Revelation 15 2

Revelation 15:2 kjv

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Revelation 15:2 nkjv

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Revelation 15:2 niv

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God

Revelation 15:2 esv

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire ? and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.

Revelation 15:2 nlt

I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them.

Revelation 15 verses

Revelation 15 2 Meaning

Revelation 15:2 depicts a profound heavenly vision where the apostle John witnesses those who have overcome the antichristian system. These faithful victors, having triumphed over the Beast, its image, and the symbolic number of its name, are seen standing firm on a transformative sea. This "sea of glass mixed with fire" represents divine purity, judgment, and holiness. Equipped with harps given by God, these triumphant believers are positioned to render worship, marking a pivotal moment of divine vindication and the beginning of ultimate judgment against ungodliness.

Revelation 15 2 Context

Revelation 15:2 opens a brief heavenly interlude following the visions of the Beast and the Lamb's victorious company. Chapter 15 specifically introduces the seven angels with the seven last plagues, which complete God's wrath. This verse, therefore, serves as a triumphant prelude, showcasing the redeemed before the final judgments are poured out. It emphasizes God's faithfulness to those who remain steadfast amidst severe persecution and idol worship orchestrated by the Beast and its global system, described extensively in Chapter 13. Historically, John’s audience was facing intense pressure from the Roman Imperial Cult, which demanded worship of the emperor and participation in civic cults. Refusal led to economic exclusion, persecution, and death. This verse offers immense comfort and reassurance, affirming that faithful resistance to this oppressive system leads to divine vindication and ultimate victory.

Revelation 15 2 Word analysis

• And I saw: (Greek: Kai eidon) This phrase typically marks a new vision or a new aspect of a preceding vision in Revelation. It emphasizes John's direct visual perception of heavenly realities, presented for the benefit of the suffering churches.
• what looked like a sea of glass: (Greek: hos thalassan hyalinen) Sea: A biblical symbol with multiple meanings: sometimes chaos (Ps 65:7, Rev 13:1 where the beast emerges from it), sometimes nations (Isa 57:20), and sometimes the boundary of creation. Here, in the heavenly throne room context, it signifies a place of purity and calm. Glass: (Greek: hyalinen, "hyaline" or "transparent") Denotes absolute purity, clarity, stability, and reflective quality. Unlike the chaotic earthly seas, this sea is solid and still, suggesting a tranquil and firm foundation, a pure platform for divine glory.
• mixed with fire: (Greek: memigmenēn pyri) Mixed: Implies a blend or intermingling, not separate elements. Fire: A multifaceted biblical symbol representing God's presence, holiness (Exod 3:2), purification (Isa 6:6-7), glory (Ezek 1:27), and divine judgment (Heb 12:29). The fire mixed with glass suggests divine holiness illuminating and refining, a place where the judged meet a pure reality. It signifies a divine environment charged with God’s pure essence, possibly also hinting at the refining trials overcome by the victors.
• and those who had been victorious: (Greek: kai tous nikōntas) Victorious: (Greek: nikaō, "to conquer," "to overcome") This is a recurring theme in Revelation (Rev 2-3). It speaks not of military conquest, but of spiritual triumph achieved through steadfast faith, endurance, and refusal to compromise, even in the face of death (Rev 12:11). These are the ones who resisted the Beast's demands.
• over the beast: (Greek: ek tou thēriou) Beast: (Greek: thērion) Refers to the political-religious power described in Revelation 13, representing oppressive governmental and idolatrous systems that persecute God's people. "Over" implies total victory, breaking free from its control and avoiding its condemnation.
• and its image: (Greek: kai tēs eikonos autou) The physical representation or idol of the Beast (Rev 13:14-15), which demanded worship. Victory "over its image" means refusing idolatry and false allegiance.
• and the number of its name: (Greek: kai ton arithmon tou onomatos autou) This refers to the identifying mark of allegiance to the Beast, described in Revelation 13:16-18 as 666, used for economic control and symbolic of a person's identity tied to the beastly system. Victory here signifies refusal to receive this mark, indicating absolute allegiance to God.
• standing on the sea of glass: (Greek: epi tēn thalassan tēs hyalinen hestōtas) Standing: Implies a position of stability, security, and triumph, unlike the drowning of enemies in the Red Sea. On the sea: A direct allusion to the Exodus deliverance, where Israel crossed through the Red Sea on dry ground (Exod 14:29). Here, it’s not in chaos, but upon a solidified, pure, divinely charged platform. This indicates complete mastery and separation from the world's turbulent systems, now made safe by divine power. It signifies security and sovereignty in God's presence.
• with harps given to them by God: (Greek: echontas kitharas tou Theou) Harps: (Greek: kitharas) Musical instruments associated with worship, praise, and prophetic declarations in both Old (Ps 33:2, 149:3) and New Testaments (Rev 5:8, 14:2). By God: (Greek: tou Theou) The phrase "harps of God" emphasizes their divine origin and sacred purpose – not earthly harps for worldly entertainment, but instruments of holy worship, gifted for praising God.

Revelation 15 2 Bonus section

The vision of the sea of glass, while recalling Rev 4:6 where it is "like crystal," here includes "fire." This addition suggests a heightened aspect of divine presence that has implications for judgment or the refining fire through which the victors passed. The very surface upon which the redeemed stand is imbued with the fiery purity and holiness of God, a testament to their trials and transformation. It is a striking visual contrast between the turmoil of earthly existence under the Beast and the serene, yet potent, stability found in God’s heavenly kingdom. This imagery provides a visual assurance of God's unwavering control over all chaotic forces and His vindication of His faithful saints.

Revelation 15 2 Commentary

Revelation 15:2 unveils a glorious scene in heaven, a direct counterpoint to the terrifying descriptions of the Beast's power on earth in previous chapters. The "sea of glass mixed with fire" symbolizes not chaotic waters, but a stable, pure, and awe-inspiring foundation before God’s throne, reflecting His holiness and the intense scrutiny of His purifying presence. The "fire" intermingled signifies the righteous judgment that will soon fall on the wicked, and the refining trials through which the victorious believers have passed.

The central figures are the "victorious ones" – those who actively resisted the demands of the Beast, refusing to worship its image or bear its mark. Their victory is one of enduring faith, faithfulness, and unwavering allegiance to Christ, often achieved through martyrdom. Their presence "standing on" this transformed sea signifies their triumph and safety, positioned by divine grace over the very elements that had threatened to engulf humanity. This is a deliberate reversal of the chaos embodied by the sea from which the Beast emerged (Rev 13:1).

The "harps of God" emphasize their readiness for worship. Their deliverance and triumph are not for boastful display but lead immediately to doxology and praise. This foreshadows the "Song of Moses and of the Lamb" sung in the subsequent verse (Rev 15:3-4), connecting their heavenly worship to the ancient deliverance of Israel and highlighting God's consistent character as Deliverer and Judge. This scene offers immense hope and validation to suffering believers: though they may experience earthly defeat, their steadfastness guarantees ultimate spiritual victory and a place in God's eternal presence, participating in His unceasing worship.Example: Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image and being preserved in the fiery furnace (Dan 3), these believers resisted symbolic idolatry and found divine preservation or glorification.