Question concerning 'no more seas'

[baydoll]

in Revelation 21:1:

"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."

Does this literally mean there will be no more seas/ocean in the world to come or is this to be taken figuratively? And if figuratively, in what way?

This has puzzled me for years! I love the ocean and the seashore and the beaches and everything concerning the sea; I hate to think these things will no longer be. (hey! I think I just made a poem! lol!)

Thoughts?

[wateredseeds]

No more oceans and large bodies of water. There will be rivers. But no large bodies of water. I take it to mean there will be lakes and such all over.....but that 90% of the earth or more will be dry land.

[shann0]

I love the ocean too. I haven't given this much thought, but it seems to me that with all the diverse and beautiful life we see in the oceans that the Lord loves them too. I hate to think that we'll not have any of those creatures in the new earth. I would miss dolphins and whales etc.

It's a perplexing passage, perhaps it's speaking of salt water? The root that the word comes from means salt, so maybe salt water will be done away with. Maybe those creatures will still be there, but they will be able to survive in regular water.

[baydoll]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I think so too, Shanno...perhaps like us, the sea animals will have a new nature....one in which doesn't require salt water to survive in.

I hope so! I can't picture Heaven without such wonderful creatures in it. Especially dolphins, whales and sea turtles!

[wateredseeds]

Here's a question. What's to say there won't be a bunch of new animals? Of course we know there will be lions and wolves and sheep. But other than that...we don't have a clear picture. What about all of the ancient creatures that are now dead? God obviously has a plan...and that is one part of it that we can't be sure of.

[baydoll]

Wow I hadn't thought of new animals being in Heaven...that would be really cool! I've always imagined dinosaurs would be roaming there though.

[shann0]

In my mind that is a definite possibility.

[PrisonerOfHope]

First of all, the Bible doesn't say "No more seas" in Revelation; it says "No more SEA." Genesis 1:10 does have the plural, and God said the SEAS were good.

According to the rules of Biblical interpretation, including the golden rule of interpretation and the law of first mention, the word "sea" refers to the gentile nations and "land" refers to Israel, or God's own people. When the Lord establishes His kingdom there will be no more "outsiders" or gentiles - everyone will belong to Him. Thus...no more "sea."

There are millions who love the whales and dolphins...but none love them as much as the Lord does. They'll be there! And let's not forget the many of us who love the beach, and the crashing waves....would the Lord disappoint us?

[baydoll]

Oh gah! How did I miss that one?!

Okay that makes sense! Thanks POH! I just can't picture Heaven without lovely beaches, dolphins and whales being there.

[PrisonerOfHope]

And I want a mansion by the sea, where the dolphins come to swim and play with me! And lots of honu...and whales...and all kinds of fishies....and seagulls... Gosh, God makes so much cool stuff!

[wateredseeds]

Totally disagree poh. It's talking about a physical description of the earth. I take it literally...unless it is obviously symbolic. In the passage....the physical nature of the earth is being described.

1And 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.

2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3And 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.

4And 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.

I just don't see what you are seeing. That's okay though....i'm not worried either way. I think we'll have plenty of water for our water animals.

[PrisonerOfHope]

The fact remains, the word in Revelation is singular. I've read some Bible teachers who believe it refers to the Mediterranean Sea, and - more recently - someone who gave a pretty good argument for it being the "sea of glass mixed with fire," which refers to the brazen laver. From all my research, though, I'm sticking with the "sea" of mankind.