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Old/New Heaven and Old/New Earth

Interesting. The beasts coming out of the sea in Revelation and Daniel are generally thought to be coming out of the nations. I can understand why you would carry over the analogy. Still, the concept of this earth being temporary is also stated in other books of the Bible, which suggests that the new heavens and new earth may be literal. Jesus Himself said:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35 NIV
 
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Michael74 said:
Interesting. The beasts coming out of the sea in Revelation and Daniel are generally thought to be coming out of the nations. I can understand why you would carry over the analogy. Still, the concept of this earth being temporary is also stated in other books of the Bible, which suggests that the new heavens and new earth may be literal. Jesus Himself said:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35 NIV
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They can be both if each is supplied with its own context. For example, 'Heaven and Earth will pass away' can apply to the expiration of the temple economy in favor of the Grace economy at one level, and the destruction of this physical universe in favor of a new creation at another level. The former prefigures the latter.
 
Yes, they can be both.

(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:19b NIV

Jesus literally meant we could eat pork, but He was also making a deeper statement. In Acts 10, Peter had a vision where he was told to eat "all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds". The vision meant that Peter should preach to Gentiles, starting with Cornelius and his house.

Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 10:46b-48a NIV
 
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Further Scripture in support of a literal new earth:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10-13 NIV

See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 63:17 NIV
 
Further Scripture in support of both a literal meaning, and a deeper spiritual truth.

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 1 Corinthians 9:9-11 NIV

So yes, no more sea could literally mean no more sea on the new earth. The fact that it is mentioned in Scripture could also mean that there is a spiritual truth being taught. Your thesis that it means we will all be one big happy family on the new earth seems reasonable. Jew and Gentile will agape each other equally, so will French, Dutch, Hutu Tutsi, etc..
 
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