostle: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20). Pierced by the rays of the sun, sapphire bursts forth in dazzling radiance. So too the mind of the saints always attends to heavenly things. Daily renewed by the rays of divine light, it eagerly and fervently seeks the eternal by every means and urges others to seek it. For when it is said that what happened at the Red Sea will happen again, this means that through the Lord’s sufferings and the washing of holy baptism, the mind of mortals is lifted upward, already tasting heavenly things. Chalcedony is difficult to see, like the weak flame of a lamp, and it shines not in a house but under the open sky. So too are those who, sustained by longing for heaven, remain unknown to men and, as though hidden from them, live by fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Yet when they are commanded to come forth to men, whether for teaching or for some other ministry of the saints, they immediately reveal their inner radiance to the world. And the fact that chalcedony is found among the Nasamones, that is, in an Ethiopian province, speaks to us of people surrounded by the burning heat of love. Yet there is a certain strange opinion that this stone is dark, like dark skin. Emeralds are of different kinds, but the noblest is the Scythian, then the Bactrian, and in third place the Egyptian. Emerald signifies souls always strong in faith. The more the trials of this age, symbolized by Scythian cold, press upon them, the more firmly they cling to the eternal and unfading inheritance kept in heaven. These souls gather the mind and satisfy the thirst of their neighbors by preaching. Though despised by the world, they advance by the cup of the Lord’s sufferings and by the fullness of inner love granted them by the Holy Spirit.

Jacinth is a bluish transparent stone with a diamond-like brilliance, though it also occurs in other colors. Amethyst is violet and grayish in color. Here it should be noted that, judging by the names of the stones, it is difficult to identify them with stones now known by the same names. Thus it is also difficult to determine their value. But this is not important. What matters is that, according to the seer, the most precious stones will serve as foundations for the new Jerusalem. By contrast, the foundations of ordinary cities use the simplest and roughest stones. If we translate the Apostle’s allegorical speech into direct language, understanding the precious stones as the apostles (Rev 21:14), we may take his words in this sense. The foundation of the Kingdom of God, or the new Jerusalem, will be served by people of the highest virtues and the purest moral life. Such, before all others, were the apostles.

This geometrical figure is used in the picture as a symbolic mark of perfection. On the twelve foundations of the wall are written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. This is surely a sign that the apostles are the foundations, or founders, of the Christian faith among all nations. The city is measured by an angel before the seer’s eyes. This signifies, first, that the number of the chosen citizens of this city was foreseen from eternity. It also signifies that each of these elect has attained a certain definite measure of righteousness and holiness. When measured, the city proved to have equal length, breadth, and height, and its wall measured 144 cubits. All these numerical expressions are plainly used to signify perfection, firmness, and the wondrous symmetry of the whole building of the Church of God. The wall of the city is built of jasper, which in the Apocalypse signifies divine glory; see above, Rev 21:11. The city itself is of pure gold. The foundations of the city wall are made of twelve solid precious stones, and the twelve gates are made of twelve whole pearls. The street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass. All these details express one and the same idea. In the heavenly Church of God everything is holy, pure, light-bearing, and firm. Everything in it is majestic, spiritual, and precious. The gold of grace and of God’s love is scattered everywhere in abundance for the full blessedness of its holy members.