As we continue our tour of the Throne Room of Heaven we find ourselves...before the throne...there was a sea of glass, like crystal...Rev. 4:6a. The sea of glass symbolizes the purity of the living God in the Holy of Holies, where no impurity can enter - ever! We must turn to the Old Testament to understand in depth the meaning of this esoteric imagery.
And he made the Sea, ten cubits from one rim to the other, the same completely circular round about; its height was five cubits, and its circumference thirty cubits...I Kings 7:23 - Septuagint. The Sea describes a laver of purified water that was used in the temple purification rituals, which in practice, symbolized the coming Messiah - unblemished Lamb - whose blood sacrifice will cleanse mankind from their sins permanently.
The Sea was used by the High Priest to cleanse his hands and feet before ministering to the Lord, or preparing a burnt offering to Him. This was an outward testament that symbolized the removal of defilement from his heart, when he confessed his sins to God, producing a humble and contrite heart. Before the High Priest could don the pure white linen garments, to go into the Holy of Holies and present the blood of an unblemished lamb for the sins of the people - he was required to purify himself at The Sea.
The Sea was strategically situated between the door of the temple and the altar, so the High Priest would immediately be reminded of the sin in his heart that must be cleansed and purified before he enters the Holy of Holies.
Make a brazen laver, and a brazen base for it, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar, and thou shalt pour water into it...and Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet with water from it...whensoever they shall go into the tabernacle of witness, they shall wash themselves with water, so they shall not die, whensoever they advance to the altar to do service and to offer the whole burnt offerings to the Lord...Ex. 30:18-20 - Septuagint.
The laver used to hold the purified water, symbolized the body of Christ - by His stripes we are healed. The purified water symbolized the shed blood of the coming Christ, who would permanently cleanse sin from the heart of all who accept Him as Savior and Lord. This was a very serious ceremony, because if the High Priest did not cleanse and purify his heart from sin at The Sea before ministering to the Lord, he could die, because no defilement, no sin, could enter the presence of God in the Holy of Holies.
As a precaution, a rope was tied to the ankle of the High Priest, so he could be pulled out in case he died in the Holy of Holies. Terror prevented anyone else entering the Holy of Holies when this situation occurred, until he truly got right with God. Men can appear very religious outwardly and fool many people, but they cannot fool God.
The sea of glass before the throne of God, symbolizes that only human beings with cleansed and purified hearts will be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. Jesus Christ made men kings and priests by His cleansing and purifying blood, and they no longer will need The Sea to have an audience with God. Jesus paid the price of death, so that mankind will not die in the presence of God in the Holy of Holies in Heaven.
And in the midst of the throne and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and back...Rev. 4:6b. When we first read about the four living creatures the symbolism seems spooky and unexplainable - even creepy. But there is a rational explanation that will unlock the message in this riddle, once we define the symbolism.
The eyes in front and back of the living creatures around the throne of God symbolize the perpetual watchfulness - omnipresence of God - who neither slumbers nor sleeps...Ps. 121:3-4. One can only imagine the incredulity expressed on John's face when he first laid eyes on these pure and holy beings splashing beams of brilliant light all over the realm. He was allowed to view these creatures in symbolism. Understand the symbolism and we understand the message.
Next, John saw a lion, a calf, face of a man, and an eagle - what do they symbolize? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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