Revelation 15:2
What does Revelation 15:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 15:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 15:2 means
John sees a crystalline expanse, serene yet mingled with fire—peace in God’s presence coupled with the fervor of impending judgment. Standing there are those who resisted the beast, his image, and the number of his name. They did not merely survive; they overcame, refusing idolatry even at cost. They hold harps given by God, signaling that their victory issues in worship, not self-congratulation. The scene evokes a greater Exodus: redeemed people standing on the far shore, safe and singing, while judgment is about to roll forward. Their presence before the throne assures believers that faithfulness amid pressure is not wasted; God crowns endurance with praise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I saw a sea which seemed like glass mixed with fire; and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, were in their places by the sea of glass, with God's instruments of music in their hands.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I saw as a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who do gain the victory over the beast, and his image, and his mark, <FI>and<Fi> the number of his name, standing by the sea of the glass, having harps of God,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I saw as a glass sea, mingled with fire, and those that had gained the victory over the beast, and over its image, and over the number of its name, standing upon the glass sea, having harps ofGod.
Context
Having announced the last plagues, the vision lingers not on terror but on triumph. Verse 2 presents the faithful who overcame the system of the beast, giving context to the judgments: they vindicate God’s people and expose evil. This prepares for their song in verses 3–4, where the content of their worship interprets the meaning of history and judgment. Only after this worship does the vision return to the heavenly temple (verse 5) to initiate the procession of the seven angels with the bowls.
v.1And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.
v.2This passage
v.3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 13:14
And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.
- Revelation 4:6
and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
- 1 Peter 1:7
that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:
- 1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:
- Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:
- Revelation 11:11
And after the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that beheld them.
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