God's Symbolic Glossary (WIP)
When reading the Bible—especially the old testament—one has to realize that it is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. Think of all the strange nonsensical things in the Bible such as the animal sacrifices, the sabbath, the ark of the covenant, the temple, the levitical priesthood, the creation story, the high priest, the exodus, etc, etc. You have to understand that these things are allegorical of a spiritual truth; parables if you will. They are still historical and happened as recorded in the Bible, but the reason why God made these things happen—and why they are in the Bible—is because they are physical pictures of spiritual truths. Of course, sometimes a spade is just a spade. But very often, the spade means something. There may be some nuances of meaning that I have not included here; I do not understand everything in God's word.
There is a lot of Bible references as tooltips in this article that you can see by hovering over with the mouse, e.g. (Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:2). Some of these will be easier to understand than others, but for many of them some reflection will be required on your part. The attentive reader will notice that multiple symbolisms often appear in the same Bible passage. To help you see them there are internal links to explanations in this glossary that should help put you on the right path. There are also verses that require you to understand other verses like for instance (Psalm 29:8, Hebrews 12:26) is needed to see that the wilderness is a picture of the world.
One should also understand that many concepts in the Bible picture multiple things and often even opposite things, but there are logical reasons for this. You will learn how to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
God's symbolic vocabulary is consistent throughout all of the 66 different books in the Bible—written by over 30 different authors over a time period of over a milennia—which is why we know that it was intended. This is not me simply making stuff up.
Understanding this historical/allegorical double nature of the word of God I present to you God's symbolic glossary:
How we are saved
I will quickly explain the gospel, since it is critical to understanding why these symbolisms are important. We have all sinned and we are not righteous (Ecclesiastes 7:20). One sin is all it takes to damn us (James 2:9-10). Because we are all sinners salvation is a free gift given to all who trust in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23, Titus 3:5); it is not of our own goodness that we are saved but rather by humbling ourselves, admiting we are sinners, that we cannot save ourselves and trusting in the way that God has created for us to be saved: The sacrifice for our sins: Jesus Christ (James 4:6, Romans 3:24-26). Make no mistake, God's wrath is upon us because of our sins (Revelation 21:8, Romans 3:4); and will remain upon you if you do not believe (John 3:36).
Once we get saved, God resurrects our spirit (Genesis 2:17, Ephesians 2:1), gives us a new heart to know him (Ezekiel 36:25-26), creates a new creature in us (2 Corinthians 5:17), gives us repentance (repentance means a change of mind) (Romans 12:2), gives us the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), gives us eternal life (John 3:16), seals us in the spirit (Ephesians 1:13), adopts us as his sons (Galatians 4:5-7) and begets us again from the dead (Revelation 1:5). Once we are saved, we are saved. You cannot lose your salvation, you cannot stop believing although you may go through doubts (2 Timothy 2:18-19, Matthew 14:28-31). You are born again once and your eternal life never ends. You will go to heaven and not to hell. On the other hand though, the Bible tells us that God will discipline his people as a father disciplines a son, so there are still consequences for sin (Hebrews 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 11:30-32, Hebrews 10:29-31).
The animal sacrifices
I think most people already understand that the animal sacrifices in the Bible are symbolic of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus Christ is the lamb slain from the beginning of the world (John 1:29). In the old testament the sacrifices were burnt offerings where the animal was killed, lifted up on the wood and consumed by fire. This pictures Jesus Christ (the animal) being lifted up on the cross (the wood) and the wrath of God being poured out on him (the fire). God's wrath is literal fire as well since Jesus Christ went to hell for those three days and three nights during which he was dead (Acts 2:24, Acts 2:27)
The people of Israel
The Israelites are a metaphor for God's people, which are those of us who are saved by God's mercy through faith in God and Jesus Christ (Romans 9:11, Romans 11:5). The circumcision of the tip of newborn babe's foreskin is a picture of the circumcision of our hearts. This happens when we believe in Jesus Christ and get saved, which causes God to give us a new heart to know him (Romans 2:28-29, Jeremiah 24:7)
Baptism
Baptism is a picture of how we are buried with Christ when we go under the water, and risen with Christ when we come up out of the water (Ephesians 2:1, Romans 6:4-8). It is this spiritual resurrection, which Jesus' resurrection is a picture of, that justifies us (Romans 4:20-25). Baptism is a successor to circumcision because they both picture how God gives us a new heart/spirit to know him. Circumcision was also the first thing you were supposed to do to a newborn babe that symbolized it being part of the nation of Israel, while baptism is the first thing that you are supposed to do to a babe in Christ (new believer) that symbolizes them being part of the true Israel (Romans 9:6-8).
Sabbaths
The sabbath rest pictures that the Lord is our rest, meaning that we rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ and that we trust in God to justify us and not our own works (Hebrews 4:9-11, Ezekiel 20:12, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 15:10-11)
Serpents
Serpents in the Bible symbolizes sin (Ecclesiastes 10:8). For instance, Jesus is symbolized by a serpent while he was on the cross because he took the world's sin upon himself (Numbers 21:8-9, John 3:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Nakedness and garments
Nakedness is a picture of sinfulness or shame (Genesis 3:6-7, Revelation 3:17). Clothing symbolizes righteousness and is one of the most important symbolisms in the Bible (Matthew 9:21, Matthew 22:11-13, Job 29:14). Righteousness is a covering for your sin in the same way a garment covers your nakedness (Psalm 32:1-2). As I've explained, we are saved by Jesus' righteousness and his alone (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10); nevertheless, our own righteousness is also pictured by garments (Isaiah 64:6). The Bible tells us to understand that these are seperate and that Jesus' righteousness is what saves (Deuteronomy 22:11, Romans 11:5-6). There is a contrast between garments made from animal products (e.g. wool, skins) and garments made from plants (e.g. linen); we see this in the story of Adam and Eve where they make themselves aprons out of fig leaves and God makes for them cloaks of animal skins (Genesis 3:7, Genesis 3:21). Aprons do not properly cover your nakedness, so we see that God is the only one who can justify us.
The rock
The rock in the Bible pictures God and Jesus Christ (Psalm 18:31, Deuteronomy 32:18, Romans 9:33, Isaiah 8:14).
Oil
Oil in the Bible symbolizes the holy spirit. The kings and priests of Israel were anointed with oil in order to sanctify them (Leviticus 8:12, 1 Samuel 16:13). Jesus Christ is our high priest and the King of Israel, and he and us are sanctified with the holy spirit. In fact, Messiah/Christ means the anointed in Hebrew/Greek. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ received the holy ghost exceedingly (John 3:34-35, Psalm 45:6-7). Oil pictures the holy spirit because it burns in lamps and produces fire, both of which are symbolically important.
Lamps, light and candles and candlesticks
Lamps symbolize the word of God and his salvation (Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 62:1, Revelation 18:21-23, Matthew 5:14-16). The Bible also says that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, presumably because he gave us our spirit (Genesis 2:7, Proverbs 20:27, Job 21:16-17, Psalm 18:28). This would perhaps imply that candlesticks, which contain the candle, picture our bodies in a similar way to houses (Revelation 2:5).
Gold, silver and precious stones
Gold, silver and precious stones is a picture of good works (1 Corinthians 3:11-17, Lamentations 4:1-4).
Pit
Pits, ditches, graves, etc symbolizes hell in the Bible (psalm 88:4-5, Proverbs 26:27, Ezekiel 26:19-21, Genesis 37:23-24). This is logical of course, because the Bible talks about the "bottomless pit" and the Hebrew word "sheol" is translated as "grave", "hell" or "pit" in the King James Bible depending on context.
Bondage and liberty
We were in bondage to the law before we were saved and this is pictured by the bondage of the children of Israel in Egypt and in many other ways. (Deuteronomy 5:6, Galatians 4:22-26, Galatians 5:1-6). Trusting in Jesus Christ—and his righteousness as a covering for our sin—sets us at liberty. (Isaiah 61:1-3, 2 Corinthians 3:14-17, John 8:32-36, Romans 10:3-4). Mentions of liberty can also reference the resurrection of our bodies at the end of the world when Jesus Christ comes back and we are raptured. This is for instance what the day of Jubilee is all about (Leviticus 25:10). We have liberty in Jesus Christ presently, but our sinful flesh has yet to be set at liberty (Romans 8:21-23).
Blemishes
Blemishes in the Bible is symbolic of sin. The sacrifices in the old testament had to be without blemish, symbolizing the sinlessness of Jesus Christ (Leviticus 1:3-4, 1 Peter 1:19). Neither the sacrifice nor the priest who offered it up were supposed to have a blemish in the old testament because Jesus Christ offered up himself (Leviticus 21:17-23). It also pictures how we in the church are forgiven of our sins and appear sinless before God. (Ephesians 5:25-27).
The sheep and the goats
In the old testament both sheep and goats (as well as other animals) were acceptable sacrifices and this is because they are both symbolic of Jesus Christ. The sheep symbolizes Jesus who is without sin whereas the goats symbolizes Jesus who took the sin of the world upon himself (Exodus 12:5). It also symbolizes the saved and the unsaved, where the saved are the sheep and the unsaved are the goats (Matthew 25:32-33, John 10:11).
Fire
Fire symbolizes God, Jesus, God's word and God's wrath (Hebrews 12:29, Jeremiah 20:9, Jeremiah 23:29, Acts 2:3-4, Matthew 3:11). The wrath of God and the word of God are related because hell is kindled by the word of God (Isaiah 30:33).
Blood, scarlet and red
Blood pictures the blood of Christ which is the payment for our sins (Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:22, Leviticus 17:11, Romans 3:24-25). His blood is a picture and a proof of the love of God (Romans 5:5, John 3:16). It is often remarked that there is a scarlet thread running through the Bible; christianity is a gnarly religion because it was a gnarly thing that Jesus had to do for us (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Firstborn
Jesus Christ is the firstborn son of God. Whenever you see the Bible talk about something being fistborn then you should immediately think that this is a picture of Jesus in some way (Deuteronomy 15:19, Numbers 18:17, Numbers 18:15, Genesis 4:3-5). We see a consistent picture of the younger son receiving the blessing above the firstborn son (e.g. Ephraim over Mannaseh, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Judah, Abel over Kane); this is a picture of the old and the new covenant where the second is better (Hebrews 8:6-13). The old covenant pictures salvation by works of the law and our own righteousness while the new covenant pictures salvation by God's mercy and through Jesus' righteousness. Jesus is a picture of both the law and the word of God and he testifies that the works of the world are evil (Colossians 2:11-16, John 7:7).
Only begotten son
Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God. (John 3:16, Genesis 22:6-13, Hebrews 11:17-19).
Passover
The passover is a rememberance of how God passed over the Israelites in the Exodus. They were told to kill a lamb and use hyssop to apply the the blood upon the door posts and the lintel, so that God would "pass over" their houses and smite the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:12-13, Exodus 12:21-27, Leviticus 23:5-8). Jesus is the lamb and the door, so it is his blood upon the cross (the doorposts and the lintel) that causes God to pass over the houses of the Israelites (us). The firstborn of the Egyptians symbolizes Jesus Christ because he is the firstborn son of God (Colossians 1:18) and because he took the sin of the world upon himself (1 Peter 2:24, 1 Timothy 4:10). The passover was to be celebrated every year and kicks off the feast of unleavened bread. All the four Gospels tell us that Jesus Christ was crucified and died upon the passover because he is our passover lamb (Luke 22:13-14, Mark 14:16-18, Matthew 26:1-2, John 19:13-15).
Leaven
Leaven in the Bible is a picture of sin; this is what the feast of unleavened bread is about (1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Amos 4:4-6). It also pictures adding to the word of God and teaching false doctrine, in particular to mix works into salvation (Mark 8:15-17, Matthew 16:12, Galatians 5:5-9).
Hyssop
Hyssop is a shrub that was used to sprinkle the blood in many contexts in the OT including applying the blood of the lamb to the doorposts. It symbolizes how Jesus purged us with his blood (Psalm 51:5-10, 1 Kings 4:33-34) and the substitutionary atonment where our sins were taken from us and put on Christ and his blood were put on us. This is why Jesus drank the vinegar from the hyssop on the cross (John 19:28-30); because he took the sin of the world upon himself.
Clean and unclean
To be clean or unclean can mean to be saved or unsaved (Numbers 19:17-21, Leviticus 14:3-9, Leviticus 14:49-53, Numbers 19:12-13). It can also mean just being in sin and not being in sin in certain contexts.
The levitical priesthood
We are symbolized by the levitical priests (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:9-10) but Jesus Christ is our high priest (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus can also be symbolized by ordinary priests however; everytime a sacrifice is offered up, Jesus is symbolized by both the priest and the sacrifice because he offered up himself as the sacrifice for our sins.
Grass, fields and pastures
Grass symbolizes human beings (especially the unsaved) and the fact that human life is ephemeral (1 Peter 1:24, Isaiah 40:7, Luke 12:28). Pastures therefore symbolizes the mission field that the sheep graze (Ezekiel 34:17-20); other type of fields like wheat fields also pictures the mission field (John 4:34-37, Matthew 13:24-30, Genesis 32:11-12, Genesis 41:49). The chaff are those who do not get saved (Psalm 1:3-4).
Fruit and seeds
Seed in the Bible is the word of God (Matthew 13:3-8, Matthew 13:18-23). Fruit symbolizes multiplication (Genesis 1:28) and contains seeds—which is why it pictures new believers and the Gospel, which is how Christians multiply (Proverbs 11:30, John 15:5-8).
Pitch, morter and things being sealed
Things being sealed is often a picture of the holy spirit because we are sealed in him (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 4:30, Jeremiah 32:8-14, Romans 4:8-11). The ark of Noah and the ark that Moses was laid in were both daubed with pitch symbolizing the holy spirit (Genesis 6:14, Exodus 2:2-3).
Wedding, marriage
Weddings or wedding feasts in the Bible pictures the day of redemption when Jesus comes back and gathers the saved to him (Revelation 19:7-9, Matthew 25:1-12). Husbands and wives pictures the Lord and the saved (Isaiah 54:5, Romans 7:1-6).
Walls
Walls in the Bible can picture that which people trust in. The stones in the walls often symbolizes the saved or the unsaved (1 Peter 2:5). The morter pictures the spirit that holds them together. The morter can be tempered (holy spirit) or untempered (another spirit) (Ezekiel 13:10-16, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Joshua 6:4-5, Nehemiah 4:18-20).
Doors and gates
Doors and gates in the Bible is a picture of the thing that you are trusting in much in the same vein as the the sure foundation, walls or the rock. Jesus Christ is therefore the door and the gate for us (John 10:7-10, Proverbs 8:34-35). To go in and out of the gate is a picture of evangelization because evangelization is connected to the idea of going out into the world and preaching. To stand in the gate or just standing in general is a picture of standing up for the truth (Jeremiah 7:2-3). The gate can also symbolize lies that people trust in however, e.g. their own works, false gods, money, etc (Jeremiah 17:27).
Feet and footwear
Feet and footwear is symbolic of preaching the gospel in the Bible (Isaiah 52:7, John 13:6-11, Ephesians 6:13-15, Deuteronomy 25:6-10).
The foundation
Jesus Christ is the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Matthew 7:24-27, Isaiah 28:15-18).
The temple, the house of God, the tabernacle and houses
Houses symbolizes our bodies because our souls/spirit dwell in our bodies in the same way that we dwell in a house. The temple and the tabernacle (which was the predecessor to the Temple before it was built) symbolizes Jesus Christ and his body (John 2:19-21); but they also picture God's people (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, John 2:15-16, Hebrews 12:6). The sons of God are pictured by God's house because God dwells in us (1 John 4:13-15).
Bread
Bread symbolizes the word of God in the Bible, as well as Jesus Christ because Jesus is the word of God (John 1:1-5). The manna that the Israelites ate for forty years in the wilderness pictures the word of God and Jesus Christ (John 6:47-51). Jesus is quick to point out that it is his words that profits us, not his literal flesh because the bread is the word of God (John 6:60-63). Unleavened bread symbolizes the sinless body of Christ that was broken for us (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Now you can begin to understand the breaking of the bread in the wilderness (Matthew 15:33-37) or that when you ask God to give you your daily bread in the lord's prayer it has a dual meaning (Matthew 6:9-13).
The wilderness
The wilderness symbolizes the world (Psalm 29:8, Hebrews 12:26, Psalm 107:31-35).
Salt
Salt is a preservative and therefore pictures things that are eternal and permanent, like for instance salvation (2 Chronicles 13:5, Colossians 4:6, Ezekiel 16:4-10). It also pictures the eternal judgement against the unsaved (Jeremiah 17:4-6, Deuteronomy 29:23). Salt is also a form of seasoning and pictures our good works as a sweet savour unto the lord (Revelation 14:13, Luke 14:33-35, Matthew 5:13-16).
Waters, rivers, streams, watersprings, sea, the deep, etc
Fresh/sweet water pictures different aspects of our salvation like for instance baptism, water of life, blood and so on (John 4:13-14, Exodus 15:22-25, Ezekiel 47:7-11, 2 Kings 2:20-22). Salt/bitter water pictures the condemnation of hell (Matthew 12:39-40, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:1-10, Revelation 20:13-15, James 3:11-12).
When the Bible talks about "many waters" however it pictures peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues (Revelation 17:1-2, Revelation 17:15, Ezekiel 19:10). I am not sure why that is.
Mountains, hills and high places
Mountains and hills often picture nations, cities or people that are lifted up with pride (Isaiah 41:15-16, Jeremiah 7:30-34). But it can also picture how the Lord will lift up those who humble themselves before him (Luke 14:7-11, Isaiah 58:13-14). And of course, it pictures God, the most high (Psalm 11:1).
Arks, Covering
An ark is a container or a chest. There are three arks in the Bible. The ark of Noah, the ark that carried Moses and the ark of the covenant. They all symbolize salvation and Jesus Christ. The ark of Noah saved Noah and the animals from God's wrath that destroyed the world. The ark that moses was laid in saved him from the wrath of the pharaoh when he wanted to kill all the male children of the Israelites. The ark of the covenant saved the Israelites by the lid of the ark (aka the mercy seat) covering up the tablets of the ten commandments (aka the ministrations of death) that were given to Moses at Mount Sinai (2 Corinthians 3:6-9).
The idea of covering in the Bible is important. The Lord's righteousness covers our sin. The mercy seat covers the contents of the Ark of the covenant. Worms and the earth shall cover the damned in hell (Isaiah 14:11). When we are baptized we are covered with water to picture how we are buried with Christ. Even the devil is described as the blessed cherub that covers (Ezekiel 28:13-19); this is because the devil is one of the angels on either end of the "mercy seat"—the lid that covered the contents of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:18-21).
The ark of the covenant contained the following items (Hebrews 9:4)
- The ten commandments symbolizing the law
- The golden bowl of manna symbolizing the word of God
- Aaron's rod that budded symbolizing resurrection
All three of these can either save or condemn. The law condemns but it is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The word of God both both saves and condemns. Rods in the Bible pictures judgement and Aaron's rod symbolizes resurrection, yes, but there is also a ressurection of condemnation (John 5:29) My view is that these two opposing cherubs covers the contents of the ark for two opposing reasons. The devil covers the contents in order to cover up salvation. The other covers it in order to cover up the condemnation.
The ark of the covenant also symbolizes our spirit because the ark of the covenant resided in the innermost part of in the temple and the tabernacle. Paralells between the spirit and the ark of the covenant are many. For instance, Aaron's rod that budded picturing resurrection of our spirit; as well as the manna—the bread from heaven that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years—picturing the word of God which is in our spirit (Deuteronomy 8:3-5). The Bible says that God has written his law upon the hearts of those who are saved (Jeremiah 31:31-34). God has said that he would put his law and his word in our inward parts (1 John 3:9, Jeremiah 31:33) and that our spirits—which were dead in sins and trespasses—have been resurrected. Just as the high priest went in unto the holiest of the holy to sprinkle the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant with the blood of the lamb, so to Jesus Christ—our high priest—has shed his blood upon our hearts (Romans 5:5).
Gall, wormwood, bitterness, hemlock, poison, vinegar, etc
These types of bitter and poisonous things in the Bible pictures sin, bitterness, afflictions and misery (Lamentations 3:17-22, Psalm 69:20-21). We see Jesus refuse the vinegar mixed with gall (Matthew 27:33-34), but later drink vinegar from the sponge on the hyssop (John 19:28-30). This is probably because the vinegar from the vessel is a picture of our sins and refusing the gall is a picture of God not being embittered against the world (Luke 23:34).
Birds
Birds pictures the the holy spirit and God's angels (Matthew 24:25-31, Hosea 11:10-11, Jeremiah 12:7-11), but can also picture the spirit of the wicked and unclean spirits (Revelation 18:2). It can also picture God and Jesus Christ, especially eagles (Deuteronomy 32:11-14, Ezekiel 17:2-9).
Rainbow, many colors
Rainbows are a picture of God's covenant of peace (Genesis 9:9-13). When you see something being made of diverse or many colors it is referring to this. For instance Joseph here is a picture of Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, and he has a cloak of many colors (Genesis 37:3-4, Genesis 37:19-24, Genesis 37:29-34).
Fishes
Fishes pictures the unsaved and the act of fishing pictures evangelization (Matthew 4:19, Habakkuk 1:13-14).
Flesh vs spirit
We who are saved are those who have no confidence in the works of the flesh but rather in the new pefect spirit that God has given us (Philippians 3:3). Even though that new spirit is perfect and entirely without sin, our flesh is sinful and cannot please God (1 John 3:9, Romans 7:14-25, Romans 8:7-8). Of course it is our soul and spirit that goes to heaven while our flesh will die and decompose until the bodily resurrection on the day that Jesus comes back (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
Millstones, winepress, threshing
Millstones, winepress, threshing and similar ideas symbolizes the wrath of God and hell (Judges 9:51-56, Revelation 18:21, Matthew 18:6, Revelation 14:19-20, Matthew 21:33-41).
Strongholds, towers, fortresses, watchmen etc
Strongholds, towers and fortresses is a picture the Lord and his salvation (Nahum 1:7, Psalm 61:2-4, Psalm 18:2). But they can also be a picture of works salvation (Genesis 11:3-8). Additionally, towers, watchtowers, watchers on walls can picture God's prophets and pastors (Ezekiel 3:17-19, Luke 14:25-30).
Wood, trees
Trees in the Bible symbolizes human beings (Ezekiel 31:18). It can also symbolize well as the cross of Christ, i.e. the tree of life. It can also symbolize the law, i.e. the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Vessels
Vessels symbolizes people that are either saved (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:18-21) or unsaved (Numbers 19:13-20, Psalm 2:7-12, Isaiah 30:14). It also symbolizes nations but that is typically explicitly stated (Jeremiah 18:3-8, Hosea 8:7-8).
Morning and evening
Evening is a picture of the end of the world when Jesus comes back and we are all gathered together with him (Deuteronomy 23:10-11, John 9:4, Zephaniah 2:7-9).
Girdle
A girdle about your loins is a picture of righteousness while girdles about our reins (stomach) symbolizes faithfullness (Isaiah 11:5, Mark 1:6-7). But a girdle can also picture condemnation (Psalm 109:17-20). The vestment of the linen ephod was girded about about the stomach of the priest (Exodus 29:5).
Warfare, sword
Warfare in the old testament is a metaphor for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11-17). A sword symbolizes the word of God (Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 1:16-18, Genesis 3:24).
Epilogue
If you came to this page already believing, I hope that I was able to strengthen you in the faith. If you didn't believe, then I hope I convinced you that there is something to the Bible that is very difficult to explain unless it is written by God.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of symbolisms; it is merely a subset on the ones that the Lord has taught me (John 6:45, 1 John 2:27). I'm sure I will add to this list at a later time, so please check back for updates.