Recently, the amazing principle of the Firmament, first mentioned in Genesis, was discussed. As a refresher, I believe the Firmament is the mysterious phrase that describes the boundary, or barrier, between the physical world in which we live, and the spiritual world of the Lord. In Genesis chapter one we find that the Firmament divides the waters above from the waters below the Firmament.

We also noted that the Hebrew word for “heaven” is shamayim. Shamayim contains the Hebrew word for “waters,” mayim, preceded by the Hebrew letter shin. The rabbis say that the letter shin represents divine provision. What a picture of the waters, or realm above, where the Lord dwells and divinely provides. It is the goal we all look forward to, Heaven.

The Prophet Ezekiel describes the Firmament from the spiritual perspective as being like a sapphire stone. The Revelation describes it as a “sea of glass like unto crystal.” So from the spiritual side, the Firmament is “firm.”

From descriptions in the Revelation we find that the Firmament is represented in the Lord’s Tabernacle and Temple here on earth by the huge laver, the “sea,” which was filled with water. The priests immersed themselves in the “sea.” Just as the Children of Israel passed through the sea on their way to the Promised Land, the priests had to pass through the “sea” to approach the Lord in His Temple/Tabernacle.

The Firmament is a complex concept, which is the reason for all of the preceding background and refresher. I show you this because of a Scripture that I am familiar with, as are you, and yet I have totally missed its implication.

“And 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. – Revelation 21:1 (my emphasis)

With the destruction of the old world, and the creation of the new, perfect world, there is no more sea. I thought that meant there were no more oceans. Like so much Scripture, it is possible this phrase has more than one meaning. I believe it refers to the “sea,” the barrier between the spiritual world and the physical world. This Scripture says there will be no more separation, no more boundary, no more barrier between the spiritual world and the physical world.

The new, perfect world will be much like the perfect Garden of Eden, I suspect. And we will live in perfect communion with our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s Heavenly angels. Praise the Lord! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!