Victorious Ones

No book in the Bible stretches my ability to create visual imagery like Revelation! I imagine the elderly John being jarred from sleep with these intense visions, many of which would give most of us nightmares for days! This chapter, however, is beautiful; just take a moment to visualize these scenes, remembering John only had first century images and vocabulary at his disposal to describe them.

Picture a sea (“large expanse” AMP) of glass glowing (“mixed, mingled” ASV, AMP) with fire. Whatever we imagine surely pales in comparison, but try to envision it. On it stands “those who were victorious”; it does not refer to them as angels. Could we be among them, “holding the harps given to them by God”? Could they be the saints who remain faithful and endure?  This image of standing on such a mind-blowing stage, playing my very own harp, gifted to me by God himself  inspires me to persevere, to remain faithful and be victorious. How about you? 

One thing for certain in this book is that a great spiritual battle rages, and our enemies come in many forms. This amazing glimpse at the victory already won, should encourage us to fight for our faith and stand firm, while warning us of the definitive ending of the battle, should we allow ourselves to become subjects of the enemy. 

The only response for these “victorious ones”, standing on this fiery sea of glass, is a beautiful song of praise and worship: a song of Moses and the Lamb. Moses brought forth the law, and Jesus was the completion of it as our sacrificial lamb.

Upon reading this, I am left wondering how often my only response to a victory I experience is an intense song of worship, or a time of seeing the awe of God and praising him for it. So often, after a battle I have faced,  I am more focused on the fact that there was a battle and I was required to be in it, fighting for my faith, or that of someone I love. I can resent the battle, not even seeing the victories, nor being humbled by what God has done through me. But, the image of these “victorious ones”, reminds me to take time to listen to God’s spirit, to reflect on how he is working around me, not to mention how he is making us victorious, communally. 

In this chapter, the number seven is used several times, indicating perfection and completion: seven angels, seven plagues, seven bowls. With the completion of God’s wrath, the battle will be over and God’s judgement will be complete.  His righteousness, holiness, justice and glorious deeds will be clear to all, and everyone will be able to do nothing but fall down in worship. This reminds me of the passage in Philippians:

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

As we face many battles, I pray we will be aware of the fight for our souls, that we will see the victories, and worship our King, as we remember who it is that we worship. Our God is true and just, holy and righteous, with glorious and marvelous deeds! And the victory is complete.  As verse 4 says, “Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?”