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Adventistische Schriften über: "Is the sea in Revelation 21 to be understood literally as the world sea or symbolically?"
Answer
In the Adventist interpretation of Revelation 21, the “sea” is often considered both in relation to the old earth and the new earth. While the old sea passes away with the first earth, interpreters argue that there will still be real waters on the new earth, because prophecies speak of Christ’s rule "from sea to sea."
Furthermore, it is noted that the river of life needs a destination into which it empties, which points to the existence of a new sea. The statement "no more sea" is therefore often understood to mean that the old, all‑separating world sea disappears to make way for a new geographical order that emphasizes the usefulness and beauty of the new earth.
The Existence of a New Sea
»Some have assumed that there would be no sea on the new earth, and refer to Revelation 21:1 as proof. (...) But Whitin’s translation of this text, as we think, gives the correct picture: "And 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." The first heaven, the earth, and the sea pass away together. And when the new heaven and the new earth appear, why should a new sea not also appear? Then it can be fulfilled: "He shall rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth." This occurs over the entire new earth, when no one except the immortal saints inherit it.«
The Disappearance of the Old Sea
»It does not necessarily follow from this text that there will be none; for John only speaks of the present heaven, earth, and sea. It could be translated as: "For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more"; that is, the old sea no longer appears, just as the old heaven and the old earth do not, and yet there can be a new sea, just as there is a new earth. (...) The river of life, which we read about in the following chapter, that flows from the throne of God and through the broad street of the city, must find a place into which it pours its waters; and what else could that be than the sea of the new earth?«
Natural Conclusion for a New Sea
»We do not think [that there will literally be no sea at all]. (...) Since there will be a new heaven and a new earth, it is only reasonable to assume that there will also be a new sea. Moreover, we read of the river of life and that its waters “flow down into the plain and into the sea.” (...) If there will be rivers and streams flowing through the new earth, it is only natural to assume that there is a place into which they flow, and that place is a new sea.«
Symbolic Meaning of Sea in Prophecy
»The biblical definition of sea or waters, when used as a symbol, are peoples, nations, and languages. As proof of this see Revelation 17:15, where this is explicitly explained. (...) Whenever a beast rises out of the sea, it means that power arises in a densely populated region.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
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