05 Appendix 2 Prominent Names and Their Symbolical Meaning in Revelation.

Appendix 2
Prominent Names and Their Symbolical Meaning in Revelation.

Abaddon. Revelation 9:11. Destruction. The King over the Locust army, denoting Satan and his agencies.

Abyss, The. Revelation 9:1; Revelation 20:1-3. The pit of the abyss or the deep. This expression occurs seven times in Revelation. Out of the deep, the lowest pit, there come the demons and into the pit of the abyss Satan will be cast for 1,000 years. The Lake of Fire is a different place.

Accuser, The. Satan is the accuser of the Brethren. Revelation 12:10. His expulsion out of heaven occurs in the middle of the week, followed by the great tribulation on earth.

Alpha. The first letter in the Greek alphabet; Omega is the last letter. Therefore Alpha and Omega is equivalent to an A and Z. Symbolical of the first and the last. Revelation 1:8; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:13.

Amen, The. A name of our Lord. He is the “verily,” the truth, and assurance and certainty are expressed by this word. Revelation 1:14.

Angels. Angels are prominently mentioned throughout Revelation. The exposition shows that the angel mentioned in Revelation 8:1-5; Revelation 10:1 is the Lord Jesus Christ. Angels will be used in the end of the age to carry out the decreed judgments. On the angels of the different churches, the symbolical meaning, see the exposition Revelation 1:20.

Antichrist, The. The final and personal Anti-christ is mentioned for the first time in Revelation in Revelation 13:11-18. He is also called the false Prophet, because he heads up the ecclesiastical corruption and apostasy of the end of the age. He must not be confounded with the first Beast out of the Sea, who is a political head, the emperor of the revived Roman Empire, the little horn of Daniel 7 : and the Prince that shall come of Daniel 9:26.

Antipas. An unknown faithful martyr in Pergamos, known to Christ. Revelation 2:13.

Apollyon. Revelation 9:11. The Greek name of Abaddon, the King over the Locust army. The name means Destruction or Destroyer.

Ark, The. Revelation 11:19. It is seen by John in the temple. It means symbolically the assured presence of Jehovah with His people Israel, the faithful remnant, in the trying times of Jacob’s trouble.

Armageddon. Mentioned for the first time in the parenthesis between the sixth and seventh vial. Revelation 16:12-16. It means “The hill of slaughter.” The battle of Armageddon will be of brief duration. It is the stone of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream smiting suddenly the ten toes, the ten kingdoms (Daniel 2). The battle of Armageddon is briefly described in Revelation 19:19-20.

Alleluia. “Praise ye the Lord.” The four Hallelujahs are found in Revelation 19:1-5.

Babylon. On the literal and mystical Babylon see exposition of Revelation 17 : The literal Babylon will undoubtedly be restored as a city of influence. However, the city mentioned in Rev. xvii is not the literal Babylon, but Rome. Not only will the Roman Empire be revived, but also papal Rome. Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots, will see a great revival. The system in its corruption is described in Revelation 18 :

Balaam. The heathen Prophet who could not curse Israel, but put a stumbling-block in the way of the children of Israel. Used in Revelation to describe the corruption in the professing church in giving up the divinely demanded separation from the world. Revelation 2:14.

Beast, The. The expression “four Beasts” in Revelation 4, 5 etc., is faulty. The correct rendering is “the four living Creatures” or the “four living ones.” The term “Beast” applies to the revived Roman Empire and its head, the little horn of Daniel, also called Beast in Daniel’s vision. The Anti-christ is likewise called a Beast. The work of the two Beasts is seen in Revelation 13.

Birds, unclean and hateful. Symbolical of evil persons, outwardly professing to be something but full of corruption. They describe the apostate masses of Christendom. Revelation 18:2. Also Matthew 13:31-32.

Black Horse. The black horse comes into view with the opening of the third seal. Black is the color of night, darkness and death.

Blood, with Hail and Fire. Revelation 8:7. Not literal things, but symbols of divine judgments for this earth.

Bow, The. Revelation 6:1. The bow without an arrow as in possession by the rider upon the white horse is the symbol of a bloodless conquest.

Bride, The. Revelation 21:2. The Bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife, Revelation 19:7, is not Israel, but the church.

Brimstone and Fire. The symbols of divine wrath. Isaiah 30:33.

Candlestick, Golden. Symbolical of that which gives light. Representing the seven assemblies. The church is on earth to give light.

Crowns. The symbols of given glory and also rewards for service. The crowns seen upon the seven heads of the dragon (Revelation 12:3) and upon the four horns of the Beast (Revelation 13:1) denote despotic authority.

David, Key of. Symbolical of the right to open and to enter in. See Isaiah 22:22. It is a prediction concerning Christ.

David, Root and offspring. Revelation 22:16. Christ is the Root and offspring of David.

Demons. Fallen spiritual beings; the wicked spirits over which Satan is the head. They will be worshipped by the apostates during the end of the age. Demonworship is even now going on to some extent, for the anti-christian cults are produced by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1. See Revelation 9:20-21. The word devils must be changed to demons. There is but one Devil, but legions of demons.

Dwellers on the Earth. This class mentioned repeatedly in Revelation are the large number of professing Christians, who did not receive the love of the truth and rejecting the Gospel follow the strong delusion and are utterly blinded, as well as hardened, during the tribulation.

Eagle. Revelation 8:13. The word angel must be changed to “eagle.” Symbolical of the coming judgment, as an eagle is a bird of prey. Eagle’s wings (Revelation 12:13-17) are symbolical of swift motion, escape and deliverance.

Earth. The prophetic territory of the Roman Empire is mostly described by this form, though the entire earth is also indicated.

Earthquake. Symbolical of the shaking of all political and ecclesiastical institutions. But, as we show in our exposition, literal earthquakes will take place.

Elders,Twenty-four. The twenty-four elders typify all the redeemed in Glory. Old and New Testament Saints are included. After Revelation 19 this term does f not appear again, because the church, the bride of Christ, is then seen separated from the entire company of the redeemed, and takes her exalted position as the Lamb’s wife.

Eternal State, The. The eternal state is described in Revelation 21:1-8.

Euphrates. This great river is mentioned twice in Revelation 9:14 and Revelation 16:12. It is the boundary line of the Roman Empire and the land of Israel. See exposition of these passages.

Everlasting Gospel. Revelation 14:6. The declaration of the Gospel of the Kingdom during the tribulation.

Fire. Often mentioned in this book and symbolical of the judgments which will be executed upon the earth as well as the everlasting wrath upon the unsaved.

Fornication. Spiritual wickedness in departing from the Truth of God, followed by the literal lusts of the flesh. The days of Lot will be on the earth before the Son of Man cometh.

Four. This number appears a number of times in Revelation. Four living creatures; four corners of the earth; four horns of the golden altar; four angels; four winds. Four is the number of universality.

Frogs. Mentioned between the sixth and seventh vial. Symbolical of demon influences, denoting filthy and wicked things. Frogs come out of slimy and dark waters.

Glass, Sea of. Revelation 4:6. Compare with Exodus 30:18-21 and 1 Kings 7:23, etc. Symbolical of lasting holiness. No more water needed for cleansing from sin, for the Saints in Glory are delivered from the presence of sin itself.

God, Supper of. Revelation 19:17. Symbolical of God’s judgment upon the wicked nations and the earth dwellers.

Gold. Symbolical of divine righteousness.

Grass. Revelation 8:7. Symbolical of human prosperity. Isaiah 40:7 and 1 Peter 1:24.

Hades. The region of disembodied spirits; literally “the unknown.” Christ has the Keys, and Hades with Death, because they came into existence through sin, will be cast into the Lake of fire.

Harvest of the Earth. The harvest is the end of the age. In Revelation 14:14-15 we read of the Lord’s judgment dealing with the earth.

Hidden Manna.Revelation 2:17. Symbolical of the reward those who overcome will receive from the Lord.

Horns. Horn is symbolical of power. Horns mean typically kings, powers and kingdoms. Daniel 7:24.

Image of the Beast.Revelation 13:12-15. Compare with Daniel 3 : It will be a literal image of the princely leader of the revised Roman Empire, the first Beast, which John saw rising out of the sea.

Islands. Mentioned under the sixth seal and the seventh vial. Mountains typify kingdoms and governments; islands are symbolical of smaller and isolated governments. All will be affected. No doubt when the great earthquakes will shake the very foundations of the earth, many islands will also disappear.

Jasper. A precious stone, most likely our diamond. See exposition of Revelation 4 :

Jerusalem. The earthly and the heavenly Jerusalem are mentioned in the book. During the tribulation the earthly Jerusalem will be the seat of the Antichrist, the false Prophet. Jerusalem is for this reason called “Sodom and Egypt” (Revelation 11:8). Then Jerusalem will pass through her worst history. A great siege will take place at the close of the tribulation period and the city will fall (Zechariah 14). After that Jerusalem will become the capital of the kingdom of Christ and a great temple will be erected, the universal place of worship during the millennium. The heavenly Jerusalem is above the earth. From there the glorious reign of Christ and the Saints will be executed. This glorious city will come down out of heaven at the end of the millennium to find its eternal resting place on the new earth. (Chapters 21-22.)

Jezebel. Symbolical of the Papacy. The corruptress which claims to be the Bride of Christ, but plays the harlot. See chapters 2 and 17:

Judgment. Judgment falls upon the earth during the seven years, which constitute the end of the age. When the Lord comes in His glory the great judgment of the nations takes place. Revelation 19:11, etc., compare with Matthew 25:31. After the millennium the second resurrection takes place and the great white throne judgment is the judgment of the wicked dead.

King of the Nations. Revelation 15:2-4. King of the Saints should be changed (see margin) to King of the nations. Our Lord is the King of the nations, the King of kings.

Lake of Fire. The place which God has prepared for the Devil and his angels. The Beast and the false prophet will be cast there; also the Assyrian, the King of the North, the nations who followed the Beast and all the wicked dead. Death and Hades will likewise be put into that place. The Lamb. The Lamb, our Lord in His sacrificial character, is mentioned twenty-eight times in Revelation. The Lamb is worshipped by all. Thus we find the Song of the Lamb, the Throne of the Lamb and the Marriage of the Lamb, and the Wife of the Lamb (the church) in this book.

Lightning. Symbolical of the divine judgment Wrath.

Locust Army. Symbolical of the host of demons, which come out of the abyss to torment mankind.

Lord’s Day, The. Mentioned but once in Revelation 1:10. It is the first day of the week on which John saw the great Patmos vision.

Man-child. Revelation 12 : The Man-child is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark of the Beast. Some special mark which declares ownership. As the Holy Spirit seals those who trust on Christ, so Anti-christ will put his mark upon those who follow him.

Millennium, The. Millennium means “a thousand years.” Six times this period of blessing and glory is mentioned in Revelation 20 :

Moon as blood. The Moon is symbolical of derived authority. Blood is the symbol of death. Apostate Israel and the apostate church passing through the most severe judgments are symbolized by this figure.

Morning Star, The. Christ in His Coming for the church. Revelation 22:16.

Mountain. A kingdom.

Mountains, Seven. Rome is the city built upon the seven hills. See exposition of Revelation 17 :

Nicolaitanes. Mentioned in the messages to Ephesus and Pergamos. They signify the domineering, priestly cast which assumed an unscriptural place of authority in the church.

Palms. Emblems of victory. .

Rainbow. The symbol of covenant and of mercy. Mentioned twice. Around the Throne (chapter 4) and around His head (chapter 10).

Rest of the Dead. Revelation 20:5. Meaning those who had not part in the First Resurrection, hence the wicked dead.

River of Life. Revelation 22:1. Symbolical of the fullness of life, glory and blessing.

Saints. The Saints in Revelation include all the Saints. The Old and New Testament Saints are seen under the figure of the twenty-four elders. The suffering Saints are the Jewish Saints and the remnant of Israel, as well as the multitude of nations, who accept the final message and come out of the great tribulation. (Chapter 7).

Satan. The entire book reveals his person, his work and his destiny. His work may be traced in the churchmessages. Then we have his work during the tribulation and his final work after the millennium.

Scorpions. Symbolical of the torment caused by the army of demons under the fifth trumpet judgment.

Sea. Symbol of the nations. Also the literal sea, which gives up the dead. Then there will be no more sea. All wickedness and restlessness will cease forever.

Seven. The divine number. No other Book in the Bible contains so many “sevens” as this final Biblebook, the Revelation. There are seven angels, churches, attributes of the Lord, heads, horns, eyes, spirits, lamps, seals, trumpets, vials, plagues, stars, thunders, times and a sevenfold doxology.

Song. The songs of the Redeemed and the Song of Moses and the Lamb are mentioned in the Book.

Stars. See exposition on the meaning of the seven stars in His hand. Stars are also symbolical of lesser authorities, which will all fall during the tribulation period.

Sun. The symbol of supreme authority.

Synagogue of Satan. Mentioned in the messages to Smyrna and Philadelphia. It means a Judaized Christianity as seen in Ritualistic, professing Christendom.

Temple. The tribulation temple is in view in Revelation 11:1-3. The millennial temple is seen in 7:15. Then there is the temple in heaven. Revelation 16:17. In the heavenly Jerusalem there is no temple. 21:22.

Third Part. Mentioned in connection with men, the sea, the stars of heaven, the Sun and the Moon. It probably refers exclusively to the Roman Empire, which in its different aspects and authorities, will be affected during these judgments.

Two horns. The Beast out of the land has two horns like a lamb, but speaks like the dragon. He is the counterfeit Christ.

Waters. Many. Symbolical of peoples and nations over which the Romish whore has authority.

White. Color of righteousness and purity; also denoting victorious conquests. We have in Revelation, white Robes, the white horses, white linen, a white cloud and a white Throne.

Witnesses. See in Revelation 11 about the two witnesses.

Wrath. We read of the Wrath of God and the wrath ‘ of the Lamb. The wrath of God is completed with the pouring out of the vials. The wrath of the Lamb will be executed when He comes in Glory.

Zion. Mentioned only once in Revelation 4:1. It means the literal Zion in Palestine. Upon that holy hill of Zion the glory will rest during the millennium. See Psalms 132:13-14.