In my study I have been examining all the differences from the old earth to the future, new earth (Rev. 21:1). In this blog post we will look at three different views on the meaning of the phrase “there is no longer be any sea” (from Revelation 21:1. Then we will return to each of the three views and consider both the negative and the positive points. I think this will help us to arrive at the true meaning of this phrase, “there is no longer any sea.”

First view, that there will no longer be any water (H20). John MacArthur holds this view. He believes that the new heaven and earth will not have a water-based environment, that our new bodies will no longer need water (H20) to exist, that our glorified bodies and all that grows on the earth will be based on a completely different life principle. And the water referred to in Revelation 22:1 and 17 will not be H20, but heavenly water that will be water of eternal life.

Second view, that there will no longer be oceans and seas. This is probably the most popular view, held by many Christian scientists. It is a belief that the earth will be restored to its original state—that the oceans and seas we have now resulted from the flood, whereas before the flood there was probably only fresh water from rivers and streams. This view of course supposes that the earth will not be destroyed, but will be restored to its original condition.

Third view, that there will no longer be evil. This view may hold some popularity because of the few biblical reference to the word “sea” as symbolizing evil or demonic.

Well, I think all of these views have some positive (or true) points, as well as some negative points. For now, I will hold back my opinion as to which view I think is correct, or the strongest. I think the best way to go at this is to give you both the positive and the negative points on each view (as I see it), then let you ponder it.

The first view, no water. The positive point on this view is that there may be coming something better than water. It is a belief that our new heaven and earth will be made of something better—everlasting and indestructible. It supposes that the water in our bodies and in our plants and in our atmosphere is not now indestructible; hence the new creation of a new life substance. Whatever that substance is, we don’t know, but God knows and it will be glorious. It will be a “water of life” that is not H20, but something better.

On the negative side, there doesn’t seem to be any other Scripture that supports this view, other than the fact that God will make all things new and that He will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life (Rev. 21:4-5), which may not be water as we know it. There is nothing specific in Scripture that says that there will no longer be H20 on the new earth. Also, I think the people that are most opposed to this view are those who now enjoy water sports and all the beautiful plants and flowers that are water-based. They just can’t imagine eternal life without these things. These are the same people who believe that God will bring the earth back to the way it was in the very beginning in the garden of Eden where everything was made up of very pure water.

The second view, no salt-water oceans and seas; just fresh-water rivers and streams. The overwhelming positive side of this is the belief that if this is how the earth was originally (as God made it), then it must be what He will do to make it as He originally intended.

The negative side of this argument is that we don’t have enough biblical evidence just in those few words— “no longer any sea” —to support this view.

The third view, that “sea” is symbolic of evil. I will bring the negative side to this view first. At first glance, we don’t see anything in the wording here to suggest symbolism or that God is not speaking literally.

On the positive side, by examining the word “sea” in some Scriptures we will find that it represents something evil or wicked. Here are a few examples.

Isaiah 57:20

But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

For it cannot be quiet,

And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

Psalm 74:13

You divided the sea by Your strength;

You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

Revelation 13:1

And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.

I admit, that our argument (that sea is symbolic of evil) from the first two verses is rather weak; but, I think, in Revelation 13:1, it is strong. John MacArthur comments: “The sea represents the abyss or pit, the haunt of demons…The picture is of Satan summoning a powerful demon from the abyss…”9

Also, to further this symbolic argument; the wording, “there is no longer any sea,” is very similar to the wording in verse four, “there will no longer be…” This tells me that there may be a connection in the context between the meaning of “sea” and in the words in verse four— “tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain.” Hence, I think we may see that “sea” not only has the meaning of evil and demons, but also the similar meaning of death, mourning, crying and pain. And so, we see that all these things are the things of the first heaven and earth that will pass away. Hence, when the writer of Revelation says, “and there is no longer any sea,” He could very well be meaning that there will no longer be any evil or anything of the old earth that is connected to the sinful, evil world.

It may seem that I am leaning toward the third view, and that may be true; but I am still open to the other views. We will see.

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9 Ibid., notes on Revelation 13:1.