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 15:2KJV
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Revelation 15:2 (KJV)

What does Revelation 15:2 mean?

Revelation 15:2 describes a vision where John sees something like a sea made of glass mixed with fire, and people who have overcome the beast, its image, its mark, and the number of its name are standing on this sea, holding harps given by God. This scene shows a group of victorious people in a place of honor and worship after resisting evil forces.

John, the author of Revelation, is describing what he sees in a vision given by God. The "sea of glass mingled with fire" is a striking image that suggests purity and judgment together. The people standing on the sea are those who have remained faithful under pressure from the beast (a symbol of evil power) and its system. They are pictured as holding harps, which in the Bible often represent praise and worship, showing their celebration and victory.

The Greek behind Revelation 15:2

  • "Sea" (θάλασσα, thalassa): This word often means a large body of water, but here it is described as "of glass," suggesting something calm, clear, and solid, not a literal sea.
  • "Mingled" (μεμιγμένη, memigmenē): This means mixed or blended together. The sea is not just glass but also has fire in it, hinting at both peace (glass) and judgment or testing (fire).
  • "Victory" (νικάω, nikaō): This word means to conquer or overcome. The people are not just survivors but conquerors over the beast and its system.
  • "Harps" (κιθάρα, kithara): These are musical instruments used in worship. The detail that they are "of God" emphasizes that their praise is directed to God and comes from Him.

Why Revelation 15:2 matters

  • Revelation 15:2 clarifies that the people who stand victorious are those who have resisted not just the beast but also its image, mark, and number, showing the full scope of what they overcame.
  • The verse connects the vision to earlier scenes in Revelation, where the sea of glass first appeared (Revelation 4:6), but now it is mingled with fire, highlighting both purity and judgment.
  • This verse sets the stage for the songs of praise and the final judgments that follow, emphasizing that worship and victory come before the outpouring of God's justice.

Where else these words appear

“glass” Greek G5193 · used in 2 verses

  • 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.

“mingled” Greek G3396 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
  • Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
  • Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

“harps” Greek G2788 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
  • Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty 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:

“mark” Greek G5480 · used in 9 verses

  • Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
  • Revelation 13:17 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.
  • Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.