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Home » Daily Readings, New Testament Writers

The Sea of Glass

Submitted by ang frayle on Wednesday, 26 November 2008No Comment

  • Reading I: Revelation 15:1-14
  • Resp. Psalm:  Psalm 98:1,9
  • Gospel Reading:  Luke 21:12-19

The image of the sea purified and turned into glass or becomes crystalline is an image of the Primordial Sea, the Enemy of God, tamed and cleansed.  We’ve seen the Sea in the Apocalypse turning up monsters which fight against the Lamb and His army.  In Rev. 15, it is finally transformed into something inert.  It even becomes a stage where Moses’ and the Lamb’s victory song can be performed with harps.

To note here is that the songs of Moses and the Lamb are sung. Both songs actually tell of God’s sovereignty and holiness.  Within the context of the unfolding of God’s judgment over the world the victorious scene depicted in Rev. 15, actually prepares for the utter destruction of the Sea in the final stages of the Apocalypse when it will be announced that "the Sea is no more" (Revelation 21:20)

 

Read an explanation of the Gospel reading here:  I Will Be With You
Revelation 15:1-14
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues. For in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had overcome the beast, and his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:
3And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, O King of ages.
4Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come, and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.
5And after these things I looked; and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen, and girt about the breasts with golden girdles.
7And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Psalm 98:1,9
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
1A psalm for David himself. Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.
9At the presence of the Lord: because he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity.
Luke 21:12-19
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
12But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.
13And it shall happen unto you for a testimony.
14Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:
15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.
16And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death.
17And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake.
18But a hair of your head shall not perish.
19In your patience you shall possess your souls.
Revelation 21:20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
20The fifth, sardonyx: the sixth, sardius: the seventh, chrysolite: the eighth, beryl: the ninth, a topaz: the tenth, a chrysoprasus: the eleventh, a jacinth: the twelfth, an amethyst.

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