New Heaven and New Earth, But No Sea
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Have you eve scene a map from the Middle Ages?
Have you eve scene a map from the Middle Ages?
It has what we would expect - drawings of various land masses (countries, continents, mountain ranges, etc.
A compass pointing to N, S, E, and W.
But there’s one detail that immediately catches our eye - if you focus your eye upon the various oceans, you will notice drawings of dragons, snakes, or ferocious sea monsters.
In fact, sometimes you can see these sea monsters destroying a ship at sea.
Cartographers (people that create maps) drew these sea monsters to make it clear that there was much danger in this areas.
They may have encountered storms.
…or heard about ships sinking at sea.
….or there were tales about unexpected dangers that would destroy large merchant ships along with their cargo and crew.
The sea, for many, in the ancient world was a place of danger, uncertainty, and terror.
…a new creation but no sea.
…a new creation but no sea.
We are now nearing the end of the book of Revelation and John shows us our future dwelling place; John writes.
1 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.
In Revelation 20:11-15 we learned about the great judgement day.
…and we saw how the entire universe/all of creation was destroyed.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
However, in chapter 21 we see that God will create a new heaven and new earth that is no longer tainted by human sin.
God will create a world, likely very similar this our current one.
However, there is something missing in this new world.
John says that there will be no sea.
1 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.
This should immediately catch our attention.
Can you imagine a world without the sea?
Currently, oceans cover over 70% of the planet’s surface.
But, in the new heaven and new earth there will be no sea.
Why would God want us to know that in the new creation there will be no sea?
Well, if we go back to the original readers of the book of Revelation…you will recall that many feared the sea.
They were familiar with sailing expeditions that resulted in a shipwreck.
Some were familiar with long sea voyages where people would die at sea.
If you recall, although Peter was a fisherman, when he began to sink into the Sea of Galilee, he was paralyzed with fear.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
You would expect that an experienced fisherman knew how to swim and had no reason to fear while he was at sea.
…and yet, Peter became very afraid.
So, when we are told that there will be no sea in the new creation, God wants us to communicate a very important point.
Uncertainty, fear, terror, danger, will not exist in the new creation.
On this side of eternity we have many things to fear - fear about our future, fear due to the threat of violence, uncertainty about our health and finances, fear about our children’s safety, etc.
This is all because of sin.
Sin is the culprit.
Human sin has lead to a world where there are so many things that cause us to fear.
But out great hope is that sin will not longer have a place in God’s new creation…and this is great news…because the absence of sin, means there will be no terror, no uncertainty,
We can be confident that this will come to pass for those that have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
