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The Book of Revelation has so many strange symbols and imagery. Have you ever wondered what they mean? The good news is that the Bible always explains itself! We don’t have to wonder! Today I’m sharing all about 88 symbols in the Book of Revelation and showing you exactly what they mean!

88 Symbols in the Book of Revelation and what they mean! + Free Printable @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Symbols of Revelation — Literal Meaning

AngelMessengerDaniel 8:16, 9:21; Luke 1:19,26; Hebrews 1:14
Ark of TestimonyArk of covenant/mercy seat where GOD dwellsExodus 25:10-22; Psalm 80:1
BabylonReligious apostasy/confusionGenesis 10:8-10, 11:6-9: Revelation 18:2,3; 17:1-5
Balaam, doctrine ofAdvancing our own interests, compromise, idolatryNumbers 22:5-25
BeastKingdom, government, political powerDaniel 7:23
Binding of SatanA symbolic chain of circumstancesIsaiah 14:12-20
BlackMoral darkness, sin, apostasyExodus 10:21-23; Jeremiah 4:20-28; 8:21; Acts 26:18; John 12:35; Joel 2:1-10
BloodLifeLeviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23
Bottomless PitEarth in chaos, torn up, dark & emptyGenesis 1:1,2; Jeremiah 4:23-28; Isaiah 24:1-4,19; Revelation 20:1-3
BowSuccess in battle against evilPsalm 7:11,12; Psalm 45:4,5
Corrupt WomanCorrupt, apostate churchEzekiel 16:15-58; 23:2-21; Hosea 2:5; 3:1
CrownsKingship, victory1 Chronicles 20:2; 2 Kings 11:12; Ezekiel 21:26,27; James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:7,8; 1 Corinthians 9:25
CupMeted out suffering and judgmentsPsalm 11:6; 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, 22-23; Jeremiah 25:15-17; 49:12
DayLiteral yearEzekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34
DoorOpportunity2 Corinthians 2:12; Revelation 3:20
 ProbationLuke 13:24-25
Dragonsatan or his agencyIsaiah 27:1; 30:6;  Psalm 74:13,14; Revelation 12:7-9; Ezekiel 29:3; Jeremiah 51:34
EagleSpeed, power, vision, vengeance, protectionDeuteronomy 28:49; Habakkuk 1:6-8; Revelation 12:14
Eating the bookAssimilating the messageEzekiel 3:1-3; Jeremiah 15:16
EgyptSymbol of atheismExodus 5:2
Eye salveHoly Spirit to help us see truth; Discernment to understand word; Antidote for spiritual blindnessEphesians 1:17-19; Psalm 119:18; 1 John 2:20,27; John 16:7-13
Faithful witnessCHRISTJohn 18:37; John 3:11; Revelation 3:14; 19:11
False prophetApostate ProtestantismRevelation 16:13,14; 19:20
ForeheadMindRomans 7:25; Ezekiel 3:8,9
FornicationIllicit connection between church & worldEzekiel 16:15,26; Isaiah 23:17; James 4:4; Revelation 14:4
Four Beasts or Living CreaturesHeavenly beings with special responsibilitiesRevelation 5:8-10; 4:6-9; 6:1-7; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4
Four Corners of the EarthFour directions of compassJeremiah 49:36
GarmentsCovering of righteousnessGenesis 35:2; Isaiah 61:10; 52:1; Zechariah 3:3-5; Romans 13:14
GoldTrue riches of heaven, faith, scripturePsalm 19:7-10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:5; Job 23:10
HandSymbol of workEcclesiastes 9:10
HarlotApostate church/religionIsaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 3:1-3, 6-9
HeadsMajor powers, rulers, governmentsDaniel 7:6; Daniel 8:8,22; Revelation 17:3,10
Hidden MannaCHRISTJohn 6:49,50,53; Matthew 13:44
HornPower and strengthDeuteronomy 33:17, Zechariah 1:18,19
 King or KingdomPsalm 89:17,24; Daniel 8:5,21,22
HorseSymbol of battleExodus 15:21; Isaiah 43:17; Jeremiah 8:6; Ezekiel 38:15; Zechariah 10:3
 Special representatives/angelsZechariah 1:8-10; 6:1-8
ImageA likenessExodus 20:4; Genesis 1:26; 5:3; Deuteronomy 4:25; Romans 8:29
IncensePrayers of God’s peoplePsalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3,4
IsraelTrue followers of CHRISTRomans 9:6-9; Romans 2:28,29; Galatians 3:39
JezebelImmorality, idolatry, apostasy1 Kings 21:25; 2 Kings 9:22
Keys of DavidPower to open and close the sanctuaryRevelation 3:7,8; Isaiah 22:22
KeysControl/jurisdictionIsaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19
LambJesus/SacrificeJohn 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 22:7,8
Lamb’s WifeNew JerusalemRevelation 19:7-9; 21:2,9,10
LionStrength, Jesus ChristGenesis 49:9; Revelation 5:4-9; Psalm 7:2
LocustsDestruction/destructive agenciesJoel 1:4; Deuteronomy 28:38
Lord’s DaySabbathIsaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:8; Exodus 20:10
Man ChildJesusPsalm 2:7-9; Revelation 12:5
MarkSign/seal/mark of approval or disapprovalRomans 4:11; Revelation 7:2-3; Ezekiel 9:4
Measuring RodGod’s LawJames 2:10-12; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
 God’s WordIsaiah 8:19,20; 2 Timothy 3:16,17
MerchantsAdvocates of Babylon’s teachingsIsaiah 47:11-15; Nahum 3:16; Revelation 18:3,11,15,23
MoonPermanencePsalm 89:35-37
 Moses’ system of types and sacrificesHebrews 10:1,11
Morning StarJesusRevelation 22:16
MountainsPolitical or religio/political powersIsaiah 2:2,3; Jeremiah 17:3; 31:23; 51:24,25, Ezekiel 17:22,23; Daniel 2:35,44,45
Mystery of GodThe GospelEphesians 1:9,10; 3:9; 6:19; Colossians 1:26-27
New JerusalemThe holy city of HeavenRevelation 3:12; 21:2
OilHoly SpiritZechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5
Open DoorUnlimited opportunity1 Corinthians 16:9; Acts 14:27; John 10:7-9; Hosea 2:15; Colossians 4:3
RainbowToken of covenant keepingGenesis 9:11-17
Red (color)Sin, corruptionIsaiah 1:18; 26:21; Psalm 75:8; Jeremiah 46:10
 Persecution, destructionEzekiel 32:6,11; Jeremiah 46:10; Nahum 2:3
ReinsSeat of will, affectionsPsalm 7:9; 16:7; 26:2; 73:21; Proverbs 23:16; Jeremiah 17:10
SealSign, mark and seal mean the same thingRomans 4:11; Revelation 7:2,3; Ezekiel 9:4
Second DeathLake of fireRevelation 21:8; 20:14
SerpentsatanRevelation 12:7-9; 20:2
Seven Candlesticks7 candlesticks in Holy Place in sanctuaryExodus 25:31-40
 Seven ChurchesRevelation 1:20
Seven HeadsSeven political powersRevelation 17:9,10; Isaiah 2:2-4; Jeremiah 17:3
Seven LampsJesus, Word of GodJohn 9:5; 1:9; Psalm 119:105; Revelation 4:5
SickleSymbol of harvest – End of worldMatthew 13:39; Revelation !4:14
SodomMoral degradationEzekiel 16:46-55; Jeremiah 23:14; Genesis 19:4-14
StarsAngelsRevelation 1:16,20; 12:4, 7-9; Job 38:7
SunJesus and the GospelJohn 9:5; Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 17:2; John 8:12
SwordBloodshed, destructionIsaiah 3:25; 13:15; Acts 12:1,2; Jeremiah 48:2
Testimony of JesusSpirit/gift of prophecyRevelation 19:10; 22:9; 1 Corinthians 13:2
ThiefSuddenness of Jesus’ coming1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10
TimeLiteral yearDaniel 4:16,23,25,32; 7:25; 11:13 margin; Revelation12:6,14; 11:2,3
TormentTest, prove by trail1 Corinthians 3:13; Hebrews 12:29; Isaiah 33:14
Twenty Four EldersA group of redeemed from earthRevelation 5:9,10; 4:4; 7:9-14
Two-edged SwordGod’s Word – Sword of SpiritEphesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 10:34; Isaiah 49:2
Two WitnessesOld and New TestamentsqJohn 5:39; Zechariah 4:1-14; Psalm 119:130,105; John 12:48
WatersInhabited area – people, nationsRevelations 17:15
White (color)PurityPsalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18
White RobesVictory & RighteousnessIsaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:8; Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 7:14; Galatians 3:27
WindsStrife, commotion, “winds of war”Jeremiah 25:31-33; 49:36-37; 4:11-13; Zechariah 7:14
WineFalse doctrine/teachingsJeremiah 25:15-18; 51:7
 Jesus blood of atonementMatthew 26:21-29
WingsSpeedHabakkuk 1:6-8; Jeremiah 4:13; Exodus 19:4
Woman, PureTrue ChurchJeremiah 6:2; Isaiah 51:16; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-35
Woman, ImpureApostate ChurchEzekiel 23:21; Revelation 14:4; Hosea 2:5; 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15-58
WormwoodSorrow/bitternessJeremiah 9:15; 23:15; Lamentations 3:19
Wrath of GodSeven Last PlaguesRevelation 15:1

For further study, you might enjoy:

Plus, there are many more Articles, Bible Studies,and Devotions here on A Virtuous Woman.

The Word of God is amazing! I pray that this chart is a help to you. You can look up the verses and study their meanings.

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My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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18 Comments

    1. Hi Nicole! My husband and I are Christians. If you're asking which denomination we belong to, we are Seventh-day Adventists. I was raised Southern Baptist but joined the SDA church in 2000 {14 years ago}. If you have any other questions feel free to ask! Thanks so much for stopping by!
      Reply
  4. Hi Melissa, Can I ask a question? Why you moved ADS from southern baptism church?.. I know it non of business about this. Lol.. I m so curious about this.. Thank you about 88 symbol of prophecy. I will read this. But the way I m deaf and trying to understand read the bible. I m glad finding this symbols! I need this!! Ya ya .. Thank u so much.. God blessing y'all. ... I hope u understand read this.. I m not good with grammar. Lol
    Reply
    1. Hi Marlen! I joined the SDA church because I realized that the Bible says that the seventh-day {Saturday} is the Sabbath of the Lord God - not Sunday. You can find this in Exodus 20:8-11. God sanctified the Sabbath day and made it holy on the seventh day of creation.
      Reply
  5. I'm going to respectfully disagree with Egypt=atheism here. Egypt was anything BUT atheistic. They were polytheists. Yes, you are correct in the seventh day being the Sabbath. I'd love for more Christian denominations to realize that and go back to worshipping on the 7th day. Unfortunately, there are not any Spirit-led churches in our area that worship on the Sabbath. We do set it apart as a family day, though. Seems God's original intent was for His people to rest and enjoy family on Shabbat. :)
    Reply
  6. I had been reading symbols of prophecy but this I must say is superb. I always feel proud and happy for being a Sabbatarian. Can you please educate me on what actually the mark of the beast is because I've heard a lot and I dont know the exact thing though I am in a business of studying bible prophecy. Thank you for a good work done and more grease to your elbow.
    Reply
  8. Thankyou so much for sharing with me. Am extremely encouraged and inspired by the message.God bless you.
    Reply
  10. Thanks so much Melissa. I have searched this topic and yours are set out just the way I can use in my studies because it's easy reference. I'm also a Sabbath Keeper but according to Bible evidence, Sabbath is kept from Dawn on the Seventh Day, Saturday, until Dawn on the First Day, Sunday.
    Reply
    1. Hi Berenice! It's always wonderful to meet another Sabbath keeper. In Genesis, we are told that the evening and the morning was the first day. The Jewish people have always celebrated Sabbath from sundown on Friday night until sundown on Saturday night because of the Creation account. So that's my understanding of when Sabbath begins. :)
      Reply

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