Bible Symbols Of Prophecy

[Sheila]

Bible Prophecy Symbols
This is a list of what these symbols represent in helping to better understand the book of Revelation. I found this on-line and wanted to share it.
Why are Bible prophecies cloaked in Symbols? In Luke 8:10 Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.” Many of the apocalyptic prophecies were given while the prophets were in a hostile foreign land. One reason God cloaked the prophecies in symbols was to protect the messages.

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)