Revelation 21:14-20 “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. … (19) The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, (20) the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.”
Regarding the wall, the above passage also describes its foundation for us. In this passage we learn that there are in fact twelve foundations and not just one. And each foundation has the name of one of the apostles of the Lamb, inscribed on it. The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed our Lord Jesus (Matthew 10:2-4 & Acts 1:26). Each foundation is constructed from a different type of precious stone, and they are built as one layer upon another. The lowest layer, being the foundation with Peter’s name inscribed on it, which is why our Lord said to Peter that he was the rock upon which Jesus would build His church (Matthew 16:18). The ground above these foundations will be transparent, which is why John could see, and we too will be able to see, each foundation and each name inscribed there for all eternity.
Michael E.B. Maher
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