The Dragon and the Sea
The Dragon and the Sea • Sermon • Submitted
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Suffering, Redemption, Hope
Big Idea of the Series: The book of Revelation uses imagery of both a dragon and the sea to describe the evil believers face in their pursuit of spiritual faithfulness. In many ways, these metaphors provide a telling snapshot of Revelation as a whole, digging deep into its modern-day personal and corporate application. This four-week series, which offers a brief overview of John’s apocalyptic vision, focuses on these themes, centering on the importance of Christians persevering even in the midst of powerful opposition.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
In the end, God will make all things new by abolishing sin and its effects forever.
1. The ocean reminds us of how very small we are and of how much we aren’t in control. In ancient Jewish literature, the seas or oceans often symbolized chaos and uncontrolled evil. In the book of Revelation, John mentions the sea several times.
2. The book of Revelation is heavy with symbolic language, one of the characteristics of apocalyptic literature (writings on the end of time). Although believers vary in their interpretations of some of Revelation’s symbols and teachings, we can understand the overall message of God’s victory over all evil. Considering that the apostle John was writing from an island where he was exiled (as punishment for his activities as a Christian missionary) to believers who were being persecuted by a Roman government which was brutally enforcing emperor worship, Revelation’s message of hope and faithfulness during suffering was timely for its original audience and still applicable for believers today (Kenneth Barker, et. al., The NIV Study Bible [Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995], “Introduction to Revelation,” 1922).
3. John describes his vision of “a new heaven and a new earth” (v. 1), a redeemed world in which God will live among his people once again (v. 3), no longer separated by sin and its terrible effects, namely, death, mourning, crying, and pain (v. 4).
The longing for a future glorious city of God can be traced back to the time of the OT patriarchs. Abraham waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
The New Jerusalem
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
It is also called the Holy City
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Reve
the Heavenly Jerusalem
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
and Mount Zion
The Bride of the Lamb
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
The Bible presents heaven as a very tangible place-a city called the New Jerusalem, on a new earth. It describes the characteristics of this place.
4. In John’s vision of the new heaven and new earth, he records that there is “no longer any sea” (v. 1). To those who love the seaside and the beach, the idea of having no sea in heaven may be strange until we understand what the sea symbolized to the ancient Jewish people. “The sea represented trouble to them. It was from the Mediterranean sea that violent storms arose. … But the Jews feared other problems from the sea besides turbulent storms. Their traditional archrivals, marauders who beset them countless times, were a seacoast nation. The Philistines came from the direction of the sea. The Jew looked to a new world where all the evils symbolized by the sea would be absent. The new earth will have water. It will have a river. It will have life-giving streams. But there will be no sea there” (R. C. Sproul, “There Will Be No Sea in the New Heaven and New Earth,” Ligonier, August 18, 2014, https://www.ligonier.org/blog/there-willbe-no-sea-new-heaven-and-new-earth/).
Absence of Sin
Satan has been banished to the lake of fire for eternity. The tragic effects of sin on this present world will be absent from the New Jerusalem, “for the former things have passed away.”
5. John’s vision of a world without evil is further defined when Christ speaks, describing the kind of people who won’t be present (v. 8). This list serves as a sober warning to readers. When coming up with our own list of who doesn’t make it into heaven, we might readily include “the vile” and “the murderers,” but right next to them are “the cowardly” and “all liars” (v. 8). Who here has never lied? Never acted in fear? By God’s righteous standard, not one person could possibly enter into paradise—without God’s help.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: Behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: Behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, Shall remain before me, saith the Lord, So shall your seed and your name remain.
,
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
6. John also mentions the “second death” (v. 8), the lake of fire or hell. Only 58 percent of Americans believe in hell (though 72 percent believe in heaven). (Caryle Murphy, “Most American Believe in Heaven and Hell,” FactTank [blog], Pew Research Center, November 10, 2015, http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2015/11/10/most-americans-believe-in-heaven-and-hell/).
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
6. John also mentions the “second death” (v. 8), the lake of fire or hell. Only 58 percent of Americans believe in hell (though 72 percent believe in heaven). (Caryle Murphy, “Most American Believe in Heaven and Hell,” FactTank [blog], Pew Research Center, November 10, 2015, http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2015/11/10/most-americans-believe-in-heaven-and-hell/).
He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it.
Isaiah 25:
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Where all that is perishable will be raised and transformed into a glorious new “imperishable” reality.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1 Cor.
Galations 4:26
6. John also mentions the “second death” (v. 8), the lake of fire or hell. Only 58 percent of Americans believe in hell (though 72 percent believe in heaven). (Caryle Murphy, “Most American Believe in Heaven and Hell,” FactTank [blog], Pew Research Center, November 10, 2015, http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2015/11/10/most-americans-believe-in-heaven-and-hell/).
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Revelation 7:
God will dwell with them. The greatest blessing of heaven will be unhindered fellowship with God himself.
And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; Fear not, neither be fainthearted For the two tails of these smoking firebrands, For the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
7. Thank God for the completed work of Jesus Christ. On the cross, he declared, “It is finished!”
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
, and here on his throne he says again, “It is done” (v. 6). Jesus is truly the Alpha and the Omega (v. 6), the First and the Last, the One through whom we enter in to the kingdom of God. Jesus makes all things new at the end of time (v. 5) and makes us new creations from the inside out (see )!
and here on his throne he says again, “It is done”
8. Our only hope for entering in to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on our behalf by his death and resurrection. “If you are born twice, you only die once; but if you are born only once, you will die twice” (Greg Laurie, “Born Twice, Die Once,” Christian Post, April 8, 2013, https://www.christianpost.com/news/born-twice-die-once-93432/).
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Jesus is truly the Alpha and the Omega (v. 6), the First and the Last, the One through whom we enter in to the kingdom of God. Jesus makes all things new at the end of time (v. 5) and makes us new creations from the inside out.
Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
The Lord stands beyond the universe’s beginning and its end as Sovereign Creator.
The spring of the water of life is the throne of God and the Lamb, a throne of grace because here the thirsty drink without payment.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The one who conquers:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
8. Our only hope for entering in to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on our behalf by his death and resurrection. “If you are born twice, you only die once; but if you are born only once, you will die twice” (Greg Laurie, “Born Twice, Die Once,” Christian Post, April 8, 2013, https://www.christianpost.com/news/born-twice-die-once-93432/).
8. Our only hope for entering in to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on our behalf by his death and resurrection. “If you are born twice, you only die once; but if you are born only once, you will die twice” (Greg Laurie, “Born Twice, Die Once,” Christian Post, April 8, 2013, https://www.christianpost.com/news/born-twice-die-once-93432/).
A FATHER WAS dying. He had his family come around. He only had a few minutes left to live. He had four children. He said, “Good night John, good night Butch, goodnight Betty, good-bye Ralph.” Ralph said, “Wait a minute. You said good night to my siblings, but you said good-bye to me!” The father told his son, “Because the other three children have accepted Jesus, I will see them again in glory, but because you have not, I will never see you again.”
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2 Peter
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Are You Living Only for Today —
Or Living Also for Eternity?
This verse says that when the Day of the Lord comes, “…the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
According to Peter, when the Day of the Lord comes at the very end of the age, everything we presently see and know will be changed. Even the heavens as we currently know them will pass away. The words “pass away” are from the Greek word parerchomai, which pictures something that is temporary and will soon be passing away. Peter says that the present heavens will pass away with a “great noise.” The words “great noise” are from the Greek word hroidzedon. This word describes a sound so loud that it is nearly deafening to those who hear it.
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Locations 24435-24436). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
When these events transpire, the heavens and all “the elements” shall melt with a fervent heat. The word “elements” is the Greek word stoicheion, and it refers to everything that exists.
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Locations 24447-24449). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
A day is coming when all the material possessions possessions you own and hold to be dear will be “dissolved.” The word “dissolved” is from the Greek word luo, which is the same word mentioned above in to describe the complete dissolution of everything that presently exists. By using this word, Peter alerts us to the fact that nothing we presently own will last forever. In light of this truth, how should we view our material possessions, and how should we prioritize our lives?
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Locations 24450-24453). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Locations 24449-24450). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Location 24455). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Locations 24455-24456). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Word Pictures in the New Testament Revelation 21:1
And the sea is no more (και ἡ θαλασσα οὐκ ἐστιν ἐτι [kai hē thalassa ouk estin eti]). The sea had given up its dead (20:13). There were great risks on the sea (18:17ff.). The old physical world is gone in this vision. It is not a picture of renovation of this earth, but of the disappearance of this earth and sky (not heaven where God dwells). It is a glorious picture here in 21:1–8 in sharp contrast to the lake of fire in 20:11–15. The symbolism in neither case is to be pressed too literally, but a stern and a glorious reality exists behind it all.
Renner, Rick. Sparkling Gems: From The Greek (Kindle Location 24469). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Have a Blessed Week!