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QUESTION 58
Can you help me with materials that clarify the symbols of the books of Revelation & Daniel?

ANSWER:
This is a large question, however I will try and give some help on it.

Many of the symbols are self explanatory. For an example Revelation 1:20, And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; This is explained later in the same chapter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Revelation 1:20. Again, Revelation 13:1, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Verse 5, identifies this as a man by the personal pronouns used, “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

The symbols are necessary to help us to know the particular characteristics and function of people or things. The golden candlesticks were symbols of what a local church should be in the world. A light in darkness. Gold is used of deity or divine things. The church is of God and set in the world as the light. (See Matthew 5:14). The beast with the horns and heads represents the world kingdom which are anti-christ. This beast is a symbol of an enemy that destroys it’s victims.

Daniel interpreted the king’s dream under four symbols; Daniel 2:32, 33. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Notice, this represent the beginning of Gentile domination of the world. It is seen in four kingdom and notice the deterioration of them. From gold to iron. The same are mentions as beasts in Daniel Chapter 7.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen