Twelve Tour Guides

based on Revelation 21:14-20

Twelve Tour Guides

Revelation 21:14-20

By Rhonda Adamson, copyright 2008

 

Chorus

I want a tour of New Jerusalem with twelve tour guides,

Who will explain extensively the wall's twelve foundations.

On each gemstone foundation is one name of the Apostles,

All twelve Apostles of the Risen, Victorious Lamb.

 

V1

Peter, will you show me foundation number one,

Which is greenish, marbled jasper?

James, please escort me 'round foundation number two,

I see a bluish, rosy sapphire.

Andrew, I want to explore the light blue gemstone,

Chalcedony, in the next layer.

John, the Revelator, will you describe for me

The emerald in foundation four?

 

Chorus

V2

James, the son of Alphaeus, walk with me along

The fifth foundation called sardonyx.

Phillip, come talk with me, let me admire with you

The carnelian sixth foundation.

Bartholomew, illuminate the seventh gemstone.

It's the mysterious chrysolite.

Thomas, you touched the wounds of Christ, explain to me

Beryl's properties and qualities.

Chorus

 

Bridge:

Twelve foundations of precious gemstones, stones of great purity.

Twelve apostles of precious Jesus, walk with me, talk with me.

V3

Matthew, will you show me foundation number nine?

I see the purest grade of topaz.

Jude, the servant of Jesus, and brother to James,

Talk to me about the chrysoprase.

Simon the Zealot, show me the eleventh stone,

Extol all the beauties of jacinth.

Matthias, you replaced Judas, rejoice with me

In the loveliness of amethyst.

Chorus

 

Ending

I want twelve tour guides to show me twelve foundations.

 

 

I went to www.fisheaters.com/preciousstones.html to get the best guesses about the color of each gemstone listed in Revelation 21.  My color coding in this poem is a poor substitute for actually seeing the gems.  But someday, there will be no mystery! Will you join me on the tour? Here's how:

A: Admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:22-26: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.  He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (NIV)

B: Believe Jesus will remove your sin. Acts 16:31-34: They replied: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your husehold.  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.  At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he wa filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole family.

C: Confess your sin. 1 John 1:8-2:2: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.  My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Reviews

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

I would love to hear the melody. Great Write!