Daily Devotional

The scene now switches to the other group of people, those who did not receive the mark of the beast. In other words, we are looking at those who receive the seal of God instead. As previously stated, the chronology of Revelation is a bit unusual. A common mistake is to interpret the events shown in this verse as occurring simultaneously with those in the previous verse.

However, later chapters of Revelation prove that impossible. Instead, we can consider Revelation 14:14–15:4 as an unbroken delineation of final events. The seven last plagues fall, after which those with the seal of God are translated to heaven, which is where we see them in today’s verse.

The setting is God’s throne room. Daniel similarly saw God seated on His heavenly throne, wherein “a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him” (Daniel 7:10). And earlier in the book of Revelation, we saw that “before the throne there was a sea of glass” (Revelation 4:6).

We also are assured that those with the seal of God will indeed achieve ultimate “victory” through Christ; they will gain eternal life in the heavenly kingdom. Notice the emphasis on the complete victory over each element of the devil’s warfare, “the beast,” “his image,” “his mark,” “the number of his name,” as complete as the seven plagues are for the wicked. And what an utter contrast this vision presents to those plagues, as though God were placing them side by side for comparison.

Let’s look deeper into this vivid description of the “sea of glass mingled with fire.” Two significant elements are symbolized here: water and fire. The rite of baptism is by water, while Jesus baptizes “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Water and fire represent different types of cleansing for God’s people. The 144,000, those sealed of God, will have been thoroughly cleansed and, thus, fully restored to the image of Christ.

O Mighty God, may I stand on Your faithful promises, which assure ultimate victory with the redeemed on the sea of glass.

For Further Study: Exodus 13:21, 22; Psalm 91:9, 10; Revelation 7:13–17