The 12/70 Principle: 12 Stones, 12 Gates, 12 Foundations

12 Stones 12 Gates 12 Foundations

We know the 12 Gates of Pearl in the New Jerusalem compares to the Encampment of the 12 Tribes around the Tabernacle.

Some have asked me if the Greek and Aramaic really do say pearl because they wonder why a product of an unclean animal would be found in the pure and holy New Heaven and New Earth. Simply put is that the animal is unclean to consume as a food source, not unclean as in it cannot be handled. If this were the case we could not have dogs and cats as pets, or ride a donkey or a camel which our Biblical ancestors certainly did. Oysters are unclean to eat but we may use the product of an oyster which is a pearl.

We know that during the times of the Tabernacle and Temple that the Tribes were represented by the precious stones on the Levitical breastplate and in the New Jerusalem the 12 Apostles are represented as precious foundation stones.

We will examine them both.

Exodus 28, 39: Levitical Breastplate and its Stones:

Row One: L-R

·       Reuben – Sardius - Red

·       Simeon – Topaz – Clear Yellowish Green

·       Levi – Carbuncle – Green

Row Two: L-R

·       Judah – Emerald – Greenish Blue

·       Dan – Sapphire – Greenish Yellow

·       Naphtali – Diamond – Clear/White

Row Three: L-R

·       Gad – Ligure – Orange Amber

·       Asher – Agate – Sky Blue

·       Issachar – Amethyst – Reddish Brown

Row Four: L-R

·       Zebulun – Beryl – Golden Yellow

·       Joseph – Onyx – Sea Green

·       Benjamin – Multi-Colored

Revelation 21: The 12 Apostolic Foundation Stones

·       Peter – Jasper – Multi-Colored

·       Andrew – Sapphire – Blue

·       James Zebedee – Chalcedony – Greyish, Purplish Blue

·       John Zebedee – Emerald – Green

·       Phillip – Sardonyx – White

·       Bartholomew/Nathaniel – Red Orange, Flesh Colored

·       Thomas – Chyrsolite – Golden

·       Matthew – Beryl – Pale Green

·       James Alpheus – Topaz – Greenish Yellow

·       Judah/Thaddeus/Lebbeaus – Chrysoprasus – Green

·       Simeon – Jacinth – Dark Blue

·       Matthias – Amethyst – Violet  

Now let us properly pair them up Apostle to Tribe and see what we get.

·       Peter – Jasper – Multi-Colored - Judah – Emerald – Greenish Blue

·       Andrew – Sapphire – Blue - Issachar – Amethyst – Reddish Brown

·       James Zebedee – Chalcedony – Greyish, Purplish Blue - Zebulun – Beryl – Golden Yellow

·       John Zebedee – Emerald – Green - Dan – Sapphire – Greenish Yellow - Reuben – Sardius - Red

·       Phillip – Sardonyx – White - Asher – Agate – Sky Blue - Simeon – Jacinth – Dark Blue

·       Bartholomew/Nathaniel – Red Orange, Flesh Colored - Naphtali – Diamond – Clear/White - Gad – Ligure – Orange Amber

·       Thomas – Chyrsolite – Golden - Benjamin – Multi-Colored - Joseph – Onyx – Sea Green

·       Matthew – Beryl – Pale Green - Joseph – Onyx – Sea Green

·       James Alpheus – Topaz – Greenish Yellow - Joseph – Onyx – Sea Green - Benjamin – Multi-Colored

·       Judah/Thaddeus/Lebbeaus – Chrysoprasus – Green - Gad – Ligure – Orange Amber - Dan – Sapphire – Greenish Yellow

·       Simeon – Jacinth – Dark Blue - Simeon – Topaz – Clear Yellowish Green - Asher – Agate – Sky Blue

·       Matthias – Amethyst – Violet - Reuben – Sardius – Red - Naphtali – Diamond – Clear/White

What could this mean, at first glance it seems pretty random, but note that like colors or complimentary colors are paired with one another. Granted the colors are debateable due to one precious stone can be represented and or come in many different colors. But generally we see an esthetic balance of the color palate.

If I could personally make but one confirmation is that Gad’s stone is the same color the Igbo chiefs (who come from Gad through his son Eri) wear in their necklaces and bracelets and Bartholomew’s stone is virtually the same color.