You are God's Treasure (Part 3) The study of birthstones, the 12 tribes of Israel.

In studying diamonds, I find it of most prophetic importance to learn about famous diamonds in History.

BIRTHSTONES
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine or Bloodstone
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Moonstone, pearl or a lexandrite
July - Ruby
August - Peridot or Sardonyx
September - Sapphire
October - Opal or tourmaline
November -Topaz or Citrine
December - Turquoise or Zircon

Gemstones are measured in carats. 142 carats is equal to one ounce. Gold is also measured in carats. For instance, 24K gold means that 24 of the 24 parts of the metal are gold. 18K means that 18 parts of the 24 are gold.

What is the origin of the birthstones and their corresponding months?

The origin of our twelve birthstones and their colors is rooted in the twelve colored stones in the breast-plate (bosom) of the high priest of ancient Israel. The fact that our birthstones are not only associated with different tribes, but also with different months, shows that there is a strong tradition that each of the 12 songs of Jacob were born at a distinct time of year.

How do we find a definitive correlation of all 12 stones to their modern names, colors, and tribes of Israel?

The solution is based on birth dates and birth constellations.

Ezekiel 28:13 (NASB) - "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, the diamond; the Beryl, and the onyx, and the Jasper, the lapis Lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets was in you. On that day you were created, they were prepared.

Those nine stones are nine of the 12 stones of the High Priest. He says the Stones were the 'Covering" in the Garden of Eden suggesting he might be referring to the Canopy of Heavens, and that each stone is associated with a Zodiac Constellation.

Twelve Tribes
The 12 stones in the Breastplate correspond to the original 12 sons of Jacob, not to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, which were later adopted as sons, effectively doubling the inheritance for their father Joseph.

Twelve Foundations
The 12 Foundations of the New Jerusalem are garnished with the same 12 precious stones, as named by John in Revelation 21:19-20. While those stones are associated with the 12 apostles, they are also near the 12 gates which are named for the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Revelation 21:19the foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

John wrote in Greek some 1500 years after Moses. He's referring to stones which he recognized and understood. John knew his gems well, right down to recognizing Sardonyx as a specific form of onyx. The 12 colors of the Stones and the representative stones were chosen for the color and had to be large enough to engrave the tribe's names on it. The 12 Zodiac constellations also each had a unique color for the figure and the 12 stones also correspond to those colors.

The names of the tribes were engraved on stones on the shoulder of the priests with six on each shoulder according to their birth (Exodus 28). Hebrew meanings change with the different colors and it’s hard to decipher the colors and tribes.

Hebrew Name King James Septuagint Other References
Odem Sardius Sardius red; not ruby
Pitdah Topaz Topaz from Ethiopia (Job 28:19)
Bareqeth Carbuncle/Garnet Emerald (Daniel 10:6) Color of lightening "Green" Greek
Nophek Emerald Anthrax/Garnet (Ezekiel 27:16) Precious "Coal" Greek
Sappiyr Sapphire Sapphire Exodus 24:10 "Sky Blue"
Yahalom Diamond Jasper None-many
Leshem Ligure Ligure none, Ligure unknown
Shebuw Agate Agate none
Aclamah Amethyst Amethyst none
Tarshish Beryl Chrysolite (Ezekiel 1:16, 10:9) Color of Heavenly Chariot Wheels
Shoham Onyx Beryl 'Whiten" (Hebrew)
Jashepheh Jasper Onyx none

Identify colors of Stones from table:
Odem (Red)- First Stone Odem means 'Red' in Hebrew and nearly all translations refer to it as sard (also called Sardius), which is a very red stone. Some translations refer to it as a Ruby. One would be hard pressed to find a ruby large enough to engrave a name on it, and even then it would require a diamond to write it. Most rubies are not as red as Sard. First Stone and Color are well identified.

Sappiyr (Blue) - Our word Sapphire comes from the Greek, which in turn comes from the Hebrew Sappiyr. At the time of john the Revelator, the name referred to Lapis Lazuli, a very Blue Stone. The confirmation that the ancient stone was also blue came in a vision at the time of Moses when the lord appeared on a pavement of Sappiyr, described as being as blue as a clear blue sky. (Exodus 24:10) 'And they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.'

Aclamah (Purple) - All the translations agree that Aclamah refers to Amethyst and there seems to be almost no doubt about this identification. While the scriptures don't specify that the color is purple, that is the only color of Amethyst.

Pitdah (Yellow Brown) - The other stone on which all translations agree is that the second stone Pitdah is the Topaz. Although Topaz comes in many colors, the principal color associated with the most common variety is a very light yellowish brown color.

Tarshish (Yellow) -This stone is most likely a golden color, matching the translation in the Septuagint of Chrysolite ('golden stone' in Greek). It is the color used by Daniel to describe a man seen in a heavenly vision, whose face is described to be like lightening (Daniel 10:6). The name of the third stone is derived from the same word for 'lightening' (Daniel 10:6) and is presumably a similar golden color. The name Tarshish is the same as the Mediterranean country (Jonah 1:3) probably Spain and hence also came to mean "Merchant Vessel" (2 Chronicles 9:21, Psalm 48:7, Isaiah 23:1).

Shoham (White) -The 11th stone Shoham almost certainly refers to a white stone because the root of the name means 'to whiten." It has been translated both as Onyx and Beryl, both of which have white varieties. Thus, only six of the stones are clearly identified with colors by the stone itself, by other passages or by name derivations.

Note also that there are some serious questions about some of the King James translations. "Diamond" almost certainly is not correct because nothing would be available hard enough to inscribe the name in it (other than another diamond) and it would have to be a very large diamond! The name "Jasper" was probably chosen only because it is similar to the Hebrew word. Nine of the names of the stones only appear in being a precious stone, with no other clues at all to identify other characteristics.

Beryl symbolized white or clear. Chrysolite was yellow. Sardius is red. Emerald is a synonym for Green. Sapphire is a synonym for Blue. Amethyst only comes in Purple.

Carbuncle (Glowing Coal) - Usually means Garnet: The color of the Tribe of Dan. Greek translation of 'nophek' is 'anthrax' translates into Carbuncle in English.

New Jerusalem 12 foundation Stones (Revelation 21:14)

Greek Modern Stone Color Other References
Amethyst Amethyst Purple none
Beryl Beryl White or Cream none
Chalcedony Chalcedony Light Blue none
Crysolite Crysolite Light Blue none
Chrysoprase Chrysoprase/Peridot Yellow Green (Gold) "Golden Stone"
Jacinth Jacinth (Hyacinth) Garnet Reddish Black Color of smoke (Revelation 9:17)
Jasper Jasper Orange or Fiery Red Yellow-red (Rev. 4:3, Ezekiel 1:27)
Sapphire Lapis Lazuli Royal Blue "Blue"
Sardius Sard Red "Red" Revelation 4:3
Sardonyx Sardonyx Red & White layers none

Topaz Topaz Yellow Brown none

Emerald Emerald Green 'Green'

A cameo is carved from Sardonyx by cutting away one colored layer to form a background for the picture. If we compare these 12 Greek names for the foundation stones to the Greek translation of the Breastplate Stones given in the Septuagint, we find that nine are identical.

The remaining stones that are mentioned in Revelation which need to be matched to Hebrew names are: Chrysoprase (yellow-green), Chalcedony (Light Blue), and Jacinth (Also called Hyacinth), referring to either a red or blue form of Zircon.

Jacinth is Carbuncle- In Greek, Jacinth sometimes refers to a dark red color and sometimes a dark blue.

Revelation 9:17 - And thus I saw the Horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone; and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

Here we are told the horsemen had breastplates of fire (red), and Jacinth (unstated), and brimstone (sulfur or yellow). But then in a parallel construction we are told they breathed out fire, smoke, and brimstone. That strongly suggests that the color of Jacinth corresponds to the color of the smoke accompanying the fire. That favors the dark red interpretation. Moreover, now that we know the meaning of 'carbuncle', it is a perfect match of glowing ember because smoke often contains glowing sparks. So let us equate jacinth to Carbuncle (Greek Anthrax).

Yellow/Red Jasper - The stone Jasper comes in a wide variety of colors, but John gives us enough clues to deduce that it is the yellow variety with red streaks (silex). The being on the throne is described by John as being the color of Sard and jasper (Revelation 4:3). Sard is red, but what color is Jasper? In parallel revelation given to Ezekiel, the being is described as colored like Amber (yellow) filled with swirling fire (red) in the upper body, and like fire in the lower (Ezekiel 1:27). So here again a being with two colors is described, even as John compared the colors to stones. Clearly the red fire corresponds to Sard, which leaves the red swirling within yellow to be the Jasper.

Golden-Green Chrysoprase - One of the new stones on john's list is Chrysoprase, which means "Golden Green" or Yellow-Green in Greek. This color fits well to be that of Bareqeth (Stone #3) which was described both as 'Lightening', a golden color and also as green (Emerald). This identification would refer to the modern gem stone Peridot or Olivine.

Sky Blue Chalcedony - There are two sacred colors of blue in the scriptures and there are two blue stones of those colors. John adds Chalcedony to the list, which is a light blue (sky blue) stone. The other blue stone he lists is called Sapphire in Greek, which during his time referred to the stone we call Lapis lazuli which is a Royal Blue Color. In the O.T. the stone Sappiyr is compared to the Azure Blue Sky, so let's equate that stone to Chalcedony.

Royal Blue Ligure - In the temple, the blue color used for the high priest's robe (Exodus 28:31) was a royal blue color which exactly matches that of Lapis Lazuli. Let us equate the unknown Green "Ligure"

to Lapis Lazuli. Most translators equate Ligure to the blue form of Jacinth (Blue Zircon), but that would yield too many stones.

Green Agate - By elimination we are left to equate the Hebrew Shebuw, translated as "Agate" in the Septuagint, with the stone John describes as Emerald. One green form of Agate is called Moss Agate, which could be the foundation stone. Another possibility is called 'Emerald Quartz.'

Red/White Sardonyx - It is worth noting how much info was added by John the Revelator when he named one stone as 'Sardonyx' rather than merely onyx. Onyx refers to a layered rock which usually has white, red, or black layers. Sometimes, it is all white or all black, so the name onyx alone does not specify color. But the variety with alternate red and white stripes has the specific name "Sardonyx." Sardonyx is used to make cameos. The same is done with Onyx made of black and white layers of stone.

The table below lists the 12 Breastplate stones with their Greek translations from the Septuagint:

Hebrew Greek Foundation Gem Color
Odem Sardius Sard Ruby Red
Pitdah Topaz Topaz Topaz Tan
Bareqeth Emerald Chrysoprase Peridot Yellow Green (Golden)
Nophek Anthrax Jacinth Garnet Reddish black
Sappiyr Sapphire Chalcedony Aqua-Marine Light Blue
Yahalom Jasper Jasper Fire-Opal Orange
Leshem Ligure Lapis Lazuli Sapphire Royal Blue
Shebuw Agate Emerald Emerald Green
Aclamah Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst Purple
Tarshish Chrysolite Chrysolite Chrysoberyl Yellow
Shoham Beryl Beryl, Onyx Diamond, Beryl White
Jashepheh Onyx Sardonyx, Rose Quartz Pink Tourmaline Red/White Stripes or Pink
Twelve Tribes of Israel which correspond to 12 constellations:
Hebrew Foundation Color Zodiak Tribe
Odem Sard Red Lion Judah
Pitdah Topaz tan Crab Issachar
Bareqeth Chrysoprase Yellow-Green Ram Zebulon
Nophek Jacinth Red-Black Scorpion Dan
Sappiyr Chalcedony Light-Blue Maiden Naphtali
Yahalom Jasper Orange Archer Gad
Leshem Lapis Lazuli Royal Blue Water Bearer Reuben
Shebuw Emerald Quartz Green Sea Goat Simeon
Aclamah Amethyst Purple Fishes Levi
Tarshish Chrysolite Yellow Scales Asher
Shoham Beryl White Bull Joseph
Jashepheh Sardonyx Red & White Twins Benjamin

What is the order of these stones?

Exodus 28:10 - "According to their birth." A careful reading of Genesis 29-30 shows the order of birth by Jacob's wives. The order of birth of Leah's six sons was: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. The birth order of Bilhah's sons were: Dan and Naphtali; of Zilpah's sons were: Gad and Asher; of Rachel's sons were Joseph and Benjamin.

The shoulder stone order is usually assumed to be the same order as the stones on the breastplate according to Jewish interpretation. Leah's children are grouped together and order of birth. If the priest faced east (Sacred Direction), then his right shoulder would face south, which was Reuben's direction, and the left should be north, which was Dan's direction. Thus, the stone on the right shoulder would start with Reuben's name with Dan leading the list on the left shoulder. That also fits with Reuben being the firstborn, which is associated with the son of the right hand. We know because of his actions, Reuben lost that blessing of being the firstborn, but that does not change the birth order.

Encampment Order:
Consider the order of their names when the tribes encamped in a square fashion, which three tribes in each direction. The order given is Judah, Issachar, Zebulon (east), Reuben, Simeon, Gad (south), Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin (west), and Dan, Asher, Naphtali (north). Numbers 2:3-29
The order is almost the same as proposed for the two shoulder stones. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon are the last three on Leah's stone in the same order.

Why would Judah's three be listed first?

Perhaps it is because Judah is associated with the east, and east is the most important direction. Then Reuben, Simeon, and Levi would have been the next three, except that Levi was removed from this list.  When he became head of the priestly tribe, which was protected in the middle of these armies. It would make sense for Gad; the firstborn of Leah's handmaid, Zilpah, to take Levi's place. If so, then the next three are explained. Asher would then move up one place and we'd expect the north there to be Dan, Naphtali and Asher. Maybe the reason Naphtali and Asher's order reversed was due to migration.

Finally, the tribe of Joseph was split into Ephraim and Manasseh, which perfectly explains the order of the west encampment. Thus, with the exception of Naphtali/Asher swap, the encampment order is perfectly explained by starting with the proposed shoulder order and then replacing Levi. The four "cornerstone" tribes of Reuben, Judah, Dan, and Joseph (Ephraim) are each at the head of one of the four cardinal directions in the encampment order. That is in agreement with their each being the leaders for that direction, and their colors of blue, red, black, and white representing those four directions.

Breastplate Order:
Three (3) Two (2) One (1) Yellow-Green Tan Red Zebulon Issachar Judah
Six (6) Five (5) Four (4) Orange Sky Blue Red-Black Gad Naphtali Dan
Nine (9) Eight (8) Seven (7) Purple Green Royal Blue Levi Simeon Reuben
Twelve (12) Eleven (11) Ten (10) Red/White White Yellow Benjamin Joseph Asher

Modern Birthstones:
How does this all relate to our modern list of 12 Birthstones? The last column lists the gems proposed above to represent each of the 12 constellations and tribes.

In the table, Ruby (red) is associated with late June, but it really fits most of July well too. That is how the stones matched birth dates 3,800 years ago when these twelve men were born.

Month Modern Ancient Tribe Birthday Proposed
January Garnet Garnet
February Amethyst Amethyst Levi 5 February Amethyst
March Aqua-Marine Jasper Zebulon 4 March Peridot
April Diamond Sapphire Joseph 6 April Diamond
May Emerald Agate Benjamin/Issachar 25 May/29May Pink, Topaz Tourmaline
June Moonstone Emerald Judah 19 June Ruby
July Ruby Onyx
August Peridot Carnelian Naphtali 17 August Aqua-marine
September Sapphire Peridot Asher 23 September Chrysoberyl
October Opal, Pink Tourmaline(Aqua-Marine) Dan 9 October Garnet
November Topaz, Citrine Topaz Gad 2 November Fire, Opal
December Turquoise, Blue TopazRuby Simeon/Reuben 16 December/23 Dec. Emerald/Sapphire
Four of the modern stones seem to be 'Correct' in that they match from the research. Amethyst for February, Diamond for April, Ruby for July, and Blue Topaz for December all match colors well.
Everything in the color blue was WRITTEN BY: John P. Pratt, '12 Sons, 12 Constellations'

Exodus 28:16-21 -It is to be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide. Mount four rows of precious stones on it; in you shall set in it four rows of stones: A Sardius, a Topaz, and a Carbuncle shall be the first row. The second row an Emerald, a Sapphire, and a Diamond. The third row a Jacinth, an Agate, and an Amethyst; and the Fourth row a Beryl, an Onyx, and a Jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. And the stones shall be twelve, according to the names of the sons of Israel like the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes.

Exodus 28:15 -You shall make a breastplate of judgment, in skilled work; like the workmanship of the Ephod shall you make it, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine twined linen.

God's people were so special and precious to them that each tribe and nation was equated with a precious gemstone. We only see dimly as to the things, purposes, and plans of God. But maybe, just maybe by setting these precious gemstones in pure gold (holiness-costly) to wear upon the priest's chest (The Father's bosom), we, His children, could grasp how costly, priceless, and valuable of treasures we are to His heart.

I also find it very interesting that a diamond is set in pure gold and worn on the left hand on the fourth finger that is in the direct alignment to the heart.

The circle has no beginning and no end and is a strong symbol for eternity. After all a 'bow' - complete circle-surrounds the throne of God.

Revelation 4:3 - "...and there was a rainbow round about the throne..."

Have you ever heard of a scribbling ring?
In 16th century England, uncut diamond crystals were set into rings and exchanged by lovers. The wearers of these Scribbling Rings would use the points of the Diamonds to etch (or 'scribble') romantic writings to each other in glass, mirrors, or windows.

Romans 2:15 - Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

2 Corinthians 3:2 - You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.

2 Corinthians 3:3 - You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
An engagement ring is a symbol of the promise of marriage. It is also a symbol of the commitment to join as one in a lifelong relationship as husband and wife. The tradition of the engagement ring dates back many years. It was once believed that the fourth finger of the left hand contained the vena amoris (or vein of love) and that this vein connected directly to the heart. This tradition has endured and that is why both engagement rings and wedding rings are placed on that particular finger. in this way then the wedded couple was believed to be 'joined at the heart.'

Most men today buy diamond rings for their beloved. The tradition of the diamond engagement ring began with the Italians. In Italy it was once believed that diamonds were derived from the "Flames of love" and therefore, clearly represented the bonds of everlasting love. Both wedding bands and Diamond engagement rings are symbols of many meanings.

LOVE, COMMITMENT, FIDELITY, ETERNITY, and HONOR.

For centuries, however, diamonds were too rare and expensive to be widely available or affordable. The first recorded diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by her betrothed, Archduke Maximillian of Austria, in 1477. Diamonds were considered at that time to have magical powers relative to love, purity, and fidelity.

In the late 19th century extensive diamond deposits were discovered in South Africa, effectively making the gems more widely available and cheaper for the general public to purchase. Because of the sudden abundance of diamonds, designs became more elaborate and intricate and more brides-to-be began to receive diamond engagement rings. The tradition of giving diamond engagement rings actually only started in the years of the Depression when the marketing Dept. at DeBeers actually hit on the slogan, "Diamonds are Forever."

In the late 1880's, the diamond fields in South Africa had been discovered and were in full operation with DeBeers finally assuming control of the import of diamonds into the country. It then became a commercial necessity to sell as many as possible for as much as possible and this is where the marketing department came into action and backed by commercial movies and music releases such as, "Diamonds are Forever."

No matter what the truth is behind the tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring, it is a fact that almost 80% of engagement rings are in fact diamond rings. No matter what the roots of giving tradition, a diamond ring does symbolize the love, commitment, and union of two people forever.
Hosea 2:19-20 - "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in Righteousness and justice, in loving-kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.

For thousands of years, diamonds have set the standard when it comes to fine gemstones. Unmistakable in their radiance, they are the very definition of prized beauty. Colorless and near-colored diamonds are referred to as "white" in contrast to fancy-colored diamonds, but among the fancy colors is a rare appearance described as Fancy White Diamonds.

White Diamonds have a perceived color hue resembling snow, refined sugar, or pasteurized whole milk. Such diamonds contain a high concentration of submicroscopic inclusions that scatter light, yielding a translucent 'milky' white face-up color. The nature of these inclusions is unknown. White is the lightest color perception evident to the eye and the mind. White is also known as a neutral (achromatic) color having no saturation yet having a measurable range of lightness.

Popular names for different mixtures of white are cream, ivory, milk, moonstone, opalescent, pearl, salt, snow, sugar. Fancy white diamonds are diamonds with a milky color similar like white moonstone. They contain minute particles which scatter the light, thus leave the stone slightly turbid white. These diamonds are often called 'opalescent' because the dispersion of the stones looks somewhat like the play of color of opals. These diamonds are very rare, as rare as pinks or certain blues, but normally not very attractive and much, much cheaper. The stones are usually very hydrogen rich diamonds (pure type lab).

White Diamonds can have a brownish, bluish, yellowish, and grayish appearance. The ability of a diamond to refract and disperse white light into all the rainbow colors of the spectrum is sometimes called 'FIRE' and it is one of the desirable qualities of diamonds. Well-polished diamonds SPARKLE and FLASH with lots of FIRE.

White diamonds are produced by mines all over the world in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The white diamond recovered from the Argyle mine are particularly brilliant and of high quality.
Diamonds - The word alone conjures up a thousand images...

-RARE -PRECIOUS -DESIRABLE -BEAUTIFUL -SPARKLING -TOKENS OF LOVE
Created deep within the core of the earth more than three billion years ago and brought to the surface by volcanic eruption, most of the diamonds sparkling on fingers today are more than 100 million years old!

Rare and fascinating, mysterious and magical, the diamond has ignited fires of war and romantic passion throughout history.

What makes a Diamond special?

Beauty- The colorless beauty and INNER Fire of the diamond has made this precious gem prized for centuries. Each stone's complex characteristics cannot be duplicated and not two diamonds CAN EVER BE the SAME. Each stone, like its owner, is endowed with a personality and character uniquely its own.

Durability - A diamond is the hardest substance known to man, making it resistant to deterioration. When cared for properly, diamond jewelry can be worn everyday and passed on as an heirloom to the next generation.

Purity - Although new resources for diamonds are being explored and discovered, the supply of these gems remain limited. This is understandable once you learn that more than 250 tons of ore need to be blasted, crushed, processed to yield one carat of rough diamonds. Further, only 20 percent of all rough diamonds are suitable for gem cutting.

Enduring Value -Like many precious products, diamond prices fluctuate. But it is important to know that these sparkling gemstones still retain value after years of being worn and enjoyed.

Cut - Each diamond is cut according to an exact mathematical formula. The most common cut, the round brilliant, has 58 facets, or small, flat, polished planes designed to yield the maximum amount of light to be reflected back to the viewer. This reflection, known as brilliance, is an extremely important factor in evaluating the quality of a diamond. A poorly cut diamond will actually loose light and appear dull.

Did you ever hear the saying, "You're a diamond cut in the rough?"

The phrase is a metaphor for the original unpolished state of diamond gemstones, especially those that have the potential to become high quality jewels. It is more commonly expressed in the form 'rough diamond.'

Rough diamonds are any and all diamonds which have not yet been polished. They are often called simply 'rough' in the trade, although the words uncut or unpolished are also used. The term 'rough' is used for all qualities of diamonds. It does not indicate any particular quality, except for the fact that they have not yet been cut or polished.

When I first became a Christian, I was a 'rough diamond' -uncut and unpolished. I was very rough. God brought Godly Brilliant Shining White Diamonds into my life and used their lives to begin cutting many new facets into me. Their strength and excellent spirit began scratching against my rough surface and I saw many Proverbs 31 Women; Shining Brilliantly before my eyes.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Message)
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with the money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks, she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone n her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

A rough diamond is divided into two parts by sawing or cleaving. Most stones are sawed across the 'grain' (visible evidence of the diamond's crystal structure) by a paper-thing metal disc coated with diamond dust revolving at high speed or by laser. The stones are marked for cleaving are split along the grain by a single blow from a steel blade.

Not only do diamonds cut diamonds but when diamonds are cut they cleave when cut.

Genesis 2:24 (Amp) -Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Deuteronomy 11:22 - For if you diligently keep all this commandment which I command you to o, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to him.

After cleaving or sawing, the corners of the diamonds are rounded off by a process known as bruting or girdling (only round brilliant cuts require this step). The most popular cut is the round brilliance because of its ability to give the stone the greatest possible brilliance and FIRE. A well-cut diamond will be FIERY, BRILLIANT, and BEAUTIFUL!

Daniel 12:3 (The Message) - "Men and women who have lived wisely and well will SHINE BRILLIANTLY like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will GLOW like stars forever.

1 King 4:29 (CEV) - God had blessed him with insight and understanding.

1 Timothy 6:16 (NLT) - He alone can never die, and he lives in light so BRILLIANT that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen

Revelation 4:3 - The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-like Jasper and Carnelian. And the GLOW of an Emerald circled His throne like a rainbow.

Ezekiel 1:13 - The living beings looked like bright coals of FIRE or BRILLIANT torches, and lightening seems to flash back and forth among them.

Ezekiel 1:4 - I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the North, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed lightening and shone with BRILLIANT light. There was FIRE inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming Amber.

Exodus 24:19 - By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day and night.

God is the Diamond Miner, the Great Jeweler. He extracts many of us out of deep pits, riverbeds or ocean beaches, where we have stayed hidden in the River of His joy in the Ocean of His love and in deep pits of despair. He allows the pressures of life -the fiery furnaces and the eruptions of life to bring us up out of darkness into His glorious light. Many of us are rough and need cut and polished. He allows other diamonds to grind against us in order for us to glisten in His Son's light.
He knows exactly where we need cut so we can cleave to him. He wills for each of us to be quality diamonds that display a High Standard of Excellence in quality where He can then set us in. His rings of Golden Glory. He wants to let His love and light shine through His Brilliant Gemstones. He wants to grant us favor with Kings and Priests and set us in high places of honor and favor. Diamonds have been set in Royal Crowns as shimmering gems in palaces. They have been set in royal scepters and laid to rest in the most remote palaces and kingdoms.

We are indeed God's treasured gemstones. We are very precious to Him. There is no other Diamond like you.

Daniel 12:3 (AMP) - And the teachers and those who are wise shall SHINE like the BRIGHTNESS of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right-standing with God) [Shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.

The reason I took so much time with describing the colors in Hebrew and Greek and trying to pinpoint the modern birthstones in correlation to the 12 tribes of Israel is because there is much debate on precise colors and gems and tribal names. The prior study of the 12 stones and 12 tribes of Judah seem to line up. The following info is according to the Midrash and only two of the colors and tribes match the prior study. I've also included info as to where the Midrash originated.

In the Tabernacle in the desert, each of the 12 tribes had their own banner (Numbers 2:34). Each had their banners with the tribe logo and the family name on them. If you were looking form the air and saw the Tabernacle and all the color, it would have been an awesome sight. "...So the Israelites did everything as the Lord commanded Moses..."

Benjamin's stone was Jasper and the color of his flag was a combination of all the 12 colors, embroidered thereon was a Wolf.

The 12 Tribal flags according to the Midrash:

Asher's flag was a Beryl and the color of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves, embroidered thereon was an Olive Tree.

Joseph's flag was an Onyx and the color of his flag was jet black; the embroidered design thereon for both princes Ephraim and Manasseh was Egypt because they were born there. A wild ox was embroidered on the flag of the tribe of Manasseh. A bullock was embroidered on the flag of Ephraim

Dan's flag was Jacinth and the color of his flag was similar to Sapphire; embroidered on it was a serpent.

Gad's flag was an Agate and the color of his flag was neither black nor white but a blend of black and white; on it was embroidered a camp.

Naphtali's flag was all Amethyst and the color of his flag was like clarified wine of a not very deep red; on it was embroidered a hind.

According to the Midrash: [Midrash - Hebrew-plural midrashim {to investigate or study} is a Hebrew term referring to the not exact, but comparative [homiletic] method of exegesis [hermeneutic] of Biblical texts, which is one of four methods cumulatively called Pardes. The term midrash can also refer to a compilation of homiletic teachings [commentaries] on the Tanakh [Hebrew Bible], in the form of legal and ritual [Halakhah] and legendary, moralizing, folkloristic, and anecdotal [Aggadah] parts.

While the midrashim are a valuable source of Jewish interpretations of the Bible, they are not the only source. The Midrash is mostly derived from, and based upon, the teachings of the Tannaim.
How the midrash describes the banners of the 12 tribes:

There were distinguishing signs for each prince; each had a flag (mappah) and a different color for every flag corresponding to the precious stones on the breastplate (heart) of Aaron. It was from these that governments learned to provide themselves with flags of various colors. Each tribe had its own prince and its flag whose color corresponded to the color of its stone.

Reuben's stone was ruby, the color of his flag was red, and embroidered thereon were mandrakes
Simeon's stone was topaz and his flag was green, with the town of Shechem embroidered thereon.
Levi's stone was smaragd and the color of his flag was a third white, a third black, and a third red; embroidered thereon were the Urim and Thummim.

Judah's stone was Carbuncle, and the color of his flag resembled that of the heavens; embroidered on it was a lion.

Issachar's stone was a Sapphire and the color of his flag was black like stibium; embroidered thereon were the sun and the moon.

Zebulun's stone was an Emerald and the color of his flag was white; with a ship embroidered thereon.

God is so specifically detailed.  You are not a mistake.  Your birthdate is not a mistake.  Your personality is not a mistake.  You are a precious gem unto the Lord.  His treasure.  His reward.  Beauty unspeakable.  A rare a costly gem to his heart.  Blessings and love to you!

You Are God's Treasure (Part 2) My Vision in 2008

Vision in February 2008

I had a vision in February 2008. I saw a rocket ship. I was riding on top of it up into space. I floated around on it through the universe. I looked and saw BRIGHT BLUE. It appeared as a SKY but turned into WAVES in an ocean (Waves of His Glory). I looked at the Sand on the Shore and saw a Great Treasure Chest. It had been hidden deep in the sand and the Violent Waves caused it to erupt from within its Secret Hidden Place. I opened the Deep Brown Shabby-looking chest Full of Treasure and began seeing priceless jewels and gems.

I saw gold coins, rubies, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, keys, crowns, a Brass Horse Head. These were the treasuries of Heaven hidden for a special Kairos moment. I looked and saw a huge clam. It was tightly sealed. A tool was placed into my hand that would enable me to open it. I searched the clam over and found the perfect opening (PORTALS) in which to place the tool. I pried the clam open. Inside was a PINK pearl. It was Iridescent, and then it changed into Purple with rainbows in it. I knew that the rocket meant EXPEDIENT journey. I knew the pearl represented precious pearls of REVELATION)

Pink Symbolizes UNITY since it turned into PURPLE. Iridescent/Rainbows represent God's promise, His covenant. Purple symbolizes ROYALTY. (IMPERIAL...old church was where KINGS & Priests conference now is being held).







I began to descend. I saw a BLUE car. It came down. It had WINGS. I knew that the VEHICLE of transportation wasn't going to be used the way it "Appeared". I also knew that all of those gems inside the treasure chest were God's precious children: Lives that were His highly-favored treasures that He had purposely kept hidden safely inside his chest (His bosom).

John 1:8 -No one has seen God at anytime. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Luke 16:22 -"So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's (the Father's) bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

I felt that the first part of the vision means that when God suddenly -EXPEDIENTLY takes us up into the Heavenlies by means of Holy Spirit, that His glory (WAVES) will cause a release of His precious treasures that have been hidden and buried. Some have spiritually died, others have never known their value and rarity in the Kingdom. All they have known is the darkness of soul and firings of life. They have been set aside for His perfect timing to be released and fully valued for their priceless beauty and worth.

(Sky then Ocean) is the Holy Spirit. When our friend, Holy Spirit leads us to those precious gems, He will also place within our hands the tools we need to release them by means of priceless Pearls of Revelation and we will need to stand on His promises and trust our covenant with Him-The Blood of Christ binding that covenant.

Hebrews 11:12 -Therefore from one man and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude-innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

As I began to descend down on the Blue Hot Rod with Wings, I looked and saw King's Robes
that were in the Treasury Rooms in the Heavenlies. The Groom came out and took my Arm (His Bride). He wore a Red and White Crown (His Blood-Purity and Righteousness). I saw the Bridal Dress and it had a very long train and it filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1-4 -In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were Seraphs, each with six wings; with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, with two they were flying and they were calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His Glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

God is at the very center of the temple, the very center of the place of atonement. The temple was literally where Heaven touched earth in the Old Testament. Jesus as the final, ultimate temple is then where God would decisively touch earth. And it is here that God dwells, where His Kingdom is on earth, precisely as it is in heaven. (Hebrews 9)

The Hot Rod represents an Acceleration of Holy Spirit's power with the aide of Angels (wings on the Hot Rod) of the Priestly Anointing (King's Robes).

The Bridegroom is waiting for His Bride. He is waiting to take her arm and clothe her in her Bridal Garments. The symbol of His authority and Glory is His Royal Attire (Robes & Crown) and they entirely fill the Sacred Space and Atmosphere.

Psalm 93:1-4 - The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. 2Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. 3The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their pounding waves. 4More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty.…

Revelation 19:11-14 - Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
John 1:51 - Then he said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth."

I found myself riding on this Blue Hot Rod with Wings. I saw Golden Clouds and I Rested There. Blue also symbolizes a Revelatory Word. A body of water (the blue sky turning into an ocean) represents moves of the Spirit. The Golden/Brass Horse head inside the treasure chest could have represented a chess piece of pure gold which symbolizes Authority with Kings and Government. (Naturally would be Government and Spiritually the King of Kings.)

Resting in Glory Realms on the Golden Clouds - "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is filled with His Glory."

Hebrew uses repetition to express superlatives and he we have the only tri-part description of Holiness that appears anywhere in the O.T (Old Testament). Gold, gold is rendered as 'pure gold.' Here we have a super-superlative to express God in His holiness. It is complete, it is total. It is absolute. As I rested on the Golden Clouds, I saw the LION and the LAMB. The Lion was protecting the Lamb. The Lion represents Jesus.

Revelation 5:5 - "And one of the elders said unto me, "Weep not, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals."

Luke 10:3 -"Get going! See, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."

John 21:15 - Whey they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Peter said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, 'Feed my lambs."

I felt the need to share this vision with you because of the correlation of the Hidden Treasure Chest filled with Sparkling Gems and Valuable Treasures to God's Glory and His Treasury Room in Heaven. Many equations all equal the same fact. We are all His Treasures!

2 Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in Clay Jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.

Matthew 6:21 - For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 12:35 - A good man out of the good treasures of the heart brings forth good things; and evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil things.

I ponder here. Many Treasure Chests loaded with treasure have been kept hidden in the depths of the ocean and at times pirates are led to kill, torture, and rob for treasures lost at sea.

Proverbs 21:20 -There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the WISE; but a foolish man spends it up. 

Isaiah 33:6 -And Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.

Job 22:25 (ASV) - And the Almighty will be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee.

Colossians 3:16 (WNT) -Let the teaching concerning Christ remain as a rich treasure in your hearts. In all wisdom teach and admonish one another with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, and sing with grace in your hearts to God.

Isaiah 45:3 (NASB) -I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

Matthew 6:19-20 (NASB) - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal."

Deuteronomy 33:19 (ASV) - They shall call the peoples unto the mountain; there shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness: For they shall such the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand.

Part 3 will continue discussing birthstone colors and precious gems.  I pray blessings upon you in Jesus name Amen!

You are God’s Treasured Gem (Part 1)

We've All Heard the saying, "A Diamond is a Girl's Best Friend."



Proverbs 17:17 -A friend loves at all times.

Job 42:10 (The Message)
After Job had interceded for his friends, God RESTORED his fortune and then doubled it! All his brothers and sisters and friends came to his house and celebrated. They told him how sorry they were and consoled him for all the trouble God had brought him. Each of them brought generous housewarming gifts.

Proverbs 17:17 (The Message)
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

Proverbs 18:19 (The Message)
Do a favor and win a friend forever, nothing can untie that bond.

Proverbs 18:24 (The Message)
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

Proverbs 22:11 (The Message)
God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendships.

Proverbs 25:11 (The Message)
The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, and a wise friend's timely reprimanded is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.

Proverbs 25:13 (The Message)
Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat-Refreshing!

Proverbs 25:25 (The Message)
Like a cool drink of water when you're worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend.

Proverbs 27:9 (The Message)
Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

Proverbs 27:17 (The Message)
Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (The Message)
By yourself you're unprotected with a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.

Ezekiel 3:9 (Contemporary English Version)
You will be so determined to speak my message that nothing will stop you. I will make you hard like a diamond, and you'll have no reason to be afraid of those arrogant rebels.

Ezekiel 3:9 (New Century Version)
I am making you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don't be afraid of them or frightened by them, though they are a people who turn against me.

Ezekiel 3:9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don't be afraid of them or discouraged by (the look on) their faces, even though they are a rebellious house.

How is a diamond formed?

Most diamonds are formed by the melting of the earth's crust (Firing, purifying). The rocks submerge into the mantle (anointing, covering) where the carbon atoms are liquefied.

Diamonds are formed under tremendous heat and pressure deep beneath the earth's crust.
Eventually the temperature drops and the crystal structure of diamonds forms. Geologic events (earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.) then forces the rocks to the surface in a number of ways, such as alluvial deposits (Riverbeds (In the river of God) or kimberlite pipes (primary diamond mines. (Center of God's love).

A diamond is pure carbon. What is carbon? Carbon is a naturally abundant nonmetallic element which forms the basis of most Living Organisms. Carbon is the 4th most abundant element in the universe, and it plays a crucial role in the health and stability of the planet through the carbon cycle.
Carbon is the 4th most abundant element. God created the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day (Genesis 1:14-19) and a diamond sparkles the most in the sun.

The structure of carbon molecules is such that the molecules bond readily with a wide range of other elements, forming thousands of compounds. The molecules in carbon also bond with each other in different ways, creating forms of carbon such as Diamonds, the hardest (most solid) substance on earth. The changing personality of carbon, depending on what it bonds with and how, makes it a very unique element.

"And Jonathan entered into a bond with David, because he loved him as himself. Jonathan divested himself of the mantle he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military dress, and his sword, his bow, and his belt." 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (The Message).

Diamond is a Greek word "adamas" meaning indestructible. Diamond is among the hardest substances on the planet, and it is the only gem to be PURELY composed of a single element.
The hardness of the stones is due to the crystal structure of diamond formation: an isometric (cubic) arrangement that RESISTS fracture under the tremendous pressure of the earth's crust.

Strong's H3095-Yahalom - 1. A precious stone (known for its hardness) a. Perhaps the jasper, onyx or diamond

James 4:7 (Amplified) - So be subject to God. Resist the devil (stand firm against) and he will flee from you. 'Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under PRESSURE, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in anyway.

James 1:2-4 (The Message) - ^2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Very few diamonds are formed flawless.

When nitrogen is introduced into a diamond's crystal structure, the stone takes on a yellow, orange, or brown tint. Boron will create a blue or purple shade, while other trace elements may generate a rainbow of hues. If the color is pale or barely discernable, the diamonds value is typically lower, but if the color is strong, consistent, and vibrant, the stones are highly sought after as fancy colored diamonds.



The Ocean Dream, a 5.50-carat Fancy Vivid Blue-Green diamond, the largest of its kind in the world.
Other colored diamonds result not from mineral inclusions, but from subtle changes to the diamond's crystal structure. If nuclear rays are present during formation (very rare) green diamonds may form. Other colors such as red or pink are the result of slight discrepancies in the crystal structure that change the way the stone absorbs and reflects light.

The Imperial Emerald at 206 carats is the world's most valuable emerald due to the fact that it is so clean, clear and is totally unenhanced.

Job 22:28 (NKJV) - You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.

Psalm 89:15 (NKJV) - Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance.

Proverbs 16:15 (NKJV) -In the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.

Ecclesiastes 11:7 (NKJV) -Truly the light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) -Let your light so shine before me, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.

Matthew 17:2 (NKJV) - and He was transfigured before them, His face shone like the son/Sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Mark 4:22 (NKJV) -For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

Luke 11:36 (NKJV) -If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.

John 1:4 (NKJV) -In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 3:21 (NKJV) -Be he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God.

John 5:35 (NKJV) -He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in His light.

John 8:12 (NKJV) - Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Romans 13:12 (NKJV) -The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us put off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.

1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV) - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to the light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart. Then each one's praise will come from God.

Revelation 21:11 (NKJV) - ...having the glory of God, her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Only about 1/4 of mined diamonds are considered of fine enough quality to become jewelry. Other stones are used as abrasives or for industrial equipment, particularly for cutting and polishing other diamonds.

Jeremiah 17:1 (Amp) - The sin of Judah is written with a pen or stylus of iron and with the point of a diamond; it is engraved on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.

Zechariah 7:12 (Amp) -Yes, they made their hearts as an adamant stone or diamond point, lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore came the great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

The countries that produce the majority of diamonds for today's jewelry industry include: Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Australia, and Canada through many other nations have minor diamond deposits as well.

Job 28:12 (The Message)
"But where, oh where will they find wisdom? Where does insight hide? Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look. Earth's depths say, "It's here; ocean deeps echo, never heard of it”. It can't be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it. Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires. Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry can’t touch it. Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets-why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom! Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can't hold a candle to wisdom.




UNCUT DIAMOND: When a volcano sits dormant for periods of time, gases may seep from the cooling magma that lies beneath the volcano. As the gases rise through the rocks of the volcano, they react chemically with the minerals in the rocks and create new minerals. This slow crystallization produced large perfectly formed crystals like diamonds. This picture shows an uncut diamond found in volcanic rock from Kimberley, South Africa.

Once the stone is mined, it must be cut and polished into a final shape. From the time the stone in mined to when it is placed on a bride-to-be's finger during a proposal, the process may take several months.

Knowing how diamonds are formed gives an appreciation of the rarity and exclusivity of this traditional bridal gem. The newest diamonds on the planet are an astounding 45 million years old, and the longevity of their beauty is the perfect symbol of a lifelong relationship.

Diamonds form between 75-120 miles below earth's surface. According to (science) geologists the first delivery of diamonds was somewhere around 2.5 billion years ago and the most recent was 45 million years ago.

How do diamonds get to the surface?

Diamonds ascend to the earth's surface in rare molten rock, or magma that originates at great depths. This magma rises and erupts in small but violent volcanoes. Just beneath such volcanoes is a carrot-shaped 'pipe' filled with volcanic rock, mantle fragments and some embedded diamonds. This rock is called kimberlite after the city of Kimberly, South Africa, where the pipes were first discovered in the 1870s. Another rock that provides diamonds is lamproite.


 

The volcano that carries diamonds to the surface emanates from deep cracks and fissures called dikes (A levee, embankment, flood bank, or stop bank is a natural or artificial slope or wall that prevent flooding of the land behind it. It is usually earthen and often parallel to the course of a RIVER or the coast.)

It was only during the 15th century when it was discovered that the only way to cut diamonds was with other diamonds. Still, diamonds are brittle; if hit hard with a hammer, they will shatter. A diamonds brilliance and luster are two of its most valued characteristics. The brilliance of a diamond results from its properties of refraction, reflection, and dispersion.

Reflectance or the amount of light reflected from a transparent substance can also be inferred from a material's refractive index. Diamond displays the maximum amount of reflectance for a transparent substance, displaying what is called an 'adamantine" luster. In studying the formation of diamonds and how they surface from deep within the center of earth. I am left pondering how they are kept hidden and buried for years and years and pressure, intense heat, and eruptions force the precious gem to the surface.

Diamond, among the rarest materials on earth, is a mineral and the hardest naturally occurring transparent crystalline substance found. Incredibly, it is the only gemstone made of just one element, carbon - in its purest form. Your diamond was forged hundreds of kilometers below the earth's surface. Extreme heat and pressure caused fragments of carbon to form into diamond crystals. Miraculously, your diamond was brought up to the surface by a volcano.

Now that your geography class is over, I'll post part 2 of this teaching.  It is of a vision that I had in 2008 regarding God's treasures.  I hope I didn't bore you too much with all the fascinating facts of how diamonds form.  Blessings to you! 

Gift of Discernment

Arise and Shine and let the glory of the Lord rise among you. Isaiah 60:1

"The spiritual gift of discernment is also known as the gift of "discernment of spirits" or "distinguishing between spirits.". The Greek word for the gift of discernment is Diakrisis. The word describes being able to distinguish, discern, judge or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment."

 8 signs that you may have the gift of discernment

The Lord has really been taking me through a full circle season in my life.  He seems to be tying up loose ends that began years ago.  One of those loose ends was with my gift of discernment.  I've always had a sensing of knowing which way I should go...I could feel that someone or something was safe or not safe.  I grew up isolated and alone.  My grandmother raised me.  She worked two jobs so she was never home.  I had two fathers and neither were in my life.  My mother suffered with mental illness since a flight down wooden stairs cracked her skull leaving her chemically imbalanced.  She fell down those stairs when I was four years old.  She was in the tub and the phone was ringing.  My dad was on the phone calling her confirming the time of their date.  She slipped out of the tub, ran to answer the phone, and fell down the stairs.  Guess who's fault that was?  Yes, it was mine!  Somehow the enemy will always find a way to kill, steal, and destroy destiny even from infancy on up.  Look at Moses and Jesus for that example.  Moses' mother placed him in a reed basket and sent him down the Nile River full of alligators and predators waiting to devour him, but GOD!!!! God kept him safe and he eventually arose into his purpose.  With Jesus, all males from the age of two down were murdered because Herod had been informed that an infant king would come and take him out of authority.  God sent an angel to speak to Joseph to get Jesus to safety and thankfully, Joseph obeyed. 

I feel there was always that upon my life even as that baby that my mother shook quiet.  When you grow up without a father and mother to care and nurture you, you learn to cope and survive the best way you know how.  I learned at a very young age to 'listen to my heart.'  I now know, that I have always walked in the gift of discernment.  The Lord gave me an example of what that looked like.

So say, you are walking around your home in the dark.  After bumping and hitting things a number of times as you fumble through the darkness, to find your way around your surroundings, you become familiar of what is placed where and you begin to maneuver yourself accordingly.  You learn to navigate through the dark.  I suppose it's the same thing for a blind person.  You rely on your other senses as they are heightened and more sensitive to keep you safe.  Growing up without someone protecting me as a little girl, I was the victim of much abuse.  I learned how to survive.  I learned how to make the best of every situation.  I learned to see the good in the bad.  I learned to look through the storm clouds for the rays of hope shining down from the sunshine. You can chose to focus on your cup being half full or half empty.  Optimism or pessimism.  I was looking back at baby pictures and even then, God made me happy.  I smiled so big my face looked like it couldn't contain anymore joy. 

The gifts that God placed inside of each of us were put in us as we were being fashioned and formed in our mother's wombs.  They are irrevocable.  So even though I was living in the darkness.  I still was able to function in my God-given gifts.  I might not recognized them or understood them.  I didn't know anything different.  I just knew..."this doesn't FEEL right!"  or "I know that this is the way to go!"  I could sense and feel things.  My spirit was always so sensitive to my environment.  Now that I walk in the light of God's love, I can see that I have the gift of discernment.  I can see so much more clearly because the light shines on my surroundings.  The light of Jesus is inside of me and I don't have to feel my way around in the darkness, I can see what is all around me.  I've always hated when someone would try to stick me into one gift of Holy Spirit, also.  I desire ALL the gifts.  I don't want just one or two...I want them all!  Jesus walked in the fullness of this and he said greater works will you do when Holy Spirit comes upon you...So I want to walk in all of the same gifts he walked and lived out.  Right now I'm focusing on the gift of discernment.  Let's see what the gifts of Holy Spirit are in 1 Corinthians 12:1-10.

These gifts lie dormant in most Christians due to lack of desire of stirring them up or being fearful that we will do it wrong or that we are false prophets or whatever lie the enemy speaks to our hearts at the time.  Could you imagine if we were making pancakes and didn't stir the batter?  Or making cookies and didn't stir in the ingredients.  We just let all the ingredients that we put in the bowl that the recipe called for and we didn't stir it.  Could we even get anywhere?  How would we be able to even begin thinking that we could form a dough ball, let alone make a cookie.  We have spiritual gifts inside of us and many, sadly, NEVER stir up the gifts within and therefore, never become who they were created to be.  My girls wanted to make cookies one time.  I let them follow the recipe.  I was gonna watch over them as they did it on their own.  I then got busy cleaning or something and they were so excited as they were making the dough balls for the chocolate chip cookies....They put them in the oven and baked them...Out they came, steaming...LOOKING perfect....but something awful happened when we bit into them....O MY GOODNESS!!!! disgusting....We couldn't figure out what happened until we began going over the recipe again....Here instead of 1/4 of a teaspoon of baking soda, they put a 1/4 of a tablespoon...Something so simple, destroyed the entire batch of cookies.  You know what, though?  They stirred up the ingredients...They tried...they failed....what did we do?  I let them try again.  You know what?  Both of my daughters are such good cooks and bakers.  They made messes and mistakes in their cooking experiences but they also had room for growing where they lacked this or that. 

If you don't ever stir your gifts and have grace to fail, how will you ever become successful in them? 

So I encourage you to stir up the gifts that are inside of you!  You will miss it!  You will fail!  But in that, you will also hit the mark and you will also grow in them. 

Back to my gift of discernment.  I've now known that I've always had this gift inside of me.  As I've matured in the knowledge and understanding of the word and the light of God's love shines upon my life, I can clearly see now and my gift is more clear. 

When I was around 13, my sister, and my best friend were all home alone.  I lived in the country and we never had parents or anyone around to protect us.  We were always alone.  My gram was at work and we were doing whatever teenagers do.  We always left our windows and doors unlocked. We lived in the country and there wasn't any eminent danger of locking up.  My bedroom had a window that if the front door was locked, we always crawled through my bedroom window to get inside. 

One day, however, I felt different in my spirit.  I felt led that we needed to lock all the doors and windows.  I didn't FEEL safe.  I FELT like there was a lurking danger and that if I didn't lock the doors and windows, something bad would happen.  So I went with that feeling and we locked all the doors and windows.  Later in the evening after dark, we were all doing something and we heard this eerie sound against the aluminum siding of the trailer.  It sounded like someone was running an object against the aluminum siding creating this scary sound.  My sister and friend started getting very frightened...As I was getting scared, I remember the wave of peace that washed over me that was followed by relief that I had locked all the doors and windows.  That gave me time to call my neighbor.  I called him and told him what we heard.  He said, stay there, I'll come up to check it out.  He came up with another friend and they brought a 22.  When they made it to the trailer, they saw someone running into the woods.  Later we found out that a boy that was put in the juvenile boys home not far from me had escaped.  He had been in there for rape.  Now, I was NOT a Christian.  I was a teenage girl who was just FEELING something was off and I listened to that feeling.  I believe God had sent an angel to speak that eminent danger was there and spoke to my heart what to do and I obeyed.  Three girls home alone...this boy would have hit the jackpot with vulnerability and no covering and the enemy who comes to kill, steal, and destroy KNEW we were open prey. 

God, HOWEVER!!!!  He is always with us!  He LOVES us even when we don't believe in him...HE BELIEVES in us! 

Father,
I thank you for loving me even when I was in the dark.  I thank you that you still loved me enough to speak to my heart and send help in the times of my trouble.  I thank you for the gifts that you place inside each of us.  I thank you that the gifts are irrevocable.  That you give us these gifts and they are ours to keep forever even if we never use them.  Help us stir up the gifts that you have placed inside of us.  Help us not let them be wasted.  You love us and every good and perfect gift comes from you!  You are an amazing father.  You will always be there protecting and guiding us.  I love you, Lord!

Locked out of Love - Cleaving

Arise and Shine for the Glory of the Lord has risen among you. Isaiah 60:1

The Lord began speaking the word CLEAVE to my spirit.  Many marriages fail success due to this simple principle.  Cleaving does not, in fact, take place.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

*and shall cleave - dabaq - to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch, to cling, cleave to, to stay with, (Pual) to be joined together, to pursue closely

.,,,.l

Notice the word cleave says,to adhere, specially firmly, as if with glue, to be glued.

How can two people be glued together if they are still glued to something else?  Notice that scripture says, 'therefore shall leave his mother and father.'  What if there is never a 'leaving'?  The word LEAVE is `azab and it means:  to leave, loose, forsake

1. (Qal) to leave
   

   1. to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone
   2. to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise
   3. to let loose, set free, let go, freeo
2. (Niphal)
   

   1. to be left to
   2. to be forsaken
3. (Pual) to be deserted

So how can a man or woman cleave to each other as one flesh if they aren't free to cleave.  What if they stay connected at the umbilical cord?  What would that look like?  The picture that is coming to my mind is a brand new freshly primed/painted wall.  You have this room and you have decided you are gonna put wallpaper on it.  The wallpaper comes in a fresh roll.  It is self-adhesive. All you have to do is measure it, cut it, then roll it backwards and put it in warm water.  When you let it drip out....you are ready to put it on the wall in place and begin sponging the wrinkles out and putting it in proper alignment with each strip you place upon the wall. 

Let's just say that is parenting 101...The parents are setting up the walls in their home.  They are establishing them...they are adding children and training the children up in the ways of the Lord...The wallpaper being the parents, the wall being the child...It's adhered to the family.  The parents have stayed close to the child, raising it up...joining together as a family.

³ By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; ⁴ And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.  Proverbs 24:3-4  (NASB)

When the time comes that the man is going to take for himself a wife, the wallpaper needs to be removed from the walls, so fresh wallpaper can be put up in that room.  There is a lot of preparation in taking down wallpaper to prepare a wall for fresh paint or new wallpaper.  You can't just pull off the wallpaper because it cleaves to the walls.  It is attached to the walls.  It is joined as one to the walls.  You have to soak it down with water or special wallpaper removing chemicals.  There is a lot of scraping and tedious work in removing every last bit of old wallpaper residue.  If you go to paint on a wall that has bits and pieces of that old residue, it will mess up the new fresh wallpaper with lumps and bumps or the fresh coat of paint will look lumpy and cheapened. 

A man must leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife.   What would happen if a man didn't truly leave his mother or father and cleave to his wife.  What would happen to a fresh roll of wallpaper if you just placed it overtop of the old wallpaper?  It would look the same in the spirit as it does in the natural.

The new wallpaper would not truly Cleave to the old wallpaper.  There wouldn't be a joining together.  An opposite reaction would actually take place.  A repulsion...A detachment.  A forsaking. 

When a man doesn't leave his mother or father and cleave to his wife as one flesh, he doesn't truly need the wife as much as he should.  If he can run back to his mom or dad and get all the emotional support that his wife should be giving to him, he doesn't have to invest himself fully into the relationship.  There's always a backdoor escape.  If a woman can call on her mom or dad whenever her husband fails to meet her needs, there is a polar opposite of magnetism that happens. 

So many people enter into marital unions and don't understand why joining together as one flesh never happens.  You can't CLEAVE if you never LEAVE!  You need to be pursuing one another closely. 

Paul tells us that a man is to love his wife like Christ loves the church.  What does that look like?

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body. (Ephesians 5:25-30)

Let me tell you something about Jesus...he left his mother and father and he cleaved to his bride...his disciples...his people...How do I know?  When he was confronted about who his mother or father was, this was his answer. 

As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.  Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Matthew 12:47:50 (NLT)

Jesus left his mother, father, brothers...He cleaved to his disciples...He cleaves to his bride.  He cleaves to you and to me...How many husbands truly leave their mothers and fathers and cleave to their wives and they become one flesh...

If this principle were in effect, then people couldn't just walk away from that covenant of marriage so easily.  Jesus gave up his life for the church, his bride.  His bride committed adultery on him over and over and over again with other lovers.  (Read Jeremiah 2)

All he wanted was for his bride to come back to their first love.  He waited...He forgave.  He was long-suffering.  He was patient.  He was kind.

“ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.  3Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’ ”

4Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.  5This is what the Lord says:  “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me?  They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.  6They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ 7I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce.  But you came and defiled my land

and made my inheritance detestable.  8The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me.  The prophets prophesied by Baal,

following worthless idols.  9“Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord.

“And I will bring charges against your children’s children.  But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. 12Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,”

13“My people have committed two sins:  They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.  14Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?

Why then has he become plunder?  15Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.  16Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes

have cracked your skull.  17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God

when he led you in the way?  18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile^b ?  And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates?  19Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you.  Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,”

The Lord wanted nothing but his bride to turn back to him...He knew they had forsaken him with other lovers...He didn't want a divorce.  He wanted repentance.  He cleaved to his people...However, they left him, they had never really left their former lives and cleaved to him.  I believe that is a missing key in many marriages today.  You need to LEAVE to CLEAVE!

I heard the Lord speak to my heart.  When you don't Leave to CLEAVE, then you're LOCKED out of LOVE.  Because the key that opens the door to love is CLEAVING.  I'm not talking about worldly love that is so filled with conditions and regulations that it truly hurts to love.  It's painful to love.  No one can live up to the false expectations of the world's standards of love.  I'm talking the kind of love that is stronger than death.  The love that remains...1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

That kind of love never fails.  That kind of love ALWAYS hopes!  It ALWAYS Perseveres!  This kind of love is mature.  It LEAVES its mother and father and CLEAVES to his wife as one flesh. 

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11 

When you LEAVE and CLEAVE, a man becomes a man...a woman becomes a woman and the ways of childhood are BEHIND them!  It's time to become one flesh and do life together...Not call on mommy or daddy to bail you out of every emotional, financial, or intimate dispute you have as a couple. 

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)  The Greatest of faith, hope, and love....IS LOVE!

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be locked out of this kind of love.  I am thankful that God releases his keys of wisdom and understanding...

GENESIS 2:22 - And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

Woman was created from the rib of man
She was not made from his head to top him
Nor from his feet, to be trampled on.
She was made from his side, to be equal to him
From under his arm to be protected by him
From near his heart to be loved by him.

~author unknown~