A Study on Revelation - Symbols

OK, so its been 1 year since we last posted.  Living sometimes has a way of getting in the way of what you want to do in life but we continue on.  The book of Revelation is filled with apocalyptic symbolism from the time it was written.  The readers of this at the time would have understood clearly what was meant but for us some thousands of years later, it becomes difficult.  And so, it becomes imperative that we cover these prior to starting.

• A door symbolizes the means by which something worthwhile is obtained
• Lightning, voices, and thunder are terror striking signs showing the latent power of the individual to which they are attributed.  Thunder is also used as warning.
• A crystal sea is symbolic of a calm but inaccessible approach to that which is beyond.  See the great gulf in Luke 16:26.
• The lion represents absolute strength and bravery
• The bull represents strength
• The eagle was used by ancient mystic writers to represent two different concepts - swiftness/speed or ill omen
• The lamb is a religious symbol representing absolute purity and goodness
• A horn symbolizes power or authority
• A rainbow represents hope or mercy
• A horse represents war
• The color white represents purity or victory
• The color red represents the severity of death
• The color black is the general representation of death from various causes
• The color lipid (pale) represents death from pestilence or famine
• A seal represents that the item under question belongs to the one who sealed it
• The winds are an OT symbol which is symbolic of divine retribution
• The children of Israel is an OT symbol representing God's people
• The palm leaf is an OT symbol representing joy from deliverance
• The trumpet is a symbol for announcing the importance of what is to come
• The Ark of the Covenant is a symbol of God's new covenant with mankind
• A star or stars represents a major ruler
• The moon represents a lesser ruler than a star or the twilight period of a great individual
• The dragon represents Satan
• The beast symbolizes a ruler or his government
• The sickle represents judgement
• Babylon is used to symbolize the seat of government where the evil befalling people is coming from
• The frog represents propaganda, especially when it is depicted as coming from the mouth
• The term one hour indicates a short period of time
• The lake of fire and brimstone represents hell
• Gog and Magog are from the OT (see Ezekial 38) and represent symbolic enemies of the Messiah in this context