The Sea of Glass

 The Sea of Glass

December 30, 2025

Revelation 15:2-4 (NASB95)

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holdingharps of God. 3 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! 4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

Today’s scripture has an interesting word picture of a scene in heaven. Prominent in this vision is the sea of glass. This is also mentioned in Revelation 4:

Revelation 4:5-6 (NASB95) 

5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and beforethe throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.

In Revelation, John had a vision which included various scenes in heaven. But this is not the first time that we got a glimpse of the features in heaven. Moses also had a vision of heaven in which he was given a plan to construct the tabernacle, which is a scale model of heaven. In Moses plans for the tabernacle, there is a bronze laver set before the alter.

Exodus 30:17-21 (NASB95) 

17 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19 “Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; 20 when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the LORD. 21 “So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”

Exodus 38:8 (NASB95)

8Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

What is the purpose of the sea or laver? In the tabernacle, the laver was for the priests to wash their hands before they approached the alter. It was made out of polished bronze so it was like a mirror so that the priests could reflect on their sins as they washed and prepared to minister at the alter. In heaven, there is no need to wash your sins away, so the sea of glass is there to reflect. In Revelation 15, John describes the sea as looking like a sea of glass mixed with fire. This is because it is reflecting the glory of God on the throne. In Revelation 4 he describes is as flashes of lightning. It also reflects sound as we see the victorious saints playing their harps and singing while standing on the sea of glass. I once knew a man who had a vision of heaven in which he saw Jesus standing on the sea of glass preaching and teaching. 

Perhaps, we are meant to be something like this ourselves. When we are washed and polished we should also reflect the glory of God to those around us. We can also sing and play and reflect the sounds of heaven as we worship the Lord here on earth. So this morning, reflect on the sea of glass and meditate on the glory of God which shines forth and is reflected to all men.