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Metaphor/Simile Glossary – (and some definitions):

• adultery (spiritual): is idolatry – the worship of idols – see ‘idolatry’ further below for thorough definition
• angel of the Abyss: the Beast (antichrist)
• Apollyon: means destroyer
• Babel metaphor: evil
• bear: possibly Russia
• beast: the antichrist
• beast from the earth: the False Prophet
• birds, in Revelation 18:2: Satan’s demonic entities
• bond servants: Christians
• bowls: hold and pour out God’s wrath

• cowardly – those who recant/renege their faith
• cup: vessel/container – denotes a wide gamut of spiritual doctrines: blessings – Psalm 23:5; God’s wrath – Jeremiah 25:15; abominations and unclean things – Revelation 17:4; cup of Christ’s own sufferings: “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” – John 18:11;

  

  “ ‘This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.’ ” – Luke 22:20; cup of our everlasting life – “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD” – Psalm 116:13; cup of trembling – Zechariah 12:2; remembrance of His shed blood – “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” – I Corinthians 11:26

• double portion/twice metaphor in Revelation 18:6: God gives Babylon His fierce wrath two times – here at the fall of Babylon and a second time, a little bit later at the 7th Trumpet/Bowl judgment
• dragon: the serpent, the devil, Satan
• drink: to partake, to participate in, to be involved with
• ‘drink of the wine’: to participate in the sins or to participate in the judgments (wine has a few meanings – see below)
• drunk: any excessive indulgence: Ephesians 5:18 – “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” and it’s more than just alcohol – Isaiah 51:21 – “Therefore, please hear this, you afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine.”
• eagle: eagle and angel are used interchangeably in Revelation 8:13 – ‘angel’ is used in KJV and ‘eagle’ in the NIV and NASB; also a simile for the power, strength and love of God
• enormous red dragon: Satan
• falling away: apostate, back-slidden, to leave the faith

  

• fire: represents judgment
• four horns of the golden altar: atonement, refuge/asylum, rock/salvation
• four living creatures: cherubim who worship God before His throne
  
• Gog – Antichrist – the Beast  (Ezekiel 38:1); [Magog – his land; Magog was also the name of one of Noah’s grandsons – Genesis 10:2]
• great star, blazing like a torch, Revelation 8:10: perhaps a comet
• great whore: religious Babylon – Revelation 17
• Hades in the New Testament is the same as Sheol, in the Old Testament: a place of torment where the souls of the wicked go after death, waiting for their judgment that will occur at the Great White Throne Judgment after the 1,000 year reign of Christ.  After their judgment: hell – the lake of fire – the 2nd death.
• harlot: idolatry – the worship of idols; click on link – ‘whore’ metaphor – for study
• horn: metaphor for power and strength
• huge mountain, Revelation 8:8: perhaps a meteor or asteroid
• idolatry: the definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.”  An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God.

  

  The most prevalent form of idolatry in Bible times was the worship of images that were thought to embody the various pagan deities. Idolatry extends beyond the worship of idols and images and false gods. Our modern idols are many and varied. Even for those who do not bow physically before a statue, idolatry is a matter of the heart—pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, a love for possessions and ultimately rebellion against God.

• immorality: sin, wickedness, idolatry
• inheritance: reward
• in that day: the day of the Lord
• intoxicated: over-indulged

• Lamb: the Lord Jesus Christ
• lamp stand: the church
• leopard: possibly represents the Far East Countries, including China (God sees wicked nations as wild beasts)
• liar: “Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?” – 1 John 2:22
• light of a lamp: throughout scripture God is referred to as the light/the sun -1 John 1:5 – “God is light” – and yes, Christ Jesus as well

  

• like a Son of man: the Lord Christ Jesus
• lion: possibly Great Britain
• little scroll: John’s Little Scroll is the sealed scroll from Isaiah 29:11, and Isaiah 29:6 prophesies the Golden Censer judgment (the fire) and some of the 7th Trumpet judgments (thunder, earthquake, loud noise) that are sealed in Isaiah’s scroll, which John is to prophesy about.  The 7th and final trumpet which marks the end of the Tribulation and signals Christ’s return and the rapture has its very own ‘little’ scroll it’s that significant.
  
• magic arts: Revelation 18:23, Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 22:15 – encompasses all forms of magic – rituals, spells, sorcery, divination, etc. – and definitely includes drugs, the Greek word being: ‘pharmakeia’.  The Bible repeatedly warns against getting involved in any of these sins and it all leads to everlasting fire and torment.
• many waters: peoples, multitudes, nations and languages (Revelation 17:15)
• middle of that seven, Daniel 9:27: half way through the seven year tribulation
• mighty angel of Revelation 10:1 – is the Lord Christ Jesus
• moon – in Revelation 12:1 and Revelation 6:12 – is referring to the Lord Jesus – in scripture Jesus is referred to as the lesser light – He’s also referred to as the moon – Psalm 89:37 – “It will be established for ever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”

  

    Revelation 1:5 – “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness.”  Psalm 121:5-6 – “The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun (God) will not harm you by day, nor the moon (Christ Jesus) by night.” Continue reading the following ‘whole moon’:

• “whole moon turned blood red” a 6th Seal prophecy from Revelation 6:12 fulfilled in Revelation 18:24 – In Babylon “was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”: ‘the moon’ is the Lord Jesus – bearing the shed blood of all killed – throughout the ages – because of sin.  John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”; Revelation 19:13 – “He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” – at Christ’s coming for Armageddon
  
  
• naked: exposed, vulnerable, unprotected
• Nicolaitans: heretics within the early Church – a specific group of people

• oil, in Scripture: metaphor for the Holy Spirit (important doctrine to remember as you read Scripture)
• once was, now is not: see post under the ‘Other’ category
• one seven: Daniel 9:27 – one seven year span
• one who causes desolation: Daniel 9:27 – Antichrist – the Beast
• overcomer: one who maintains, doesn’t recant, their faith – right to the end, even to die for the name of Jesus Christ; to prevail; to endure; to persevere; one who resists the power and temptation of the world’s system; one who resists the devil – James 4:7 – “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”.  Maintains their faithfulness to the Lord.  Also, click on link: Overcomes

  

   

• prostitute: idolatry – the worship of idols; click on link – ‘whore’ metaphor – for study
• rest: means to die, the Bible refers to it as ‘sleep’ for believers
• saint: means ‘one who is sanctified’ or ‘set apart’; believers in the Lord Christ Jesus
• scarlet beast: the Beast
• scroll handed to the Lamb in Revelation 5:7 – is Daniel’s scroll – Daniel 12:4 – “Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time.”  This is referring to the scroll with the seven seals, not the 12 chapter Book of Daniel itself.  Early Church Father Irenaeus of Lyon wrote on the Book of Daniel in the 2nd century, so Daniel’s book wasn’t sealed.
• sea: the peoples, nations, tribes and language (tongues); multitude of people
• seal of God: spiritual seal – signifying their belief, faith and trust in God and His son, Jesus Christ, they belong to God and are His bond-servants
  

  

• seals on the scroll: the wax seals are broken one at a time, a section of the scroll is unrolled and it reveals what must take place
• second death: the lake of fire – hell
• seven eyes: Revelation 5:6 – “which are the seven Spirits of God”
• seven golden lamp stands: is a metaphor for the seven Churches of Asia Minor
• seven heads: the seven empires – Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman, seventh: unknown as yet
• seven hills: see seven mountains
• seven kings: same as the ‘seven heads’
• seven mountains/hills:the seven societal/cultural structures:family, religion, education, government, business, media, arts and entertainment (controlled by ‘The Great Whore’ – religious Babylon – Chapter 17)
• seven Spirits: the sevenfold Holy Spirit\
• seven stars: the angels of the seven Churches

• seven thunders: what the seven thunders said was sealed, but it does indicate there will be even more judgment from God, yet to be revealed
• sexual immorality: Matthew 15:19 – “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  These are the things which defile the man.”  Leviticus 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”
• “sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up” from Revelation 6:14 is a 6th Seal prophecy: and it is fulfilled in Revelation 16:17 at the pouring out of the 7th bowl and a voice says – “It is done.”  As in Luke 4:20 after Jesus had finished reading from the scroll of Isaiah – “Then he rolled up the scroll.”  A scroll is rolled up when it is done.
• spiritual adultery: is idolatry – the worship of idols – see ‘idolatry’ further up for thorough definition
• spiritual Babylon – in general: religious/spiritual evil and wickedness; the apostate church, the fallen church, the false church – the harlot church – full of false, deceiving doctrines; IDOLATRY: worshiping of idols, which includes the venerating of statues; which includes the worshiping of movie and TV actors and celebrities, which includes the worshiping and idolizing of singers and musicians
• spiritual Babylon – in Revelation Chapter 17: religious/spiritual wickedness, the apostate – back-slidden – fallen – deceiving church; many scholars are of the opinion that it is the church of Rome – you will have to discern for yourselves
• stars – angels
• ‘star that had fallen from the sky to the earth’: Revelation 9:1 – the fallen angel, Satan – the Dragon
• sun: Revelation 12:1 and Revelation 6:12 – is referring to God; Psalm 84:11 – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield”
• ‘“sun turned black” from Revelation 6:12 is a 6th Seal prophecy: and is fulfilled in Revelation 18:23 – “‘The light of a lamp will never shine in you again” – God is the ‘light’ – ‘the sun’ – that is gone forever.  Babylon is cast into utter darkness.  1 John 1:5 – “God is light”.  Psalm 121:5-6 – “The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun (God) will not harm you by day, nor the moon (Christ Jesus) by night.”
• ten horns: ten nations – the one world government’s ten regions of power
• throne, Satan’s throne: is in Pergamum – “where Satan has his throne” – Revelation 2:13 – spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself; click on The Throne of Satan
• time, times and half a time: three and a half years
• trumpet: proclaims, announces
• twelve stars: the twelve tribes of Israel
• two lamp stands: Revelation 11:4 – two righteous and holy men of the Lord
• two olive trees: Revelation 11:4 – two righteous and holy men of God – Zechariah 4:14 – “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”
• whore: idolatry – the worship of idols; click on link – ‘whore’ metaphor – for study

  

• wine: sin, wickedness and also, judgment – see next line for more in-depth study
• wine – fermented: is the same thing as the leavened bread warned against in the Bible: 1 Corinthians 5:8 – “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”  Matthew 16:6 – “And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ “  Isaiah 51:21 – “Please hear this, you afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine.”  ‘Wine’ is sin, wickedness, immorality, deception, false doctrines.  It is also judgment from God.  Fermented wine – is the opposite of ‘new wine’ – new wine is the true doctrine of the Lord – see next line:
• wine – new: in scripture it is a metaphor for God’s doctrines – righteous and true Biblical doctrine; The Word; God.  This also includes God’s judgment,

  

  as it’s all part of His doctrines.  Hosea 2:22 and Joel 2:19– “and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and oil” – the grain – the bread of life: is Jesus Christ; the new wine: is God; the oil – is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Trinity.
• wings: in Revelation 12:14 – protection, deliverance – Exodus 19:4 – “…how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.”
• woman: in Revelation 12:1 – is the country of Israel
• woman: in Revelation Chapter 17 – religious Babylon – religious/spiritual wickedness, the apostate – back-slidden – fallen – deceiving church; many scholars are of the opinion that it is the church of Rome – you will have to discern for yourselves
• woman in a basket: in Zechariah 5:7 – “and this is a woman sitting inside the basket.  Then he said, ‘This is Wickedness!’ “  Zechariah 5:10-11 – “Where are they taking the basket? … To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it.  When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”

  

To all readers: The above list, like all my other posts, is strictly my personal theories, insights and interpretations.  In the articles I used scripture wherever possible to substantiate my viewpoints.  This list is just one tool to help readers gain a little clarity.  If anything I wrote resonates with you, please consider it.  But always discern everything for yourselves.  There are many great opinions on the internet, with sound logic backing them.  I pray our Creator gives you deeper understanding and knowledge of His Word.  God bless.

Disclaimer: all content on this website, including metaphors, similes, articles, posts, theories, insights and other reference data is for informational purposes only.