Paul, the book of Revelation and Daniel tells us what "sea" refers to in Scripture. by 2 witnesses!!!!

 

Rev. 21:1-2  I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea [people in the flesh for we have been changed in the twinkling of an eye] and I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, pre-pared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 

What does the prophetic sea mean in the bible?

Prophetically, in the Bible, the sea is the "teeming masses of people in the world" -- the nations... the world's population with all of its cultures, traditions and languages [tongues].

We're told in Revelation 13: "...I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a Beast rise up out of the sea..." (verse 1).

This "Beast" turns out to be the prophesied "government" that shall rule the world just before Jesus Christ must return to save it from its destructive rule, that will threaten to end all life on the planet. Jesus describes it as a time of "Great Tribulation" [see Matt.24:21-22].

 

Man's governments "rise out of the sea" of the nations of the world.

In chapter 17... we're told about a "great whore" [symbolizing a powerful religious organization, or 'church'] who "sits upon the Beast" [verse 3]... rides it... suggesting, like straddling a horse, pulling the reins and exerting influence in the direction it should go. Its symbolism pictures a "church/state" government arrangement.

 

She also: "...sits upon many waters..." (Rev 17: 1) -- which we are told:

"...The waters which thou saw, where the whore sits, are PEOPLES, and MULTITUDES, and NATIONS, and TONGUES." (Rev 17:15)

 

The great whore is a powerful religious organization in the world that holds sway over people, nations and governments. And the people, nations and governments of the world fear, respect and bow to her.

 

It is from "the sea" -- out of the "population of the world" from which both religions and governments rise.

 

Daniel 7:2-3 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

 

          The sea here refers to people/nations.  The first nation was Babylon with the last nation being America?  Who is riding upon this beast?

 

As 'they' say, Scripture interprets Scripture.

 

jfh