Symbols of Revelation – Literal Meaning

Angel	Messenger Daniel 8,16; 9:21 Luke 1:19, 26, Hebrews 1:14
Ark of Testimony	Ark of the convenant/mercy seat where God dwells, contains Ten Commandments Exodus 25:10-22, Psalm 80:1
Babylon	Religious apostasy/confusion Genesis 10:8-10, 11:6-9: Revelation 17:1-5
Balaam, doctrine of	Advancing our own interests, compromise, idolatry Numbers 22:5-25
Beast	Kingdom, government, political power Daniels 7:23
Binding of Satan	A symbolic chain of circumstances Isaiah 14:12-20
Black	Moral darkness, sin, apostasy Exodus 10:21-23: Jeremiah 4:20-28: 8:21: Acts 26:18: John 12:35: Joel 2:1-10
Blood	Life Leviticus 17:11, Deuteronomy 12:23
Bottomless pit	Earth in chaos, torn up, dark & empty, an empty abyss, where Satan "dwells" Genesis 1:1, 2 Jeremiah 4:23-28, Isaiah 24:1-4, 19, Revelation 20:1-3
Bow	Success in battle against evil Psalm 7:11, 12; Psalm 45: 4,5
Corrupt Woman	Corrupt, apostate World-Wide Christian church Ezekiel 16:15-58; 23:2-21; Hosea 3:1
Crowns	Kingship, victory I Chronicles 20:2, II Kings 11:12, Ezekiel 21:26,27; James 1:12; II Timothy 4:7,8; I Corinthians 9:25
Cup	Meted out suffering and judgments Psalm 11:5; 75:8, Isaiah 51:17,22-23; Jeremiah 25:15-17; 49:12
Day	Literal year (if Prophetic) Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34
Door	Opportunity II Corinthians 2:12; Revelation 3:20
Dragon	Satan or his agency Isaiah 27:1; Psalm 74:13,14; Revelation 12:7-9, Ezekiel 29:3: Jeremiah 51:34
Eagle (Vulture)	Speed, power, vision, vengeance, protection Deuteronomy 28:49, Habakkuk 1:6-8, Revelation 12:14
Eating the book	Assimilating the message Ezekiel 3:1-3; Jeremiah 15:16
Egypt	Symbol of atheism and sin Exodus 5:2
Eyesalve	God's Spirit to help us see truth. Discernment to understand word. Antidote for spiritual blindness Ephesians 1:17-19, Psalm 119:18; I John 2:20,27; John 16:7-13
Faithful witness	Christ John 18:37; John 3:11; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 3:14; 19:11
False prophet	Apostate Christianity Revelation 16:13,14; 13:13,14; 19:20
Forehead	Mind Romans 7:25 (1656), Ezekiel 3:8-9
Fornication	Illicit connection between church & state Ezekiel 16:15,26; Isaiah 23:17; James 4:4; Revelation 14:4
Four Beasts or Living Creatures	Heavenly beings with special responsibilities Revelation 5:8-10, 6:1-7, 14:3; 15:7, 19:4
Four Corners of Earth	Four directions of compass - the whole earth Jeremiah 49:36
Garments	Covering of righteousness Genesis 35:2, Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 52:1, Zechariah 3:3-5; Romans 13:14
Gold	True riches of heaven, faith, scripture Psalm 19:7-10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:5; Job 23:10
Hand	Symbol of work Ecclesiastes 9:10
Harlot	Apostate Christianity: Same as the False prophet Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 3:1-3, 6-9
Heads	Major powers, rulers, governments Daniel 7:6 cf Daniel 8:8,22; Revelation 17:3,10
Hidden Manna	Christ John 6:49,50,53; Matthew 13:44
Horn	Power and strength Deuteronomy 33:17; Zechariah 1:18,19 King or Kingdom Psalm 89:17,24; Danies 8:5,21,22
Horse	Symbol of battle Exodus 15:21, Isaiah 43:17; Jeremiah 8:6; Ezekiel 38:15; Zechariah 10:3 Special representatives/angels Zechariah 1:8,10; 6:1-8
Image	A likeness - having the same character Exodus 20:4; Genesis 1:26; 5:3; Deuteronomy 4:25; Romans 8:29
Incense	Prayers of God’s people Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3,4
Israel	True followers of Jesus Christ Romans 9:6-8; Romans 2:28,29; Galatians 3:29
Jezebel	Immortality, idolatry, apostasy I Kings 21:25; II Kings 9:22
Key of David	Power to open and close the sanctuary Revelation 3:7,8; Isaiah 22:22
Keys	Control/jurisdiction Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19
Lamb	Jesus/sacrifice John 1:29; I Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 22:7,8
Lamb’s wife	"New Jerusalem" the True Christian Revelation 19:7-9; 21:2,9,10
Lion	Strength and Jesus Christ Genesis 49:9; Revelation 5:4-9; Psalm 7:2
Locusts	Destructive/destructive agencies Joel 1:4; Deuteronomy 28:38
Lord’s Day	The Seventh-day Sabbath - Saturday Isaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:8; Exodus 20:10
Man child	Jesus Psalm 2:7-9; Revelation 12:5
Mark	Sign/seal/mark of approval, or disapproval Romans 4:11; Revelation 7:2,3; Ezekiel 9:4
Measuring rod	God’s law James 2:10:12; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 God’s word Isaiah 8:19,20; II Timothy 3:16,17
Merchants	Advocates of Babylon’s teaching Isaiah 47:11-15; Nahum 3:16,17; Revelation 18:3,11,15,23
Moon	Permanence Psalm 89:39,37 Moses’ system of types and sacrifice Hebrews 10:1,11
Morning Star	Jesus Revelation 22:16
Mountains	Political or religio/political powers Isaiah 2:2,3; Jeremiah 17:3; 31:23; Jeremiah 51:24,25; Ezekiel 17:22,23; Daniel 2:35,44,45
Mystery of God	The gospel - the Good News - Universal Restoration Ephesians 1:9,10; 3:9; 6:19; Colossians 1:26,27
New Jerusalem	The "Holy City" of Heaven - True followers of Christ Revelation 3:12; 21:2
Oil	God's Spirit of Holiness - mistranslated as Holy Spirit Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5
Open Door	Unlimited opportunity I Corinthians 16:9; Acts 14:27; John 10:7-9 ; Hosea 2:15 ; Colossians 4:3
Rainbow	Token of covenant keeping Genesis 9:11-17
Red (color)	Sin, corruption Isaiah 1:18 ; 26:21; Psalm 75:8 ; Jeremiah 46:10; Persecution Ezekiel 32:6,11; Jeremiah 46:10; Nahum 2:3
Reins	Seat of will, affections - inward being Psalm 7:9 ; 16:7 ; 26:2; 73:21; Proverbs 23:16 ; Jeremiah 17:10
Seal	Sign, mark and seal mean same thing Romans 4:11; Revelation 7:2,3 ; Ezekiel 9:4
Second Death	Lake of fire Revelation 21:8 ; 20:14
Serpent	Satan Revelation 12:7-9 ; Revelation 20:2
Seven Candlesticks	7 Candlesticks in Holy Place of Sanctuary Exodus 25:31-40 Seven Churches Revelation 1:20
Seven Heads	Seven political powers Revelation 17:9,10; Isaiah 2:2,4 ; Jeremiah 17:3
Seven Lamps	Jesus, Word of God John 9:5; John 1:9; Psalm 119:105; Revelation 4:5
Sickle	Symbol of harvest – End of world Matthew 13:39; Revelation 14:14
Sodom	Moral degradation Ezekiel 16:46-55; Jeremiah 23:14; GENESIS 19:4-14
Stars	Angels Revelation 1:16,20; 12:4,7-9; Job 38:7
Sun	Jesus and the gospel John 9:5 (1565); Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 17:2; John 8:12
Sword	Bloodshed, destruction Isaiah 3:25; 13:15; Acts 12:1,2; Jeremiah 48:2
Testimony of Jesus	Spirit/gift of prophecy Revelation 19:10; 22:9; I Corinthians 13:2
Thief	Suddenness of Jesus coming I Thessalonians 5:2; II Peter 3:10
Time	Literal year Daniel 4:16,23,25,32; 7:25; 11:13 margin; Revelation12:6,14; 11:2,3
Torment	Test, prove by trial I Corinthians 3:13; Hebrews 12:29; Isaiah 33:14
Twenty-four Elders	A group redeemed from earth Revelation 5:9,10; 4:4; 7:9,14
Two-edged Sword	God’s word – Sword of spirit Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 10:34; Isaiah 49:2
Two Witnesses	Old and New Testament John 5:39; Zechariah 4:1-14; Psalm 119:130,105; John 12:48
Waters	Inhabited area – people, nations Revelation 17:15
White (color)	Purity Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18
White robes	Victory & Righteousness Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:8; 3:5; Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 7:14; Galatians 3:27
Winds	Strife, commotion, “winds of war” Jeremiah 25-31-33; 49:36,37; 4:11-13; Zechariah 7:14
Wine	False doctrine/teachings Jeremiah 25:15-18; 51:7 Jesus blood of atonement Matthew 26:21-29
Wings	Speed Habakkuk 1:6-8; Jeremiah 4:13; Exodus 19:4
Woman, Pure	True Church Jeremiah 6:2; cr Isaiah 51:16; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-35
Woman, Impure	Apostate church Ezekiel 23:2-21; Revelation 14:4; Hosea 2:5; Hosea 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-58
Wormwood	Sorrow/bitterness Jeremiah 9:15; 23:15; Lamentations 3:19
Wrath of God	Seven last plagues Revelation 15:1 God's Wrath Romans 1:18,24-28