symbolic images in the book of Revelation
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As with anything, do a search with the keywords in your question:
Turn on "Match all forms" and search for (symbol OR image) AND Revelation
The "Match all forms" will ensure that you find symbol, symbols, symbolism, symbolize, image, images, imagery...
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Agree with Rosie (though a NEAR?).
But curious, I searched Logos.com. Quite a few.
Totally unrelated (almost), I was surprised 'Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols' is just an ebook. Much of Revelations imagery is seen in late 2nd Temple (Eze and forward). And jewish.
https://www.logos.com/product/80761/the-encyclopedia-of-jewish-symbols
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Totally unrelated (almost), I was surprised 'Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols' is just an ebook. Much of Revelations imagery is seen in late 2nd Temple (Eze and forward). And jewish.
https://www.logos.com/product/80761/the-encyclopedia-of-jewish-symbols
Yes, I concur! And especially at that price, this should be a Logos Research edition of type Encyclopedia.
Also, Christian, any commentary will likely explain the imagery in Revelation as you encounter it. That would be better, reading about it in context, rather than some separate resource or tool that just says such-and-such an image means this or that. Also be aware that an authors presuppositional stance will affect how they interpret the symbols/imagery in Revelation. So you need to be aware of where he or she is coming from theologically.
A search in my library for this exact phrase in quotation marks ("Match all forms" not checked): "symbols in Revelation" was quite fruitful. It came up with various tables showing what various authors think the symbols mean. Some books have extended discussions of how to interpret the symbols. For example some say they often are references to the Old Testament. Others say they many of them covert references to the persecution Christians were undergoing in the 1st century. Still others point out that some of them are self-interpreting (the surrounding text in the Book of Revelation explains what they mean). You really ought to do a bunch of reading in this sphere to become more adept with these symbols. But here are some books I found to have substantial material in a cursory review of the first dozen or so search hits. I've listed them in no particular order, just the order that the tabs happened to be open in my app, which was the order I had randomly clicked on the search hits.
The Climax of Biblical Prophecy: A Guide to Interpreting Revelation by Brian Hand (it has "An Interpretive Survey of Symbols" in Appendix 2) (apparently a Fundamentalist perspective, according to Andrew Baguley's and Logos's tagging)
The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events by Arnold Fruchtenbaum (from a Messianic Jewish perspective)
A Survey of the New Testament by Robert Gundry (Evangelical perspective; one of the study goals of his chapter on Revelation is to learn "The meanings of the apocalyptic symbols in Revelation")
The Book of Revelation (NIGTC) by G. K. Beale (has a long section, 20 pages, on "INTERPRETATION OF SYMBOLISM" in the Introduction; Beale is a Presbyterian; this is a highly regarded commentary by many across the theological spectrum)
Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G. K. Beale (an abridged version of his NIGTC commentary; has a short section on "The Significance of the Use of Symbols in Revelation" in the Introduction.
Johannine Perspectives by J. A. du Rand (author was Dutch Reformed; you'll be most interested in chapter 16)
The Apocalypse of St. John by Henry Barclay Swete (has a whole chapter, Chapter 12, on Symbolism)
Revelation: Apocalypse Now and Then by Paul W. Barnett (has an Appendix, "Symbols in Revelation")
Revelation for You by Tim Chester (has a chart, "Symbols in Revelation")
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible by D.A. Carson (has a chart, "Self-Interpreted Symbols in Revelation")
Revelation's Rhapsody by Robert Lowery (Appendix B is "A Key to Select Symbols in Revelation")
I realize you don't have funds to buy more books, but perhaps your library already contains one or more of the ones listed above. In any event, I hope you can find something of use in your library using the search terms suggested above.
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A search in my library for this exact phrase in quotation marks ("Match all forms" not checked): "symbols in Revelation" was quite fruitful. It came up with various tables showing what various authors think the symbols mean. Some books have extended discussions of how to interpret the symbols. For example some say they often are references to the Old Testament. Others say they many of them covert references to the persecution Christians were undergoing in the 1st century. Still others point out that some of them are self-interpreting (the surrounding text in the Book of Revelation explains what they mean). You really ought to do a bunch of reading in this sphere to become more adept with these symbols. But here are some books I found to have substantial material in a cursory review of the first dozen or so search hits.
Thanks for that Search, Rosie.
Another point is not to interpret figuratively that which is not figurative!
Dave
===Windows 11 & Android 13
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Oh my Rosie. This is wonderful. Thank you so very much. I have a few of these. Blessings to you.
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I was surprised 'Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols' is just an ebook.
Indeed! It looks like all of the books published by Jason Aronson, Inc., are just ebooks.
I've added requests for two that I own that really ought to be Logos Research Editions of type "Encyclopedia":
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I've added requests
Thank you. I wondered some more about that, since the group is pretty obviously not 'ebooks'. I wonder if there's enthusiasts at FL, who couldn't swing Logos versions, so an ebook would get it in the back door. Which is better than not."If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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