Revelation 12:15-16, Revelation 13:1, 11

“So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.”

The black sand crunches beneath Ingrid’s boots as she leads a small group of tourists along Iceland’s southern coast. Behind them towers the massive Eyjafjallajökull volcano (pronounced AY-yah-fyat-luh-YOE-kuutl-uh, a glacier-capped volcano in southern Iceland that erupted in 2010), its peak hidden in clouds. Before them stretches the Atlantic Ocean, its waves pounding the shoreline.

“This spot where we’re standing,” Ingrid explains, raising her voice above the wind, “didn’t exist 60 years ago. It was created when hot lava met cold seawater.”

Thomas, a visitor, shields his eyes from the sun’s glare. “So this land was literally born from the conflict between fire and water?” Ingrid nods. “Iceland itself is one of the few places on earth where you can see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above water—where two continental plates are pulling apart. We live at the boundary where earth and sea constantly battle.” She guides the group toward a grassy area that rises beyond the black beach. There stands a small white church, its red roof bright against the dramatic landscape.

“Our ancestors built churches like this on solid ground, away from the unpredictable sea,” Ingrid continues. “During winter nights, fishermen would look for these church lights to guide them safely home through stormy waters.” As the group pauses to photograph the striking church against the vast ocean, Ingrid pulls a small Bible from her jacket. “My grandfather was the pastor here for forty years,” she explains. “He taught me that Scripture uses this same contrast between land and sea to tell an important story.”

Opening to Revelation, she explains how the Bible often uses the sea to symbolize unstable nations and chaotic powers, while land represents ordered places where God’s principles bring stability. “Look at Revelation 13,” she says. “The beast that represents persecuting powers rises from the sea. But later, another power rises from the earth. Throughout prophecy, land and sea represent different principles at work in our world.”

“In Revelation 12,” Ingrid continues, “the dragon sends a flood of water to destroy the woman who represents God’s people. But the earth—solid ground—opens to swallow that flood and protect her.” She gestures toward the churning North Atlantic. “My grandfather lived through World War II. He saw how Iceland, despite being a tiny island caught between powerful warring countries, became a refuge for many. This small land standing firm against a vast sea.”

“Iceland teaches us that the boundary between land and sea isn’t fixed,” Ingrid says. “In the same way, throughout history, the line between godly order and worldly chaos shifts. Sometimes the sea advances; sometimes the land stands firm.” She pauses, looking back at the little church standing against the backdrop of ocean and volcano.

”The question prophecy asks each of us is simple: Where do you stand? On the shifting sands where waters and human powers rage? Or on the solid rock that doesn’t move?”

Did You Know? In ancient times, the sea was viewed as a place of danger and chaos—home to fearsome creatures and unpredictable storms. This is why Scripture often uses the sea to symbolize unstable nations and threatening powers. The early Christians would have immediately understood this imagery, especially since many had experienced persecution from Rome, an empire whose power came through its control of the Mediterranean Sea. Land—particularly mountains—represented stability, safety, and divine authority. When Revelation portrays God’s people finding refuge where “the earth helped the woman,” it pointed to actual historical events where believers found safety in remote mountain regions during times of persecution.

🔥 Personal Reflection:

  • In your life, what represents the chaotic “sea” that sometimes threatens to overwhelm you?
  • Where do you find “solid ground” when everything around you seems unstable?
  • How can you help create islands of peace and stability for others who are being tossed by life’s storms?

🙏 Prayer: God of both land and sea, thank You for being my solid ground when life’s waters threaten to sweep me away. In a world where so many voices compete for my attention and loyalty, help me stand firmly on the unchanging truth of Your Word. When nations rage like troubled waters and human powers rise and fall, keep me anchored to Your eternal principles. Help me be like the earth that rescued the woman in Revelation—a source of stability and refuge for those around me who are caught in life’s storms. In Jesus’ name, Amen.