A Short Treatise on Colors Found in the Bible

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Abstract: We will use as a reference the Bible commentary called “Apocalypse (Revelation) Revealed” by Emanuel Swedenborg on Revelation 21:19-20 to see the “spiritual meaning” of various colors in the Bible.

“Swedenborg had a prolific career as an inventor and scientist. In 1741, at 53, he entered into a spiritual phase in which he began to experience dreams and visions, notably on Easter Weekend, on 6 April 1744. His experiences culminated in a “spiritual awakening” in which he received a revelation that Jesus Christ had appointed him to write The Heavenly Doctrine to reform Christianity” (Wikipedia).

I was called in 1998 by the Lord to leave the traditional Charismatic Evangelical Christian church to learn and help expound and share on the “spiritual meaning” found in the Holy Bible. (I have added my emphasis in italic parentheses to include a simple English text for the beginner of the spiritual meaning of the Bible for people such as myself)

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“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;” (Revelation 21:19)

“The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst” (Revelation 21:20)

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Paragraph # 915. [Verse 19) “The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, [Verse 20] the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst” signifies (means) all the things of that doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) derived from the sense of the letter of the Word (printed in letters and words) in their order with those who approach the Lord directly (those who come to the Lord and speak reverently but as a friend) and live in accordance with the precepts of the Decalogue (they live life according to all that is found in the Ten commandments) by fleeing from evils as sins (they in no way excuse their own sins); for these and no others are in the doctrine of love directed to God and of love towards the neighbor, which are the two foundations of religion.

That by “the twelve foundations of the wall” are signified (means) all the things of the doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) of the New Jerusalem (the new church the Lord will form) derived from the sense of the letter of the Word (as we read the Holy Bible on the earth in letters and words. Behind these letters and words is found the spiritual meaning as the angels in heaven read it). That by “precious stones” in general are signified (means) all the truths of the doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) derived from (teachings in) the Word (Bible) transparent (it becomes very easy to see) by means of the spiritual sense (as the angels in heaven read it).

Here by each “stone” is signified (means) some specific truth transparent in that manner (the spiritual meaning as the angels in heaven read it). That the Word (Holy Bible) in the sense of the letter as to the doctrinal things thereof (taken from) corresponds to precious stones of every kind, may be seen in (the book) “THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE” (book paragraphs 43-45). (if you wish to read further)

There are two colors in general that shine forth in “precious stones”, the color red and the color bright white.

The rest of the colors, as green, yellow, sky-blue and many more, are composed of those modified (changed) with black; and by the red color is signified (means) the good of love, and by the bright white color is signified (means) the truth of wisdom. The reason why the red color signifies (means) the good of love (genuine faith and charity toward neighbor) is because it derives its origin (this bright light comes) from the fire of the sun, and the fire of the sun of the spiritual world (there is a sun in the angelic heaven) is in its essence (the deepest level is) the Lord’s Divine Love (for God is pure holy love), thus the good of love; and the reason why the bright white color signifies (means) the truth of wisdom is because it derives its origin (where it comes from) from the light that proceeds out of the fire of that sun (in the spiritual world) and that proceeding (coming out from the sun) light is in its essence (the deepest level is) Divine wisdom, thus the truth of wisdom; and black derives its origin (where it comes from) from the shade of those (people), which is (total) ignorance (those that have no truth at all).

But to explain in detail (to teach more) what [kind] of good and what [kind] of truth is signified (meant) by each stone would be too tedious (it is only important we understand the general meaning here). Nevertheless in order to know what of good and truth (found in) any one stone in this order (the way they are listed in Revelation 21:19-20) signifies (means), the things may be seen that have been expounded above (Revelation 7:5-8), where the twelve tribes of Israel are treated of. For a similar thing (the 12 tribes) is signified by each stone here as by each tribe there named (the meaning is very much the same) since by the twelve tribes there described are likewise signified (means) all the goods and truths of the Church and of its doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) in their order. And therefore also it is said in this chapter (21:14) that “in the twelve foundations were written the names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles,” and by the “twelve apostles” are signified (means) all the things of the doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) concerning the Lord, and concerning a life in accordance (to live by) with His precepts (the Ten Commandments and His teachings recorded in the Bible). Similar things (colors in the Bible mean very much the same) also are signified (means) by these twelve stones as by the twelve “precious stones” in Aaron’s breastplate, which was called the “Urim and Thummim” treated (the teaching) of (is found) in Exodus 28:15-21, of which the details have been expounded in (the book) “Secrets of Heaven” paragraphs 9856-9882, with the difference that in the latter were the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, but in the former the names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles (one is found in the Old Testament and one is found in the New Testament, but like colors in the Bible they all mean very much the same thing).

That the foundations are of precious stones is also said in Isaiah:

“O thou afflicted, behold I will set thy stones with stibium, and lay thy foundations in sapphires, and thy gates in carbuncle stones; all thy sons have been taught by Jehovah” (Isaiah 54:11-13)

By “the afflicted” is understood the Church set up by the Lord (Jesus Christ) with the Gentiles (the Christian church). In the same:

“Thus has the Lord Jehovih said, I lay for a foundation in Zion a stone, a stone of trial, founded as a precious corner-stone; I will make thy judgment straight, and thy justice upright” (Isaiah 28:16-17)

Since every truth of doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) derived from the Word (Bible) is founded upon the acknowledgment of the Lord, therefore the Lord is called “the stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24); also “the corner-stone which the builders rejected” (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17-18). That a “corner-stone” is a stone of foundations is established from Jeremiah 51:26. The Lord also in the Word in many places is called a “Rock,” and therefore by “the Rock” He meant Himself when He said:

“Upon this Rock will I build My Church” Matthew 16:18-19; and also when He said:

“He who hears My words and does them is compared to a prudent man who builds a house and lays the foundation upon a rock” Luke 6:47-48; Matthew 7:24-25.

By “a rock” is signified (means) the Lord as to the Divine Truth of the Word (Holy Bible). That all the things of the Church and its doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) relate to these two things, that the Lord is to be approached directly (those who come to the Lord and speak reverently but as a friend), and that one should live in accordance with the precepts of the Decalogue (they live life according to all that is found in the Ten commandments) by fleeing from evils as sins (they in no way excuse their own sins); and that all the things of the doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught in the Christian church) relate to love directed to God and to love towards the neighbor, will be seen in (the book) “THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING CHARITY”, where these things will be set forth in their order (if you wish to learn more).

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