The Sea of Glass

(Day 49—LIVE)

Nolan Joseph—May 27, 2023

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One of the things mentioned in the Bible, rarely ever talked about is the phenomena called the Sea of Glass!

It is mentioned in the Bible in several places, one by the specific name, and in other places by description. Most religions don't know or say anything about it. It's shrouded in mystery and uncertainty, and it's shunned and ignored.

Today what I would like to do is pull back the curtain on the Sea of Glass mentioned in the Bible so we can better understand it. It is indeed a fascinating and interesting subject.

Tomorrow is Sunday, May 28, 2023, and it is a day identified in the Bible as the Day of Pentecost. It represents the resurrection to spirit life of those who died in the faith. When they are resurrected they will become the spiritual Bride of Christ known as the Church in a wedding ceremony. This event along with other events will be taking place on the Sea of Glass!

What is this mysterious Sea of Glass? We're going to begin this study by going to the Old Testament. The tabernacle of the O.T. to an item in the tabernacle that represented the Sea of Glass.

The Sea of Glass was designed by God Himself! The blueprint He gave to King David to give to his son King Solomon to build. The tabernacle was a physical representation on earth of God's dwelling place in heaven.

But first, let's take a close look at this item that is a physical representation on earth in the tabernacle that represented the Sea of Glass itself. So, we'll take a look at that object first, and after that we will talk a look at the Sea of Glass itself and see how they are related.

1-King 7—the time setting is about 966-967B.C. when Solomon was actually building the tabernacle.

1-Kings 7:23: "And he [Solomon] made a molten sea…"

There it is! The first clue hidden in plain sight! An item in the tabernacle that represented the Sea of Glass! This item was a metal container that contained lots of water to be used in the service of the tabernacle by the priests, mainly for them washing themselves and so on.

"…ten cubits from brim to brim, all around it.… [that's in diameter, 15 feet in diameter] …And its height was five cubits… [7-1/2 feet] …and a line of thirty cubits went around it." So, it had a complete diameter of about 45 feet!

Verse 24: "And under its brim were ornamental buds, going around it, ten in a cubit… [there were actually two lines of these] …going all around the sea. The ornamental buds were cast in two rows when it was cast."

This is where it's going to start to get really interesting with the symbolism and the significance to its counterpart in heaven. You have to remember some of these items, because they are physical representations of the actual spiritual thing.

Verse 25: "It (the molten image) stood upon twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east. The sea… [this item] …was set on top of them, and all their back parts were pointed inward."

So, these twelve oxen were in a circle and they were all facing all directions. The sea was not set directly on their backs, it was set upon a platform that went on their backs. You get the idea!

Verse 26: And it was a handbreadth thick… [about 4 inches of solid metal] …and its brim was fashioned like the brim of a cup with a bud of a lily.…"

I just went out to the garden and picked from my wife's garden (of which she is not aware of until this very moment) but this is lily and this is a bud of a lily (shown on video). So, I'm not sure if it was shaped like one that open and flowered out, or if it's just tight like a bulb. Either way it would be a very beautiful design!

"…It contained two thousand baths" (v 26). Baths in the Old Testament is equal to about 5-1/2 gallons today! So, 2,000 baths would be equal to 12 thousand gallons, which is the same amount of water that is in a 15 foot by 30 foot swimming pool.

Verse 29: "And on the borders that were between the ledges… [on this contraption that was built] …were lions, oxen, and cherubim…."

These were either painted on or embedded on, or molded on to the Sea of Glass;representing animals and angels. So, this whole thing, the oxen and everything is set upon a base:

Verse 30: "And the one base had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze…."

Verse 33: "And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their hub, and their spokes were all cast."

If you were standing there in the tabernacle looking at this item, first of all it's a very huge, gigantic, humongous item. It's 7-1/2 feet tall, but it was set on the backs of the oxen, and then the oxen were set on a base, and the base had wheels.

It was elevated way in the air; it was stunningly beautiful! Because of the wheels and the animals that were at the bottom of it, it portrayed portability; it can be moved from place to place. When it was filled with the water, if you were able to get to the top of it and look across it, especially on a windless day, it probably literally looked like the Sea of Glass!That's the item in the tabernacle that represented the Sea of Glass!

Now we're going to take a look at the real thing, the real Sea of Glass that is mentioned in the Scriptures.

Ezek. 1—here it is not mentioned by name, even thought we will see place where it's mentioned by name. Here it mentioned by description.

Ezekiel 1:1: "And it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I [Ezekiel] was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God."

Ezekiel wasn't just seeing visions that God gave him, he was seeing visions of God Himself! We will need to come back and clarified at the end as to why he was actually seeing God Himself. Please remember this and all the items, because they are all related to the Sea of Glass, as we see the Sea of Glass in different places.

Verse 4: "And I looked, and behold, a windstorm came out of the north, a great cloud… [the same thing] …with fire flashing forth continually—and a brightness all around, coming out of its midst, like the color of sparkling amber out of the midst of the fire. Also out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures…." (vs 4-5).

Now we're beginning to see the creatures representing the animals and angels that were embedded in the Sea of Glass in the tabernacle.

"…And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man" (v 5).

So, these were angels in the likeness of a man, but they also had different faces and it continues to describe it in the following verses. I encourage you to read those verses, because it's very interesting reading.

Verse 9: "Their wings were joined one to the other. They did not turn in their going; each one went straightforward."

So, you have four angels probably one in each direction, their wings touched and whenever they moved they forward in whatever direction that angel was facing.

Verse 14: "And the living creatures kept running back and forth, like the appearance of a flash of lightning."

Up to this point, Ezekiel could only see the bottom part of this object as it was approaching. Remember, the actual Sea of Glass was very tall. So, with this item he's only looking at the activity underneath the object, not the top, yet.

Verse 15: "And as I looked at the living creatures… [there were 4 living creatures, so there were 4 wheels] …behold, one wheel was on the earth beside the living creatures, with its four faces.

Verse 16: "The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness. And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel."

Now we're going to see how this object moves. Remember, in the Old Testament it portrayed portability.

Verse 17: "When they went, they went on their four sides; and they did not turn when they moved."

That's why the oxen was placed in a circle showing it could go in any direction. When this object was moving, if it was to go north, it would go north. If it wanted to go south, it wouldn't turn and go south like we would in a car; it would just go south. Because you had four angels in each direction and they went in whatever direction the angel was pointing.

Verse 18: "And their rims looked like this: they were high; they were even awesome. And their rims were full of eyes all around the four of them. And when the living creatures moved the wheels moved with them… [like in a car] …and when the living creatures were lifted from the earth, the wheels were lifted up with them…. [like in an airplane] …Wherever the spirit was to go, there they went; for there the spirit was to go. And the wheels were lifted up along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels" (vs 18-20). These spiritual beings are what powered this object!

Now he's going to get into the view of the top of the object as it's approaching. I don't know whether in the vision the object dipped down so he can see on top of it, or whether he was raised up. But he says:

Verse 22: "And there was a likeness over the heads… [of the heads of the animals and angels that were carrying the Sea of Glass, as he's seeing in vision] …of the living creatures—an expanse… [a sea]  …like the color of awesome crystal… [glass; like a Sea of Glass] …stretched out over their heads from above."

Now he's going to see what's sitting on the Sea of Glass!

Verse 26: And from above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a Throne, like sapphire stone. And on the likeness of the Throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it."

As I mentioned in the beginning, he was seeing the likeness of a man, he was actually seeing God Himself!

Verse 27: "And I saw Him appearing as the color of polished bronze, looking like fire within it all around. From the likeness of His loins even upward, and from the likeness of His loins even downward, I saw Him, looking like fire, and there was brightness all around Him. As the rainbow appears that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of His brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD...." (vs 27-28).

Not the likeness of the glory of God, because that's what you tend to read when  you read the English. But he was actually seeing the glory of God!

"…And I saw. And I fell on my face… [because you don't bow before anyone but God, not even angels] …and I heard a voice of One speaking (v 25)."

There Ezekiel was, seeing the Sea of Glass with all the activity underneath it and on top of it, and you can see the similarity with the animals, angels and then the Sea of Glass in the tabernacle. Here with the actual Sea of Glass you can see the similarities. The Sea of Glass in the tabernacle was being carried by animals and angels.

So in one situation you have the physical Sea of Glass in the tabernacle, and in the other side you have the actual Sea of Glass, as a spiritual Sea of Glass that Moses saw in the book of Genesis.

What we just looked at was the Sea of Glass by description in the book of Ezekiel, now let us look at the Sea of Glass that is actual by name in the book of Revelation. I'll quickly mention about the other Sea of Glass.

Remember when God told Moses that He's going to come down upon the mountain of Sinai. When He came down, Moses was to come up with the elders. When they went up to the top of the mountain they saw smoke, fire and lightning. They all saw God on the Sea of Glass! God came down to them on a Sea of Glass: note the follow Scriptures:

• Exo. 19:11, 16-19
• Exo. 24 where they actually declare that they saw God on the Sea of Glass

Revelation 4:1—John speaking: "After these things I looked, and behold, a door opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard was as if a trumpet were speaking with me, saying… [probably an angel] …'Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take place after these things.' And immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a Throne was set in heaven, and One was sitting on the Throne" (vs 1-2). John is seeing it from the top!

Look at some of the things that is associated with the Sea of Glass here:

Verse 5: "And proceeding from the Thronewere lightnings and thunders… [things you get in a windstorm, the way we see and know it] …and voices; and seven lamps of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning before the Throne. And before the Throne was a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the Throne and over the Throne were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind" (vs 5-6).

So, you have three pictures here:

• sea in the tabernacle
• Sea of Glass in Ezek. 1 in vision
• Sea of Glass in Rev. 4 that John saw

Let's summarize or see what we've learned from these Scriptures; what they reveal. There are six things I want to point out supported by Scripture, so there is no speculation here. After I address these things, I just want to address five things that came to my mind, questions, as I was doing this study.

• the Sea of Glass is associated with wind, thunder, lightning, clouds, fire and smoke

These lightnings and thunders when they coming out of Egypt wasn't really on the people, it was on the Throne of God.

• the Sea of Glass is portable and can move from place to place
• in different place and at different times the Sea of Glass is associated with different spiritual creations or angels, or in the form of animals

You will see in one place a certain set of animals, and in another place with certain set of angels and animals.

• it is stunningly beautiful to behold

I can't imagine the physical one; the most beautiful place in the universe has to be God's Throne!

• it is constituted of a clear and metal substance, much like the substance identified in

Revelation 21:21: "…and the street of the city… [the Holy City to come down in the future] …was pure gold, as transparent as glass." It seems to be made of a similar substance like that!

• God was seen on His Throne on the Sea of Glass  

So, these six items are supported by Scripture. There is no speculation here.

Now I would like to enter into five items that I thought of as I was doing this study. These are speculations, because the Scripture doesn't say these things, but it was deduced from my study related to these things.

I want to make it a clear differentiation here, please don't hold this as Scripture, but they do make some sense:

• God uses a Sea of Glass as a platform to conduct business in different places when necessary.

We saw it on Mt. Sinai, with Ezekiel and in heaven!

• God may have at His disposal more than one Sea of Glass for different purposes.

In different places we see them with different animals and different angels. So, it is quite possible that He may have different Seas of Glass for different purposes.

The next three items are what IFquestions:

• What IF in Exodus 13:21[transcriber's correction], where God is leading the Israelites out of Egypt, because it says: "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud… [which is associated with the Sea of Glass] …to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire… [fire is associated with the Sea of Glass] …to give them light, to go by day and night."

So, was God leading them on a Sea of Glass and these things are the only things that were allowed to see?

• What IF the chariots of fire (2-Kings 2:11) that scooped Elijah up from the earth was a Sea of Glass, because some of the things mentioned there are fire—chariots of fire—and it came in a windstorm, wheels were seen and horses were seen.

Could that have been a Sea of Glass? I think it was, but again, that's just my speculation!

• What IF when Christ was taken up into the heavens when He was last seen by the apostles (Acts 1:9) where they saw Him rise up from the earth and the last thing they saw of Him was on a cloud.

• Was that cloud a Sea of Glass? A cloud is associated with the Sea of Glass!
• Would not that make more sense than a vapor cloud? I personally think it was a Sea of Glass! My opinion, speculation!

Those are just some very interesting things to think about, and also some very interesting things that the Bible actually pointed out about the Sea of Glass.

Is it so hard to believe that a spiritual means of transportation exists? If that's difficult for you to believe, then you probably wouldn't believe that there were cars in the New Testament? Because:

Acts 2:1[transcriber's correction]: "And when the Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, was being fulfilled, they were all with one accord in the same place." Who makes the Accord? The Honda Motor Corp.

So, with that hopefully humorous ending, I would like to wish you a good rest of the day and God bless you!

Scriptural References:

• 1 Kings 7:23-26, 29-30, 33
• Ezekiel 1:1, 4-5, 9, 14-20, 22, 26-28
• Revelation 4:1-2, 5-6
• Revelation 21:21
• Exodus 13:21
• Acts 2:1

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Exodus 19:11, 16-19
• Exodus 24
• 2 Kings 2:11
• Acts 2:9

NJ:bo
Transcribed: 6/1/23

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