The Troubled Sea

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more" (Revelation 21. 1). Thus are we introduced to the scene unfolded in the verses immediately following-verses 2 to 5. The scene is indeed sublime, such as no human pen can do justice to, but it is such as we might expect seeing it is the perfect and eternal answer of God to questions bound up with human history and destiny which otherwise would be unsolvable. As we ponder the features of this wondrous scene-noting well those of verse 4, an indescribable sense of rest and peace takes possession of the heart, for in all that scene there is not an element to cast a shadow on its ineffable perfection. One feature of happy significance shines forth in the words, "The sea is no more." Isaiah speaks of" The troubled sea

yes, troubled, for such it is ; therefore it is the fitting symbol of human trouble and unrest, but in the eternal state (Revelation 21. 1-5), "The sea is no more," and that of which it is the symbol is no more; in the beautiful lines of Darby-

Joyful now the new creation

Rests in undisturbed repose,

Blest in Jesus' full salvation

Sorrow now nor thraldom knows.

May we suggest that, the no more sea of Revelation 21. 1 is a striking antithesis to " The deep " of Genesis 1. 2-a " troubled sea" indeed ! The word " deep," has been translated "roaring deep," which, having regard to the Hebrew word and its derivation, is not an overdrawn term (Tehom, from a root, to make an uproar. So Strong, and others). We think the tehom of Genesis 1. 2 is suggestive of abysmal depths and surface convulsions; and is suggestive again of the awful majesty of God's just decrees in judgement-" Thy judgements are a great deep" (tehom, as in Genesis 1. 2), Psalm 36. 6.*

It has been well said that the Revelation is the complement of Genesis, and we would add, that also, in many ways and aspects, so that in some cases the sequel-the ultimate, is in contrast to-the ancient antecedent, and thus we turn our eyes from the "roaring deep" of a dim and distant past, to the "no more" sea of the perfect and serene future, when "He that sitteth on the throne" shall say, "Behold I make all things new" (verse 5).

Our delighted eyes might well linger on the blissful scene, but we must turn our attention to other things far, far different in character-yet which do but enhance the glory of the eternal scene, even as a dark mountainous background enhances the beauty of a landscape bathed in sunshine.

Taking our stand from the viewpoint of the present time, we know from Scripture that dark and stormy times lie ahead ere the grand consummation of Revelation 21. 1-5, is reached. True, the stormy times will be relieved by a wondrous period of a thousand years, when the Prince of Peace will hush the storm-as He did of old on Galilee's troubled sea saying "Peace, be still," yet after this will the storm break forth in redoubled fury in the great final revolt of Revelation 20. 7, 8, followed by the final judgements of verses 9 to 15, which clear the scene for the establishment of the eternal state (Revelation 21. 1-5) in a peace never to be broken.

In the foregoing we have not made specific mention of a terrific storm which will arise before the glorious period of the thousand years-we refer to "The great tribulation" with its preceding events, when the "troubled sea" of humanity will be stirred to depths previously unknown, and will be accompanied by physical phenomena in keeping with the time- "Distress of nations in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world.

Luke 21 25, 26.

We have no doubt that the convulsions of nature indicated in the words, "The roaring of the sea and the billows," will find a moral counterpart in human conditions, the "troubled sea" of humanity being troubled as never before- "Ah, the uproar of many peoples, which roar like the roaring of the seas and the rushing of nations that rush like the rushing of mighty waters." Isaiah 17. 12, 13.

We need not multiply citations from prophetic scriptures, but we wish to suggest that the troublous conditions of that future day (beyond the present dispensation) are already beginning to show themselves in the sense of

coming events casting their shadows before.

No sober minded observer will deny that the world is now in a peculiar condition of unrest-we say peculiar, because certain features are distinctive, finding no parallel in former days. A review of these

distinctive features is entirely outside the purpose and scope of this article, but it will not be irrelevant to mention one thing-the marvels of applied science in the

1roduction of means for the wholesale destruction of human life and national substance. If the whole were fully told (for which this Magazine would be no place) it would be enough to appal the stoutest heart. From the beginning of human history no such means of warfare were ever known. In this respect the more recent part of the present century finds no parallel in the thousands of years since the creation of man, and this is one thing which contributes to the world-wide unrest of the present hour. Only such as are immersed in the pleasures and follies of life can shut their eyes to the dark clouds that are rolling up; but more than this, we may be pardoned for asking, are we ourselves alive to the present situation? Is its sobering effect evident in revived vital activities in our prayer-life, both in the closet and in the Assembly ? The mention of these things involuntarily carries us back in memory to the years preceding the great war. Only a few days ago we accidentally came across a jotting (the existence of which we had forgotten) bearing the date 1908 : we cannot lay our hand on this jotting or we should be tempted to print it here, but it refers to the urgent need for prayer, intercession, and supplication, in view of convictions which we entertained that apart from Divine intervention Germany would plunge the world into war. To-day we are confronted with a similar situation, only under conditions which would intensify a hundredrold the horrors of the war then impending-will this be read with incredulity, and will there be no more response to the call to prayer than there was in the years preceding the great war ? Will little heed be given to the horribly significant fact that some time ago the Government of this country decided that gas masks must be provided for every man and woman, boy and girl? And what of Conscription? We regard it as inevitable-save only for the intervention of the Almighty Hand, which, according to the revealed ways of God, we should not expect apart from the fervent inwrought prayers of saints, if peradventure God will give repentance to this nation in its down-slide from the high profession of Christianity and reverence for the Scriptures as the very Word of God once acknowledged in all grades of society. Alas, this nation is not exempt from what a gentleman of the old school (of very high social position and exceptional knowledge of world-wide conditions) described recently as "The present decay of religion and morals in the world." The spirit of lawlessness is abroad in many and varied forms, a ad this is at the root of the unrest of a troubled world to-day, for" The wicked (literally, lawless, Heb. rasha, lawless) are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters east up mire and dirt " (Isaiah 57. 20).

At such a time as this, is there not need for up-stirring among God's people unto special prayer and supplication? Is it not meet to

"Sound an alarm in My holy mountain," lest we be found unprepared for that which befits the testimony of the Lord in a day of trial and testing? May He whose compassions fail not grant us mercy that we may be like some of old-" Men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do."

*It will be inferred that we do not think the" waste and void" conditions of Genesis 1. 2, with darkness upon the face of the deep, were the original conditions of creation-verse 1, but rather were subsequent conditions indicative of a great upheaval in the perfect creation. More than this we cannot say here. There is nothing dogmatic in the thought expressed, nor does it involve others.

unknown | Aug 1936
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