Revelation 15:3-4; The Victory Over the Beast (2)

Revelation 15:2 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. 

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire.” John once more observes the sea of glass that he saw when he recorded the scene of the throne room (Revelation 4:6).

Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 

He again mentions the saints who have overcome the evil one (Revelation 12:11), who are now in heaven standing next to this sea of glass.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

The glass sea symbolizes perspicuity and transparency, so that everyone is able to observe God’s righteousness and integrity. Thus, the saints in heaven see God’s wisdom in action. They are the overcomers who have resisted following the beast, refused to worship his image, and rejected the number of his name.

Notice that in this passage the sea is mixed with fire, which symbolically directs attention to the pillar of fire that led the Israelites across the Red Sea (Exod. 13:20–14:31).

Exodus 13:20-22 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, frombefore the people. 

The fire portrayed is a symbol of light and joy to all the saints who are standing next to the sea of glass. But the sea mixed with fire is also a symbol of God’s wrath directed against His enemies. As the Egyptians drowned in the sea through which the Israelites had come safely to the shore on the other side, so the sea mixed with fire destroys the Antichrist and his hordes.

“… 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.” The saints in glory are those whose task on earth is finished. They are the victors in their battle against the beast. Now this statement is remarkable indeed because the beast “was given power to make war against the saints and to overcome them” (13:7).

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 

But they had refused to worship him and bear the number of his name (Revelation 13:16–18).

Revelation 13:16-18 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. 

Numerous saints lost their lives in this warfare, yet spiritually they gained the victory. They were faithful to the end and received the crown of glory.

“[And they were] having the harps of God.” Both the Old and New Testaments refer to the harp and lyre (2 Chron. 29:25; Ps. 33:2; 71:22; 92:3; 98:5; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3; Rev. 5:8; 14:2; 15:2).

2 Chronicles 29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so wasthe commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 

Psalm 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery andan instrument of ten strings. 

Psalm 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, eventhy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 

Psalm 92:3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 

Psalm 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 

Psalm 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 

Psalm 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four andtwenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 

Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 

All the twenty-four elders who surround God’s throne have harps to sing praises to God. Therefore, the phrase harps of God conveys the meaning “harps for playing to God.”

The saints receive heavenly harps by which they are able to sing songs of victory, for God himself has enabled the saints to triumph over the evil one. Thus they burst into song.

By the sea of crystal, saints in glory stand,

Myriads in number, drawn from every land.

Robed in white apparel, washed in Jesus’ blood,

They now reign in heaven with the Lamb of God.

—William Kuipers

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 427–428). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.