Sea of Glass and Fire

The Book of Revelation overflows with strange scenes. In Chapter 15 verse 2, the narrator John sees a crowd of people standing on the shore of the sea that looks like ‘glass mixed with fire’. If we didn’t know better this might appear to us as a glorious sunset on the water.

But in Revelation, as in common Old Testament imagery, the sea is the domain of evil and everything hostile against God. The Beast who assaults God’s people rises from the sea. But this crowd stands triumphant beside the sea, not frightened in the least. The fire glistening on the water is a sign that the evil has been judged.


John says, I saw . . . standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: Revelation 15:2-3

When God redeemed Israel from Egypt and when Pharaoh’s forces were destroyed in the Sea, Moses and Miriam led Israel in song and dance right there on the shores of the sea. They celebrated God’s power with exuberant joy – “I will sing unto to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously.”

The crowd of people John sees in Revelation 15:1-4 are followers of Jesus who were victorious over the Beast. They too have been redeemed from slavery. They join with Israel and sing in celebration of the exodus they have experienced. They echo the song of Moses and they double it with praise to the Lamb who is their Passover redeemer.

Christians are redeemed men and women from every language and culture, every tribe and nation on earth. And just like Israel, we sing from the shores of every sea in this world, "in your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” (Exodus 15:13)
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the journey of exodus people is always a journey of faith – “by faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.” Hebrews 11:29. The song of Moses describes Israel’s pathway of faith in covenant relationship with her God. The entire history of Israel and the church is a saga of forgetting and re-learning this need for faith.

Our song celebrates the great Finale to the history-long human quest for justice:
"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?
Revelation 15:1-4

This picture of God’s exodus people is imprinted on the entire story of salvation. The One who brought Israel to birth, will bring the entire family of God safely home, rescuing us from every foe and teaching us to trust him all the way.

Lord Companion of the Way,
When I feel caught between the devil and the deep blue, my instinct is first to panic and then to contrive a self-made solution. Teach me the path of faith. Help me not only to believe that Jesus conquered death, but to live daily in the power and joy of his resurrection. Amen

Image Sources:
Sea at Sunset - EHDWalls.com
Red Sea Crossing - Bible.ca
Red Sunset - layoutsparks