THE SEA OF GLASS

CHAPTER 15

1. And I [the John Class] saw another sign in heaven [the spiritual realm], great and marvelous [truth], seven angels [seven harvest messages as in Ezekiel 10:1-4, where the man clothed in linen, after reporting that his inkhorn has sealed those that sigh and cry for the abominations that were done, is given coals of fire from off the altar to scatter over the city. This confirms that the same messenger, whose pen sealed the saints, also pours the coals of fire over the city, which are the divine plagues or judgments referred to here] having the seven last plagues [afflictions]; for in them [in these judgment messages] is filled up the wrath [judgment] of God.

2. And I [the John Class] saw as it were a sea [restless and lawless masses bent on righting wrong] of glass mingled with fire [cleansing destructive agencies similar to Solomon’s "molten sea" in 2 Chronicles 4:2, except that in this case it has double cleansing power, both water and fire]: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast [papacy], and over his image [the World Council of Churches], and over his mark [characteristic of the papacy], and over the number of his name [that which is expressed by the value of the Pope’s title—Vicar of the Son of God], stand on [over] the sea of glass [cleansing destructive agencies], having the harps of God [the Lord’s Word].

3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God [the message of Moses the servant of God in Deuteronomy 32:1-4, 28-32], and the song of the Lamb [meek and humble one singing the message of this verse], saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of the saints [nations or ages].

4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

5. And after that I [the John Class] looked, and, behold, the temple [permanent church or spiritual phase of the Millennial government] of the tabernacle [the tabernacle was a temporary dwelling and the main thing transferred from the tabernacle to the temple was the ark of the covenant] of the testimony [or witness] in heaven [powers of spiritual control] was opened:

6. And the seven angels [harvest messages within the framework of Bro. Russell’s writings] came out of the temple [emanating from the honored church], having the seven plagues [containing the seven last afflicting messages], clothed in pure and white linen [embodied in manifest truth and righteousness], and having their breasts girded [bound in its purpose] with golden girdles [divine servitude].

7. And one of the four living creatures [namely, God’s justice] gave unto the seven angels [harvest judgment messages] seven golden bowls [not narrow vials, but wide bowls, vehicles of divine provision] full of the wrath of God [expression of God’s angry judgment], who liveth for ever and ever [for the ages of the ages].

8. And the temple [honored church] was filled with smoke from the glory of God [invested with the manifestation of God’s glory], and from his [God’s] power; and no man [Christian] was able to enter into the temple [to co-operate with the glorified church to serve in any capacity], till the seven plagues [afflictions of the seven harvest message judgments] of the seven angels were fulfilled.

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            Footnotes

Topical Studies on:
The Song of Moses and the Lamb Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV

Topical Studies on:
Dedicating the Temple Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV

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