Table of Contents
The figurative sea represents the world under Satan’s deceptive rule and influence. It contains undrinkable, mixed waters from many sources – representing the abundance of false teachings and lack of truth. It is a place of darkness and ignorance of the true, life-giving word. At Jesus’ first coming, the corrupt religious system of Judaism had become the figurative “sea” that God’s people were trapped in. At the Second Coming, the “sea” refers to the fallen state of Christianity and organized religion, called “Babylon” in Revelation, from which God’s people must come out. Beasts and a prostitute power arise from this sea/Babylon to deceive the nations. God’s people are called to escape the sea/Babylon and its deceptions by learning to rightly understand the coded parables and prophecies that reveal the truth.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
Sea: Satan’s World
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Sea
In our previous two lessons, we discussed the nature of the sea, concluding that it is not an ideal location. So, what exactly is the sea?
The sea represents the world, a realm where numerous elements are intertwined.
Our hope is to possess the insight to separate ourselves from the sea upon the second coming, as it is not a favorable environment to remain in.
Figurative Sea
Main Reference
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us examine this parable further, as Jesus breaks down some important points.
In the next lesson, we will analyze the figurative meanings of the fisherman, ship, net, and sailors. We will explore the figurative significance of the sea, depicted as a great lake.
What do the fish symbolize? What do the fish caught in the net represent?
People.
How can we be certain?
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
As Jesus meets his disciples, he uses figurative language, as he often does. He says to the fishermen, who were used to fishing for literal fish, “Come, and you will become fishers of men,” meaning you will become gatherers of people.
You will help gather people to me.
So when Jesus speaks this parable, where does everyone start?
At the beginning of this parable, there are no exceptions. This is everyone’s starting place – in the sea, the lake. (Matthew 13:47)
The net is then let down to catch them. And what happens as they are caught?
There is a great separation. There is a great sifting.
Good fish end up in the basket. Bad fish end up back in the starting place, the sea, which we do not want because the sea is not a good place to be.
So, what is your end? Back in the sea or gathered in the basket, which is where we want to be?
In understanding the parable, Jesus calls this the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is like a net let down into the sea to catch all kinds of fish. The fish are then separated.
Let’s understand what the sea represents so that we can be sure to get out of it.
We need to know what it is so that we can get out effectively.
1. Physical Characteristics of the Sea
Our famous Bible verses that we use to talk about the truth are Romans 1:20 and Hosea 12:10.
These verses state, “I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions, and told parables.” Through that, God is saying, “This is how I operated before the word was fulfilled.”
So parables are spoken using figurative language and creation to teach us about spiritual matters.
Let’s look at what we can learn about the spiritual meaning of the sea by examining the physical sea.
1. The sea contains much water, but none of it is drinkable.
2. The sea is made up of water from many different locations – mixed sources.
Everything eventually ends up in the sea: all the trash, all the filth, all the salt. All these things end up in the sea.
It is a mixed place, so we cannot drink from it. It is contaminated.
In fact, if someone is lost at sea, it is better for them not to drink anything or they will survive longer.
If you drink seawater, the salt content will dehydrate you faster than the water will hydrate you, and you will die. It is undrinkable and leads to death. So the mixed sources of the water lead to death.
3. The sea is a place of darkness.
Sunlight only penetrates so far before the rest of the sea is all dark. So if you’re deep sea diving, you have to bring lights with you. Otherwise, you’re totally blind because the sunlight does not reach that deep. So it is a place of darkness.
This is why the sea is not a good place spiritually either.
When a place becomes like the sea spiritually, it exhibits all of these characteristics.
I hope you’re starting to understand the parables based on what we’ve already studied. Are we making these connections these days?
We should keep those other parables in mind, and things should start coming together. If not, please ask questions so we can help you understand these parables.
So in summary, the sea is a place of much undrinkable water from mixed sources, where all things end up, and it is a place of darkness.
2. Spiritual (True) Meaning of the Sea
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
Daniel sees a dream. He sees a vision. Which means what?
It means the dream or vision will be communicated in the language of heaven, which is parables. This is not an accident.
So, Daniel sees a vision of four beasts coming out of the sea.
These are scary beasts emerging from the sea. The vision should sound familiar, as you’ve read another book with similar themes that we’ll connect later.
Now, let’s understand what this vision signifies.
The explanation is subsequently provided.
16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
The four beasts represent the four kings or kingdoms prophesied to emerge. As described, these rulers will arise out of the earth.
The passage states that the beasts arose from the sea, which symbolizes the earth or world at large, as some Bible versions relate it.
So the sea serves as a figurative meaning for the world.
Let’s examine who Scripture conveys as the ruler of the sea/world.
13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
The verses mention that it was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan, the sea monster.
For those familiar with Greek mythology, Leviathan is akin to the Kraken – a giant, coiling sea creature that roams the oceans.
The writer of this Psalm uses figurative language to describe this particular monster, likening it to a long, coiling serpent.
The lyrics seem to be asking who was able to defeat this formidable foe, before confirming that it was “you” who crushed Leviathan. The passage goes on to say “Let’s see for sure”, likely referring to looking at the full text to confirm that the “you” in question did indeed conquer the monstrous Leviathan.
In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword— his fierce, great and powerful sword—
Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
Leviathan, the coiling serpent, also known as the monster of the sea.
It is God’s will to crush this monster. But then, who is this monster that dwells in the sea?
This monster is the ruler of the sea.
From reading scripture, we should be able to know who this already is, but we will continue reading to find out more.
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
We see in the book of Revelation a dragon, and this dragon is called the ancient serpent, also known as the devil.
Why is this serpent called ancient? Because he has been present for a long period of time, and there has been a war for 6,000 years since the time period of Genesis.
In Genesis, he was called a serpent, and in Revelation, he is called a dragon.
Why the change in names?
What activities has Satan been engaging in all this time?
Can we demonstrate it?
What has he been doing?
As described in 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” – he has been devouring people for 6,000 years. Now he is a powerful dragon, not to be underestimated.
Let us be aware of these things.
The sea, the world, is Satan’s dwelling place.
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
We know that we are of God, but the whole world is under the control of the evil one, as stated in 1 John 5:19.
So when someone sees something terrible happening in the world and blames God, their blame is misplaced. Ever since Adam’s original sin, this world has been the domain of Satan – filled with wars, famines, plagues, corruption, death, mourning and crying.
Sickness and disease did not originate from God, but are part of Satan’s domain and influence in this fallen world. Let us rightly place the blame where it belongs.
What does “whole world” really mean in this context?
It refers to the hearts and spirits of humankind that are under Satan’s deception and control.
The verse is not referring to animals, dogs and cats – they have done nothing wrong.
It has always been about people.
To state it a bit more precisely: evil spirits are the core problem, working through willing human hosts, often without people realizing it.
So while spirits are the unseen root cause, they operate through mankind to carry out Satan’s schemes.
People become used by dark spiritual forces, whether knowingly or unwittingly.
3. Sea at the First Coming
11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.
During the time of spiritual famine, men will wander from sea to sea, looking for the word of the Lord. But they will not find it; it will elude them. So they’re going from place to place without the Word of God.
And of course, they’re not going to find the Word of God in a place where the Word of God is not present.
And what will they remain as they go from sea to sea?
Desperately thirsty, wanting the truth, but they will not find it until the right time.
That’s the situation that was prophesied in the Old Testament.
Let’s see the fulfillment of this prophecy now at the first coming.
Let’s turn to John 8 to see who became the sea.
41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Imagine these words being spoken to those trying their very best to faithfully keep the law of Moses.
They were just trying to do everything their parents had told them, and their parents’ parents had told them, and their parents’ parents’ parents had told them.
Then this guy from Nazareth comes in and tells you, “God is not your father. Abraham is not your father. Your father is the devil.”
How might they have reacted to Jesus’ bold statements?
“Who is this guy? Get out of here! Are you not right in your mind, demon-possessed? And a Samaritan?” That is what they say in the next verses in the same chapter.
They go on to slander Jesus because they are unable to recognize what had happened to them.
What happened?
Satan, the monster of the sea, sunk their ships. They’re now a part of the sea, and he is their ruler; he is their father. And they didn’t know it. That’s the problem.
A fish does not know it is in the sea. The sea is home; it’s comfortable. When it is caught in the net, it bites because it’s uncomfortable. “What’s going on? Oh, I’m not home anymore.”
They’re flipping back and forth; they’re not happy, right? It’s like being caught in the net.
The truth hurts them. So what do they do?
They flop around, hoping to be put back into the sea where it’s comfortable.
Harvest class, who here is struggling?
Who is doing this? I don’t know.
Who’s doing that? Let’s not fight.
So Jesus had to tell them their reality, their identity, and reveal who were the ones that were being used by the spirits to keep them trapped in the sea, in a place where they didn’t understand anything.
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees, saying to them, “You travel over land and sea just to win a single convert. But by doing so, you actually make that person twice as condemned as yourselves. You drag them down to your hypocritical level. They would have been better off never meeting you.”
It would have been better for them not to encounter you.
But now, instead, what kind of destructive teachings are you imparting to them? Hypocrisy and wickedness – that is what you spread, not life-giving truth, because you do not possess life-giving truth.
Who is the source of your doctrines? Of course, it is Satan, a spirit who was operating through the Pharisees.
And wherever the Pharisees and Sadducees go, they preach deception, hypocrisy, and wickedness, disguised as adherence to the law of Moses.
They claim to teach the law of Moses, but in reality it is hypocrisy that they spread.
This is why Jesus calls them a brood of vipers. Because they have taken on the traits of the spirit that is using them.
They have assumed the same evil identity.
Just as a rod becomes an extension of the person wielding it, and a lampstand and lamp together become one instrument of light, the same principle applies here.
A spirit that uses a person turns that person into an instrument of the spirit as well. The logic is the same.
So wherever the Pharisees and Sadducees travelled, too did their destructive teachings spread.
And they would pull all who listened to them down into the same hypocrisy and condemnation that defined them, making their converts twice as condemned as they were.
So what was this destructive belief system at the time of Jesus’ first coming?
It was the world of Judaism that had gone astray and become a trap.
The Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Zealots – all those who comprised the Sanhedrin at the time – represented this.
The Sanhedrin was the gathering of all the different factions of that era. They had become the corrupt rulers over the law and the people. And Jesus rightly called them serpents, identifying the true serpent, Satan, who was operating through them.
And what is the end result for those whom Satan uses, if they are made aware of this manipulation but still refuse to repent?
Eternal destruction is their fate.
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.
The Pharisees were not present when Abel died or when Zechariah, son of Berekiah, was killed.
The Pharisees did not kill the prophets. Rather, it was the same spirit, the Leviathan spirit, working through others.
This spirit led them to kill the Son of God.
Consequently, the same judgment came upon the Pharisees too.
The real culprit is the spirit behind a person’s actions.
We must make a habit of looking beyond outward appearances to identify the spirit at work.
The flesh itself causes problems, yet often an unseen spirit prompts individuals and evades blame.
When we see someone teaching falsehoods, we may be tempted to angrily confront them.
However, we should instead pray that the spirit influencing them will release its grip. Then, we can provide the truth to cast that spirit away appropriately.
I urge you not to teach yet if you have not mastered the Word. First, become firmly grounded so you can avoid trouble.
This is the true battlefield – not flesh and blood, but spirits. We must not slander people, thereby wasting time and missing the real target.
Let us understand that the events around Christ’s first coming teach us about his second coming.
The two are very similar.
4. Sea at the Second Coming
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
So, at the time of Revelation’s fulfillment, a beast will appear that has seven heads and ten horns, resembling a lion, a leopard, or any other animal seen before.
Literally, this does not align with known animals. How then should we interpret this? Not in a negative way, as it closely resembles what Daniel saw previously.
Therefore, prophecy foretells a beast with seven heads and ten horns emerging from the sea. We will cover the figurative meaning of this beast in an upcoming lesson, so hold questions for now. There will be a whole lesson on this image.
So when the Second Coming occurs, there will be a sea present from which this multi-headed, ten-horned beast will emerge.
Let’s examine who ultimately rules this beast – it is Satan, but Satan appoints someone to lead it directly.
Who?
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
A prostitute, holding a golden cup filled with the wine of her adultery, sits on the beast with seven heads and ten horns.
The prostitute sits on many waters.
So then, let’s understand this more.
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
The many waters are people, multitudes, nations, and languages.
What do these represent? How can we understand this more?
We actually have already covered it. Remember Ezekiel 11:3 which states “This city is like a cooking pot.”
This refers to a city or nation. So what are these people, nations, languages, and kings that are mentioned?
In fact, this terminology is said many times throughout the book of Revelation, slightly differently depending on the passage, but it’s all talking about the same thing.
Let’s understand this more.
2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
Whose people? My people.
Who is the “MY” here? “Come out of her, My People,” so that you will not share in her sins.
God’s people. Where are they? In Babylon. God’s people are in Babylon, which means God’s people are in the sea. Hence, Matthew 13:47-50.
So, what is God’s plan when the kingdom of heaven is being fulfilled?
One revelation is being fulfilled: to send ships that have nets to let them into the sea to catch all kinds of fish and then separate the fish.
All of the parables connect. They’re all saying the same thing.
So, what is the sea at the second coming? Who are the people, multitudes, nations, and languages? A multitude.
I’m going to summarize the writing here:
People, multitudes, nations, and languages equal churches.
Ezekiel 11:3 and Matthew 5:14 state: “A city on a hill cannot be hidden unless it has been sunk in the sea.”
The sea at the second coming is Babylon that God’s people must come out of – Babylon that has captured God’s people. That is what we see at the second coming.
We should be asking ourselves, “Have I come out of the sea yet?
Or am I still drinking seawater?
Hoping it will give me light when instead it is killing me.” Didn’t Jesus tell us to flee in Matthew 24:15-16?
The same parable told over and over again, just like the harvest. So, I hope you’re putting these things together.
God and Jesus did not use their words carelessly. All of their words are intentional, intentional in a way to protect their plan of salvation so that Satan will not be able to interrupt it.
He’ll try, and he’ll get some people.
But will he get you? It’s up to you.
The notion that God predetermines where someone is going to go is not biblical. Everyone has a choice. Everyone chooses their final destination place.
I choose to be with God. But if I decide to make that choice, I need to do what God tells me I need to do. But that means I have to understand what God needs me to do. That’s why you’re here. Glory to God.
Let’s get out of the sea.
Well, first, where is the sea?
Am I in it now?
Well, if everyone around me has no idea what the sea is, and we’re all fish who are very comfortable in the sea, we’re all world-loving already, carrying on with our normal lives, unaware of what’s going on – that’s the problem.
That’s why Jesus said, “The time of the second coming will be like the days of Noah,” not an accident.
Nothing is an accident. Everything is intentional.
Let’s have some urgency. Now’s the time. Let’s go. Let’s run.
Let’s master the word so we can be ready.
About what God intends to do with the coiling serpent, that ancient serpent that Leviathan intends to crush him, defeat him.
But if you think about a serpent that coils, they coil slowly around their target and slowly squeeze the life from within them until they die. Then they eat them whole. And Satan does that to people too.
They’ll slowly coil around you – trouble by trouble, trial by trial, squeeze the life out of you – unless you pick up your sword and cut him in half. And you pull him off; you have to fight.
It’s not just gonna happen. “God saved me. God, just come and save me.”
We don’t want to be in that situation where God has to deliver us like we’re such in a bad situation that God has to deliver us. God gave us all the tools to fight.
Hey, pick up your sword!
Learn the skills so you don’t cut yourself and others be able to parry correctly. But you have to work. It takes work. Let’s work. We can do it.
Memorization
In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword— his fierce, great and powerful sword—
Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
Let's Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress .... Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Understanding the Figurative Sea
I. Introduction: The Nature of the Sea
- This section establishes the sea as an unfavorable environment and introduces the concept of the sea as a representation of the world, a place of mixed elements that believers should strive to separate themselves from.
II. Review: The Figurative Spring and River
- This section reviews previously studied concepts, highlighting the spring and river as symbols of God's word flowing from within believers and nourishing others. It emphasizes the importance of receiving and sharing this life-giving water.
III. The Faithful and Wise Servant: A Source of Nourishment
- This section analyzes the parable of the faithful and wise servant, identifying the servant as one appointed by Jesus to provide spiritual food, specifically the "open word," to other believers until his return.
IV. The Figurative Sea: An In-Depth Exploration
A. Main Reference: Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50) * This section introduces the parable of the net, where fish represent people caught and separated. It highlights the sea as the starting point for all and the destination for those deemed "bad," emphasizing the need to understand the sea's symbolism to escape it.
B. Physical Characteristics of the Sea and Their Spiritual Parallels 1. Undrinkable Water: This section draws a parallel between the undrinkable seawater and the spiritual condition of the world, where mixed and contaminated sources of knowledge lead to spiritual death. 2. Mixed Sources: This section emphasizes the sea as a place where everything, both good and bad, ends up, symbolizing the world's mix of truth and falsehood, making discernment crucial. 3. Darkness: This section compares the sea's physical darkness with the spiritual darkness of ignorance, highlighting the lack of the "open word" in the world. * This subsection concludes by summarizing the sea's negative characteristics—undrinkable water, mixed sources, and darkness—and connecting them to the spiritual state of the world.
C. Spiritual Meaning of the Sea: Satan's Domain * This section establishes the sea as symbolic of the world, specifically Satan's domain. It draws on scriptural references to Leviathan, the ancient serpent identified as the devil, who rules the world and seeks to devour people.
D. The Sea at the First Coming: The World of Judaism * This section examines the state of the world during Jesus' first coming. It identifies the "sea" at that time as the world of Judaism, corrupted by hypocrisy and wickedness under Satan's influence. Jesus' rebukes of the Pharisees and Sadducees are analyzed to highlight the danger of spiritual blindness and the need to discern the spirit at work behind outward appearances.
E. The Sea at the Second Coming: Babylon and the Call to Escape * This section explores the sea's symbolism at the second coming, drawing on the book of Revelation. It identifies Babylon, characterized by its many waters symbolizing people, nations, and churches, as the sea from which a beast, ruled by Satan, will emerge. The call to "come out of her, my people" is emphasized, highlighting the urgency for believers to escape the spiritual corruption of Babylon and avoid judgment.
V. Conclusion: The Urgency to Escape the Sea
- This section summarizes the figurative meaning of the sea as the world corrupted by Satan's influence, both at the first and second coming of Jesus. It stresses the need for believers to understand and escape this spiritual trap by discerning the truth of the "open word" and resisting Satan's deceptive tactics.
VI. Review: Key Takeaways
- This section recaps the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of understanding parables to unlock the secrets of heaven and prophecies. It reinforces the meaning of the sea, the characteristics of the sea at both Jesus' comings, and the call for believers to come out of Babylon. It emphasizes the need to move from spiritual blindness to discernment, using the "open word" as a weapon against spiritual darkness and as a tool for spiritual healing.
A Study Guide
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Sea Study Guide
Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- What does the sea symbolize in the Bible, and which specific verses support this interpretation?
- Describe three physical characteristics of the sea and explain how they relate to the sea's spiritual meaning.
- How did the Pharisees and Sadducees become like the sea during Jesus' first coming?
- What does the parable of the net in Matthew 13:47-50 teach about the kingdom of heaven and the fate of humanity?
- What is the spiritual danger of being in the "sea" at the time of Jesus' second coming?
- According to the source material, what is "Babylon" and how does it relate to the figurative sea?
- How does the source material explain the statement "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6)?
- What is the significance of the "beast" rising from the sea in Revelation 13:1-2, and who is ultimately in control of this beast?
- Explain the connection between the "prostitute" sitting on the beast in Revelation 17 and the figurative sea.
- What practical advice does the source material offer for Christians seeking to escape the figurative sea?
Answer Key
- The sea symbolizes the world, specifically the world under Satan's influence and control. This interpretation is supported by verses like Daniel 7:1-3 and 16-17, which depict beasts representing kingdoms rising from the sea.
- The sea is full of undrinkable water, indicating the abundance of false teachings and spiritual deception. It is a mixture of many sources, representing the chaotic and polluted nature of worldly influences. The sea is also a place of darkness, symbolizing the lack of spiritual understanding and the ignorance of God's word.
- The Pharisees and Sadducees became like the sea by clinging to a corrupted form of Judaism that prioritized outward appearances and legalistic interpretations over genuine faith and love for God. Their hearts were filled with hypocrisy and wickedness, and they led others astray with their false teachings.
- The parable of the net illustrates God's judgment at the end of the age. All humanity is caught in the net, but only the "good fish," representing those who have accepted Christ, will be gathered into the kingdom of heaven. The "bad fish," those who have rejected God, will be thrown back into the sea of destruction.
- The sea at the second coming represents a world filled with deception and false teachings, particularly within churches and religious institutions. Being in the sea means being caught in a spiritual trap, drinking from polluted sources of knowledge, and remaining blind to God's truth.
- "Babylon" represents a system of false religion and worldly influence that has ensnared many of God's people. It is synonymous with the figurative sea, a place of spiritual danger and separation from God.
- This statement emphasizes that even believers can be destroyed if they lack knowledge of God's word and true will. The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their religious zeal, were ultimately condemned because they followed a distorted understanding of faith and rejected Jesus, the Messiah.
- The beast represents a powerful political and religious system that will emerge in the end times under Satan's control. The beast's seven heads and ten horns symbolize its vast reach and influence, and its blasphemous names indicate its opposition to God.
- The prostitute sitting on the beast represents a corrupt religious system that aligns itself with worldly power and seduces people away from God. The many waters on which she sits symbolize the multitude of people, nations, and languages under her influence, reinforcing the connection between the sea and spiritual deception.
- The source material urges Christians to study and understand the Bible, specifically the parables and prophecies, to avoid being deceived by false teachings. It encourages active engagement with God's word, spiritual discernment, and a willingness to separate from worldly influences and corrupt religious systems.
Additional Questions
1. What is the true meaning of sea?
- Sea = World (Daniel 7:1-3, 16-17)
2. Who were the sea at the first coming?
- First Coming = World of Judaism (John 8:41-44, Matthew 23:15,28,33)
3. Who are the sea at the Second Coming?
- Second Coming = Babylon (all nations) God’s people, believers (Revelations 17:15)
Glossary of Key Terms
- Figurative Sea: Represents the world under the influence and control of Satan, characterized by deception, false teachings, and spiritual darkness.
- Babylon: A symbol of a corrupt religious and political system that has ensnared God's people, representing a spiritual trap in the end times.
- Open Word: Refers to the revealed truth of God's word, particularly the prophecies and parables that offer guidance and understanding of spiritual matters.
- Leviathan: A monstrous sea creature symbolizing Satan, the ruler of the figurative sea.
- Beast: In Revelation, a beast with seven heads and ten horns emerges from the sea, representing a powerful political and religious system that opposes God and will rise in the end times.
- Prostitute: In Revelation, a woman sitting on the beast, symbolizing a corrupt religious system that aligns itself with worldly power and leads people astray from God.
- Fishers of Men: A metaphor used by Jesus to describe those who spread the Gospel and gather people into the kingdom of God.
- Net: In the parable of the net, it represents God's judgment at the end of the age, separating those who have accepted Christ from those who have rejected him.
- Sanhedrin: The highest Jewish council during Jesus' time, comprised of Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders who opposed Jesus and ultimately condemned him to death.
- Hypocrisy: The act of pretending to have moral standards or beliefs that one does not actually possess, often used to describe the actions of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Spiritual Discernment: The ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil, using the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This lesson primarily focuses on interpreting biblical parables and doesn't present a chronological timeline of events. Instead, it draws connections between different passages to explain the symbolic meaning of the "sea" in relation to God's plan for humanity.
However, we can discern a thematic progression:
Old Testament Times:
- Prophets and Spiritual Famine: Prophets like Amos foretold a spiritual famine where people would search for God's word but not find it (Amos 8:11-12). This sets the stage for the need for true spiritual guidance.
Jesus' First Coming:
- Jesus Rebukes Jewish Leaders: Jesus confronts the Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.) for their hypocrisy and claims their true father is the devil (John 8:41-44). This identifies them as part of the "sea," symbolizing the world under Satan's control.
- Jesus Warns of False Teachers: Jesus cautions against false teachers who spread hypocrisy and wickedness under the guise of religious authority (Matthew 23:15, 28, 33-36). This emphasizes the dangers of remaining in the "sea" of false teachings.
Present Day and the Second Coming:
- God's People in Babylon: The lesson connects the "sea" to Babylon in the book of Revelation, emphasizing that God's people are currently trapped within this system (Revelation 18: 2-4).
- Call to Come Out of Babylon: The lesson urges believers to "come out of Babylon" and avoid sharing in its sins (Revelation 18:4). This is presented as an urgent call to action for those who wish to escape the judgment to come.
- The Beast from the Sea: The source cites Revelation 13:1-2, describing a beast with seven heads and ten horns rising from the sea. This beast symbolizes a powerful entity controlled by Satan that will emerge during the end times.
- Judgment and Separation: The lesson uses the parable of the net cast into the sea (Matthew 13:47-50) to illustrate the separation of the righteous from the wicked at the end of the age. Those who remain in the "sea" will face judgment.
Cast of Characters
Key Figures:
- God: The ultimate source of truth and salvation. The speaker calls believers to come out of Babylon and seek God's guidance through His word.
- Jesus Christ: The Messiah who came to expose the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders and warn against false teachings. He is also the master who will return and separate the righteous from the wicked.
- Satan: The devil, also called the "ancient serpent" and "Leviathan." He is the ruler of the "sea," representing the world under his control, and seeks to deceive and destroy humanity.
Other Figures:
- Prophets: Individuals like Amos who delivered God's messages and foretold future events.
- Pharisees, Sadducees, and Other Jewish Leaders: Religious authorities during Jesus' time who are portrayed as hypocritical and aligned with Satan.
- Angels: Messengers of God who play a role in Revelation, revealing truths about the end times.
- The Beast: A symbolic figure in Revelation representing a powerful, evil entity that will arise from the "sea" (the world) during the end times.
- The Prostitute: A symbolic figure in Revelation representing a corrupt system that deceives the nations and leads them astray.
Overview
Overview: Secrets of Heaven Figurative Sea
Main Theme: The figurative meaning of the "sea" in biblical parables and its significance for believers at both the first and second coming of Jesus.
Key Ideas:
- The Sea as the World: The sea symbolizes the world, specifically the fallen world under Satan's control. This is established by referencing Daniel 7:1-3,16-17, where beasts representing kings and kingdoms rise from the sea.
"So the sea serves as a figurative meaning for the world."
- Satan as Ruler of the Sea: The lesson identifies Satan as the "monster of the sea," the Leviathan, drawing on imagery from Psalms 74:13-14, Isaiah 27:1, and Revelation 20:2. This reinforces the concept of the world as Satan's domain.
"The sea, the world, is Satan's dwelling place."
- The Sea at the First Coming: The sea at the time of Jesus' first coming represented the world of Judaism that had become a trap, controlled by the Pharisees and other religious leaders who were unknowingly being used by Satan. This is supported by John 8:44, where Jesus tells the Pharisees that their father is the devil.
"Satan, the monster of the sea, sunk their ships. They're now a part of the sea, and he is their ruler; he is their father."
- The Sea at the Second Coming: The sea at the second coming is identified as Babylon, a symbolic representation of a corrupt religious system that has entrapped God's people. The source draws on Revelation 13:1-2 and Revelation 17:1-3,15 to depict this.
"The sea at the second coming is Babylon that God's people must come out of - Babylon that has captured God's people. That is what we see at the second coming."
- Coming Out of the Sea: The source emphasizes the urgency for believers to "come out of the sea" by recognizing and rejecting false teachings and embracing the true word of God.
"Let's get out of the sea."
- The Importance of Parables: Understanding biblical parables is crucial for uncovering hidden spiritual truths, particularly prophecies related to the second coming of Jesus.
"So why is it important for us to learn the parables? So that we can understand the secrets of heaven. And most importantly, prophecies are concealed in parables."
- Spiritual Warfare: The source highlights the reality of spiritual warfare, emphasizing that the true battle is against evil spirits, not flesh and blood. Believers are encouraged to be vigilant, discerning, and equipped with the "sword" of God's word.
"This is the true battlefield - not flesh and blood, but spirits."
Important Facts:
- The source interprets the physical characteristics of the sea (undrinkable water, mixed sources, darkness) as metaphors for spiritual dangers present in the world.
- It uses the analogy of fish being caught in a net to illustrate the process of God separating the righteous from the wicked at the second coming.
- It connects the story of Noah and the flood to the urgency of preparing for the second coming.
Quotes:
- "The sea, the world, is Satan's dwelling place."
- "Satan, the monster of the sea, sunk their ships. They're now a part of the sea, and he is their ruler; he is their father."
- "The sea at the second coming is Babylon that God's people must come out of - Babylon that has captured God's people. That is what we see at the second coming."
- "This is the true battlefield - not flesh and blood, but spirits."
- "Let's get out of the sea."
Overall, the lesson presents a detailed analysis of the "sea" as a powerful symbol in biblical prophecy. It emphasizes the need for believers to be discerning and spiritually prepared in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus.
Q&A
Q&A: The Figurative Sea and Its Significance
1. What does the "sea" represent in biblical parables?
The "sea" symbolizes the world, specifically the world that has fallen under Satan's influence. It represents a realm of spiritual darkness, deception, and mixed, undrinkable sources of knowledge. This world is contrasted with the "spring" of living water, representing the true word of God.
2. How does the sea manifest at the first coming of Jesus?
At the time of Jesus' first coming, the "sea" manifested as the world of Judaism that had strayed from God's truth. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders, though outwardly devout, had become spiritually corrupt and under the influence of Satan. Their teachings, though claiming to be based on the law of Moses, were filled with hypocrisy and wickedness. They led people astray, further entangling them in the "sea" of spiritual darkness.
3. How does the sea manifest at the second coming of Jesus?
At the second coming, the "sea" represents "Babylon," a symbolic representation of the world's false religious systems and corrupted churches that have captured God's people. This "Babylon" is characterized by its many people, multitudes, nations, and languages, representing a vast array of deceptive doctrines and practices.
4. What are the dangers of remaining in the "sea"?
Remaining in the "sea" means remaining spiritually lost and deceived. Just as drinking seawater leads to dehydration and death, consuming the "mixed waters" of false teachings leads to spiritual death. The "sea" is a place of darkness, where people are blind to God's truth and vulnerable to the attacks of the "beasts" – symbolic representations of powerful evil forces.
5. How can we recognize if we are in the "sea"?
If we are surrounded by people who are comfortable in a world that ignores or rejects God's truth, we may be in the "sea" without even realizing it. A lack of spiritual discernment, an inability to recognize false teachings, and a preference for worldly values over spiritual ones are all signs of being caught in the "sea."
6. What is the solution to escape the "sea"?
The solution is to "come out of Babylon," to separate ourselves from the false religious systems and corrupted churches that have captured God's people. We must turn to the "spring" of living water – the true word of God found in the Bible – and allow it to nourish and guide us.
7. What is the importance of understanding biblical parables?
Understanding biblical parables is crucial for unlocking the "secrets of heaven" and comprehending the prophecies about the end times. Parables use figurative language to convey spiritual truths that might otherwise be difficult to grasp. By studying parables, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's plan and equip ourselves to navigate the spiritual challenges of our time.
8. What is our role in combating the spiritual influences of the "sea"?
We must become skilled in wielding the "sword" of the word of God, learning to discern truth from falsehood and using scripture to combat the deceptive influences of the "sea." We should also pray for those who are still caught in the "sea," asking God to break the hold of false spirits and open their hearts to the truth. We must remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, and we must engage in this spiritual warfare with wisdom and discernment.