It has always amazed how God used Paul and John to teach the same message of salvation, but in a different, languages that the Gentiles and Jews could easily understand. Paul wrote as a gentile that he might win the gentiles. And John uses... Symbolic, language from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience wound relate to.
Paul writes to his gentile audience, and describes how the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-19 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Easy language that any gentiles could understand.
The apostle John writes to his Jewish audience. Then 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”. (Revelation 21:1) John also writes that the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ. However, John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience would easily recognize?
Many of the deeper meanings of the Old Testament are missed because symbolic, language is used so extensively. There is probably no greater symbolic, language which related to the gentiles in the Old Testament then the metaphor of the sea. John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the Old Testament that a first century Jew would have found immediately recognizable. The metaphor sea was used before in such books as the, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. They are all closely associated with the book of Revelation.
The metaphors in the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when they are only alluded to. They can be used so subtly that it is easy to miss the real message. Lest consider the uses of some of these metaphor, about the sea from the Old Testament and to whom it refers.
Isaiah 60:1-5 we read. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. {2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. {3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. {4} Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. {5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
The sea here is obviously referring to the Gentiles. The abundance of the sea that are being converted are the forces of the Gentiles according Isaiah. This passage speaks of a uniting of Gentiles, and Jehovah (Yahweh).
The Psalmist speaks of the prophecy that God would gather the Israelites that were scattered among the nations or the sea: Psalms 68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: This cannot be talking about the literal sea H20 because the nation of Israel was never literally under the depths of the sea. However, Israel was scattered among the nations, her enemies that were described by the prophets as the sea. Throughout her physical existence, Israel was plagued by the captive captivity of the sea, particularly being taken captive into Babylon.
The Psalmist also tells us of Yahweh’s righteousness and salvation who’s confidence are at the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness, wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
It is interesting here how the Psalmist describes those upon the sea as "afar off." That is how Paul describes the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14
Zephaniah pronounces how the Messiah would bring peace unto the heathen nations and reign over them from sea to sea. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. {10} And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Daniel describes the four beasts (Beasts are symbols of Nations & their Governments gentile nations) Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, and Rome) as the beasts of the sea. The "sea" symbolizing "heathendom.” Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. In John’s time, they were in the age of Rome, Empire the fourth period
John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the rest of the Old Testament that was his Bible. The language "land/earth" is generally associated with the Jews in Revelation and the sea is associated with the Greeks/Gentiles.
In the church age, there is no more sea, that is, no more Gentiles. The Jew/Gentile distinction of the old covenant has been destroyed by Christ. There is no more distinction between Israel and the Gentile nations: Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It was predicted that the heavenly Jerusalem would be the worship center for all the nations: Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Paul writes to his gentile audience, and describes how the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-19 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Easy language that any gentiles could understand.
The apostle John writes to his Jewish audience. Then 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”. (Revelation 21:1) John also writes that the middle wall of partition between Gentiles and Jews has been taken down by Christ. However, John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic from the Old Testament that his Jewish audience would easily recognize?
Many of the deeper meanings of the Old Testament are missed because symbolic, language is used so extensively. There is probably no greater symbolic, language which related to the gentiles in the Old Testament then the metaphor of the sea. John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the Old Testament that a first century Jew would have found immediately recognizable. The metaphor sea was used before in such books as the, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. They are all closely associated with the book of Revelation.
The metaphors in the Old Testament are a little harder to see sometimes, especially when they are only alluded to. They can be used so subtly that it is easy to miss the real message. Lest consider the uses of some of these metaphor, about the sea from the Old Testament and to whom it refers.
Isaiah 60:1-5 we read. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. {2} For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. {3} And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. {4} Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. {5} Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
The sea here is obviously referring to the Gentiles. The abundance of the sea that are being converted are the forces of the Gentiles according Isaiah. This passage speaks of a uniting of Gentiles, and Jehovah (Yahweh).
The Psalmist speaks of the prophecy that God would gather the Israelites that were scattered among the nations or the sea: Psalms 68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: This cannot be talking about the literal sea H20 because the nation of Israel was never literally under the depths of the sea. However, Israel was scattered among the nations, her enemies that were described by the prophets as the sea. Throughout her physical existence, Israel was plagued by the captive captivity of the sea, particularly being taken captive into Babylon.
The Psalmist also tells us of Yahweh’s righteousness and salvation who’s confidence are at the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea. Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness, wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
It is interesting here how the Psalmist describes those upon the sea as "afar off." That is how Paul describes the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14
Zephaniah pronounces how the Messiah would bring peace unto the heathen nations and reign over them from sea to sea. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. {10} And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Daniel describes the four beasts (Beasts are symbols of Nations & their Governments gentile nations) Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, and Rome) as the beasts of the sea. The "sea" symbolizing "heathendom.” Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. In John’s time, they were in the age of Rome, Empire the fourth period
John drew many of his metaphors and apocalyptic language from the rest of the Old Testament that was his Bible. The language "land/earth" is generally associated with the Jews in Revelation and the sea is associated with the Greeks/Gentiles.
In the church age, there is no more sea, that is, no more Gentiles. The Jew/Gentile distinction of the old covenant has been destroyed by Christ. There is no more distinction between Israel and the Gentile nations: Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It was predicted that the heavenly Jerusalem would be the worship center for all the nations: Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
