THE sacred scriptures are their own best interpreters, both in literal and figurative language. The interpretation of the following symbols is drawn, for the most part, from the book itself. We have consulted the Eastern Oneirocritics, as handed down to us in the book of Achmetus, containing the acquisitions of the interpreters of the kings of India, Persia, and Egypt. These three great interpreters of dreams and similitudes--Syrbacham, interpreter to the king of India; Baram, interpreter to the king of Persia; and Tarphan, interpreter to Pharaoh, king of Egypt--interpret almost all the symbols found in the Bible, although they derived both the symbols and their interpretation from other sources. Grotius, Mede, and More, have shown that these interpreters understood the similitudes which occur in their works, very generally, in the sacred scriptures. We have examined More's work very attentively, and most of the works found in Tower's Illustrations. These we use rather as confirmatory or corroborative of the meaning ascertained from the Jewish and Christian prophets and scribes.

      ABOMINATIONS, Sin in general. An idol--Isaiah xliv, 19, "Shall I make the residue thereof an abomination."

      ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, The Roman army, so called on account of its ensigns and images, which the soldiers worshipped, and which were abominable to the Jews--Matthew xxiv, 15: "When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet."

      ADULTERESS, or HARLOT, An apostate church or city; particularly the daughter of Jerusalem, or the Jewish church and people--Isaiah i, 21: "How is this faithful city become a harlot."

      ADULTERY, Idolatry and apostacy from the worship of the true God--Jeremiah iii, 8, 9: "When backsliding Israel committed adultery with stones and with stocks." [35]

      AIR is frequently equivalent to heaven: the symbol of government and an emblem of the kingdom of Satan. He is called "the prince of the power of the air;" and wicked spirits are said to have their place of power in the air, Ephesians vi, 12. A vial poured upon the air denotes the destruction of all existing governments under the influence of Satan.

      ANGEL, in symbolic language, denotes any agent or messenger which God employs in executing his will.

      ARROWS, Calamities or judgments of God--Job vi, 4: "The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit." Also abusive and slanderous words--Psalms xliv, 3: "Who bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words."

      ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN, symbol of the acquisition of political dignity and honor. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the Morning: for thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven." "And the witnesses ascended up into heaven in a cloud." Rev. xi. 12.

      BALANCE, emblem of Justice. Joined with symbols denoting the sale of corn, or fruits of the earth, it is the symbol of scarcity. Bread by weight is a curse. Lev. xxvi, 26.

      BALDNESS, Destruction--Jeremiah xlvii, 5: "Baldness is come upon Gaza."

      BEAST--Wild beast denotes a usurping, tyrannical power; a succession of men exercising a lawless, arbitrary power, whether civil or ecclesiastical.--Beasts sometimes denote a kingdom or state. Thus, in Daniel, four wild beasts represent four empires, under the same cruel and tyrannical idolatry--Chaldea and Assyria the first wild beast; Media and Persia the second wild beast; Macedon, Thrace, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt, the third wild beast; and the Roman empire, the fourth wild beast. Paul compares a body politic to an animal, 1 Cor. 12, and therefore any polity may be compared to a man or any other animal; the character of the polity will decide whether it be a wild or domestic animal, a natural animal, or unnatural organization.

      BED--Great tribulation and anguish. Revelation ii, 22: "I will cast her into a bed." To be tormented in bed, where men seek rest, is peculiarly grievous.

      BEHOLDING, the act of--"Their enemies beheld them." To behold signifies to rejoice, or to be grieved according to the circumstances of the person affected.

      BINDING, the act of, denotes forbidding or restraining from acting. "To bind the dragon," is to restrain that cruel and tyrannical power represented by the dragon.

      BIRD OF PREY--A hostile army coming to prey upon a country. Isaiah xlvi, 11: "Calling a ravenous bird from the East;" Cyrus and his army.

      BITTER, BITTERNESS--Affliction, misery, and servitude. Exodus i, 14: "They made their lives bitter with hard bondage." Gall of bitterness, (Acts viii, 23.) A state offensive to God.

      BLACK, the color of, denotes affliction, disaster, and anguish; any thing sad, dismal, cruel, or unfortunate.

      BLASPHEMY, when a symbol, denotes idolatry. Thus, in Isaiah, "You have burnt incense upon the mountains to idols, and blasphemed me upon the hills." Deut. xxxi. In the Hebrew it reads--"They will turn to other gods, and they will blaspheme me." Idolatry is blasphemy against God.

      BLOOD--War, carnage, slaughter. "To turn waters into blood," is to embroil nations in war. "If I pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it, man and beast."

      BOOK, the sealing of--the concealing of its meaning. To seal a roll, or book, is to conceal its meaning.

      BOW AND ARROWS, when in the hand, are symbols of war and victory. "If a man dream, (say the Egyptians and Persians) that he holds in his hand, bow and arrows, he shall victoriously exult over his enemies." [36]

      BOWELS--Pity, compassion. Luke i, 78: "Through the tender mercy (literally bowels of mercy) of our God."

      BRASS--Strength. Psalm cvii. 16. "He hath broken the gates of brass;" that is, strong gates. In Jeremiah i. 18 and xv. 20. brazen walls signify a strong and lasting adversary and opposer.

      BRIDE--The heavenly Jerusalem. Rev. xxi. 9. "The bride, the Lamb's wife."

      BRIMSTONE--Perpetual torment and destruction. Job xviii. 15. "Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation;" that is, his house or family shall be destroyed forever by an inextinguishable fire. Also, corrupt, infernal, and destructive doctrines. Rev. ix. 17. "Out of their mouth issued fire and brimstone."

      BURNING, the act of complete destruction--"To burn with fire," is utterly to destroy.

      BUYING, the act of--"No many might buy or sell," give or receive religious instruction, administer ordinances, traffic in the wares of the priesthood, partake of the honors and powers of the clergy.

      CANDLE--emblem of prosperity, success, joy. "His candle shall be put out." Job xviii. "O that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; when his candle shined upon my head." Job xxix.

      CANDLESTICK, or lamp, is sometimes the symbol of government, but frequently of affording instruction, removing ignorance, and imparting cheerfulness and joy. Two candlesticks and two olive trees are applied to the two witnesses, because of the light and comfort which the "two prophets" afforded those who waited on them.

      CHAIN--Bondage, or affliction. Lamentations iii. 7. "He hath made my chain heavy."

      CHARACTER, or mark; "mark on the forehead"--Open profession of allegiance to those whose name or character they bear. Both servants and soldiers, in ancient times, were marked on the forehead and hands.

      CITY, the Great City--The European part of the Western Roman Empire, and the great body of the spurious christians who inhabit it, are called the Great City: for as the ten horns represent the ten powers into which the empire is divided, so the city is represented as consisting of ten streets. "The tenth part of the city" is particularized in Revelation xi. 13.; and in verse 8th "the street of the great city" is also spoken of. A city is the symbol of a corporate body, under one and the same police. The analogy may be to Babylon, the great city of the Assyrian empire.

      CLOUD, an emblem of prosperity and glory. To ride on clouds, is to rule and conquer. When no storm accompanied, or no attribute is attached to it, a cloud is the emblem of majesty and glory. By Daniel it is said, "One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven;" to which our Lord adds, as explanatory of the symbol, "with power and great glory." Matth. xxiv. 30.

      CROWN--Emblem of dignity, power, and honor. The ten hours with ten crowns, denote so many kings reigning in dignity and honor over as many kingdoms or distinct provinces.

      CROWN OF LIFE--A triumphant immortality. Rev. ii. 10. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

      CUP--The blessings and favors of God. Psalm xxiii. 5. "My cup runneth over." Also, afflictions or sufferings, the effects of the wrath of God. Isaiah li. 17. "Stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury. Thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling."

      DARKNESS--Symbol of affliction. The kingdom of the beast was full of darkness, confusion and distress.

      DAY--In prophetic style, "I have given you a day for a year," is the rule; one revolution of the earth on its axis for a revolution in its orbit. "Twelve [37] hundred and sixty days" are expressed by "time, times, and half a time," or by "forty-two months." These periods are each equal to three years and a half.

      DEATH--As natural death is a ceasing to be as before, a change of state, or the destruction of the life of the animal, so it is the symbol of the destruction of any subject, according to the nature of it. "Moab shall die with tumult:" not that each individual shall perish; but that Moab, the nation shall change its condition for a worse one; shall pass into subjection and slavery.

      DESERT, or Wilderness, means Paganism; the wild savage manners and state of Paganism. As the idolatry of the Pagans was practised in groves, woods, and waste places, and the names of their demons had reference to fields and deserts; so desert became, among the Jews, the symbol of Paganism.

      DEW, and Rain, are the symbols of heavenly blessings. The Oneirocritics say that "dew and rain are the symbols of all manner of good things." "The two witnesses have power to shut up heaven, that it rain not." They will restrain the blessing of Heaven from falling upon those who reject their testimony.

      DOG--The Gentiles. The bad properties of dogs are obstinate, barking, cruel, biting, insatiable gluttony, filthiness in lust, vomiting and returning to their vomit.

      DOOR--The symbol of opportunity, way of access or introduction. Rev. iv. 1. "Behold a door was opened in heaven;" that is, opportunity, or access to the discovery of divine secrets, was granted.

      DRAGON--"The well known symbol of the old Roman government, in its Pagan persecuting state." The Egyptians, Persians, and Indians regard the dragon as the established emblem of a monarch. It is sometimes used for monarchical despotism in general. The whole principality of the old serpent may be denoted by it; but in the Old Testament it is appropriated to the wicked monarchs of the Pagan nations: "Art not thou he who has cut Rahab [Egypt] and wounded the dragon?" "I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of the rivers." Hence is he called leviathan, the water serpent: "Thou breakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to thy people in the wilderness." This, like the dragon in the Apocalypse, had more heads than one.
      "The seven-headed serpent which represents the Roman state, is so represented, not only in regard to that old serpentine form that tempted our first parents, but has a reflection also upon that tyrannical kingdom of Egypt, which was typified under the image of a dragon and leviathan." It is in different forms the symbol of Rome Pagan, and Rome Papal.

      DRUNKENNESS.--"They are drunken, but not with wine." Persons intoxicated with the pleasure and affluence of this world, are said to be drunk. Also, the stupidity and confusion of mind consequent upon deep affliction or calamity, is symbolized by drunkenness.

      EAGLE--A king or kingdom. Ezekiel xvii. "A great eagle, with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came to Lebanon;" that is, Nebuchadnezzar. The divers colors refer to the various nations that composed the Babylonian empire.

      EARTH--Symbol of the great body of people contrasted with the government; antichristian part of mankind; idolatrous communities. There are in the political and moral worlds, as well as in the natural world, heavens and earth, sun, moon, and stars, and mountains, rivers, and seas.

      EARTHQUAKE--The established symbol of the political and moral revolutions and convulsions of society. To "shake the heavens and the earth" is explained by Haggai as denoting the overthrow of thrones, and the subversion of the strength of the kingdoms. "I will shake the heavens and the earth: I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen." ch. ii. 21, 22. The Oneirocritics concur in affirming that "by earthquakes are signified wars, slaughter of men, and subversion of states and fortunes." [38]

      EATING (the act of) denotes destruction in any way, or taking from others. To "eat her flesh," is to consume her riches.

      ECLIPSE, or the obscuration of sun, moon, and stars. The universe being the symbol of a kingdom or polity, the obscuration of the sun denotes the diminution or obscuration of the glory of its sovereign, and so of the other potentates symbolized by the moon and stars.

      EGYPT--A mystical name of wickedness. Revelation xi. 8. "Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt."

      ELDERS, (the twenty-four)--Probably such of the Patriarchs and Prophets of the old church, as saw by faith the day of redemption and rejoiced; and who are expressly termed elders (presbuteroi) in Hebrews xi. 2. Rev. iv. 10. "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that liveth forever and ever."

      EYE--The symbol of light or knowledge, as blindness is of ignorance. A sceptre with an eye upon the top of it, means political skill in managing the affairs of state. Zechariah xii. 4. "I will open my eyes upon the house of Judah. I will smite the horse and his rider with blindness."

      FAMILY--The church of God. Ephesians iii. 15. "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."

      FIRE signifies fierce destruction. "He is like the refiner's fire to consume the dross." "For behold, the Lord will come with fire, to render his anger with fury." lxvi. 15. "For by fire and sword will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Fire is never the symbol of a blessing, but of a curse. "So destructive is the symbol of fire," says More, "that it denotes destruction in some way, by war and hostility." "His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire." "The dispensations of his providence will be very destructive to the wicked."

      FIRE FROM HEAVEN.--The comminations or excommunications of those in authority.

      FIRE BROUGHT DOWN FROM HEAVEN--The ecclesiastic beast, or the anti-christian priesthood, has such power with the civil government as to bring down its anathemas and persecutions upon those obnoxious to their displeasure.

      FLESH--Riches and possessions of any sort. To "eat the flesh of kings, captains," &c. is to consume their wealth and resources. "Flesh is universally referred to gold and riches in the interpretation of dreams."--Achmet.

      FLOOD--Symbol of abuse, denunciation, and persecution; emblem of trouble and distress from any cause.

      FOREHEAD--Public profession.

      FORNICATION, or Whoredom--Symbol of idolatry; departing from the institutions of religion, and forming alliances with the enemies of God. "I am broken with their whorish heart, which has departed from me; and with their eyes, that go a whoring after their idols."

      FOX--"A cunning, deceitful person." Luke xiii. 32. "Go tell that fox." Ezekiel xiii. 4. "Thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts."

      FROGS--A hieroglyphic of imperfection amongst the Egyptians. The symbolic meaning of frogs, says Artimidores, is impostors and flatterers, who seek favor from the lowest of mankind.

      GARMENT--The symbol of the condition or state in which any one is. To be clothed in white, denotes prosperity or victory. To put on clean garments after washing, signifies freedom from oppression, care, and evil, together with honor and joy.

      GATES--"Gates of the daughter of Zion." The ordinances of Jehovah, by which the soul is helped forward in the way of salvation. Psalm ix. 14. "That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion."

      GATES OF DEATH--Imminent danger of death. Psalm ix, 13. "Have mercy upon me, O Lord! thou that deliverest me from the gates of death." [39]

      GOD--When used as a symbol, denotes a magistrate, a prince, or superior. Moses was made a god to Pharaoh.

      GRAVE--The putting of a person into the grave is consigning him to oblivion. "Not to suffer dead bodies to be put into the grave," denotes that they shall be remembered, and not permitted to be put into eternal silence.

      HAIL--denotes inroads of enemies, killing and destroying. Hail from heaven represents destruction by the sword, coming from some government: "Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, which, as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth violently. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under foot." Isaiah xxviii. 2, 3 & xxx. 30, 31.

      HAND--The symbol of action and hard labor.

      HARLOT--denotes an idolatrous community. Cities were formerly represented under the types of virgins, wives, widows, and harlots, according to their different conditions: hence the true church is symbolized by a chaste bride, and an apostate or worldly religious community is depicted by a harlot.

      HARVEST--Cutting down of grain is the figure of cutting down men. "The harvest of the earth is ripe"--the people are fit for destruction. Sometimes harvest denotes a more auspicious state of things, as, when people are prepared for conversion, or being gathered to the Lord; but more generally the harvest, and the vintage, denote the awful judgments of God's severe vengeance on his enemies.

      HEAD, or Heads--The head of a beast denotes that person or those persons in whom the supreme power resides.

      HEAT--To be scorched with great heat denotes the endurance of some great calamity.

      HEAVEN AND EARTH--The whole universe, political or religious. Heaven is always the symbol of government: the higher places in the political universe.

      HILL and Mountain are both symbols of a kingdom.

      HORNS--"The great horn is the first king." Daniel. "The ten horns are ten kings." The well known symbol of a king.

      HORSE--Symbol of war and conquest; the state, color, or equipage of a horse represents the condition of his rider: white denotes victory and prosperity; black represents distress and general calamity; red denotes war and fierce hostility; pale is the symbol of death and destruction.

      HOUR--Emblem of a very short period of time. One hour, a very short season.

      HUNGER and Thirst--Established symbols of affliction. To hunger and thirst no more, denotes a perpetual exemption from all affliction.

      IDOL, IDOLATRY--Any thing too much, and sinfully indulged. 1 John v, 21. "Keep yourselves from idols."

      INCENSE--Prayer, or the devotion of the heart in offering up prayer to God. Psalm cxli, 2. "Let my prayer be set before thee as incense." Revelation v. 8. "Golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

      ISLANDS--European states. Isles of the sea frequently, in prophetic language, represent the western parts of the world, particularly Europe. Island sometimes signifies a prince, or the sovereign of any small state, as well as the small state itself.

      JERUSALEM--In symbolic or figurative language, the Church of Jesus Christ, the Christian Economy. "Jerusalem which is above, is free, the mother of us all." "The holy city" is contrasted with "the great city," the true church of Christ with the apostate church; Babylon and Jerusalem. The former represents every professing christian society, which submits not wholly and unconditionally to Jesus, as sole lawgiver, prophet, priest, and king; the latter, the society which unreservedly submits to him in all his official power and glory. Jerusalem, New, contrasted with the earthly and literal city, capital of Judea. [40]

      KILLING, act of--Changing the condition from bad to worse; causing a person or state to cease to be what it was before: political death. The recovery of a people is also called their resurrection. The killing of the witnesses, denotes the depriving them of their former state and power.

      KING--The supreme power, in whomsoever vested, and by whatever name designated. Seven kings, seven sorts of supreme power. The four beasts are several sorts of beasts; so the five senses denote not five of the same sort; but five distinct species, or sorts.

      KINGDOM--The body subject to any head or supreme power.

      LAMB, Lamb of God--The well known symbol of the Messiah. A beast with the horns of a lamb, represents a state or person pretending to such power as the Messiah rightfully exercises: spiritual power.

      LAMP--Symbol of government, civil or religious.

      LEAVEN--Corrupt doctrine and corrupt practices. Mark viii. 15. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which is hypocrisy."

      LEOPARD--An irreconcilable enemy; emblem of cruelty.

      LIFE--Alive; having power and activity. To cast the beast and the false prophet alive into a lake of fire, denotes not only the destruction of the persons, but the succession, the existence of such persons. To cast a person alive into a lake of fire, represents also the fierce and terrible nature of the judgment.

      LIGHT--The well known emblem of knowledge.

      LOCUSTS--Numerous armies of men, pillaging and destroying a country. Joel i, 6. The Persians and Babylonians, who laid waste Judea, are compared to locusts: "If any king or potentate see locusts come upon a place, let him expect a powerful multitude of enemies." Achmetes.

      MANNA--The bread of life. John vi, 26-50. Hidden Manna, the ineffable joys of immortality. Revelation ii, 17. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna."

      MARK--See Character.

      MEASURE--See Balance.

      MERCHANTS--Merchants of the earth; ecclesiastics, or spiritual persons, in reproach of their worldly character, and because they traffic in religious privileges, are called the merchants of the earth.

      MONTH--See Time.

      MOON--See Sun and Moon.

      MOUNTAIN--A great and powerful government. "The mountains of the Lord's house," the kingdom of the people of God: "In all my holy mountain," in all the kingdom of the Messiah. Babylon is called a mountain. Jeremiah li. 25. "I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyeth all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks." Zachariah iv. 7. "Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt be a plain;" i. e. reduced before Cyrus. The stone cut out of the kingdoms of this world became a great mountain [kingdom] and filled the whole earth.

      MOUTH--The word which proceed out of it; commands and actions. "Out of their mouths issued fire"--destruction. Commands and threats issuing in destruction.

      NAKEDNESS--Poverty, shame, and disgrace. "Make her naked;" shall bring upon her shame and disgrace.

      NUMBERS--Two; a few. Isaiah vii, 21. "A man shall nourish two sheep." 1 Kings xvii, 12. "I am gathering two sticks."
      Three, or Third--Greatness, excellency, and perfection. Isaiah xix, 24. "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and Assyria."
      Four--Universality of the matters comprised therein. The four corners of the earth denote all parts of it. Jeremiah xlix, 36. "Upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of the earth." [41]
      Seven--A large and complete, but uncertain and indefinite number. In its Hebrew etymology it signifies fullness and perfection. Daubuz. It is of very frequent occurrence in the Apocalypse, where we read of the seven spirits of God, seven angels, seven thunders, seven seals, &c.
      Ten--Many, as well as that precise number. In Genesis xxxi. 7, 41, ten times are many times.

      OLIVE TREES--Trees in the prophetic scriptures, are often the symbols of men. The olive, remarkable for its verdure, soundness, and useful oil, is the symbol of the most illustrious and useful men. Moses and Aaron were two olive trees. So were Zerubbabel and Joshua. The good man is like a tree planted by the water courses. The axe lies at the root of the dry tree. The godly, by Isaiah are called "trees of righteousness." lxi. 3. "Thy children are like olive plants:" the Jewish people and state. Jer. xi, 16. "The Lord called thy name a green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit."

      PALM, (branches of)--To carry branches of palm trees; the symbol of joy after a victory attended with antecedent sufferings.

      PARADISE--Symbol of happiness and salvation. "Fruits of Paradise" signify divine and useful knowledge.

      PILLARS--Princes or nobles in a kingdom or state.

      POTION, Cup, or Filtrum--Sorcery, enchantment. "Cup of her fornication,"--enchanting or magical influences.

      RAIN--Refreshment, peace, and righteousness, pure and heavenly doctrine. Deut. xxxii. 2. Psalm lxxii. 6. Hosea x. 12. "All manner of good things."

      RED--Bloody, cruelty.

      RESURRECTION and "rising from the dead"--A recuperation of lost rights and privileges which have been taken away; a deliverance from persecution and bondage. Ez. xxxvii. 9. "I will open their graves"--raise them into a national and elevated existence. Political and religious exaltation.

      RIVERS--Provincial magistrates, revenues. Consolations are also represented by rivers of living waters; the fruits of the Spirit. Drying up of rivers portends death, sorrow, and affliction.

      ROD--Power and rule. Psalm ii. 9. "Thou shalt break them in pieces with a rod of iron."

      SCARLET, scarlet colored--Emblem of the most bloody cruelty.

      SEA--Waters signify people. The gathering together of people into one body politic, constitutes a sea. The winds strove upon the great sea--an empire in agitation.

      SEAL, SEALING--Preservation and security.

      SELLING--See Buying.

      SERPENT--See Dragon.

      SHIP--The symbol of profit.

      SILENCE--Bringing to silence, or putting to silence. Utter destruction. Isaiah xv. 1. "Ar of Moab was laid waste, and brought to silence."

      SLEEP--Death. Daniel xii. 2. "Many that sleep in the dust of the earth still awake."

      SODOM and GOMORRAH--Any apostate state and people, or the wicked world at large. Isaiah i. 10. "Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give an ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah."

      STARS--See Sun.

      SUN, Moon, and Stars--Symbol of the high lights and authorities in society, political and religious. The Sun denotes the chief, the Moon next in authority, and the Stars the nobles. Joseph's dream, interpreted by Jacob, gives the true interpretation of these symbols:--"Shall I, and thy mother, and thy brethren, indeed, come and bow down to thee!" The Moon is the symbol of the Jewish state, the Sun of the Christian, and the Stars are used to represent, sometimes, the lights in general. The Morning Star is a symbol of the Messiah. The King of Babylon is called "Lucifer, Son of the Morning." "I am," says [42] Jesus, "the bright and the morning star." Angels, too, are symbolized by stars. When the morning stars sang together, even all the sons of God shouted for joy. "Stars falling from heaven," denote the destruction of the nobility. "The stars are usually put for subordinate princes and great men."--Sir Isaac Newton. Political and ecclesiastical heavens have their hosts--their sun, moon, and stars, as well as the natural.

      SWORD--Symbol of slaughter. Sword out of the mouth--Threatenings, sharp and severe: his words are drawn swords--piercing and terrific.

      TAIL, "Tail of a beast"--Symbol of a train or retinue of the chief authority or state symbolized by the beast whose tail it is.

      TEETH--"Large iron teeth," a devouring enemy; rapacious cruelty.

      TEMPLE OF GOD, Christian Church--"Man of Sin sitting in the temple of God, represents Christ's pretended Vicar reigning over something called the church." "A pillar in the temple of my God," a conspicuous member in the church of the Messiah: "a consecrated people, whose profession is christian," say Hammond, Grotius.

      THIRST--See Hunger.

      THRESHING--Destruction. Jer. li, 33: "Babylon is like a threshing floor. It is time of thresh her."

      THROES, Throes of child birth--Images of great endeavors to bring to pass something attended with great difficulty. Jer. xxx. 6, 7. Isa. lxvi. 7.

      THRONE--Throne, kingdom, government, authority, dominion, and power, are of life signification. "To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel," is to translate the government from one to the other. "The throne of the beast," is his authority.

      THRONE OF GOD--As the trees of God are magnificent trees, the cedars of God magnificent cedars, the mountains of God very large mountains; so, figuratively, and in the Hebrew idiom, "Throne of God" is a magnificent throne.

      THUNDER, "There were thunders and lightnings"--The symbol of sudden and terrific dispersion and destruction of the forces of war. As the corruscations of lightning or thunder shake the natural heavens, or air, so symbolic thunders, &c., shake the political and existing governments of men. Is. xxix. 6; Job xxxix. 25; 1 Sam. ii. 10; Ps. xviii.

      TIME, times, and half a time--Time is one annual revolution of the earth; times two such revolutions; and the dividing, or half a time, is half a year: time, times, and half a time, denote three years and a half. This is established in Daniel's prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar was to associate with the beasts till seven times passed over him: i. e. seven years.
      "Numbering by months or moons is appropriate to the works of darkness; because the moon is the governess of night: numbering by the course of the sun, is appropriate to the works of righteousness, and this is in correspondence with the use of these symbols in the Apocalypse. The continuance of the Beast, and the profaning of the holy city by the Gentiles, are reckoned by months; but the prophecy of the Witnesses by days: the abode of the woman in the wilderness by days, and by time, times, and half a time; three solar years and half."

      TREES--See Olive.

      TRUMPET--Emblem of the proclamation of war or peace.

      VINTAGE, and Wine Press--Symbol of great oppression, affliction, and effusion of blood. See Joel iii. 12.

      WATERS--Symbol of words, languages, and people.

      WHEELS--Revolutions and dispensations of God's government.

      WHITE CLOTHING--Innocence and purity.

      WHORE--The apostate church.

      WHOREDOM, Idolatry--Worship of man's inventions, renunciation of allegiance to Jesus Christ, as the sole Lord, prophet, priest, and king. [43]

      WIND, See Sea--Symbol of commotion.

      WINE PRESS--See Vintage.

      WITNESSES: two witnesses, a few witnesses. The scriptural plurality. That succession of pleaders for God which have stood forth for him during the time, times, and a dividing of time, in which the Man of Sin sits in the temple of God, and the Woman is nourished in the wilderness, according to some. The two witnesses, according to others, are the two distinct bodies of men in succession which plead for the political and religious rights of men, against the usurpations of priests and kings: resembling in their character Moses and Aaron; Zerubbabel and Joshua: or, Revelation and Nature, those witnesses for God's being and perfections; or the Old Testament and the New; the Apostles and Prophets. Such are some of the views taken of the two witnesses.

      WOMAN--A body politic, whether city, state, or church.

      WORLD--See Heaven and Earth. The whole frame of things.

      WORSHIP--Subjection, homage; political and religious.

      ZION--The christian church in her impregnable and triumphant character.

[TLO4 35-41]