Bible Prophecy Symbols Made Easy

Bible prophecy is so amazing, and understanding the symbols is like discovering a hidden treasure! Yes, God has provided a definition scattered throughout His written word, the Bible.

God gave us the Scriptures as a perfect guide to have eternal life. It’s a complete source on how to understand the symbols of Bible prophecies.

Jesus told us to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39.

But while we search and study, we need to follow some rules to make sure we get the correct understanding of His words by “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

So here are four basic rules to follow when you are searching and studying Bible prophecy.

1) Avoid personal interpretation.

2 Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

2) Step by step and detail by detail.

Isaiah 28:13 “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”

3) Comparing one scripture to another scripture.

1 Corinthians 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

4)God promised that if you DO God’s will, you will know or understand the doctrine.

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
And what is God’s will? It is no other than the “law” of God. Please read Psalm 40:8.

BIBLE SYMBOLS

A

Angel: A messenger, a ministering spirit

Daniel 8:16; 9:12; Luke 1:19, 26; Hebrews 1:13-14;

Ark of the Testimony: Ark of the Covenant, mercy seat where God dwells, depository of God’s Law

Exodus 16:34; 25:10-22; 30:6; 32:15-16, 33-34; Psalm 80:1

B

Babylon: Religious apostasy, confusion, corruption

Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-9; Revelation 17:1-5; 18:1-8

Balaam, doctrine of: Advancing our own interests, compromise, idolatry

Numbers 22:5-25; 31:16; 2 Peter 2:14-16; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14

Bear: Destructive Power, Medo Persia

Proverbs 28:15; 2 Kings 2:23-24; Daniel 7:5

Beast: Kingdom, government, political power

Daniel 7:17, 23 Revelation 13:2-3, 7

Binding of Satan: A symbolic chain of circumstances. Only he and his angels are on earth, and he can do no harm

Revelation 20:1-3

Blood: Life

Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23

Blue : Law

Numbers 15:38-39

Bottomless Pit: Earth in chaos, torn up, dark and empty

Revelation 20:1-3; Genesis 1:2; Jeremiah 4:23-28; Isaiah 24:1-4 19

Bow: Success in battle against evil, strength, faith and patience

Psalm 7:11-12; Genesis 49:24

Brass: Greece, rough goat, king of Grecia

Daniel 2:39; 8:21; 8:21

Brass, Tin, Iron, Lead, Silver dross: Impure Character

Ezekiel 22:20-21

Bread: Word of God

John 6:35 51-52 63

C

Clothing: Character

Isaiah 64:6; 59:6

Crowns: Kingship, victory, A Glorious Ruler or Rulership

1 Chronicles 20:2; 2 Kings 11:12; Ezekiel 21:26-27; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:25; Proverbs 16:31; Isaiah 28:5; 62:3

Cup: Meted out suffering and judgments

Psalm 11:6; Isaiah 51:17, 22-23; Jeremiah 25:15-17; 49:12

D

Darkness: Moral darkness, sin, apostasy

Isaiah 60:2; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 26:18; John 12:35

Day: Literal year

Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34; Genesis 29:27

Door: Opportunity, probation

2 Corinthians 2:12; Revelation 3:7-8; 20; Luke 13:24-25

Dove: Holy Spirit

Mark 1:10

Dragon: Satan or his agencies

Revelation 12:7-9; Isaiah 27:1; 30:6; Psalms 74:13-14; Ezekiel 29:3; Jeremiah 51:34

E

Eagle: Speed, power, vision, vengeance, protection, deliverance, King of Babylon

Deuteronomy 28:49; Habakuk 1:6-8; Revelation 12:14; Psalm 103:5; Exodus 19:4; Ezekiel 17:3, 12; Isaiah 40:31

Eating the book: Assimilating the message

Ezekiel 3:1-3; Jeremiah 15:16

Egypt: Symbol of Atheism

Exodus 5:2

Eyes : Spiritual Discernment

Matthew 13:10-17; 1 John 2:11

Eyesalve: The Holy Spirit to help us see truth; discernment to understand God’s Word; antidote for spiritual blindness

Ephesians 1:17-19; Psalm 119:18; 1 John 2:20, 27; John 16:7-13; Revelation 3:18

F

Faithful witness: Jesus Christ

John 3:11; 8:14; 18:37; Revelation 1:5; 3:14; 19:11

False Prophet: Claims to speak for God but in reality does not. Hence the false prophet in the book of Revelation is apostate Protestantism

Revelation 13:13-14; 16:13-14; 19:20; Matthew 24:3, 11; Deuteronomy 18:20

Famine : Death of Truth

Amos 8:11

Feet : Your Walk, Direction

Genesis 19:2; Psalm 119:105

Fig Tree: A Nation that should bear fruit

Luke 13:6-9

Field : World

Matthew 13:38; John 4:35

Fire : Holy Spirit

Luke 3:16

Four Corners of the earth: Four directions of the compass

Jeremiah 49:36; Ezekiel 7:2; Isaiah 11:12

Fruit : Works, Actions

Galatians 5:22

G

Garments: Character (good or evil) or covering of righteousness

Isaiah 52:1; 61:10; Zechariah 3:3-5; Romans 13:14; Revelation 3:4, 18; 15:6

Goat : Greece

Daniel 8:21

Gold: True riches of heaven, faith, scripture, God, true character, idols

Psalm 19:7-10; Job 23:10; 22:25; Isaiah 13:12; Daniel 5:23; 1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 3:18

H

Hand : Symbol of work, deeds, actions, symbol of God’s power

Psalm 90:17; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Exodus 15:6; Psalm 17:7; 20:6; 44:3; Isaiah 59:6

Harvest : End of World

Matthew 13:39

Harlot: Apostate church or religion, friend of world

Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 3:1-3, 6-9 Hosea 4:15; James 4:4; Revelation 17:5

Heads: Major powers, rulers, governments

Daniel 2:38; 7:6; Revelation 17:3, 9-10

Healing: Salvation

Luke 5:23-24

Hidden manna: Christ

John 6:49-50, 53; Revelation 2:1-7

Honey: happy life

Ezekiel 20:6; Deuteronomy 8:8-9

Horn: Power and strength, kings or kingdoms

Deuteronomy 33:17; Zechariah 1:18-19; Lamentation 2:3, 17 Psalm 89:17, 24; Revelation 17:12; 7:24; 8:8, 20, 22

Horse: A symbol of battle, special representatives/angels, church, strength

Exodus 15:21; Isaiah 43:17; Jeremiah 8:6; Ezekiel 38:15; Zechariah 1:8-10; 6:1-8; 10:3; Psalm 147:10; Job 39:19; Proverbs 21:31

I

Image: A likeness or an idol

Genesis 1:26; 5:3; Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 4:25; Romans 8:29; Revelation 13:14-15; Daniel 3:1, 12

Incense: Prayers of God’s people

Psalm 14:1-2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4

Israel: True followers of Christ

Romans 2:28-29; 9:6-8; Galatians 3:29

J

Jar/Vessel: Person

Jeremiah 18:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:7

Jezebel: Immorality, idolatry, apostasy

1 Kings 21:25; 2 Kings 9:22; Revelation 2:20-22

Jordan: Death

Romans 6:4; Deuteronomy 4:22

K

Key(s) or Key of David: Control, jurisdiction, power to open and close the sanctuary

Revelation 3:7-8; Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19

L

Lamb: Jesus, sacrifice

John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 22:7-8

Lamb’s wife: New Jerusalem, the saints/God’s people

Revelation 21:2, 9-10; 19:7-9; Ephesians 5:23, 27

Lamp : Word of God

Psalm 119:105

Leopard: Greece

Daniel 7:6

Leprosy/Sickness: Sin

Luke 5:23-24

Lion: Strength, Jesus Christ, Israel Powerful King, i.e. Babylon

Genesis 49:9; Psalm 7:2; Numbers 24:8-9; Revelation 5:4-9; Jeremiah 50:43-44; Daniel 7:4, 17, 23

Locusts: Destruction, destructive agencies

Joel 1:4; Deuteronomy 28:38

Lord’s day: The seventh-day Sabbath

Exodus 20:10; Isaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 6:5

M

Man-Child: Jesus

Psalm 2:7-9; Revelation 12:5

Mark: Sign or seal of approval or disapproval

Ezekiel 9:4; Romans 4:11; Revelation 13:17; 14:9-11; 7:2-3

Merchants: Supporters and advocates of Babylon’s teachings, great men of the earth

Isiah 47:1-15; Nahum 3:16; Revelation 18:3, 11, 15, 23

Michael, the Archangel: Chief messenger between God and man, Christ

Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

NOTE: Although Christ is not a created being, but the I AM, the self existent ONE

John 8:58; Exodus 3:14

Moon: Permanence, cycle of time, Mosaic dispensation, or the types of the sanctuary service, and other ceremonies of the church, that God has given to reflect the light of the gospel of Christ in this dark world.

Psalm 89:35-37; 104:19; Genesis 1:16-19; Psalms 81:3 ; Colossians 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Morning Star: Jesus Christ

Revelation 2:28; 22:16

Mountains: God’s kingdom or religio-political powers, obstacles or difficulties

Isaiah 2:2-3; Daniel 2:35, 44-45; Jeremiah 51:24-25; Revelation 17:9-10; Matthew 17:20; Luke 3:50; Jeremiah 17:3; 31:23; 51:24-25; Ezekiel 17:22-23

Mystery of God: The gospel, Christ in you

Ephesians 1:9-10; 3:9; 6:19; Colossians 1:26-27

N

New Jerusalem: The Holy City of Heaven that comes down to earth

Revelation 3:12; 21:2

O

Oil: The Holy Spirit

Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5

Open door: Unlimited opportunity, Jesus, hope

1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Acts 14:27; John 10:7-9; Hosea 2:15; Colossians 4:3; Revelation 3:7, 20; 4:10

P

Purple: Royalty

Mark 15:17; Judges 8:26

R

Rainbow: Token of covenant keeping, God’s promise

Genesis 9:11-17

Ram: Medo Persia

Daniel 8:20

Reapers: Angels

Matthew 13:39

Red/Scarlet: Sin, corruption, persecution, destruction

Isaiah 1:18; Revelation 12:3; 6:4; 17:1-4; Ezekiel 32:6; 11, Jeremiah 46:10; Nahum 2:3

Reins: Seat of the will, affections

Psalm 7:9; 16:7; 26:2; 73:21; Proverbs 23:15-16; Jeremiah 17:10; Revelation 2:23

Ring: Authority

Genesis 41:42-43; Esther 3:10-11

Rock: Jesus / truth

1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:13-14; Romans 9:33; Matthew 7:24

S

Scapegoat: Satan

Leviticus 16:21-22

Seal: Sign, mark and seal mean the same thing, a designation of approval or disapproval, and indication of one’s allegiance, and identifying mark

Romans 4:11; Revelation 7:2-3; 13:16-17; 14:8-9; Ezekial 9:4

Second death: The lake of fire, the permanent cessation of life from which there is not resurrection

Revelation 21:8; 20:14

Serpent: Satan

Revelation 12:7-9; 20:2; 3:10-11

Seed: Descendents / Jesus

Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:16

Seven candlesticks: The seven candlesticks in the Holy Place of the sanctuary, the seven churches or congregations representing the total church

Exodus 25:31-40; Revelations 1:20; 4:5

Seven heads: Seven political powers

Revelation 17:9-10

Seven Lamps: Jesus, the Word of God, Spirit of God

Zechariah 4:2-10; Psalm 119:105; John 1:9; 9:5; Revelation 4:5; 5:6

Sickle: Symbol of harvest at the end of the world

Matthew 13:39;

Silver: Pure Words & Understanding

Proverbs 2:4; 3:13-14; 10:20; 25:11; Psalm 12:6

Skin: Christ's righteousness

Exodus 12:5; 1 Peter 1:19; Isaiah 1:4-6

Sodom: Moral degradation

Ezekiel 16:46-55; Jeremiah 23:14; Genesis 19:4-14

Star(s): Good and evil angels or messengers of God sent to the seven churches, Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:16 20 12:4 7-9 Job 38:7 Numbers 24:17 Genesis 37:9-10

Sun: Jesus and righteousness, the gospel of Jesus Christ, "the Sun of righteousness," "the Light of the world." The light and glory of the gospel dispensation.

John 9:5 Psalm 84:11 Malachi 4:2 Matthew 17:2 John 8:12 Revelation 12:1 Matthew 13:42 1 John 2:8

Sword: An instrument of bloodshed, destruction, judgment, power and authority, word of God

Isaiah 3:25 13:15 Jeremiah 48:2 Genesis 27:40 Psalm 17:13 Leviticus 26:33 Romans 13:4 Matthew 26:52 Ephesians 6:17 Hebrews 4:12