The Book of Revelation As God's Vision for the World

The Book of Revelation unveils God's vision for the world since the beginning.  In the first creation story in Genesis, nothing existed but dark primordial waters.  God began by bringing light upon the waters and separating the light from the darkness.

In the ancient Middle East and in many other ancient cultures, waters were a symbol of chaos and destruction.  Flooding was a constant source of extreme anxiety, as it could instantly effect starvation and suffering.  The sea was unknown and dangerous.  It represented and reflected all the anxiety and danger that has existed for humankind from the beginning.

The climactic scene in the Book of Revelation envisions Jerusalem descending from heaven to earth, representing the full realization of God's vision on earth.  We are told in this vision that the sea was no more.  This represents the fulfillment of God's vision from the beginning; the complete absence of chaos and destruction and brings the creation story full circle; where there was once nothing but the sea, now there is the complete absence of it.  Where there was once nothing but chaos and destruction, there will be the complete absence of it.

The Church is called to articulate this vision and to make this vision a reality.  The human race yearns for the end of anxiety and fear borne of all the insanity that is inherent in the natural world and human systems.  God's vision is not to draw us out of the world, but to bring the New Jerusalem down from heaven into the world; God's desire is the transformation of the world to reflect God's vision.