A LIVING CITY OF A LIVING GOD. Heb.12:22 It is HIS City, who can fault the work of the LIVING GOD? Rom. 9:26 A City composed of those who had been refused. You are not my people and that is true as pertaining to the natural seed. NOW, there has been a drastic change, the gentiles are included and are elevated to the status of the CHILDREN of the LIVING GOD. No longer is salvation determined by race or works but now it is for all men everywhere to accept Christ and to be saved by the grace of God. Heb. 9:14 Thank God for the blood of atonement which has redeemed us from all sin. Pure, spotless, sinless blood that was shed on Calvary for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to wash us from all guilt and condemnation. Whereby we become sons of the LIVING GOD. New creatures being formed into the City of God and the Body of Christ. What a high and holy calling.
THE SEA OF CRYSTAL. Rev. 4:6 A vast sea of transparent glass spread out before the throne of glory. The light of the glory of the Lord will scintillate throughout the sea. As the sea is always alive and active, so his sea of glass, reflecting the glory of the Lord will undulate and be in constant motion, even as the sea of the earth.
TO IDENTIFY THE SEA. We consider the word sea, (Greek, thaissea, taken from the word, hals or salt.) Mt. 21:21 Those who follow Christ are identified as salt. So this sea before the throne is composed of salty Christians. It is a sea of glass, ( glassy or transparent). The transparency is intriguing, it would indicate that there is nothing hidden, the whole sea is absolutely clear or transparent. Rev. 21:21 This condition is common to things that pertain to the eternal city. The whole city appears as transparent glass, no ulterior motives, no sin, no unrighteousness of any kind. Isa. 4:1 The waves of the sea are associated with righteousness. That heavenly sea will know the righteousness of the God who is righteousness personified. As the waves of the sea, the word sea, can also mean to roar. Anthems of praise and worship will ascend before the throne from this living sea of the redeemed. Ps. 9:7-9 The roaring of the sea at the coming of the Lord Jesus a second time. Again this is the rejoicing of the redeemed who love His righteousness.
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE SEA OF GLASS. Rev. 15:2 The sea mixed with fire. Blazing, glowing with the glorious presence of the Lord filling each and every member of that beautiful sea. Fire is an element that we would expect to find where the Lord is present. Heb. 12:29Our God is a consuming fire. Fire certainly is not God, but He is a God who has manifest Himself as fire. He baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. Fire to consume the dross, to purify from all impurities. Fire to impart power and give the ability to become a witness for Him. 2 Thes. 1:8 The Lord Jesus will return to earth with flaming fire, taking vengeance on the ungodly, those who will not obey the Gospel. I think that most would place this event at the close of the tribulation period, which would be proper. v.8 The ungodly will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence the Lord. Since this is at the close of the reign of the antichrist on earth, would any escape this destruction? NO. How then could there be sinners in the millennium? The ungodly will not be there. It is the day of rest, the Sabbath of the Lord. What ungodly person would want to live in a land where a righteous king was reigning over a kingdom of righteous people? Isa. 33:14 The sinners are afraid. Who can dwell with the devouring fire? A people of like nature and being. A people of fire. Lord let the fire fall on your people.