5–8 minutes
Before we dive into the text of Revelation, I thought it would be helpful for some readers to have a “cheat sheet” or some sort to help them navigate the book. I’ll attempt to demonstrate how I arrived at the following equations and identifications, but for now I’ll just list out what I believe certain characters and images represent in the book of Revelation. As a reminder, it’s important to keep in mind that Revelation is a thoroughly Jewish document, meaning that the intended purpose and message of Revelation has to be directly relevant to John’s immediate audience and their biblical-theological and redemptive-historical context. One’s interpretation should not disassociate the purpose and intent of Revelation from the early church’s first-century context.
| Character/Image | Identification/Meaning |
| Kings of earth [of the Land] | As I will attempt to demonstrate throughout this blog, it makes more sense to understand τῆς γῆς (tēs gēs) as the Land (of Israel) rather than the entire earth, unless context makes it clear that the word is referring to the entire earth; this expression appears to represent the Jewish leaders/rulers of the Land |
| Seven (7) | Literally seven in number; can also represent fullness, completeness |
| Seven churches (Rev. 1) | Historical seven churches; can also be representative of all the churches in Asia Minor, and even of all the churches in the world (both a historical/literal and figurative meaning) |
| Seven lampstands (Rev. 1) | Represents the seven churches, as per Rev. 1:20; readers are reminded of the lampstand used in the temple and the light that was maintained to never go out |
| Seven stars (Rev. 1) | Represents the angels of the seven churches; can either mean supernatural angelic beings that guard the churches, or human “messengers” of the churches, perhaps a representative elder/pastor |
| Ten days (Rev. 2) | Could represent literal ten days; can also emphasize completeness and judgment (period of tribulation) |
| Seven spirits of God (Rev. 2) | Represents the Spirit of God in fullness |
| Twenty-four elders (Rev. 4) | Seems more plausible that this represents the faithful believers of the old covenant; readers are reminded of the 24 divisions of priests who were responsible for the temple service |
| Four living creatures (Rev. 4) | Represents the mightiest of angels; these angels are prepared to do the bidding of God throughout the world (the number 4 meaning universal, worldwide) |
| Seven-sealed scroll (Rev. 5) | Represents a message of judgment against Israel in particular; foreshadows end-time judgment on unbelievers |
| Seven seals (Rev. 6-8) | Judgment upon the people of the Land in particular, the historical fulfillment of which took place in the Jewish War leading up to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 |
| The souls under the altar (Rev. 6) | Represents the Christians slain by the Land-dwellers, that is, the Jews |
| Those who dwell on the earth [the Land] (Rev. 6) | As I will argue in the text of Revelation 6, it makes more sense to understand this expression to mean Land-dwellers, that is, the Jews |
| 144,000 (Rev. 7) | Possible literal number of Jewish Christians saved/preserved during the time of God’s judgment on the nation of Israel; more likely a figurative number representing the complete/full number of Jewish Christians saved/preserved |
| Great multitude that no one could number (Rev. 7) | End-time number of God’s elect; represents the result of the preservation/salvation of the 144,000, leading to the spread of the Gospel in fulfillment of the Great Commission |
| Seven trumpets (8-11) | Judgment upon the temple of the Land in particular, the historical fulfillment of which took place in the Jewish War leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 |
| Little scroll (Rev. 10) | Same as the seven-sealed scroll from Rev. 5, though now it has been opened; represents a message of judgment against Israel in particular |
| The two witnesses (Rev. 11) | Could either be two literal witnesses (Jewish Christians) in Jerusalem, or could represent a remnant of Jewish Christians who remained in Jerusalem during the Jewish War acting as legal witnesses against the Jews (two being the minimum required number of witnesses to bring a legal charge against someone according to the OT) |
| 42 months (Rev. 11 and 13) | Short-term time indicator (3.5 years); could have both a historical/literal and figurative/spiritual meaning, such that it represents both a literal time period of 3.5 years and a time period that has been cut short or is incomplete; the expression “42 months” is used in Revelation in regards to God’s enemies |
| 1,260 days (Rev. 11 and 12) | Short-term time indicator (3.5 years); could have both a historical/literal and figurative/spiritual meaning, such that it represents both a literal time period of 3.5 years and a time period that has been cut short; the expression “1,260 days” is used in Revelation in regards to God’s people |
| The woman clothed with the sun (Rev. 12) | Represents the true people of God in the old covenant |
| The dragon (Rev. 12) | Satan |
| The male child (Rev. 12) | Represents the incarnate Christ |
| Michael (Rev. 12) | The name “Michael” means “Who is like God?” It is plausible that Michael represents Christ who triumphs over Satan |
| The rest of the woman’s offspring (Rev. 12) | Represents the seed of the first Jewish Christians, that is, the Gentile Christian converts |
| The sea beast (Rev. 13) | Represents the Roman Empire |
| The head that had a mortal wound | Represents Nero who died during the Jewish War |
| The beast from the earth [Land beast] (Rev. 13); later known as the false prophet (Rev. 16) | Represents Jerusalem, or in particular the high priestly aristocracy that ruled Jerusalem |
| 666 (or 616) | The number of the man, Nero |
| Babylon, also known as the great prostitute (Rev. 14, 16, 17, and 18) | Represents apostate Jerusalem (who is also called Egypt and Sodom); described in Revelation as the one responsible for the death of the prophets and the saints |
| 1,600 stadia (Rev. 14) | The approximate length of the Land of Israel |
| The seven plagues/bowls (Rev. 15 and 16) | Judgment upon the Land, the historical fulfillment of which took place in the Jewish War that caused destruction throughout the entire land of Israel |
| Kings from the east (Rev. 16) | Auxiliaries (support troops of foreign origin) from kings that were subservient to the Roman Emperor |
| Armageddon (Har Magedon) (Rev. 16) | Reference to Megiddo where historic battles took place involving Israel; hints at the land of Israel being the location of a war that is part of God’s judgment upon Israel |
| Seven heads of the beast (Rev. 17) | The seven heads represent seven mountains (which point to Rome) and also represent seven kings: five were, one is, and one will remain for a little while; starting with Julius Caesar, the current king would be Nero, and the one following who reigns for a short time is Galba |
| Ten horns of the beast (Rev. 17) | Could represent both a literal ten kings who supported the beast (Roman Empire) in its war against Jerusalem and a figurative meaning of the complete force of the auxiliaries from foreign kings who came to the aid of the Roman Empire |
| The thousand years (Rev. 20) | Appears to be the only long-term time indicator in Revelation; represents the complete or full period of time during which Satan is bound and the kingdom of God is growing throughout the world |
| Gog and Magog (Rev. 20) | Represents the evil forces remaining in the world at the end of the millennium; Satan will gather these forces in a final assault against Christ and His Bride |
| 12,000 stadia (Rev. 21) | The approximate length of the Roman Empire, or the known world at the time |
More details will be provided throughout this blog to support the above identifications. I hope that it will be helpful in one’s reading and understanding of the book of Revelation.
Soli Deo gloria!
The Preterist Digest 
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