SYMBOLISM IN REVELATION – PART III OF THE INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION:

1. Within the last month I was told about a book that would be useful to me.

2. When I asked about buying the book I was told it is out of print.

3. The author is dead.

4. The person did say that the spouse of the deceased is still alive.

5. I made contact with the spouse and the information I wanted came a few days later.

I. AS I LOOKED AT THE ENVELOPE THAT WAS DELIVERED, I SAW SOMETHING THAT I

HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

A. Red ink was used on the line that read Mr. and Mrs. Brad Price.

B. Black ink was used for our mailing address.

C. I opened up the package.

D. Inside were five separate brown envelopes.

E. On the back of each envelope were the words: “With real love”.

F. These words were written in red.

G. Underneath this was the name of the surviving spouse.

H. This name was written in black.

I. Every envelope had these multi-colored lines.

J. Teresa and I discussed the use of the two colors, especially the red.

K. Our conclusion was that:

1. The surviving spouse really loved the deceased mate.

2. This love and fondness was reflected by the red ink.

3. Since the material that was being sent was from the deceased, red was used to symbolize the

great love the two had possessed.

L. I called the one who sent the material and expressed my appreciation.

M. The surviving mate affirmed that the color red was used to show love.

N. I do not come across this kind of symbolism very often.

O. The same would likely be true for most of us.

1. Symbolism does exist.

2. During the Gulf War yellow ribbons were tied on trees.

3. Our society does use symbolism.

P. When we come to the book of Revelation symbolism is rampant.

Q. As Teresa and I had a symbol before us to figure out, so the book of Revelation has loads of

symbols and images to untangle.

R. Some of these symbols are easy and clear.

S. Other symbols are very obscure.

T. Symbolism needs to be approached very carefully.

U. Symbols are used in Revelation to describe deity (God).

1. God will be described as a sparkling white diamond.

2. He will be likened to a dazzling precious ruby (4:3).

3. Jesus is symbolized as a lamb (5:6).

4. The symbol of a bright and morning star is applied to Christ.

5. The Holy Spirit is symbolized by “7 Spirits of God” (1:4).

V. We will find symbolic references to the spirit realm.

1. By spirit realm we mean the good and the bad.

2. Angels, demons and souls.

W. We will find symbolism tied in with the natural world.

1. Symbols from the field of geology will be seen in this book.

2. Symbols that come from astronomy will be used.

3. Other symbols from nature include the:

a. sun, sun-rising, moon, stars, day and night, air, earth,

b. sea, great waters, rivers, fountains, clouds, lightning,

c. thunder, earthquake, great winds, hail, a rainbow, fire,

d. smoke, brimstone, wilderness, and abyss.

X. Symbolism will be found in earthly kingdoms.

1. “Kings of the earth” will be used to symbolize something.

2. In this book there are references to:

a. princes, captains, bondmen, freemen, rich and poor,

b. the great … even servants,

c. thrones, diadems, victory crowns, keys, a scepter,

d. great swords, two-edged swords, slaughtering swords,

e. a bow, a prison, and the winepress of judgment is also mentioned.

Y. Culture and society are used as symbols in Revelation.

1. Great armies appear in the text.

2. Symbols are found in:

a. chariots, armor, wars, forces clashing,

b. plagues, fears, suffering, and mourning.

3. We also find some other strange symbols:

a. a bride, groom, a marriage, a marriage supper,

b. lamps, voices, the thief, and a woman in childbirth.

Z. Symbolism is found in the area of religion.

1. There are prophets, priests, an altar for sacrifices,

2. a golden altar, lampstands, sacrifices, blood, incense,

3. synagogue, sanctuary, ark of the covenant, and trumpets.

4. As you think about these symbols in general terms they would all point to true worship - what

is good and right.

5. There are also religious symbols that are not good.

a. Revelation mentions idols, false prophets, sorcery,

b. false teachers, and things sacrificed to idols.

c. One helpful tool in understanding symbolism is common sense.

d. Religious symbols offer a good example of this.

A. Another aspect of symbolism in Revelation comes through location.

1. Places are frequently described in this book.

2. We will read about Egypt, Babylon the Great, the Euphrates,

3. Sodom, Mount Zion, Armageddon, the great city,

4. the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, etc.

5. Symbolic significance is attached to these places.

B. In addition to places, we have people who are symbolic.

1. There is a radiant woman – this woman gives birth to a child.

2. Virgins are mentioned, as well as a wife and a queen.

3. There is a great harlot and her daughters.

4. We find the names Balaam, Jezebel, Gog and Magog.

C. In Revelation even clothing has significance.

1. There are clothes that are kingly.

2. Priestly garments are described.

3. We find references to white robes, fine linen,

4. sackcloth, purple and scarlet.

D. Symbolism is found in physical features (anatomy).

1. Revelation speaks of hair, forehead, eyes,

2. ears, mouth, tongue, teeth, the heart, blood,

3. kidneys, belly, hands, and feet.

E. Symbolism is found in the field of agriculture.

1. Crops are often mentioned in this book and they have symbolism.

2. Revelation uses wheat, barley, grapes, wine, olive trees,

3. oil, figs, honey, spices, trees, wood, palms, grass,

4. and wormwood to describe things.

5. Tied in with the crops is harvesting.

6. John uses words like sickle, reaping, harvest, vintage, and winepress.

F. If all these symbols were not enough, there are a few more.

G. The mineral kingdom comes through in Revelation.

H. Many precious and valuable metals are described.

1. We read of gold, silver, brass, a sea of glass,

2. precious stones, white stone, jasper, sardius,

3. the emerald, pearls, and others that we cannot identify.

I. Speaking of kingdoms, the animal kingdom is also found in Revelation.

1. Creatures such as the lion, bear, leopard, calf, lamb,

2. horses of various colors, flying eagles, vultures,

3. wild beasts with obvious horns, locusts, scorpions,

4. serpents, frogs, sea creatures, and “every created thing”.

J. Trade and commerce are used to express certain ideas.

1. John makes appeal to ships, merchants, sailors, mariners,

2. tradesmen, craftsmen, millstones, scales used in trading,

3. coins and goods.

K. There are a few references to literature in Revelation.

1. The idea of a “book” is found more than once.

2. There is a “little book”, as well as “books”.

3. There is the “book of life”.

4. We read about seals, and the alphabet (alpha and omega).

L. Music and musical instruments occur in the book of Revelation.

1. Some of the references are vocal but not all of them are.

2. Music comes from the blast of trumpets.

3. Harps and flutes are found in the text.

4. Choirs are mentioned.

5. Hallelujahs are shouted in heaven.

6. The music causes hearts to rejoice/tremble.

M. Some have suggested that pharmacists are found in Revelation.

1. Men were told to make eye salve for their eyes.

2. John draws from all kinds of areas in life.

N. Symbolic meaning also comes from the area of time and eternity.

1. There are places that speak of a “half hour”.

2. An hour is described.

3. References exist to a third part of a day.

4. A period of 10 days is used.

5. Twelve hundred and sixty days is used in the text.

6. Forty-two months has symbolic meaning.

7. There is the well known thousand years.

8. Even the words “forever and ever” are used.

CONCLUSION:

1. I had hoped to get by with two introductory lessons.

2. One general lesson to Revelation and a second lesson on symbolism.

3. I turned one general lesson into two and then hoped to have one sermon of symbolism.

4. We need one more session to deal with symbolism.

5. We need to have an adequate foundation for our study of this book.

6. I appreciate your patience and interest in this book.

7. Some have said, “You are giving out a lot of information.”

8. “We have a hard time writing it all down.”

9. All I can say is – in the introduction, more is better than less.

10. Next week we will look into symbolism more deeply – general observations about color and

significance of certain numbers.

11. Tonight we wish to again close with this thought: God always wins.