This research paper by Marlin Harris, submitted to Dr. Michael Kruger for NT522 – Hebrews to Revelation at Reformed Theological Seminary – Charlotte, explores the meaning of the phrase “the sea was no more” in Revelation 21:1. Harris argues that John’s statement is not a literal comment about geography but a theological declaration marking the end of evil, death, and disorder in God’s renewed creation. Through detailed exegesis and analysis of the passage’s chiastic structure, he demonstrates that the removal of the sea parallels the end of pain, sorrow, and death, revealing that God’s new world will be completely free from the forces of chaos.
Tracing the biblical theme of the sea through the Old Testament, Harris connects Revelation 21:1 to the creation narrative, the flood, and the exodus. In each story, the sea functions as both a barrier to blessing and an instrument of judgment—chaos subdued by divine power. He argues that John reuses this imagery to show that the old order, marked by danger and separation, is replaced by the perfect peace of the new heavens and earth.
The paper concludes that the disappearance of the sea symbolizes the ultimate victory of God’s sovereignty over evil. For the first time in redemptive history, the threat of sin and destruction is completely erased. Harris affirms that this promise gives believers confidence that God’s final act of re-creation will bring eternal safety, unbroken communion, and the total absence of chaos.
Course and semester: NT522 Hebrews to Revelation — Spring 2016
