This is not supposed to be a comprehensive and definitive list, but a rough guide to the most common symbols.
| Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3 | God (trinity), divinity |
| 4 | the Earth (four winds & corners [7:1], four living creatures [4:6], four horsemen, four angels who damage the earth [7:2]) |
| 7 | Perfection, the days of creation |
| 3½ | Half of the full number. This can be half way through 7, or a number cut short |
| 12 | A unity which can be divided into parts: 12 tribes, 12 Apostles, (also 12 hours in a day and 12 night) So 144 (12x12) is the idealized completed and united people of God |
| 24 | Representing Old and New Covenant people of God |
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Great Red Dragon | Satan |
| Woman who gives birth to Christ and to believers | The covenant community |
| Beast from the Sea | Evil empires and political structures opposed to Christ that culminate in the Antichrist |
| False Prophet | Demonic power (fake of the Holy Spirit) |
| The Prostitute/Babylon | System focussed on sensual pleasure and idolatry |
| Heads | Usually kingdoms |
| Horns | Power (sometimes kings) |
| the Abyss | Place of imprisonment of demons until they are finally judged [Luke 8:31]. (Called “bottomless pit” in KJV.) |
| stars | angelic beings (good or evil) |
| Sun darkened & stars fall | Used in O.T. for the falling of earthly powers [Ez 32:7; Dan 8:10; Joel 2:10] also [Matt 24:29] |
| Good | Evil |
|---|---|
| God the Father | Satan |
| The Lamb: Jesus Christ | The Beast: Antichrist—a fake, not divine at all but human |
| The Holy Spirit | The False Prophet—gives power to do lying signs and wonders and causes people to worship the Antichrist |
| Woman attacked by Dragon = Bride = New Jerusalem | The Prostitute = Babylon (destroyed just before [?] the wedding of the Bride) |
| 2 Witnesses = 144,000 | Demonic armies [9:7-11; 11:7] who do signs and wonders [16:14] |
Updated on 2011-05-27 by Andrew Fountain - loveintruth.com/teaching