[Matt Anderson]

Originally Posted by Timotheist

"and every mountain and island was removed from its place"

My personal speculation is that this earthquake will make the Atlantic ocean drain to the south and the six continent will re-unite. Jerusalem will be at the center of the single land mass and will be the world's capital during the last millennium.

There are a few more things to consider regarding the mountains and islands. Revelation 6 has the first reference to "mountains and islands". I think there is both literal/physical significance to the references of "mountains and islands" and also symbolic ones. Symbolically, "mountains" represent places of power of kingdoms in our current world. I believe "islands" are linked to another concept seen in the Old Testament which is "coastlands". Hebrew uses a single word to talk about "islands" and "coastlands" and both of these references refer to the "gentile" nations that are at a greater distance from Israel. I am not stuck on these understandings of the symbolic meanings, just my thinking from years of progressive observation.

As for the literal/physical aspects, there is another reference to "mountains and islands" in Revelation 16 at the end of the Great Tribulation to consider.

Revelation 16:20 And every island fled, and mountains were not found.

Later on at the end of the millennial kingdom we find another interesting reference. This next verse comes after Satan is released from prison and goes out to the deceive the kings of the earth one final time.

Revelation 20:9 (LEB)
9 And they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the fortified camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

At this point, the area surrounding Jerusalem (not the new Jerusalem yet) is a "broad plain". If we look at Jerusalem now, it is NOT surrounded by a "broad plain".

So, I also believe there is evidence of a reconfiguration of the earth as we move into the millennial kingdom, but I am not sure how significantly the continents are reconfigured. If the "islands" are synonymous with "coastlands" in Revelation (like they are in the OT), then it is entirely possible that all the continents would be reconnected as all the mountains and islands go away per Revelation 16:20.

We also know something else about the waters that currently separate the continents. There is a passage in Ezekiel 47 which I believe is connected to the millennial kingdom. I believe this passage shows us that there will still be waters, but their nature is changed from salt water to fresh water.

Ezekiel 47:7–11 (LEB)
7 When I returned, then look! On the bank of the river were many trees on both sides. 8 And he said to me, “These waters are going out to the eastern region, and they go down to the Jordan Valley, and they come to the sea and flow into the sea where they issue out, and the waters in the sea will be healed. 9 And then every living creature with which it teems, to every place the waters come it will live; and very many fish will live because these waters came there, and so the water will be healed and everything will be alive everywhere that the stream will come. 10 And then fishers from En Gedi and on up to En Eglaim will stand beside it, a sea-girt drying yard for nets; their fish for the dragnets will be of every kind, like the fish of the great sea, and very many. 11 But its marshes and its swamps will not be cured, for they were given for salt.

Matt