Why cloak Bible prophecies in symbols? Luke 8 :10 And 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. He also said that ‘to you it has been given’. Who is the ‘you’? It is those that are diligently seeking and have a love for truth (2 Thess. 2:9-12; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Jn. 3:18).
Not all that glitters is gold. Some may appear as the true, but in reality, it is ‘fools gold’. When a thing like ‘truth’ is being discussed, the great challenge is through the leading of the Holy Spirit to mine, refine, and claim the ‘gold’ in its most pure form while not accepting any “fool’s gold.” Here in is the warning that Jesus gave: ‘take heed that no man deceive you’ (Matt. 24:4; Col. 2:8, Eph. 5:6; 2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Jn. 3:7; 1 Cor. 6:9, 15:33; Jeremiah 29:8). But, just like gold, many things share similarities to truth, they may even contain bits of truth (i.e., Eve and the Serpent), but nothing substitutes for the real thing. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and a master at mingling error with truth – the Bible has many accounts of his work. Half truth is not truth, rather it is a truth that has been adulterated. This is what the great controversy is over…truth verses error / good verses evil.
As broken, fallen people who gave in to Satan; we are bent (Ps. 40:12, Romans 5:6). We cannot unbend our self (Eccl. 1:15) ONLY Jesus can make us straight (Luke 3:5,6), How? Through His shed blood, He cleanses us and gives us a new heart (Isa. 1:18; Eze. 36:26). When the bent and crooked repents of sin and places their faith in Jesus and HIS finished work of redemption at Calvary, the crookedness begins to straighten. As we become new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), we begin walking the straight and narrow way. This is His sanctification process. As He builds us with His character, there is no longer room for crookedness (Heb. 12:13, Prov. 16:17), this is His sanctifying power at work.
The love of truth is a quality of God (Isa. 65:16) and it is received from God through trusting Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). The truth is that we cannot in any was save ourselves, therefore, we are subject to sins penalty which is death of the eternal kind. The greatest lie manufactured by Satan is that ‘we will NOT surely die”, suggesting that though our body perishes our soul continues to live in peace or agony (heaven or hell). This is nothing short of spiritualism. For every truth of God, Satan has a counterfeit:
- you will die vs. you will not die
- trinity: Father/Son/Holy Spirit vs. Dragon/Beast/False Prophet
- baptism: emersion by water vs. sprinkling
- confess your sins to God vs. confessing to a priest
- forgiveness comes straight from God vs. forgiveness comes through a priest
- we pray to God in Jesus’ name vs. we pray to saints/Mary
- Jesus is our High Priest (earthly priesthood abolished at His death) vs. an active earthly priesthood
- Jesus is our Mediator vs. Mary is our mediator
- forgiveness is a free gift for Jesus paid our debt in full vs. penance of affliction / self-punishment
- at death our fate is sealed vs. seven years of tribulation or purgatory both providing a second chance
- salvation a free gift – Jesus paid our debt in full vs. we also attribute in some way for salvation (grace, works is a result of salvation vs. works, grace as a result of working out our salvation)
- sins blotted out when confessed, He remembers them no more / throws them in the depth of the sea vs. indulgences, a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins
This is not a complete list by no means, but one gets the idea of the twists or flip flop of Satan.
It is important to understand the meaning of the symbols employed by prophecy. These symbols bring a depth of understand to the great controversy between good and evil where humanity finds itself in the midst of. The entire Bible deals with the great controversy issue. At this point in the stream of time, we need to look through the eyes of Daniel where God establishes the prophetic framework of the longest prophecy that takes us to the end of time. The prophecies of Daniel began in his day and continue until the second coming of Jesus Christ. Then, we will look through the eyes of John as God brought forth greater details to what was shown to Daniel. John not only looks back to Daniel, but he too is writing about events occurring in his day in real time – clear to the end of time, and beyond. John writes (90-92 A.D.) about the millennium that will be spent in heaven, the return to earth following the millennium at which time Jesus destroys all sin by fire, creates a new heaven and new earth, and then He places the City of God called the New Jerusalem upon Earth dwelling with us through eternity. God, in His wisdom, has provided the meaning of these symbols for our understanding. We must always remember to read the symbols in context of the passage.
Symbols, Meaning of the Symbol and Bible Reference to Support the Definition
Angel, mean messenger: Dan. 8:16, 9:21; Luke 1:19,26; Heb. 1:14
Ark of the Testimony, means Ark of the covenant/mercy seat where God dwells: Exodus 25:10-22; Ps. 80:1
Babylon, means religious apostasy/rebellion/confusion: Gen. 10:8-10, 11:6-9; Rev. 18:2,3, 17:1-5 Note: Babylon has a spiritual application, just like Israelites have a spiritual application – anyone who is in Christ is a spiritual Jew, click here for an expanded article.
Balaam, doctrine of; means advancing our own interest, compromise, adultery: Numbers 22:5-25
Bear, means a destructive power: Proverbs 28:15; 2 Kings 2:23, 24
Bear, means or represents the nation of Medo-Persia: Daniel 7:5*
Beast, means kingdom, government, political power: Dan. 7:17,23
Binding of Satan, mans a symbolic chain of circumstances: Isaiah 14:12-20
Black, meaning moral darkness, sin, apostasy: Ex. 10:21-23; Jer. 4:20-28, 8:21; Acts 26:18; John 12:35, Joel 2:1-10
Bread, means the Word of God: John 6:35, 51, 52, 63
Blue, means Law: Numbers 15:38, 39
Blood, means life: Lev. 17:11; Deut. 12:23
Bottomless pit, means Earth in chaos, torn up, dark and empty: Gen. 1:12; cf. Jer. 4:23-38; Isa. 24:1-4,19; Rev. 20:1-3
Bow, means success in battle against evil: Ps. 7:11,12; Ps. 45:4,5
Clay, means God’s people: Isaiah 64:8-9
Clay, Miry; means people who proclaim God but mingle with the world: Jeremiah 18, Ps. 40:2
Clothing, means character: Isaiah 64:6; Isaiah 59:6
Crowns, means kingship, victory: 1 Chronicles 20:2, 2 Kings 11:12; Eze. 21:26,27; James 1:12; Tim 4:7,8; 1 Cor. 9:25; Proverbs 16:31; Isaiah 28:5; 62:3
Cup, meaning meted out suffering and judgment: Pa. 11:6, 75:8; Isa. 51:17,21-22; Jer. 25:15-17, 49:12
Day, means literal year: Eze. 4:6 Numbers 14:34
Door, means opportunity or probation: 2 Cor. 2:12, Rev. 3:20 or Luke 13:24-35
Dove, means Holy Spirit: Mark 1:10
Dreadful-Terrible-Exceedingly strong beast, means or represents Rome: Daniel 8:7-12, Rev. 13*
Dragon, means Satan or his agency: Isa. 27:1, 30:6; Ps. 74:13-14; Rev. 12:7-9; Eze. 29:3; Jer. 51:34
Eagle, speed, power, vision, vengeance, protection: Deut. 28:49, Habakkuk 1:6-8; Rev. 12:14
Eating the book, means assimilating the message: Eze. 3:1-3; Jer. 15:16
Egypt, means symbol of atheism: Ex. 5:2
Eyes, means spiritual discernment: Matthew 13:10-17; 1 John 2:11.
Eye salve, means the Holy Spirit help us see truth. Discernment of the Word, an antidote for spiritual blindness: Eph. 1:17-19; Ps. 119:18; 1 Jn. 2:20,27; Jn. 16:7-13
Faithful witness, means Christ: Jn. 3:11, 18:37; Rev. 1:15, 3:14, 19:11
False Prophet, means Apostate Protestantism: Rev. 16:13-14, 13:13-14, 19:20
Famine, means dearth of truth: Amos 8:11
Feet, means your walk / direction: Genesis 19:2; Psalm 119:105
Field, means world: Matthew 13:38; John 4:35
Fire, means Holy Spirit: Luke 3:16
Forehead, means mind: Deuteronomy 6:6-8; Romans 7:25; Ezekiel 3:8, 9
Fornication, means illicit connection between church and world: Eze. 16:15,26; Isa. 23:17; James 4:4, Rev. 14:4
Four Beasts or Living Creatures, means heavenly beings with special responsibilities: Rev. 5:8-10, 4:6-9, 6:1-7, 14:3, 15:7, 19:4
Four corners of the Earth, means four directions of the compass: Jer. 49:36
Fruit, means works, actions: Galatians 5:22
Fig Tree, means a nation that should bear fruit: Luke 13:6-9
Garments, means covering of righteousness: Gen. 35:2; Isa. 61:10, 52:1; Zech. 3:3-5, Romans 13:14
Goat, means or represents Greece: Daniel 8:21*
Hand, means deeds, works, actions: Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 59:6
Harlot – See Woman
Harvest, means end of the world: Matthew 13:39
Heads, means major powers, rulers, governments: Revelation 17:3, 9, 10. See: Seven heads.
Healing, means salvation: Luke 5:23, 24
Hidden Manna, means Christ: Jn. 6:49-50,53; Matt. 13:44
Honey, means a happy life: Ezekiel 20:6, Deuteronomy 8:8, 9
Horn, means power/strength and king/kingdom: Deut. 33:14; Zech. 1:18-19, and Ps. 89:17,24; Daniel 7:24; 8:5,21,22; Zechariah 1:18, 19; Revelation 17:12
Horse, means strength and power in battle and special representatives/angels: Ex. 15:21; Isa. 43:17; Jer. 8:6; Eze. 38:15; Zech. 10:3; Job 39:19; Psalm 147:10;
Proverbs 21:31 and Zech. 1:8-10, 6:1-8
Host, means angels or people: godly (earthly army) or ungodly. Angels: Ps. 103:19-21,148:42; 1 Ki. 22:29; Dan. 8:10(1). People (godly): 1 Sam. 17:45, Ps. 108:11,
Josh. 5:13-14; Jer. 3:19; Dan. 8:10(2), 8:13; (ungodly) Dan. 8:12.
Host, Prince of the, means Jesus Christ: Joshua 5:13-15, ‘commander of the army of the Lord’ is the identical expression as the “Prince of the host’. It is not translated the same, but in Hebrew it’s identical.
Image, means a likeness: Ex. 20:4; Gen. 1:26, 5:3; Deut. 4:25; Romans 8:29
Incense, means prayers of God’s people: Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4
Israel, means true followers of Christ: Romans 9:6-8, 2:28-29; Gal. 3:29
Jar, Vessel, means person: Jeremiah 18:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:7
Jezebel, means immorality/idolatry/apostasy: 1 Kings 21:25, 2 Kings 9:22
Jordan, means death: Romans 6:4; Deuteronomy 4:22
Keys, means control/jurisdiction: Isa. 22:22; Matt. 16:19
Keys of David, means power to open and close the sanctuary: Rev. 3:7-8; Isa. 22:22
Lamb, means Jesus / sacrifice: John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Gen. 22:7-8
Lamb’s wife, means New Jerusalem: Rev. 19:7-9, 21:2,9-10
Leaven, means something evil: 1 Cor. 5:6-8 (spreads to the entire lump); Matt. 16:6,12 (suppression of truth, legalism); Luke 12:1
Leprosy, means sickness = sin: Luke 5:23, 24
Lion, means strength and Jesus Christ: Gen. 49:9; Revelation 5:4-9; Ps. 7:2; Jeremiah 50:43, 44; Daniel 7:4, 17, 23.
Lion, also represents Stan: 1 Peter 5:8-10
Lion, also represents the nation of Babylon: Daniel 7:4*
Leopard, means or represents the nation of Greece: Daniel 7:6*
Locusts, means destruction/destructive agencies: Joel 1:4; Deut. 28:38
Lord’s Day, means the Sabbath: Isa. 58:13; matt. 12:8; Ex. 20:10
Man child, means Jesus: Ps. 2:7-9; Rev. 12:5
Mark, means sign or seal of approval or disapproval: Rom. 4:11; Rev. 7:7:2-3; Eze. 9:4; Rev. 13:17; 14:9-11; See: Seal.
Measuring Rod, means God’s law and God’s word: James 2:10-12; Eccl. 12:13-14, and Isa. 8:19-20;2; Tim. 3:16-17
Merchants, means advocates of Babylon’s teachings: Isa. 47:11-15; Nahum 3:16; Rev. 18:3,11,15,23
Moon, means permanence and Moses’ system of types and sacrifices: Ps. 89:35-37 and Heb. 10:1,11
Morning Star, means Jesus: Rev. 22:!6
Mountains, means 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
Mystery of God, means the gospel: Eph. 1:9-10, 3:9, 6:19; Col. 1:26-27
New Jerusalem, means The Holy City of Heaven: Rev. 3:12, 21:2
Non-descript beast, See: Dreadful-Terrible-Exceedingly strong beast
Oil, means Holy Spirit: Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5
Open Door, means unlimited opportunity: 1 Cor. 16:9; Acts 14:27; Jn. 10:7-9; Hosea 2:15; Col. 4:3
Potter, means Jesus: Lam. 4:2, Isa. 29:16, 41:25, 64:8; Jer. 18:1-4,6;
Purple, means royalty: Mark 15:17; Judges 8:26
Rainbow, means token of covenant keeping: Gen. 9:11-17
Rainbow also means or represents: God’s glory is many colors. Eze. 1:27-28
Reapers, means angels: Matthew 13:39
Ram, means or represents Medo-Persia: Daniel 8:20*
Red, Scarlet, means sin / corruption: Isaiah 1:18, 26:21; Ps. 75:8; Nahum 2:3; Jer. 46:10; Revelation 17:1-4
Reins, means seat of will, affections: Ps. 7:9, 16:7,26:2, 73:21; Prov. 23:16; Jer. 17:10
Ring, means authority: Genesis 41:42, 43; Esther 3:10-11
Rock, means Jesus / truth: 1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:13, 14; Romans 9:33; Matthew 7:24
Seal, means sign, mark, seal mean the same thing: Romans 4:11; Revelation 7:2-3; Eze. 9:4. See: Mark.
Second Death, means ‘lake of fire’: Rev. 21:8, 20:14
Seed, means descendants, Jesus: Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:16
Serpent, means Satan: Revelation 12:7-9; 20:2
Seven candlesticks, mean 7 candlesticks in Holy Place of Sanctuary and seven churches: Ex. 25:31-40, and Rev. 1:20
Seven heads, means seven political powers: Rev. 17:9-10; Isa. 2:2-4; Jer. 17:3 See: Heads
Seven lamps, means Jesus, Word of God: Jn. 9:5, 1:9; Ps. 119:105; Rev. 4:5
Sickle, means symbol of harvest p end of world: Matt. 13:39; Rev. 14:14
Skin, means Christ’s righteousness: Exodus 12:5; 1 Peter 1:19; Isaiah 1:4-6
Sodom, means moral degradation: Eze. 16:46-55; Jer. 23:14; Gen. 19:4-19
Speaking great things, very great things, great words (against the most High), means blasphemy. Rev. 13:5-6.
Stars, means angels / messengers, God’s people: Angels / messengers: Revelation 1:16 20; 12:4;7-9; Job 38:7; Judges 5:20; Isa. 14:3; Obadiah 1:4, and can refer to
angels that fell: Rev. 12:4. God’s people: Gen. 15:5; 22:17, 26:4, 37:9; Deut. 1:10; God’s wise people: Revelation 12:3- And they that be wise shall shine as the
brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Sun, means Jesus and the gospel: John 8:12, 9:5; Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 17:2
Sword, means bloodshed, destruction: Isa. 3:25, 13:15; Acts 12:1-2; Jer. 48:2
Testimony of Jesus, means spirit/gift of prophecy: Rev. 19:10, 22:9; 1 Cor. 13:2
Thief, means suddenness of Jesus’ coming: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10
Thorns / Thorny Ground, means cares of this life: Mark 4:18, 19
Time, means 360 days equating to a literal year: Daniel 4:16,23,25,32, 7:25, 11:13 (margin); Rev. 12:6,14 cf. 11:2-3
Time, Dividing of; means 180 days: Daniel 7:25 [Dividing of Time – Half of time, 360/2=180)
Times, means 720 days: Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:6, 14; 13:5
Tongue, means language/speech: Exodus 4:10
Torment, means test, prove by trial: 1 Cor. 3:13; Heb. 12:29; Isa. 33:14
Tree, means cross, people, nation: Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 92:12; 37:35
Trumpet, means loud warning of God’s approach: Exodus 19:16, 17, Joshua 6:4, 5
Twenty-four Elders, means a group redeemed from earth: Rev. 5:9-10, 4:4, 7:9-14
Two Edge Sword, means God’s Word – Sword of Spirit: Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Matt. 10:34; Isa. 49:2
Two Witnesses, means Old and New Testaments: John 5:39; Zech. 4:1-14; Ps. 119:130,105; Jn. 12:48
Vineyard, means a church that should bear fruit: Luke 20:9-16
Water, means Holy Spirit / everlasting life: John 7:39; 4:14; Revelation 22:17; Ephesians 5:26
Waters, means inhabited area, people, nations: Revelation 17:15
White, means purity: Ps. 51:7; Isa. 1:18; Revelation 12:9; 20:2
White Robes, means victory and righteousness: Isa. 61:10; Rev. 19:8, 3:5; Zech. 3:1-5; Rev. 7:14; Gal. 3:27
Winds, means strife, commotion, “winds of war”: Jeremiah 25:31-33; 49:36-37; 4:11-13; Zechariah 7:14
Wine (unfermented), means Jesus’ blood of atonement / pure covenant-doctrines: Deut. 32:14; Matt. 26:27-29; Luke 5:37, 22:20; John 15:1
Wine (fermented), means false doctrines and teachings: Jer. 25:15-18, 51:7; Isa. 8:13-14 (snare); Rev. 17:3-5 (holding cup of abominations, filthy with her
fornication); Rev. 18:2-3 (cup filled with the wine of the wrath of her fornication – all nations drunk); Lev. 10:9 (we are not to drink fermented wine of any kind
– actual or symbolic;
Wings, means speed / protection / deliverance: Habakkuk 1:6-8; Jer. 4:13; Ex. 19:4; Deuteronomy 28:49; Matthew 23:37
Wolf, means disguised enemies that hunt in a time of darkness: Matthew 7:15
Woman, Impure / Corrupt / Harlot; means apostate church/religion/doctrine: Eze. 16:15-58, 23:2-21; Jer. 3:1-3, 6-9; Isa. 1:21-27; Hosea 2:5; 3:1; Rev. 14:4
Woman, Pure (virgin), means true church and doctrine: Jeremiah 6:2 cf. Isa. 51:16; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-27
Wormwood, means sorrow / bitterness: Jer. 9:15, 23:15; Lam. 3:19
Wrath of God, means seven last plagues: Rev. 15:1
Metals, Elements
• Gold, means true riches of heaven, faith, scripture: Ps. 19:7-10, Gal. 5:6, James 2:5, Job 23:10
• Silver, means pure words and understanding: Proverbs 2:4; 3:13, 14; 10:20; 25:11; Psalm 12:6
Silver dross denotes deterioration, inferior, impure character: Isa. 1:22, Jer. 6:30, James 5:3; Dan. 2:32,39
• Brass, Tin, mean impure character: Ezekiel 22:20, 21 [iron, lead, silver dross are included]
• Iron, means obstinate, barrenness, slavery – yoke, severity, captivity, moral deterioration, political strength, destructive power: Isa. 48:4, Deut. 28:23,48; Job 40:18; Ps. 2:9, 107:10; Jer. 1:18, 6:28; Dan. 2:33, 7:7
*In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a statute. The statute was made of metals. Daniel was called to recall the dream and interpret it before Nebuchadnezzar. The head represented Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom of Babylon, silver represented the kingdom that Babylon would fall to, brass/bronze would represent the next conquering kingdom, iron represented the next conquering kingdom, and the iron mixed with miry clay would represent the iron kingdom that became divided. It is important to note that these same kingdoms are represented by animals with specific details and the type of animal and its features are specific and important (Daniel 7: lion having eagle’s wings, bear, raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth, four headed leopard with four wings of a fowl on its back, dreadful-terrible-exceedingly strong beast with iron teeth devouring and braking having ten horns and different from those before it; Daniel 8: Ram with two horns – one higher than the other, he Goat with a notable horn between his eyes that became broken and four notable horns came up and out of one of the four notable horns came up a little horn).
You may want to print and have handy as we study prophecy.
Updated: 12/2023