The Origin of Imageries of the "Sea" and "Death" in the Book of Revelation

The Origin of the Images of the “Sea” and “Death” in the Book of Revelation

Craig YS HO

This paper traces the origin of the images of the “Sea” in Rev. 21:1 and “Death” in Rev. 20:14. Although “Sea” appears in mythological stories of both the Old Testament and other non-canonical Jewish scriptures , these literary sources are not the ultimate origin of these images. A comparative study of some of the creation myths and prophecies in the Old Testament with pertinent texts of Ugaritic literature suggests that the ultimate origin of “Sea” as a god is to be found in the latter. “Death” as a god also appears in Ugaritic literature as Mot.