Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida

I had the JOY of seeing this peaceful scene.  The sea is so very still!  It almost looks like the sky!  And it is on the Gulf of Mexico.  Our Galveston side has waves galore but here it is so heavenly serene!

In the book of Revelation, the sea sometimes represents symbolically the masses of humanity.   But this verse shows a crystal sea before the throne of God, because humanity, if it is before the throne of God,  is at rest and peaceful.

Oh, what a vast difference it makes to be before the throne of God!

“It is but little that we can receive here [on earth], some drops of joy that enter into us; but there we shall enter into joy, as vessels put into a sea of happiness.”  – Robert Leighton, 17th century preacher

The Sea of Happiness

“Ah, joy in a sea of happiness!  What a blissful picture it invokes!  Heaven is where God abides and there is a sea of happiness there!

In the heavenly throne room of God, which St. John visited by the spirit, he describes a sea of glass:”*

“and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.”  Revelation 4:6  (ESV)

This is water from the Gulf of Mexico! (Northwest Florida)

With the possible exception of this unusual occurrence in the Gulf of Mexico…. “A real sea is continuously in motion and often even tumultuous.  This sea in the heavenly realm is still, calm, and at rest as it looks like crystal.”*

Crystal is expensive, and it has always been.  Dr. Richard Booker** makes another point in his book:

“By saying that God’s throne sits on a sea of crystal-clear glass, John is saying … that the throne of God far surpasses that of any earthly ruler including the emperor.”

We know that the early Christians were persecuted to death, but what God has is better, the best!   We know that Christians are being persecuted today and it probably will get much worse!   But the best is yet to come for we are promised to be in heaven with Christ!

Still Waters

“Still waters can best reflect images.  When we are still in His Presence we can best reflect God’s image.  We were created to be a reflection of that holy image.*

In this [crystal] “sea”, there are peaceful people.  They have no fear of death because they abide in the eternal Life of Christ.”*

Interestingly, the new earth promised in Revelation has no tumultuous sea!”*

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”  Revelation 21:1

“Perhaps that is saying that there will be no more tumultuous hordes!  No more transgressors!  No more thieves!  No more murderers!”*

No more sorrow.   No more pain.

“The critics laugh and scoff at the notion of heaven.  They say that Christians believe in pie in the sky.   Because they have telescopes that look far into space and yet have not seen God’s heaven, they disbelieve.  Have they even considered heaven is in a different dimension?  They mock and disbelieve because they do not want to be accountable to a Creator for their sins!*

But we of faith, having our sin problem dealt with through the cross of Christ, know that there is a heavenly eternal state.  Yet we can’t imagine the glories and joys of heaven fully!*

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him”  1 Corinthians 2:9

The JOY will be marvelous to behold!*

* Joy is A Jewel, Carolyn Anne Venable, pg 118-121, on Amazon

** The Lamb and the Seven-Sealed Scroll, Dr. Richard Booker, pg. 39