Revelation Chapter 4

VERSE 3 continued, “And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”

AND HE WHO SAT THERE WAS LIKE A JASPER AND A SARDIUS STONE IN APPEARANCE:

The Scriptures unequivocally state and teach that in the literal or actual sense “no man [including John] hath seen God at any time” (John 1:18). All that anyone, apostle or prophet, has ever been privileged to see is a symbolic or figurative representation of God’s likeness.

Observing the physical aspect of this representation of the Creator, John discerned the exposed portions of His body and noted that the skin was not soft and flesh like in texture and tone; instead it possessed a hard stone like appearance. In other words, while the form of the One seated on the throne resembled that of a man in a body structure sense, it differed in composition. The entire body substance consisted of just two gem stones. That they were probably neither marbleized nor stratified in appearance will be shown shortly.

A person is sometimes referred to as “a jewel,” meaning he or she possesses a particularly admirable character trait. Thus, of all the stones that exist in nature, the Holy Spirit in this instance selected the jasper and the sardine stone to picture most suitably the two primary qualities of office possessed by the Eternal One: GLORY and LOVE.

The jasper stone of the New Testament is the diamond, which represents God’s wisdom, justice, and power—the ingredients that best illustrate the GLORY of His office.  The transparency of the diamond signifies God’s love of purity and truth, as well as the purity of His good intentions (there “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”—see James 1:17). Also included in the symbolism is His corresponding hatred of iniquity in both doctrine and practice.

It is likely that the head, the arms, and the legs consisted of the clear transparency and brilliant reflective qualities of the jasper (diamond). The slightest movement of head, arms, or legs would cause a corresponding marvelous display of glory, enhancing God’s intellectual brilliance in planning (wisdom—the head); His ability to perform (power—the arms); and His own righteous walk (justice—the legs). As Rev 15:3 exults, “Just and true are thy ways”!

The sardine or Sard is a stone considered choice by lapidaries. Used for cameos, brooches, figurines, and so forth, the carnelian is noted for its beauty, its ease (relative softness), and its adaptability for carving and engraving purposes; yet it is sufficiently hard for durability. The name carnelian (Sard) suggests its warmth of color and flesh like appearance.

Accordingly, this stone represents God’s LOVE and tender mercy; that is, He is approachable (through Christ), impressionable, easy to be entreated, and compassionate toward the contrite and repentant sinner.

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa. 57:15).

John, in witnessing the vision, was probably afforded a discreet and modest disclosure of a portion of the trunk or torso of the Creator’s body. Such a view could have been accomplished by the type of attire and the manner in which it was worn. Although the vision does not specify such detail, it is stated that He who sat on the throne “was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone,” implying that the entire body consisted solely of these two gem stones.

If these stones had been displayed in a mixed or conglomerate fashion, John could not have been certain that only two stones were employed. Apparently, then, the Creator’s body proper or torso consisted of carnelian stone. The upper portion or chest cavity, which housed the heart, represents His affection and love; the lower half, His pity and compassion, His bowels of mercy (Col. 3:12).

The Jasper and the Sard can be considered from yet another standpoint. The sheer brilliance of the diamond represents Jehovah’s intellect, purity of thought, and penetrating gaze; the hardness of the stone represents His fixity of purpose and the overwhelming omnipotence of His power; and the interior transparency of the gem indicates the absolute holiness inherent in His character and in His walk.

All of these qualities—pictured by the head, the arms, and the legs of jasper, together with the general awesome appearance of His personal majesty and its attendant effulgence of light—at first TEND TO FRIGHTEN AND REPEL THE SINNER. On the other hand, the depth (bowels) and the warmth of God’s (heartfelt) love, as revealed in His plan of redemption through Christ, strongly attract the sinner. Therefore, these two extreme qualities of glory and love are superlatively counterbalanced in the person of the Creator in this idealistic, yet practical, vision John beheld.” (The Keys of Revelation)

We will continue with the latter half of Verse 3 in our next post.