It is extremely interesting that even though there are more than 3 apparitions of God - the Bible appears to reveal THREE THRONES that manifest the awesome power and majesty of God. It is also true that these THREE thrones correspond to the SECOND row of stones on the breastplate of the High Priest. John Tng has done several studies on these breastplate stones as have others at this website. These three stones are the Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond. Interestingly enough, these 3 are the most precious stones in gemstone history, along with the ruby. Consider the THREE thrones that God has manifested himself through in the Bible and what they represent. Each throne is like a picture or revelation cycle of God's redemptive plan of the ages (there is blessing, mercy, warning, rescue, wrath, restoration, and renewal):

 

• SAPPHIRE: The throne that is like the appearance of a sapphire. A rainbow is also associated with this appearance. See Ezekial chapters 2 and 10. Remember too that this appearance happened during a time of chastisement against Israel. This sapphire appearance is connected with warning, mercy, then anger and wrath, but with the promise of a surviving remnant! You can read about God's wrath against the Children of Israel after the appearance of this sapphire-like throne in Ezekial. There is a great deal of God's wrath and bloodshed in Ezekial, but also the promise of a future restoration. 
• EMERALD: The Emerald Throne - which has an appearance of an emerald RAINBOW about the throne - seen in Rev. 4. This throne pictures God's great MERCY and rescue from wrath!  Rev. 4 is a type of the rapture of the church and lo and behold--- we see a RAINBOW round about the throne after John (a type of the Church) is CAUGHT UP (raptured) to heaven! It was a rainbow that was given as a sign during the time of NOAH that God would never again submerge the earth in water. A sign of his mercy! Recall that he rescued EIGHT people and began anew with them, just as he promises to rescue the Church from the Day of his wrath - we are not appointed to wrath. Noah escaped, Enoch escaped, Lot escaped God's wrath. The Church will escape God's wrath that is to be poured out upon the earth. (The bow or rainbow was also associated with the appearance of the throne in Ezekial.)
• DIAMOND: The Great WHITE Throne  - which we all know appears in Rev. 20 and is connected to God's Judgment - followed by renewal and restoration (the new heavens and the new earth).

Other stones are mentioned in the appearances of God such as the sardine, beryl and amber... and of course, we know that the 12 foundation walls of the New Jerusalem contain these precious stones - and several others --- corresponding to the 12 Sons of Jacob and the 12 Apostles of the Lamb!

 

Rene