Revelation is a book of Symbols. These symbols should be interpreted through a biblical lens rather than through our own presuppositions. Use this list as a help while you read John’s apocalyptic book.
Download the devotional commentary on the book of Revelation.
Repeated Symbols in John’s Revelation:
| Symbol | Interpretation |
| 2 | Valid testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15) |
| 3 | Holiness or importance (Implied Throughout) |
| 3 1/2 | Halfway there (Daniel 7:25) |
| 4 | Totality (Only in Revelation, Implied from Temple Structure) |
| 5 | Half of fullness, not the whole thing (half of 10) |
| 6 | Sin, imperfection, incompleteness—humanity (Genesis 1:26-31) |
| 7 | Perfection, completeness, rest—God (Genesis 2:1-3) |
| 8 | Circumcision, resurrection (Genesis 17:12) |
| 10 | Fullness (Implied) |
| 12 | Complete people of God—12 tribes, apostles |
| 40 | Sufficiency (Implied) |
| 144 | 12×12; The completed complete people of God |
| 1000 | 10x10x10; Far beyond fullness, way more than necessary |
| “In the Spirit” | Indicates a symbolic vision, not literal description (Revelation 1:10, 4:2) |
| Trumpeting Voice | Christ’s declaration to and through His church (Revelation 1:10) |
| 7 Spirits | Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Zechariah 4:1-10) |
| 7 golden lampstands | 7 Churches (local and whole); Revelation 1:20 |
| Man in robe with golden sash | Jesus as the only able deliverer (Daniel 10:5) |
| Head and hair like white wool or snow | God, the Father (Daniel 7:9) |
| Fire eyes and bronze feet | God, the Son (Daniel 10:6) |
| Voice like rushing water | Voice of the Almighty (Ezekiel 1:24) |
| Seven stars | The angels, messengers, of the 7 churches (local and whole); Revelation 1:20 |
| Mouth sword | Messiah’s word (Isaiah 11:4; 49:2) |
| Sun face | Messiah as the only capable warrior (Daniel 10 with Judges 5:31) |
| Tree of Life | Everlasting life (Genesis 2:9; 3:22) |
| Crown | Reward, life (Revelation 2:10) |
| Manna | God’s sustenance, Christ’s broken body, means of giving life/eternal life (Exodus 16:33; John 6:51) |
| White stone | Memorial brick, God memorializing someone or something (Isaiah 56:5) |
| New name | Sanctification, a removal of the old self and putting on of Christ (Isaiah 56:5; 62:2; 65:15) |
| Morning star | Authority (Revelation 2:26-28) |
| Coming like a thief in the night (not really an apocalyptic symbol but a Biblical idiom) | Judgment (Genesis 11:5; 18:21; Exodus 3:8; Matthew 24:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). |
| White Garment | Purity, Eternal Life (Rev. 3:5) |
| Keys of David, open and no one can shut and shut and no one can open | Absolute authority over the kingdom and access to the king’s treasury (Isaiah 22:22). |
| New Jerusalem | People of God Bearing Christ’s Name, Christian (Rev. 3:12) |
| Throne | Power, dominion |
| Rainbow, bow | God’s faithfulness to His own word (Genesis 9:12-17) |
| Precious stones | Brilliance, awe-inspiration, glory |
| Flashes of lightning and peels thunder | God’s decree, Mosaic Law (Exodus 19:16-17) |
| 7 lamps/menorahs | 7 Spirit’s of God, the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2, Zechariah 4:1-10) |
| Four living creatures full of eyes | Cherubim, angels (Ezekiel 1; 10:20-22) |
| Book or scroll | List of indictments or record of judgment (Ezekiel 2:9-10) |
| Seals | Authority, ownership (Isaiah 8:16; 29:11-12; Ezekiel 9:4) |
| 7 eyes and horns | Holy Spirit (Revelation 5:6) |
| Bowls of incense | Prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8) |
| Lion of Judah, Root of David, Lamb of God | Jesus (Revelation 5; Genesis 22:13; 49:9; Isaiah 11:1-10) |
| Four horsemen | The patrol that perpetually reports the earth’s condition (Zechariah 1:7-10; 6:1-10). |
| Scales | Markets, financial transactions, economy (Revelation 6:6) |
| Altar | Justification (Old Testament Sacrificial System) |
| Palm branches | Celebration, victory (John 12:12-19; Matthew 21:1-21) |
| Stars | Message or messenger from heaven to earth |
| Locusts | Demons |
| Fire, smoke, and brimstone | Fatal judgment (Genesis 19:24, 28; Deuteronomy 29:23; 2 Samuel 22:9; Isaiah 34:9-10; Ezekiel 38:22) |
| Sackcloth | Mourning |
| Two Witnesses | The church empowered by the Holy Spirit (Revelation 1:20; 4:5) |
| Dragon | Satan (Revelation 12:9) |
| Woman and child | Israel and Jesus (Revelation 12:5-6) |
| Beast from the Sea; Babylon | Rome, Babylon, Nations of the earth (Daniel 7:1-8) |
| Beast from the earth | Imperial Cult, state religion—formal or informal (Imperial Cult Practices) |
| Hail | God’s wrath (Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:20) |
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