No More Sea

After the solemn scene of eternal judgment, unfolded at the close of Revelation 20, a vision of the unclouded beauty of the eternal state of blessedness is displayed before our eyes in chapter 21. The contrast is as abrupt as it is magnificent. No sooner had John recorded the doom of those who appeared before the great white throne than he proceeds: “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” (vs. 1). Isaiah is the first to make mention both of new heavens and a new earth. He says, speaking in the name of Jehovah, “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isa. 65:1717For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)). And again, “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” (Isa. 66:2222For 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. (Isaiah 66:22)). However, while the words “new heavens” and “new earth,” appear in Isaiah’s prophecy, yet it is evident from the context of the passages cited that they do not contain the same significance as in our chapter. In Isaiah, indeed, scarcely more is meant than that the heavens and the earth shall be morally new during the millennium; that, as the heavens will be cleared from Satan and Satan’s power (see Eph. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12); Rev. 12:1010And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10)), and the earth will be freed in large measure from the effects of the curse (see Psa. 67 and 72), they will be in this sense new. The Apostle Peter supplies the link between Isaiah and Revelation. Taking up, as led of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah’s prophecy and giving to it a deeper meaning, Peter says, after describing the dissolution of all things, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)). This, as will be at once perceived, goes much further than the kingdom during the thousand years, the characteristic of which is that righteousness will reign (See Psa. 96-99; Isa. 32). However, Peter speaks of a scene wherein righteousness shall dwell. This could be no other than the eternal state, telling of a scene without and a scene within which answer to all that God is, a scene which is, in fact, the consummation of the new creation.
The New Earth
The first heaven and the first earth are thus forever displaced. (In fact, as we learn from 2 Peter 3:10-12,10But 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. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:10‑12) they will be destroyed by fire.) It is specially noted that there was no more sea. This fact may have a twofold significance. The first and most prominent thought is, since the sea interposes a barrier to being together, that there will be then no more separation. Then, as we remember the symbolic meaning of earth and sea in this book, that the earth speaks of ordered government and the sea of not subject and unorganized masses of people or nations, it teaches that every part of the new earth will be in ordered subjection to and under the governmental control of God. All will be the perfect expression of His own will, and then will be fulfilled that far-reaching petition in the prayer the Lord taught His disciples, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:1010Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)). It was so done by our Lord Himself, but in these “new and blessed scenes,” it will be also so done by everyone among all the countless throng of the redeemed.
E. Dennett