The foundations of the wall of the city were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eight beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth green quartz, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each gate was made of a single pearl. The main street of the city was made of pure gold, as transparent as glass. Rev. 21:19-21.
For me the most unforgettable moment of 1984 occurred during a presidential debate. The race for the nomination of the Democratic Party was chiefly between Walter Mondale and Gary Hart. Gary Hart would later become infamous for his dalliances with women other than his wife. But at the time of this debate he was actually the leading candidate for the nomination. No one cold have anticipated that the entire nomination would turn on a single phrase.
In the course of the debate, Gary Hart talked about his vision for improving the country. Walter Mondale responded that his opponent had a lot of things to say, but the really decisive issue was "Where's the beef?" Was the phrase a ploy to acquire the agriculture vote? No, his comment was not really about food, although it did recall a hamburger ad on TV.
In the ad a "little old lady" sat at the table of a rival hamburger chain. Someone placed a hamburger in front of her. The bun was generous in its proportion, but inside it held only a tiny piece of meat, about the size of a quarter. In stunned surprise she said with the quivering voice of the aged, "Where's the beef?" The campaign was a smash success. All over the country people began quoting the line. The little old woman became a star overnight at the age of 85.
The message of the advertisement was that claims don't matter when it comes to hamburgers. What counts is the meal that one actually receives. By invoking the phrase from the burger commercial, Mondale called his opponent's credibility into question. With a simple phrase he succeeded in turning his opponent into a national laughingstock even before his marital indiscretions became public knowledge and forever ruined his political career. Such is the power of allusion to the past.
Our text is largely a recitation of various stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. But they point to something deeper. The stones of the city's foundation are the same as those on the breastplate of Israel's high priest. Here, as so often in this book, the vision ties together the whole of God's revelation. In the Apocalypse of John all the books of the Bible meet and end. It is like the finale of the biblical symphony.
Lord, I want to go deeper and deeper into Your Word every day.
For me the most unforgettable moment of 1984 occurred during a presidential debate. The race for the nomination of the Democratic Party was chiefly between Walter Mondale and Gary Hart. Gary Hart would later become infamous for his dalliances with women other than his wife. But at the time of this debate he was actually the leading candidate for the nomination. No one cold have anticipated that the entire nomination would turn on a single phrase.
In the course of the debate, Gary Hart talked about his vision for improving the country. Walter Mondale responded that his opponent had a lot of things to say, but the really decisive issue was "Where's the beef?" Was the phrase a ploy to acquire the agriculture vote? No, his comment was not really about food, although it did recall a hamburger ad on TV.
In the ad a "little old lady" sat at the table of a rival hamburger chain. Someone placed a hamburger in front of her. The bun was generous in its proportion, but inside it held only a tiny piece of meat, about the size of a quarter. In stunned surprise she said with the quivering voice of the aged, "Where's the beef?" The campaign was a smash success. All over the country people began quoting the line. The little old woman became a star overnight at the age of 85.
The message of the advertisement was that claims don't matter when it comes to hamburgers. What counts is the meal that one actually receives. By invoking the phrase from the burger commercial, Mondale called his opponent's credibility into question. With a simple phrase he succeeded in turning his opponent into a national laughingstock even before his marital indiscretions became public knowledge and forever ruined his political career. Such is the power of allusion to the past.
Our text is largely a recitation of various stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. But they point to something deeper. The stones of the city's foundation are the same as those on the breastplate of Israel's high priest. Here, as so often in this book, the vision ties together the whole of God's revelation. In the Apocalypse of John all the books of the Bible meet and end. It is like the finale of the biblical symphony.
Lord, I want to go deeper and deeper into Your Word every day.
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