Symbols

The key to understanding the Book of Revelation is in the first verse, Revelation 1:1.

¹The Revelation of Yeshua Messiah, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Everything in the book of Revelation was signified by the angel.  Signified comes from the Greek word semaino {say-mah’-ee-no}.  It is in the New Testament 6 times.  It is always translated a form of signify.  It means to give a sign or symbol and a sign or symbol must be interpreted.  This is a consistent use in the New Testament.  To make this clear, we will look at how semaino is used in the New Testament.

John 12:33

³³ This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Signifying is the Greek word semaino.  Based on the context of the verse, there should be an earlier symbol of how he should die.  If one goes to an earlier statement, it would help explain why semaino was used, John 12:30-32.

³⁰Yeshua answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. ³¹Now is the judgment (krisis) of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³²And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

 Yeshua stated that He would be lifted up.  He did not state that He would die on the cross or be resurrected.  Yeshua signified or made known His death through symbols.  When Yeshua said this the disciples did not understand.  Later, when the disciples saw Yeshua on the cross and His resurrection they understood.

John 21:19

¹⁹ This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Again, signifying is the Greek word semaino.  Yeshua is speaking of someone’s death.  To understand, we will go to a previous statement, John 21:17-18.

¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Yeshua saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

Yeshua was speaking to Peter.  Yeshua made known to Peter and those around him how Peter would die.  When this was stated no one knew how Peter was going to die.  All that was stated was that Peter would stretch forth his hands when he died.  Church history tells us that Peter died on the cross up side down.

In each case, Yeshua gives a symbol and through the symbol Yeshua makes known information.  However, the symbol is not literal, they have a symbolic meaning. It requires interpretation.  These verses are not to be taken literally.

This is true of the Book of Revelations.  There are many symbols that should not be interpreted literally.  They are symbolic truths that require interpretation.  A majority of the Book of Revelation is written in symbols.  However, if one tries to interpret and apply literally understandings; they will end up with confusion and contradictions.  This will lead to missing the greater message of the Bible.

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