A Study of The Book of Revelation, Part #3

Biblical symbology cont.

The key to understanding the symbology of Revelation, one of the least understood books of the Bible,  is to understand that the symbols used are from the bible,  and therefore anyone with a reasonable knowledge of the bible should be able to understand the symbology of Revelation. It is not an accident that Revelation is the last book in the bible because it derives its symbology from all of the previous books, both from the Old and New Testament.   Many of us coming to this study of Revelation will find its symbology obscured, we are simply not used to this type of language. But when we come to "a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain" (Rev 5:6), we ought to be able to figure out that this is Jesus. Based on "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) and "like a lamb that is led to the slaughter" (Isa 53:7). This should be quite familiar to us, so we know that the Lamb refers to Jesus (30 times in Revelation).  It is easy to miss an important subtext in (Rev. 5:6), "A Lamb STANDING, as though it had been slain" There is always the temptation to take Revelation literally rather than symbolically, but this gets us into trouble, if we impose modern imagery for the biblical symbolism of Revelation. What I hope to show is that the symbolism of Revelation is biblical symbolism, and this will helps us make sense of the book.

Before we began our indepth study of the Book of Revelation lets take a look at a compiled listing of many of the terms used in Bible symbology.

Animals and their Parts

• Horse = Strength and Power   in Battle Job 39:19, Psalms 147:10, Proverbs 21:31

 • Dragon = Satan or his agency Isaiah 27:1; 30:6, Psalms 74:13-14, Revelation 12:7-9, Ezekiel 29:3, Jeremiah 51:34

• Beast = Kingdom / government / political power Daniel 7:17, 23

• Lamb = Jesus / sacrifice John 1:29, 1Corinthians 5:7

• Lion = Jesus / Powerful King i.e. Babylon Revelation 5:4-9, Jeremiah 50:43-44, Daniel 7:4, 17, 23

• Bear = Destructive Power / Medo Persia Proverbs 28:15, 2Kings 2:23-24, Daniel 7:5

• Leopard = Greece Daniel 7:6

• Serpent = Satan Revelation 12:9; 20:2

• Tongue = Language / Speech Exodus 4:10

• Wolf = Disguised Enemies Matthew 7:15 

• Dove = Holy Spirit Mark 1:10 • Ram = Medo Persia Daniel 8:20

 •Goat = Greece Daniel 8:21

•Horn = King or kingdom Daniel 7:24; 8:5, 21-22, Zechariah 1:18-19, Revelation 17:12

• Wings = Speed / Protection / Deliverance Deuteronomy 28:49, Matthew 23:37

Colors

• White = Purity Revelation 12:9; 20:2

• Blue = Law Numbers 15:38-39

• Purple = Royalty Mark 15:17, Judges 8:26

• Red/Scarlet = Sin/corruption Isaiah 1:18, Nahum 2:3, Revelation 17:1-4

Metals, Elements, and Natural Objects

• Gold = Pure Character Precious and Rare Isaiah 13:12 • Silver = Pure Words & Understanding Proverbs 2:4; 3:13-14; 10:20; 25:11, Psalms 12:6

•Brass, Tin, Iron, Lead, Silver dross = Impure Character Ezekiel 22:20-21

• Water = Holy Spirit / Everlasting Life John 7:39; 4:14, Revelation 22:17, Ephesians 5:26

• Waters = Inhabited area/people, nations Revelation 17:15

• Fire = Holy Spirit Luke 3:16

• Tree = Cross; People / Nation Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Psalms 92:12; 37:35

• Seed = Descendents / Jesus Romans 9:8, Galatians 3:16

• Fruit = Works / Actions Galatians 5:22

• Fig Tree = A Nation that should bear fruit Luke 13:6-9

• Vineyard = Church that should bear fruit Luke 20:9-16

• Field = World Matthew 13:38, John 4:35

• Harvest = End of World Matthew 13:39

• Reapers = Angels Matthew 13:39

• Thorns / Thorny Ground = Cares of this life Mark 4:18-19

•Stars=Angels/messengers = Revelation 1:16, 20; 12:4, 7-9, Job 38:7

• Jordan = death Romans 6:4, Deuteronomy 4:22

• Mountains = Political or religio-political powers Isaiah 2:2-3, Jeremiah 17:3; 31:23; 51:24-25, Ezekiel 17:22-23, Daniel 2:35, 44-45

• Rock = Jesus / truth 1Corinthians 10:4, Isaiah 8:13-14, Romans 9:33, Matthew 7:24

• Sun = Jesus / the gospel Psalms 84:11, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 17:2, John 8:12; 9:5

•Winds=Strife / commotion / "winds of war" Jeremiah 25:31-33, 49:36-37; 4:11-13, Zechariah 7:14

Miscellaneous Objects

• Lamp = Word of God Psalms 119:105

• Oil = Holy Spirit Zechariah 4:2-6, Revelation 4:5

• Sword = Word of God Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12

• Bread = Word of God John 6:35, 51-52, 63

• Wine=blood/covenant / doctrines Luke 5:37

• Honey = happy life Ezekiel 20:6, Deuteronomy 8:8-9

• Clothing = Character Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 59:6

• Crown = A Glorious Ruler or Rulership Proverbs 16:31, Isaiah 28:5, Isaiah 62:3

• Ring = Authority Genesis 41:42-43, Esther 3:10-11

• Angel = Messenger Daniel 8:16; 9:21, Luke 1:19, 26, Hebrews 1:14

• Babylon = apostasy / confusion / rebellion Genesis 10:8-10; 11:6-9, Revelation 18:2-3; 17:1-5 

• Mark = Sign or seal of approval or disapproval Ezekiel 9:4, Romans 4:11, Revelation 13:17; 14:9-11; 7:2-3

• Seal = Sign or mark of approval or disapproval Romans 4:11, Revelation 7:2-3

• White Robes=Victory / righteousness Revelation 19:8; 3:5; 7:14

• Jar / Vessel=Person Jeremiah 18:1-4, 2Corinthians 4:7

• Time = 360 Day Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32; 7:25; Daniel 11:13 margin

• Times = 720 Days Daniel 7:25, Revelation 12:6, 14; 13:5

• Day = Literal year Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34

• Trumpet = loud warning of God's approach Exodus 19:16-17, Joshua 6:4-5 Actions, Activities, and Physical States

• Healing = Salvation Luke 5:23-24

• Leprosy / Sickness = Sin Luke 5:23-24

• Famine = Dearth of Truth Amos 8:11

People and Body Parts

• Woman, Pure = True Church Jeremiah 6:2, 2Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:23-27

• Woman, Corrupt = Apostate church Ezekiel 16:15-58; 23:2-21, Hosea 2:5; 3:1, Revelation 14:4

• Thief = Suddenness of Jesus' coming 1Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2Peter 3:10

• Hand = Deeds / Works / Actions Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 59:6

• Forehead = Mind Deuteronomy 6:6-8, Romans 7:25, Ezekiel 3:8-9

• Feet = Your Walk / Direction Genesis 19:2, Psalms 119:105

• Eyes = Spiritual Discernment Matthew 13:10-17, 1John 2:11

• Skin = Christ's righteousness Exodus 12:5, 1Peter 1:19, Isaiah 1:4-6

• Harlot = Apostate church/religion Isaiah 1:21-27, Jeremiah 3:1-3; 6-9

• Heads = Major powers/rulers/governments Revelation 17:3, 9-10 

Revelation 1:1-3  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

  Thus began a journey, a vision with a message and a purpose from Jesus Christ to the churches and ends with a view from Heaven.  The result?  God is victorious.  The millennium and the eternal glories of Christ shine forth in Revelation in undying beauty and splendor found no other place in the Holy Scripture.  The Book is now Open.

To be continued