Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy (Lesson 1) Some Principles of Prophecy
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
THE BASIC KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING BIBLE PROPHECY
“Do you have keys but don’t remember what they unlock?
Maybe you found an old key and wonder what it opens.
The Bible is full of special keys that help us understand its message.
Some say parts of the Bible are too hard to understand, but what if you had the keys to unlock them?
These keys can help guide your life and decision making today and far into the future.
If you want to know more about these keys to understanding the time in which we are living, keep watching!”
Welcome to our first episode in our 13-part series on understanding the present and future using the Bible as our guide.
It does not take much, look around you, it is very clear things are coming upon us that we have never seen before.
But no need to fear, we have the keys.
The Bible provides the keys needed to understand and maneuver what is about to happen and how to prepare for it.
In this series, “We will explore Bible stories, symbols, and signs to understand what they reveal about today and the future.
Our study begins in Genesis with creation, then moves to the Tower of Babel, Old Testament offerings, the Psalms, and examples of marriage.
In each, we’ll find keys that help us understand God’s messages for our day on into the future.”
Before we begin, Let’s Pray.
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
(Lesson 1)
Some Principles of Prophecy
Part 1 Introduction
God has placed special messages—messages about the future, about hope, and about what is to come.
But for many, these messages appear to be locked.
Some people say, “It’s too hard to understand.”
Others think, “If even Christians can’t agree on they mean, why should I even try?”
And so, the treasure of God’s truth sits unopened.
But what if you could unlock it? What if you had the key? (papure)
We are told in Jeremiah 9:24
24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)
But how can we understand God if we don’t read and study His Word?
Sadly, many people, even Christians, have given up on studying the Bible’s messages about the future.
Some say, “There’s too much disagreement—who really knows what it means?”
Others believe the Bible’s messages about the end times are just too complicated.
Many even believers think that some books of the Bible, such as Revelation, are simply impossible to comprehend.
So, instead of reading them, they avoid them, sometimes with the encouragement of well-meaning religious leaders who thinks that studying prophecy causes more problems than it solves.
So, they close the book and walk away not realizing that the Bible itself provides the keys needed to understand these books and passages.
There was however a time when most Christians understood and agreed on Bible prophesy, that is what God’s Word said about the future of our world.
For centuries, believers studied the Bible and found unity in its teachings.
They didn’t argue about its meaning.
They embraced it with faith.
God never intended for His Word to be confusing.
He gave us the keys needed to open the door to help us understand them.
He wants us to be united in truth, not divided by confusion.
This is the point Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 1:10
He says:
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
In other words, Paul pleaded with the early church: Don’t let disagreements separate you!
Don’t let confusion pull you apart!
God wants us to think and study together, to be one in understanding.
So, what’s the key? How do we unlock the messages of the Bible, especially the ones about the future?
Here, we explore some simple but powerful principles that can help us understand God’s end-time messages.
The answers are not hidden.
God has already given us the key—we just need to use it.
Don’t be like some of the others.
Don’t walk away from this treasure that’s waiting for you.
Stay with me.
Together, we’re going to open the Bible and discover what God has been trying to tell us all along.
Are you ready to unlock the secrets?
🔑 Read Matthew 24:15; Revelation 1:3; Matthew 11:29; and Jeremiah 9:23, 24. Regarding understand future events, what is God desire for us.
Share your thoughts. Then continue to Part 2: Who Ever Reads Let Him Understand
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
(Lesson 1)
Some Principles of Prophecy
Part 2: Who Ever Reads Let Him Understand
If you browsed the Christian section of an online bookstore, you would discover a multitude of books on Bible prophecy.
It would be impossible for one person to read all of them in a lifetime.
But confusion sets as you realize the huge assortment of views and interpretations on the understanding of prophecies on such books as Revelation.
In fact, it could leave you to believe no one truly understands prophesy especially the Book of Revelation.
For example, if you continue browsing: you will see that one author claims that the antichrist is just a metaphor. (Pauser)
Another maintains the anti-christ coming is still future.
Yet another says the anti-christ lived in the days of the Roman Empire.
You start to wonder… if even Bible scholars can’t agree, how can I ever understand Bible prophesy, especially the Book of Revelation.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
An old preacher once said, “Perhaps the Bible is like an old violin; you can play any tune you’d like on it.”
But is that true? Can we really just make the Bible say anything you want?
No, the Bible is not an instrument for personal or private interpretation.
God never intended for His Word to be a mystery that leaves us guessing.
Instead, He invites us to read and understand His word.
He’s not speaking just to be talking.
His words have meaning, purpose, and understanding.
📖 Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:15
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand)” (Matthew 24:15).
Did you get that? Jesus didn’t say, “Whoever reads, let him be confused.”
No, He said, “Let him understand.”
That means the message is meant to be clear.
God wouldn’t give us prophecy if He didn’t want us to take hold of its meaning.
What’s interesting is that the book of Revelation begins with this powerful promise:
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3).
There’s a blessing in studying prophecy.
God didn’t give us His Word to hide the truth but to reveal it.
He wants us to read, hear, and adhere to His message.
That tells me that we can understand it—if we come with the right mind and purpose.
📖 Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:29 to come and learn directly from Him:
He says:
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
This lets me know that God is not a God of confusion.
He speaks so that we can understand.
He teaches so that we can grow.
📖 He reminds us of this in Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Thus, our greatest achievements in life are not wealth, power, fame or knowledge as some may think.
It is knowing and understanding God Himself!
That is what brings Him joy.
Many universities offer courses like “The Bible as Literature” are something like it.
At first, that might sound pretty interesting.
But as believers, sitting through those lectures can be disappointing.
The professor treats the Bible the same way he might treat Greek mythology as just another ancient text, full of fables and moral lessons, but nothing divine.
For these professors, the idea that the Bible is inspired by God is a joke.
Many read the words, but they don’t necessarily hear the voice of God speaking.
Often their hearts are closed, and their minds are full of human reasoning, and so they are blind to the beauty and truth of Scripture.
They willingly come away not only missing its message but misunderstanding the loving and holy character of the God revealed in its pages.
And they’re not the only ones.
Many read the Bible but twist its meaning to fit their own ideas.
Others study it with no desire to obey, but only to look for arguments or contradictions.
📖 Jesus spoke of this kind of attitude when He said in Matthew 13:13
“Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13).
If a person refuses to open their heart to God, they will read the Bible and still walk away empty.
In fact, reading the Bible without the right tools, attitude, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance can be harder—and more misleading—than many realize.”
There’s an old story about a man who was seen reading the Bible.
Someone asked him, “What are you doing?” He smirked and said, “Looking for loopholes. Looking for loopholes.”
How tragic! Instead of seeking truth, he was searching for excuses.
Instead of surrendering to God, he wanted a way around obedience.
But isn’t that exactly what many of us do today?
Many approach the Bible with doubt, skepticism, or a desire to justify their own ways of doing things.
But the Bible wasn’t given to provide loopholes—it was given to lead us into truth. God’s truth.
📖 The Bible warns us in Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
If we come to God’s Word with the wrong attitude, we will walk away with the wrong conclusions.
That’s why we don’t just read the Bible—we study it with a surrendered heart and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In other worlds If we want to unlock the secrets of the Bible, we must come with:
✔️ A heart open to God’s leading.
✔️ A willingness to let the Holy Spirit guide us.
✔️ A deep desire to understand and obey.
God’s Word is not a puzzle meant to frustrate us.
It is a light meant to guide us.
The question is, how are we reading it?
Are we reading it with the purpose of fully knowing the infinite mind of God?
If so, you can stop reading.
But if you are ready to study the Bible the way God intended: (Psurere)
Read what the following say about God’s understanding compared to ours.
Psalms 139:1–6, Psalms 147:5, Romans 11:33, and 1 John 3:20. Share your thoughts.
Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3:God Wants to Be Understood
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
(Lesson 1)
Some Principles of Prophecy
Part 3: God Wants to Be Understood
🔑 Have you ever been in a situation where you desperately needed to communicate but couldn’t?
Perhaps you were speaking to someone that spoke a different language or maybe you were trying to explain something important to your doctor, but the words just wouldn’t come.
You knew what you wanted to say, but you didn’t have the right words to say. (paoiure)
Unlike these situations, the issue lies not in God having the right words to communicate, but in our limited vocabulary and understanding to fully comprehend God.
📖 The Bible says in Isaiah 55:9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
So, the issue isn’t that God doesn’t have the right words to say.
The problem is that we don’t have the ability to fully grasp everything He desires to say.
His wisdom, His plans, and His ways are so far beyond our understanding that even if He explained them completely, our human minds would not be able to comprehend.
📖 David marveled at how deeply God knows us in Psalms 139:1-6
1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (Psuioreeru)
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1–6).
David was overwhelmed by the fact that God knows everything about us—even our thoughts before we speak to them.
God’s knowledge far exceeds our human understanding.
📖 David also declares in Psalm 147:5
“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5).
There is no limit to what God knows.
He sees the past, the present, and the future all at once.
His wisdom stretches from eternity to eternity.
📖 Paul expresses this amazement in Romans 11:33 saying:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).
📖 And John reminds us in 1 John 3:20:
“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1 John 3:20).
There are no limits to what God knows.
No secrets are hidden from Him.
No details of our lives escapes His sight.
The truth is, we will never fully understand the mind of God.
He is infinite. God has no beginning and no end.
God knows everything. He is all-knowing.
We are small, and our minds are limited.
If even the greatest human minds struggle to understand the complexities of creation, how could we possibly grasp the Creator Himself?
But here’s the good news: God has given us all the knowledge we need to live now and be save to live in eternity.
📖 Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:14,15
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14–15).
So, even though we can’t know everything, we can know the most important thing—how to be saved.
When the apostles preached the gospel, they often pointed to fulfilled prophecy.
Why? Because one of the key purposes of prophecy is to show how God is working out His plan of salvation.
In the end, Bible prophecy must lead us to Jesus and His promise to save us.
Jesus offers this promise to everyone.
📖 The Bible tells us in Colossians. 1:16 and John 1:1–3 that Jesus is the One through whom all things were created:
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).
📖 John echoes this truth in John 1:1–3 saying:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:1–3).
Think about this: The Creator of the universe stepped down from His throne, entered human history, and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us sinners—even the worst of sinners.
That’s how much He loves us.
Thus, prophecy exists—to reveal Jesus, His plan, and His soon return.
Yes, there are things in the Bible that we don’t fully understand.
And yes, there are mysteries about God that won’t be revealed until we see Him face to face.
But instead of getting stuck on what we don’t know, we must focus on what we do know:
✔️ Jesus loves us and died to save us.
✔️ God’s Word gives us everything we need for salvation.
✔️ Prophecy points us to Jesus and His soon return.
✔️ We can trust God even though we do not understand everything about Him.
If we spend too much time obsessing over the mysteries we can’t solve, we might miss the clear truths that are right in front of us.
📖 The Bible warns us in Deuteronomy 29:29:
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
In other words, some things are for God’s to know.
But what He has revealed is for us to understand and follow.
What are you focusing on. Are you focusing on what you don’t understand, or are you following what you do understand?
God isn’t asking us to have all the answers.
He’s asking us to trust Him, to study His Word, and to walk in the light He’s given us.
Therefore, our focus is on how prophecy leads us directly to Jesus, and why that’s the key to understanding the future.
You don’t want to miss any of this!
If you are ready to focus on what truly matters? Read Daniel 12:4 in comparison to Revelation 22:10
Why did God tell Daniel in Daniel 12:4 to shut up the words and seal the book. Share your thoughts.
Then continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: Daniel – Shut up the Words
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
(Lesson 1)
Some Principles of Prophecy
Part 4: Daniel – Shut Up the Words
🔑 Have you ever struggled to understand something, only to have it suddenly “click” years later?
Maybe it was a subject in school, a skill at work, or even a life lesson.
At first, the meaning wasn’t clear, but over time, things started to make sense.
In Bible prophecy, some things in Scripture were not fully understood in the past—not because God wanted to keep them secret forever, but because He planned for them to be revealed later, when the time was right.
📖 In the book of Daniel, specifically in Daniel 12:4, Daniel was given the following instructions:
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4).
What was God telling Daniel here?
Some believe this verse refers to the explosion of scientific knowledge and technological advancements in our times—airplanes, computers, space travel, and other advancement that have taken place over the past century or so.
And while that’s certainly a reasonable explanation, could Daniel 12:4 have a much deeper meaning?
Notice that the angel begins with instructing Daniel to “shut up the words and seal the book.”
Since the subject being discussed is the book of Daniel itself.
It is asserted that the knowledge that would suddenly increase at the end of time could include the knowledge of the book of Daniel itself.
📖 If you contrast this with what God told John in Revelation 22:10
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (Revelation 22:10).
This helps us to see that Revelation was not meant to be a closed book, but was to be understood from the very beginning.
But Daniel was to be sealed until the time of the end.
That means there would come a time, long after Daniel’s day, when people would suddenly begin to understand its messages more clearly.
For centuries, Christian scholars tried to explain Daniel’s prophecies.
Some made progress, but the full picture remained unclear.
Then, something remarkable happened.
After the 1,260-year prophecy of Daniel ended in 1798, a wave of Bible scholars around the world almost simultaneously concluded that something great was about to happen.
Many pointed to 1843 as a significant year in prophecy.
The most notable of these Bible scholars was William Miller, whose powerful preaching sparked the Great Advent Movement of the 19th century.
This movement, driven by an extensive study of prophecy, led to the events that contributed to the formation of the “remnant” church and a clearer understanding of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12.
This meant that as we approached the time of the end, understanding of Daniel’s book, especially its prophecies—would grow rapidly.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Thus, the birth of the global Advent movement itself is a fulfillment of Daniel 12:4 “knowledge shall increase” at “the time of the end.”
Notice that God didn’t reveal everything all at once.
He unveiled His truth in His timing as He guided sincere Bible students to dig for deeper understanding.
The book of Daniel differs somewhat from Revelation, in that John was instructed not to seal his book.
In fact, given that “the time was at hand,” the prophecies of Revelation were intended to be understood from the outset.
On the other hand, the understanding of Daniel’s prophesies was to become clearer at a more distant time in the future.
God is still revealing truth to those who seek it.
His Word is a lamp to our feet according to Psalm 119:105, leading us step by step toward deeper understanding.
There is a deep contrast between those who have received greater knowledge of the truth and those who remain in spiritual darkness.
These misunderstandings however, don’t necessarily mean people aren’t sincere.
But they do show how much confusion exists—even among believers—about basic Bible truths.
What about you? Are you growing in knowledge, or are you stuck?
As we press forward in this journey, we move toward deeper understanding of Bible Prophesy
🔑 Are you ready to continue unlocking the mysteries of God’s Word?
If so, let’s look at how we should approach the study of Bible prophesy.
Read Matthew 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:15–17, and Luke 24:27
Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 5:Studying the Word
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
(Lesson 1)
Some Principles of Prophecy
Part 5: Studying the Word
🔑What would happen if you were given a map to hidden treasure, but instead of following the whole map, you only look at one small part and ignored the rest.
What are the chances you would ever find the treasure?
Unfortunately, many people study the Bible that way.
They take one verse, twist it to fit their own ideas, and ignore the rest of what God is saying. (Psuerer)
That’s a dangerous way of handling God’s Word, especially when studying Bible prophecy.
If we don’t study the Bible the way God intended us to, we can end up confused, misled, or even worse—leading others in the wrong direction.
We owe much to a man named William Miller for his deep study of Bible prophecy.
He wasn’t right about everything. He misunderstood some key verses, like Daniel 8:14, that led to what history calls the great disappointment of 1844.
But there was something Miller did get right.
He knew how to study the Bible with deep focus, comparing scripture with scripture.
His passion for prophecy played a major role in paving the way for the birth of our last-day remnant movement.
So, how should we study the Bible’s special messages about the future?
📖 Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:18:
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
Every word in the Bible is important.
Not a single part of God’s truth will ever be lost or proven false.
That’s why we must study it with care—because every word matters!
📖 We learn from Paul’s instructions to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 the value of scripture.
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15–17).
So, the Bible isn’t just a collection of ancient stories—it’s God’s living instructional manual for our lives.
It corrects us, teaches us, and equips us with truth.
But we must study all of it, not just the parts we like, or that fits our own personal agenda.
📖 When Jesus walked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, what did He do?
Luke 24:27 says
“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
Jesus didn’t just share a few favorite verses.
He used all the Scriptures to explain truth.
That’s how we should study.
We should study comparing scripture with scripture, allowing God’s Word to interpret itself.
Today, many Christians make a serious mistake when they study prophecy.
They take a Bible verse and force it to fit the latest news headline.
Some people treat the Bible like a book of wise sayings or proverbs to handle different problems in life.
They may look at a list of verses in a simple Bible study guide and conclude that these verses explain everything about a specific topic.
Studying the Bible is similar to putting together a large jigsaw puzzle.
With just a few pieces, you can’t see the full picture.
As more pieces are added, the image becomes clearer, revealing not just a horse but a full landscape with a city, farm, mountains, flowers, gardens, rivers and streams.
This is why we must study the Bible the way God intended.
If we want to understand God’s truth, especially as it deals with Bible Prophesy we cannot:
❌ Pick and choose just a few verses.
❌ Take scriptures out of context.
❌ Force our own opinions onto the Bible.
Instead, we must:
✔️ Study everything the Bible says on a topic.
✔️ Understand the historical and cultural background.
✔️ And Let scripture explain itself.
When we study with patience and a humble heart, God will reveal His truth to you.
Do you know people who only use certain Bible verses to prove their beliefs—while ignoring the rest of what the Bible says?
This is a dangerous way to study scripture.
Some people take one verse and build an entire belief system around it, while ignoring dozens of other verses that say something different.
That’s how false teachings and confusion spread.
📖 The Bible warns us in 2 Peter 1:20
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20).
God’s truth isn’t based on personal opinions.
It is based on His Word alone.
How do you study the Bible? Do you take time to compare scripture with scripture?
Do you ask God to lead you into truth?
Or do you only read the parts that agree with what your preconceive notions, ideas, or those thing that you already believe?
The best and only way to study the Bible is with:
🔹 A humble heart that is open to learning.
🔹 A willing spirit to accept what God says.
🔹 And A prayerful attitude asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
If you truly want to understand God’s special messages about the future, don’t rely on news headlines, books, or the latest theories.
Go straight to the source. Open the Bible, read it for yourself, and let God reveal His truth to you.
🔑 Are you ready to let God’s Word speak for itself?
Let’s begin by looking at the meaning of some of the signs and symbols found in the Bible!
Read the following:
Compare: Daniel. 7:7, with Daniel 8:3, and Daniel 7:24,
Compare: Revelation 1:16, with Ephesian 6:17, and Hebrews 4:12.
Compare: Revelation 12:1; with Revelation 21:2; Ephesians 5:31, 32; and Jeremiah 6:2
Write down your thoughts
Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: Figurative or Literal?
Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy
(Lesson 1)
Some Principles of Prophecy
Part 6: Figurative or Literal
Have you ever tried to interpret something that was full of symbols—like a dream, a riddle, or even poetry—and walked away more confused than when you started?
That’s how many people feel when they try to decipher Bible prophecies.
They want to understand, but the symbols throw them off.
But the good news is God didn’t use symbols to hide the truth.
He used them to help us discover it.
And the best part is the Bible explains its own symbols.
You don’t have to guess.
You don’t need a dictionary of modern meanings.
You just need to let Scripture interpret Scripture.
One of the biggest challenges for students of prophecy is knowing whether to take something literally or symbolically.
We must know when the Bible is talking about a symbol or when the Bible is talking about a real experience.
So, how can we tell if the Bible writer is using symbols or word pictures?
And how do we know what they mean?
The best way is to see how other Bible writers used the same symbols or pictures. (Pausere)
What’s important is that we avoid using today’s meanings, and we must instead let the Bible explain itself.
For example, when Daniel talks about a bear in prophecy, should we assume it means Russia—because that’s what the bear symbolizes today?
❌ No, that’s not a safe or sound way to study Bible prophecy.
✅ The only trustworthy way is to look at how that symbol is used in the Bible itself.
Let’s take a look at some powerful examples.
📖 DANIEL 7:7 | DANIEL 8:3 | DANIEL 7:24
These verses talk about horns—strange, powerful images used in prophecy.
What does a horn represent?
📖 Daniel 7:24 explains:
“The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.”
➡️ A horn represents a king or political power.
📖 REVELATION 1:16 | EPHESIANS 6:17 | HEBREWS 4:12
These passages speak about a sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth or being used in spiritual battle.
What does a sword represent?
📖 Ephesians 6:17 tells us:
“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
➡️ The sword is a symbol of God’s Word.
📖 REVELATION 12:1 | REVELATION 21:2 | EPHESIANS 5:31–32 | JEREMIAH 6:2
These passages describe a woman clothed with the sun, or a beautiful bride prepared for her husband.
What does a woman symbolize in prophecy?
📖 Jeremiah 6:2 says:
“I have likened the daughter of Zion to a lovely and delicate woman.”
📖 Ephesians 5:31–32 shows the connection between Christ and the church as a bride and groom.
➡️ A woman represents the church—God’s people.
So, when we let the Bible explain its own symbols, the mystery starts to fade. (Pasuewe)
For example, a horn can mean a nation or political power.
A sword can mean God’s Word.
A woman can mean the church.
In other words, The Bible helps us know what these symbols mean by how they’re used in other places.
WHY DOES GOD USE SYMBOLS AT ALL?
That’s a fair question. If God wants us to understand His message, why not just speak plainly?
Why does God use symbols and word pictures in the Bible?
God may have many reasons for choosing to communicate with symbols.
For example, in Revelation, God uses “Babylon” as a symbol for Rome.
If the Bible named Rome directly as the cause of so much evil, then the early church might have suffered even worse from Rome than it already suffered.
Whatever the reasons, we can trust that God wants us to understand what the symbols mean.
Symbolic language provided a way to communicate powerful truths while protecting believers from more intense opposition.
But even more than that, symbols invite us to search and study.
They cause us to dig deeper.
And as we do, we build a stronger, relationship with God and richer understanding of His Word.
📖 Proverbs 25:2 says:
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
God hides truth in symbols not to confuse us, but to engage us—to encourage us search His Word with open hearts.
Yes, there are still some symbols and prophecies that we don’t fully understand.
But instead of obsessing over the unclear parts, God calls us to walk in the light we do have.
📖 As Psalm 119:105 says:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
I am sure you have noticed that a lamp doesn’t light up the entire road at once.
It shows us enough to safely keep going.
God gives us just enough light to keep us moving forward, one step at a time.
When we obey what we understand, our faith grows.
And as we grow, God reveals more of the pathway.
Are you stuck on what you don’t know?
Or are you growing in what you do know?
The Bible is not a locked book. It’s a living message filled with truth, and even its symbols carry powerful meaning—if we’re willing to let Scripture explain Scripture.
If you are willing, keep watching.
In our next episode, we will look at book the Book of Genesis to help us understand better some major topics in the book of Revelation.
🔑 Let’s continue unlocking prophecy—together.
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