Revelation 15:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The sea of glass, we think, signifies the multitude of those being saved, the purity of their rest, and the brightness of the saints, by whose rays they will shine like the sun (Mt 13:43).

The sea is mingled with fire. This should be understood from the apostle's words: "Each one's work, of what sort it is, the fire will test" (1 Cor 3:13).

This fire in no way harms the pure and undefiled. According to the saying of the Psalmist (Ps 28:7), it has two properties: one that burns sinners, and another, as Basil the Great understood it, that enlightens the righteous.

It will also be plausible to understand by fire divine knowledge and the grace of the Life-giving Spirit. For God appeared to Moses in fire, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in the form of fiery tongues.

The harps indicate the mortification of the flesh and a life guided by the Holy Spirit, rightly ordered in the harmony of the virtues.

Somewhere in his writings the wise Paul says: "If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become manifest. For the Day will disclose it, because it is revealed in fire" (1 Cor 3:12-13).

Therefore not only sinners, who heap upon themselves the easily combustible burden of sin, but also the righteous, who bring gold and precious materials, will be tested by fire.

Here he says precisely this: those who have finally conquered the beast stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire. It is glassy because of the splendor and purity of the righteous standing on it.

It is evident that the water of baptism has been sanctified by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Or, with regard to the property of fire, it has become red by the power of martyrdom.

Therefore we read: "The furnace tests the vessels of the potter, and temptation in affliction tests the righteous." Compare Sirach 28:5: clay vessels are tested in the furnace, and the test of a man is in his speech.

"And I saw those who had conquered the beast and his image, and his mark and the number of his name, standing." Standing means steadfast in faith. The Psalm describes this almost in the same way.

"The glassy sea," says St. Andrew of Caesarea, "signifies those being saved at the end of the world, and the purity and brightness of the future state of the saints.

As for its being mingled with fire, the Apostle has written: 'The fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is' (1 Cor 3:13). It does not harm the pure and undefiled.

For it produces two different effects: one burns sinners, and the other illumines the righteous, as Basil the Great understood."

Grace is like this sea. Thus it is boundless. Thus it is water and fire, for it both waters the thirsty heart and kindles the one grown cold.

Perhaps you are not yet standing on this sea, but on the earth, because you are bound to the earth by thoughts, desires, and attachments. But take a step, and stand upon the sea of glass, pure and bright.

Reject earthly attachments, desires, and thoughts, and you will find yourself in grace. Then you will know how easily the apostolic commandment is fulfilled, "to sing in your hearts in grace."