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Keys To Bible Symbols

Keys to Bible symbols

Why cloak Bible prophecies in Symbols? Luke 8 :10 And He 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, Psalm 74:13-14; Rev. 12:7-9; Ezekiel 29:3; Jeremiah 51:34
  • Beast = Kingdom/government/political power Daniel 7:17, 23
  • Lamb =

    Jesus

    /sacrifice John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7
  • Lion = Jesus/Powerful King i.e. Babylon Rev. 5:4-9, Jer. 50:43-44, Dan. 7:4,17,23
  • Bear = Destructive Power / Medo Persia Proverbs 28:15, 2 Kings 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 that hunt in a time of darkness 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 3:4,5; 7:14; 19:14
  • 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, Rev. 22:17, Eph. 5:26
  • Waters = Inhabited area/people, nations Revelation 17:15
  • Fire = Holy Spirit Luke 3:16
  • Tree = Cross; People / Nation Deut. 21:22-23, Psalm 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 1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:13, 14; Romans 9:33; Matthew 7:24
  • Sun = Jesus/the gospel Psalm 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

    Psalm 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 Gen. 10:8-10; 11:6-9; Rev. 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 Jermiah 18:1-4, 2 Corinthians 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; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-27
  • Woman, Corrupt =

    Apostate church

    Ezk. 16:15-58; 23:2-21; Hos. 2:5; 3:1; Rev. 14:4
  • Thief = Suddenness of Jesus' coming 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 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, Psalm 119:105
  • Eyes = Spiritual Discernment Matthew 13:10-17, 1 John 2:11
  • Skin =

    Christ's Righteousness

    Exodus 12:5, 1 Peter 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

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