2006-5-22 06:41:00
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. Revelation 15:1
Again, the disciple who follows the path of Christ looks to heaven or higher consciousness and finds another sign, or greater realization. He sees seven angels having the seven last plagues. It is noteworthy that these are the last plagues, or difficulties the disciple must surmount while connected with physical reality. The fact that the seven angels are in heaven tells us that the disciple has mastered all the energies, which govern his body and life. His physical impulses, his feelings, his love, his creativity, his will and all that makes him human is in heaven, or under the control of spiritual consciousness.
"...for in them is filled up the wrath of God."
The word "wrath" comes from THUMOS, which more literally means "heated passion."
The disciple must face seven final difficulties that will activate a powerful fiery passion within to continue, no matter what, toward the realm of Spirit.
Now many do not see God as having passions neither do they see Christ or a close disciple as having them, but such is not the case. It is true that we must master our desire nature, which includes our passions. This involves correct detachment, but lower passion is replaced by higher passion.
Jesus demonstrated great passion when he cleared the bad guys out of the temple. Concerning his act of turning over tables and whipping the moneychangers it was written, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." John 2:17
In other words, Jesus was acting out a powerful passion. Even so, will the disciple at the end of his journey pursue his final steps toward liberation with great internal passion, one that is one hundred percent under his control and directed with intelligence.
"And 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. Revelation 15:2
In chapter four we learned that the sea of glass was before the throne of God. Here we have the additional piece of information that those who have achieved victory over the beast stand on this sea of glass. These have the "harps of God."
What does this mean?
First contrast a sea of glass to a regular sea. With a regular sea one cannot peer into the depths of the water for the water is never clear. But glass is clear and if we were to look into this we could see the mysteries within all the way to the bottom.
Secondly, you cannot stand on a regular sea, but the redeemed stand on the sea of glass.
The sea represents the emotional nature and until the passions are brought under the control of "heaven" there are stormy feelings, mists, rain and the water is never clear. One can never see clearly into it, nor can he master it to the extent that he can stand on it. One who has not ascended to heaven in consciousness has to have the outward support of a ship to navigate its surface. Our current ships are our friends, family, support systems, psychologists and others who help keep us emotionally stable.
He whose consciousness has ascended, quiets and stills his emotional body so all storms cease, all impurities separate and what remains is a crystal clear emotional body that yields divine passion to the disciple. His light and knowledge is increased and he can use his passion to see with extreme clarity. The fact that the redeemed "stand" on the sea of glass illustrates dominion over the emotional/desire nature.
The fact that the sea of glass is mingled with fire illustrates that the fact that the emotions are purified through yielding to the fiery will of God.
We notice that this victory not only belongs to the disciple having the vision, but the entire redeemed stand upon this sea having the harps of God. This tells us that the disciple who ascends in consciousness and sees this sign opens a door of communion and has an inner contact through the Oneness Principle with others who have gone on before him. Through a merging of the minds they enjoy the "music of the spheres" as if they were one life.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 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. Revelation 15:3-4.
As the disciple faces the final seven difficulties he sings two songs that give him strength.
The first is the song of Moses. This is not quoted in Revelations but is found in Exodus 15:1-19
This was a song of faith sang by Moses after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and the Egyptians destroyed. The Red Sea was not clear but it was parted and controlled by God to insure safe passage.
The second is the "song of the Lamb." Again this emphasizes the power, goodness and righteousness of God.
Absorbing the meaning from these songs gives the disciple the power and faith to tread the path ahead to ultimate victory.
Here are the next verses for consideration:
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. Revelations 15:5-8
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. Revelation 16:1
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Copyright © 2006 by J J Dewey, All Rights Reserved