Symbology of Revelation - an introduction

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Symbology of Revelation - an Introduction

Introduction:

This is a short article designed to introduce the symbology of Revelation to someone for the first time. The key to understanding the symbology of Revelation is to understand that the symbols used are from the bible. It is biblical symbology, and therefore anyone with a reasonable knowledge of the bible should be able to understand the symbology of Revelation. It is not an accident that Revelation is the last book in the bible because it derives its symbology from all of the previous books, both from the Old and New Testament.

The testimony of Revelation about itself: top

Rev 1:1 - He made it known (semano) by sending his angel to his servant John, - This is the method by which he made it known to John, angel means messenger. The words 'He made it known' means 'He signified it' (semaino) in the Greek, thus it comes to John in the form of signs (e.g. 12:1, 12:3, 15:1).

We should get the idea that Revelation is a symbolic book because there are certain symbols that are explained within Revelation itself. There are at least eleven verses where Revelation explains its own symbology. Indeed Jesus himself explains the first unknown symbol.

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Other verses where Revelation gives its own interpretation are listed below:

Rev 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Rev 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Rev 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Rev 17:9-10 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.

17:11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

17:12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

17:15 "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.

17:18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

Rev 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Like a son of man top

Revelation has hardly started before it uses symbols which are not explained and which we are expected to understand. The section from 1:10-20 is full of symbols that tell us who this personage 'speaking like a trumpet' is:

(Rev 1:10-20 NIV) On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, {11} which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." {12} I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, {13} and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. {14} His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. {15} His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. {16} In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. {17} When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. {18} I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. {19} "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. {20} The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

like a son of man (Dan 7:13, Mat 8:20 an expression Jesus used of himself)
head and hair were white like wool (Dan 7:9 could be God)
out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword (word of God Heb 4:12 cf. Rev 19:13 and 15)
His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance (Mat 17:2 the transfiguration)
I am the First and the Last. (Isa 44:6, Isa 48:12 the Lord, implies deity, Rev 22:13 )
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! (this can be none other than Jesus)

The Lamb: top

(Rev 5:5-6 NIV) Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." {6} Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Here we have the first appearance of one of the great symbols in Revelation - the Lamb. The word Lamb occurs 31 times in Revelation although on one occasion it refers to the beast out of the earth (13:11). First the elder explains who the Lamb is and then John sees the Lamb, looking as if it had been slain. The Lion of the tribe of Judah refers to Gen 49:9, Jesus was descended from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is the root as well as descendent of David (Isa 11:1, 10; Mat 22:41 ff).

The 'Lamb, looking as if it had been slain' is a clear reference to Jesus, both John and Peter refer to Jesus being the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36, 1 Pet 1:19), 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Paul call Jesus our Passover lamb who has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7). The Lamb looked as if it had been slain, this is a reference to the crucifixion, but he is standing because he rose again. In one brilliant stroke John portrays his central theme of NT revelation--victory through sacrifice (Mounce). The Lamb of God is alluded to in Genesis 22:7 when Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, Isaac asks where the lamb for the burnt offering, and Abraham replies 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son'. He is the Paschal lamb of the Passover, Exo 12:3-21, when the destroying angel saw the blood of the Lamb on the lintels of the doors he passed over the Israelites and killed the first born of the Egyptians instead. Isa 53:3 ff. is one of many Messianic mentions of the lamb in the OT but it is probably the greatest, he describes the Messiah as 'like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth'.

Numbers in Revelation top

Numbers in Revelation are used in a symbolic way.

Two

Two is the number of witness. The disciples were sent out by twos (Mark 6:7). Two witnesses are required to establish truth (Deu 17:6, John 8:17, 2 Cor 13:1). Examples in Revelation are the beast out of the earth who has two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon (13:11). He is the false prophet. However the two witnesses are the true prophets of God (11:3).

Four

Four is used to specify the whole world, as in the four directions of the compass. Examples are: the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth (7:1 see also 20:8). The great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language (four-fold description), see also Rev 5:9 11:9 13:7 14:6 the four-fold description indicates that these people come from all over the earth.

six

Six is man's number because man was created on the sixth day. The most obvious use of this number is in the notorious passage containing 666.

(Rev 13:18 NIV) This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

seven

The number seven is used 55 times in Revelation. It usually means fullness or completeness as in seven days of the week. God rested on the seventh day. Examples abound: seven churches, seven trumpets, seven seals, seven bowls, seven eyes etc etc.

Ten

Ten is another number that indicates completeness. Examples: ten days, ten horns and ten kings.

Twelve

This indicates God working in the world through man as in the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve apostles. The woman of 12:1 with a crown of twelve stars on her head represents the Old Testament people of God who bring forth the Messiah (cf. Gen 37:9). We have the new Jerusalem with twelve gates and on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (21:12). The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (21:14). Both these indicate that the New Jerusalem has saints from both the old and new testaments. Also associated with the New Jerusalem are the numbers 144 (12*12) and 12,000 which are multiples of twelve. The 144,000 (12*12*1000) represents the church on the earth (7:4) and in heaven (14:1).

1,260 days, 42 months, time, times and half a time, three and a half days

These numbers are either three and a half years or three and a half days or in other words a half week (of years). When these periods are used in Revelation they indicate either persecution or protection.

Persecution	Protection
(Rev 11:2 NIV) But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.	(Rev 11:3 NIV) And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." (they cannot be touched until they finish prophesying)
(Rev 11:9 NIV) For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.	(Rev 12:6 NIV) The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
(Rev 13:5 NIV) The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.	(Rev 12:14 NIV) The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.

The idea of protection comes from the three and a half years that Elijah was cared for by God (1 Kings 17:1-14, 1 Kings 19:1-8, Jam 5:17). He was fed by ravens and the widows cruze of oil did not run out. He was supernaturally nourished by God during the drought on the ungodly. In Daniel 7:25 the 3.5 years seems to refer to persecution and in Dan 12:7 it seems to refer to a long time of persecution.

(Dan 7:25 NIV) He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

(Dan 12:7 NIV) The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

Other symbols:

Trumpets and bowls top

Note the similarity between the trumpets, bowls and the ten Egyptian plagues

The ten Plagues on Egypt:

Exo 7:17-18 the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.
Exo 8:2. Plague of frogs.
Exo 8:16 Plague of gnats.
Exo 8:21 Swarm of flies.
Exo 9:3 Plague on livestock.
Exo 9:9 Festering boils on men and animals.
Exo 9:17-18 Plague of hail.
Exo 10:4-5 Plague of locusts.
Exo 10:21-22 Three days of darkness.
Exo 11:4-5 Firstborn will die.

The Trumpets and Bowls Compared

	Trumpets	Bowls
First	hail fire mixed with blood hurled to earth, third of the earth, trees and green grass burned up.	Ugly and painful sores on those who had the mark of the beast and worship his image
Second	third of sea turned to blood, third of living creatures in sea died, third of ships destroyed.	Sea turned to blood, everything in the sea died
Third	Third of waters turned bitter, many people died	Rivers and springs became blood
Fourth	A third of the day and night was without light	Sun scorches people with fire
Fifth	Locusts out of the Abyss torture mankind for five months	Kingdom plunged into darkness, men gnawed their tongues in agony
Sixth	Third of mankind killed by fire, smoke and sulphur i.e. war	Three evil spirits (frogs) gather kings of the earth for battle on the great day of God Almighty.
Seventh	End of the age, time of the judgement, lightening, thunder, earthquake, hailstorm.	The end of the age, flashes of lightening, thunder, a great earthquake and plague of hail

The Beast out of the Sea top

Jesus said "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Mat 22:21). Now when the State demands that which belongs to God, namely worship, then it becomes a beast. Think of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar when he claimed glory for himself rather than giving glory to God - he became like a wild animal (Dan 4:30-32). As an example think of the Roman empire that demanded emperor worship. This beast of Rev 13 is a composite beast and is based on the beasts in Daniel 7. Daniel sees four beasts: lion, bear, leopard with four heads, a forth beast with iron teeth and ten horns. These represent kingdoms - 'The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth' (Dan 7:17 NIV). These are combined into one beast in Revelation. In Revelation the emperor and the empire are interchangeable - thus when we think of Nero we think of the Roman empire in its opposition to Christianity. It is possible to interpret the beast as the Roman empire, the empire of the Antichrist or all anti-Christian empires culminating in the last great empire of the Antichrist.

The Beast out of the Earth top

(Rev 13:11 NIV) Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.

He looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon (dragon is Satan). When Satan speaks he speaks lies. He looks like a lamb but he is a false christ. Later he is called a false prophet (Rev 16:13, 19:20). He has two horns and he should be contrasted with the two witnesses who are the true prophets of God. He even causes fire to come down from heaven to earth just like Elijah. The two witnesses cause a drought just like Elijah. The power of the false prophet is derived from the beast and he uses brute force and deceit. The power of the two witnesses comes from the Holy Spirit and from prayer like Elijah who prayed for the drought (cf. Elijah James 5:17).

False prophet	Two witnesses
Rev 13:13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. (Rev 13:14 NIV) Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.	(Rev 11:5-6 NIV) If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. {6} These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

The seven seals top

These bear a striking parallel to Mat 24

	Seals	Mat 24
First	Christ or gospel	(Mat 24:14 NIV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Second	War - Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.	Mat 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Third	Famine - "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"	(Mat 24:7 NIV) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Fourth	kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts	(Mat 24:7 NIV) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Fifth	(Rev 6:9 NIV) When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.	(Mat 24:9 NIV) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
Sixth	(Rev 6:12-13 NIV) I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, {13} and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.	(Mat 24:29-30 NIV) "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' {30} "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Seventh	Silence

Woman of Rev 12 top

(Rev 12:1-2 NIV) A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. {2} She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

Compare this description with Joseph's dream.

(Gen 37:9 NIV) Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

The woman represents the Old Testament people of God who are to bring forth the Messiah. The Messiah is descended from Israel.

The Dragon (Satan) then tries to destroy the promised seed, various events are recorded in the OT in which there are attempts to destroy the line from which the Christ will be born.

Cain slays Abel, but Seth is raised, Gen 4.
Pharaoh orders the Israelite male babies to be killed, Ex 1:15.
Saul tries to kill David, 1 Sam 18:11.
When Athaliah proceeded to destroy the whole royal family, 2 Ki 11:1.
Haman tries to kill all the Jews but Esther intervenes, Esth 3:6, 7:3.
Herod tries to kill all the young male children

There are also various other points in the OT where the line leading to the Messiah could be broken (Hendriksen).

When God destroys the people of the earth but saves Noah.
Sarah is unable to conceive, but the miracle child Isaac is born.
The lord orders Isaac to be sacrificed but then provides a substitute
Rebekah, Isaac's wife was barren, but she conceives
Esau threatens to kill Jacob for robbing him of his birthright, but in the end does not.
The Lord wants to kill the children of Israel but Moses intervenes as an intercessor.

The Two Witnesses top

(Rev 11:3-4 NIV) And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." {4} These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

If we compare the initial description of the two witnesses in 11:3-4 with other scriptures we can build up a picture of them. Firstly what did Jesus say would happen to the early church when the Holy Spirit comes upon them - they will receive power and they will witness (Acts 1:8).

(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

When the Holy Spirit did come upon the disciples according to Joel they will prophecy (Acts 2:17-18)

(Acts 2:17-18 NIV) "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. {18} Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

According to Acts 5:32 there are two witnesses - the Church and the Holy Spirit (see also John 15:26,27; Matt 10:18-20; Rev 22:17)

"And WE are His witnesses to these things, and so is the HOLY SPIRIT whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32

Two olive trees are mentioned in Zec 4:3 (representing the Holy Spirit) and Zec 4:6 has the famous phrase 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' .

(Zec 4:2-6 NIV) He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. {3} Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." {4} I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" {5} He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied. {6} So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

The two witnesses are two lampstands and we have already seen that the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches (Rev 1:20). Finally we have seen that the number two is the number of witness - the two witnesses are to be contrasted with the false prophet with two horns of Rev 13:11. The two witnesses are the true prophets of God - that it the church Church witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Their power is the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and Prayer.

(Rev 1:20 NIV) The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The rest of the description of the two witnesses comes from various Old Testament prophets: Jeremiah, Elijah, Moses. Remember that they prophecy because they are prophets. We should remember that the NT records that Elijah's power comes from prayer (James 5:17), he prayed and it did not rain cf. Rev 11:6.

(Rev 11:5-6 NIV) If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. {6} These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Links: top

The 144,000 (7:4, 14:1)
The Two Witnesses (11:3)