A Summary of the Symbols Used in Revelation

A quick review of the book of Revelation reveals numerous symbols. Some are obvious, some not so obvious. The presence of so many symbols raises a question: With so many symbols, what parts of the book should be taken symbolically, and what parts of the book should be taken literally?

Below, the reader will find a list of symbols which cannot reasonably be taken literally. They are found throughout the book. They address a variety of subjects. Taking them as a whole, it becomes very unlikely that the book it intended as a literal prophecy. The prevalence of these mandatory symbols makes it very likely that a host of other statements should be taken in symbolic rather than literal form.

When all of these symbols are considered, the picture of the book becomes clear. Revelation is a symbolic future history, not of temporal events, but of spiritual warfare. John's invitation to the visions in 1:10 is a "voice like a trumpet". If we look at the importance of the sound of a trumpet to a Jew, we get a preview of the entire book.

Trumpets had several uses: (only one example of each cited)

They announced the beginning and end of all Temple services. (Num 10:9-10)
They were a call to battle (Neh 4:20)
They announced victory (1 Sam 6:15)
They were used to announce the anointing of a king. (1 Kin 1:34,39)
They announced the anointing of the Temple (2 Chron 29:26-28)
They announced the restoration of the Ark to the Jews (2 Sam 6:16)

Virtually all interpreters will admit that Revelation includes all of these elements. There is a call to true worship in the letters to the churches. The dragon makes war against the saints, who eventually triumph. True worship is re-established in the true Temple. Jesus is anointed as king forever, and the saints join the ceremony in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

In one phrase John sums up the entire Revelation! This is important enough that the phrase is repeated in 4:1. How should we view the book? It is a call to the war of victorious worship of our king. It is presented in symbolic language because human language is simply inadequate to describe the marvels of heaven and the spiritual truths shown to John. Because of this inadequacy, John uses the same tool every other prophet has used: he writes in symbols. In this way he is able to translate heaven into human language.

Paul tells us to expect this type of difficulty in 1 Cor 2:6-9

⁶ Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; ⁷ but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; ⁸ the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; ⁹ but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him."

and in 1 Cor 13:9-12

⁹ Now we know so little, even with our special gifts, and the preaching of those most gifted is still so poor. ¹⁰ But when we have been made perfect and complete, then the need for these inadequate special gifts will come to an end, and they will disappear. ¹¹ It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. ¹² In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face to face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now. (The Living Bible)

A Short Inventory of Symbols in Revelation Which Cannot be Literal

1:16 ·····Stars in right hand, sword out of mouth (Stars are angels 1:20)
2:9 ·······The poor are rich
2:28 ·····I will give you the morning star
3:1 ······You are alive but you are dead
3:12 ·····I will make him a pillar in the Temple
3:16 ·····I will spit you out of my mouth
4:5 ·······seven lamps are seven spirits
5:5-6 ····the Lion of Judah...appeared as a lamb...as if slain
5:8 ·······golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints
6:9 ·······I saw...under the altar...souls which had been slain
7:14 ·····"they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"
8:7 ·······hail and fire mixed with blood
8:8 ·······something like a great mountain
8:13 ·····an eagle speaking with a loud voice
9:1 ·······key given to a star
9:7-10 ··locusts that appear like battle horses, etc
9:17 ·····horses with heads like lions
9:18 ·····horse tails are like serpents and have heads
11:3-4 ··two witnesses who are olive trees and lampstands
11:8 ·····the great city mystically known as Sodom and Egypt
12:1 ·····woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars
12:3 ·····a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns
12:4 ·····the dragon's tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven
12:14 ···two eagle's wings were given to the woman so she could fly
12:15 ···the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth
12:16 ···the earth opened its mouth
13:1 ·····a beast with seven heads and ten horns
13:2 ·····a beast like a leopard with feet like a bear and the mouth of a lion
13:11 ···a beast with two horns like a lamb that spoke like a dragon
14:20 ···blood from a wine press
16:6 ·····they poured out the blood of saints and prophets
16:7 ·····a singing altar
17:9 ·····a woman who is large enough to sit on seven mountains at once
17:11 ···a beast who was, but is not, but is to come
17:12 ···horns that are kings
17:15 ···waters that are peoples and multitudes and nations
17:18 ···a woman who is a city
19:12 ···eyes that are on fire
19:15 ···a sword coming out of the mouth
21:23 ···the light of the new Jerusalem is the Lamb