Following is a list of key terms that often have symbolic meanings in Bible prophecy.
Each symbol is in bold type and is followed by its corresponding literal meaning.
Angel = Messenger
Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26; Hebrews 1:14
Babylon = Religious apostasy/confusion
Genesis 10:8-10; 11:6-9; Revelation 18:2, 3; 17:1-5
Beast = Kingdom/government/political power
Daniel 7:17, 23
Bread = Word of God
John 6:35, 51, 52, 63
Day = Literal year
Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34
Dragon = Satan or his agency
Isaiah 27:1; 30:6; Psalm 74:13, 14; Revelation 12:7-9; Ezekiel 29:3; Jeremiah 51:34
Forehead = Mind
Romans 7:25; Ezekiel 3:8, 9
Hand = Work
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Harlot = Apostate church/religion
Isaiah 1:21-27; Jeremiah 3:1-3, 6-9
Heads = Major powers/rulers/governments
Revelation 17:3, 9, 10
Horn = King or kingdom
Daniel 7:24; 8:5, 21, 22; Zechariah 1:18, 19; Revelation 17:12
Lamb = Jesus/sacrifice
John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7
Lamp = Word of God
Psalm 119:105
Lion = Jesus Christ
Revelation 5:4-9
Mark = Sign or seal of approval or disapproval
Ezekiel 9:4; Romans 4:11; Revelation 13:17; 14:9-11; 7:2, 3
Mountains = Political or religio-political powers
Isaiah 2:2, 3; Jeremiah 17:3; 31:23; 51:24, 25; Ezekiel 17:22, 23; Daniel 2:35, 44, 45
Oil = Holy Spirit
Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5
Red = Sin/corruption
Isaiah 1:18; Nahum 2:3; Revelation 17:1-4
Rock = Jesus/truth
1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:13, 14; Romans 9:33; Matthew 7:24
Seal = Sign or mark of approval or disapproval
Romans 4:11; Revelation 7:2, 3
Serpent = Satan
Revelation 12:9; 20:2
Stars = Angels/messengers
Revelation 1:16, 20; 12:4, 7-9; Job 38:7
Sun = Jesus/the gospel
Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 17:2; John 8:12; 9:5
Sword = Word of God
Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12
Thief = Suddenness of Jesus' coming
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10
Time = Literal year
Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32; 7:25; Daniel 11:13 margin
Waters = Inhabited area/people, nations
Revelation 17:15
White Robes = Victory/righteousness
Revelation 19:8; 3:5; 7:14
Winds = Strife/commotion/"winds of war"
Jeremiah 25:31-33; 49:36, 37; 4:11-13; Zechariah 7:14
Woman, Pure = True church
Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-27
Woman, Corrupt = Apostate church
Ezekiel 16:15-58; 23:2-21; Hosea 2:5; 3:1; Revelation 14:4
