Bible Prophecy Symbols: It is important to note that in interpreting the prophetic symbols listed below we have not depended on our own whit or wisdom. The interpretation of these prophetic symbols is derived exclusively from the Bible. We have let the Bible be its own interpreter. This has been the will of God; that His people unlock the meaning of these prophetic symbols by going back to His word. By doing so, our loving Father has leveled the field before all His truth seekers, so that no one would be disadvantaged in the study of His prophecies.
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Prophetic Symbol |
Symbol Interpretation: Derived From The Bible |
Bible References For Interpretation |
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1 |
Angel |
A created messenger of God; or Christ Himself as a messenger of His Father |
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2 |
Ark of Testimony |
A.K.A. Ark of His covenant: here is where His law is kept, and where God dwells over His mercy seat. |
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3 |
Babylon |
Religious confusion and apostasy |
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4 |
Bear |
Medo-Persia |
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5 |
Beast |
Political kingdom and power |
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6 |
Binding of Satan |
Will happen during the Millennium, when Satan will be prevented from tempting people. Reason: righteous will be in heaven, and the wicked will be dead. Furthermore, he will be prevented from tempting the other unfallen worlds. In this sense he will be as one bound with chains, with nothing to do. |
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7 |
Blood |
Life |
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8 |
Bottomless pit |
Greek word Abussos: the abode of fallen devils. KJV translates it also as the pit. |
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9 |
Brass |
Along with tin, iron, lead, silver dross = impure character. |
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10 |
Bread |
Word of God |
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11 |
Clothing |
Character |
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12 |
Corrupt woman |
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13 |
Crown |
Final victory over sin |
II Kings 11:12; Ezekiel 21:26, 27; James 1:12; II Timothy 4:7, 8; I Corinthians 9:25 |
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14 |
Cup |
A measured amount of judgment and suffering |
Psalms 11:6; 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, 22-23, Jeremiah 25:15-17, 49:12 |
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15 |
Day |
Literal year |
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16 |
Door |
Probation |
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17 |
Dove |
Holy Spirit |
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18 |
Dragon |
Satan |
Isaiah 27:1; 30:6;Psalms 74:13, 14; Revelation 12:7-9; Ezekiel 29:3; Jeremiah 51:34 |
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19 |
Eagle |
Speed, power, and vision |
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20 |
Eating the book |
Digesting and assimilating the message |
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21 |
Egypt |
Symbol of atheism |
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22 |
Eyesalve |
Discernment of truth to avoid spiritual blindness |
Ephesians 1:17-19; Psalms 119:18; I John 2:20, 27; John 16:7-13 |
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23 |
Faithful witness |
Christ |
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24 |
False prophet |
Apostate Protestant churches of America |
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25 |
Famine |
Dearth of Truth |
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26 |
Feet |
Your walk |
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27 |
Field |
World |
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28 |
Fig tree |
A church that should bear fruit |
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29 |
Fire |
Fire |
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30 |
Forehead |
The thinking part of the brain |
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31 |
Fornication |
Unholy alliance between the church and the world |
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32 |
Four Beasts |
Highly intelligent heavenly being with special responsibilities |
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33 |
Four corners of earth |
The four geographic pointers of the compass: north, south, east, and west |
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34 |
Fruit |
Works |
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35 |
Garments |
His robe of righteousness |
Gen. 35:2; Isaiah 52:1; 61:10; Zechariah 3:3-5; Romans 13:14 |
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36 |
Goat |
Greece |
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37 |
Gold |
Pure and precious character |
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38 |
Hand |
Works or actions |
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39 |
Harlot |
Apostate church or religion |
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40 |
Harvest |
End of the world |
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41 |
Heads (seven) |
Seven popes/king who would ruled from 1929, when papacy became and independent kingdom, with pope as absolute in monarch of the Vatican City State. Benedict XVI is seventh. Next and last pope will be a devil impersonating John Paul II. |
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42 |
Hidden Manna |
Christ |
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43 |
Honey |
Happy life |
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44 |
Horn |
King or kingdom |
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45 |
Horse |
Strength and Power in Battle |
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46 |
Image |
A look alike |
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47 |
Incense |
Prayers of God's people |
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48 |
Israel |
God's professed church |
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49 |
Jezebel |
Sensuality, immorality, and apostasy |
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50 |
Key of David |
Power to open & close the sanctuary |
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51 |
Keys |
Domain of control and authority |
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52 |
Lamb |
Jesus the sacrificial lamb of God |
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53 |
Lamb's wife |
New Jerusalem |
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54 |
Lamp |
The written Word of God |
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55 |
Lion |
Strength/Jesus Christ |
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56 |
Locusts |
Destructive powers |
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57 |
Lord's Day |
The seventh-day of the week [the Sabbath] |
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58 |
Mark |
Mark of approval or disapproval |
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59 |
Measuring Rod |
God's law |
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60 |
Merchants |
Supporters of Babylon's erroneous teachings |
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61 |
Morning Star |
Jesus |
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62 |
Mystery of God |
His gospel |
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63 |
New Jerusalem |
The capital of heaven |
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64 |
Oil |
Holy Spirit |
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65 |
Rainbow |
Sign of covenant keeping |
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66 |
Ram |
Medo-Persia |
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67 |
Reapers |
Angels |
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68 |
Red |
Corruption |
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69 |
Rock |
Jesus or the truth |
1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:13, 14; Romans 9:33; Matthew 7:24 |
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70 |
Ring |
Authority |
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71 |
Scarlet |
Sin |
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72 |
Seal |
A synonym of mark. Seal and mark mean same thing |
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73 |
Second Death |
Lake of fire |
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74 |
Seed |
May mean descendents or Jesus |
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75 |
Serpent |
Satan |
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76 |
Seven Candlesticks |
Seven Candlesticks in Holy Place of Sanctuary |
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77 |
Seven Heads |
See 41 above |
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78 |
Seven Lamps |
Jesus or the Word of God |
John 9:5; John 1:9; Psalms 119:105; Revelation 4:5 Matthew 13:39; Revelation 14:14 |
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79 |
Sickle |
A symbol of harvest or the end of the world |
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80 |
Sodom |
Moral depravity |
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81 |
Stars |
Angels |
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82 |
Sun |
Jesus and the gospel |
John 9:5; Psalms 84:11; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 17:2; John 8:12 |
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83 |
Sword |
Destruction and war |
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84 |
Testimony of Jesus |
The spirit of the prophecy gift |
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85 |
Thief |
The surprise nature of Jesus' Second Coming |
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86 |
Thorns |
Cares of the earthly life |
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87 |
Time |
360 days |
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88 |
Times |
720 days |
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89 |
Torment |
Trial and testing |
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90 |
Tree |
Can mean cross or people |
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91 |
Twenty-four Elders |
Twenty four who were resurrected with Christ and went up to heaven with him |
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92 |
Two-edged Sword |
His written Word |
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93 |
Two Witnesses |
Old and New Testament |
John 5:39; Zechariah 4:1-14; Psalms 119:105, 130; John 12:48 |
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94 |
Waters |
Highly populated area of land |
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95 |
White |
Purity |
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96 |
White Robes |
Perfection of character and righteousness |
Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 3:5; 19:8; Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 7:14; Galatians 3:27 |
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97 |
Winds |
Strife, commotion, and war |
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98 |
Wine |
False teachings and doctrines |
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99 |
Wings |
Speed |
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100 |
Wolf |
Enemies that prey on victims when least expected |
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101 |
Woman (pure) |
A pure and righteous church |
Jeremiah 6:2; Isaiah 51:16; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-35 |
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102 |
Woman (impure) |
An impure and apostate church |
Ezekiel 23:2-21; Revelation 14:4; Hosea 2:5; Hosea 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-58 |
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103 |
Wrath of God |
Additional Reading: