I mentioned before how Genesis 1:1 rings so clear in my mind when I read this verse in Revelation. Don't we have a wonderfully poetic God who writes His Word in such a manner that the end of the story ties back to the beginning in such a perfect balance? Don't ever think that we get our human literary talents from any source other than the most incredible literary genius ever...way beyond Shakespeare, Dickens or Uris...more mysterious than Christie, le Carre', or Grisham. The Holy Spirit, writing over approximately 1,600 years, has written the most beautiful book of poetry, mystery and the ultimate romance of all time...the beautiful, continuous story of God's love for us and His eternal plan for our lives with Him, accomplished through the gift of His Son for our redemption.
So when in Genesis 1 we are told that on the third day, God separated the dry ground from the waters and he called the dry ground "land" and the gathered waters, "seas", why, now when the new heaven and the new earth have been brought into existence, has the sea disappeared? There has to be a reason for the beginning...and the end...of this part of God's creation. Can we dig deeper?
The beasts of Isaiah, Daniel and Revelation rise up out of the sea. The sea seems to be, in God's literary format, a source of evil.
Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Entire Bible, states: "The third day’s work is related in these verses—the forming of the sea and the dry land, and the making of the earth fruitful. Hitherto the power of the Creator had been exerted and employed about the upper part of the visible word; the light of heaven was kindled, and the firmament of heaven fixed: but now he descends to this lower world, the earth, which was designed for the children of men...the waters, thus cleared, thus collected, and thus lodged, in their proper place, he called seas. Though they are many, in distant regions, and washing several shores, yet, either above ground or under ground, they have communication with each other, and so they are one, and the common receptacle of waters, into which all the rivers flow. Waters and seas often, in scripture, signify troubles and afflictions, (Psalm 42:7 Psalm 69:2, Psalm 69:14, Psalm 69:15). God’s own people are not exempted from these in this world."
Just as God separated light and darkness, He separated land and sea. He knew that, in this world, we needed the darkness, to recognize the light; we needed the sea, to appreciate the land. Yes, in the Bible, the sea often signifies troubles and afflictions, and yes, as we know all too well, God's own people are not exempted from these troubles in this world.
But when the new heaven and the new earth are opened up to us and we see the beauty of these new places, lo and behold, there is no more sea! There is no more sea of turmoil, temptation and sin. There is no more sea churning with beasts about to rise out of them in opposition to our Lord. In this new heaven and new earth, the sea has been removed...no more, no more, no more!
I'm shouting Hallelujah! Our time of having to fight against evil is over, the victory has been won, the sea no longer exists!
God is a wonderful author...He has written a most beautiful epic from beginning to end...one that we have gotten to participate in. But the sequel to this story, that's going to be the mind-blower...don't miss it...don't take a chance of missing it!
So when in Genesis 1 we are told that on the third day, God separated the dry ground from the waters and he called the dry ground "land" and the gathered waters, "seas", why, now when the new heaven and the new earth have been brought into existence, has the sea disappeared? There has to be a reason for the beginning...and the end...of this part of God's creation. Can we dig deeper?
The beasts of Isaiah, Daniel and Revelation rise up out of the sea. The sea seems to be, in God's literary format, a source of evil.
Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Entire Bible, states: "The third day’s work is related in these verses—the forming of the sea and the dry land, and the making of the earth fruitful. Hitherto the power of the Creator had been exerted and employed about the upper part of the visible word; the light of heaven was kindled, and the firmament of heaven fixed: but now he descends to this lower world, the earth, which was designed for the children of men...the waters, thus cleared, thus collected, and thus lodged, in their proper place, he called seas. Though they are many, in distant regions, and washing several shores, yet, either above ground or under ground, they have communication with each other, and so they are one, and the common receptacle of waters, into which all the rivers flow. Waters and seas often, in scripture, signify troubles and afflictions, (Psalm 42:7 Psalm 69:2, Psalm 69:14, Psalm 69:15). God’s own people are not exempted from these in this world." Just as God separated light and darkness, He separated land and sea. He knew that, in this world, we needed the darkness, to recognize the light; we needed the sea, to appreciate the land. Yes, in the Bible, the sea often signifies troubles and afflictions, and yes, as we know all too well, God's own people are not exempted from these troubles in this world.
But when the new heaven and the new earth are opened up to us and we see the beauty of these new places, lo and behold, there is no more sea! There is no more sea of turmoil, temptation and sin. There is no more sea churning with beasts about to rise out of them in opposition to our Lord. In this new heaven and new earth, the sea has been removed...no more, no more, no more!
I'm shouting Hallelujah! Our time of having to fight against evil is over, the victory has been won, the sea no longer exists!
God is a wonderful author...He has written a most beautiful epic from beginning to end...one that we have gotten to participate in. But the sequel to this story, that's going to be the mind-blower...don't miss it...don't take a chance of missing it!
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