Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne

Lamps of Fire and a Glassy Sea 

What does John further see? This:  "And there are seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, and these mean the seven spirits of God.  And before the throne there is, as it were, a glassy sea like crystal." (Revelation 4:5b, 6a)  John himself tells us the significance of the seven lamps:  "These mean the seven spirits of God."   The number seven symbolizes divine completeness, so the seven lamps  must represent the fullness of the enlightening force of the holy spirit.   How grateful the John class today is that it has been entrusted with this enlightenment, together with the responsibility  to pass it on to the spiritually hungry people  of earth!  How glad we are that each year that over 200 million copies of the Watchtower magazine continue to beam forth this light in more than a hundred languages! -Psalm 43:3.  

John sees also a "glassy sea like crystal."  What would this symbolize with regard to those invited into Jehovah's heavenly court?  Paul spoke of the way that Jesus sanctified the congregation, "cleansing it with the bath  of water by means of the word."  (Ephesians 5:26)  Before his death, Jesus told his disciples:  "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."  (John 15:3)  Hence, this glassy sea like crystal must represent the cleansing, recorded Word of God. Those of the royal priesthood  who come into Jehovah's  presence must have been thoroughly cleansed by his Word.  

Next time: Chapter Fourteen/ The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Behold-"Four Living Creatures

From the book of Revelations