SBG,
Is anything I've been saying to you make any sense at all? Sometimes I think you are on the verge of a breakthrough, of really starting to get it and it gives me hope to keep trying with you. I don't see much hope for some of the others. They are too set in their old ways.
If you want to do a cool exercise which proves what I've been saying, use the on-line version of the NKJV. It's free and can be found here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/#booklist
You can look up specific passages or better yet, and this is when my understanding started to take off, do KEY WORD searches. Take the Trumpets for example, just 1-4 for starters. Search for key words to see if they were used by the OT prophets and see how the OT prophets used them. You will find them used both literally and figuratively
Search for:
Mountain
Grass
Tree
Blood
Springs of Water
Earth
Sea (too many results)
Or, you can go to any number of sites on the internet like this one. It's pretty good, but not perfect:
Bible Symbols
They aren't all great. I've also been building my own list for my book. I'm only about half way done with it:
ANIMALS:
BEAR = Powerful Force, Kingdom of the Medes and Persians. (Pro 28:15, 2 Kings 2:23-24, Dan 7:5, Rev 13:2)
BEAST = World Kingdom or Empire/Major Political Force, usually had dominion over Israel (Dan 7:17, 23, Rev 13:1-4)
DOVE = Holy Spirt (Mark 1:10)
DRAGON – Satan or his agents (Psm 74:13-14, Isa 27:1, 30:6, Eze 29:3, Jer 51:34, Rev 12:7-9)
GOAT = Greece (Dan 8:21), sinful nation (Mat 25:23)
HORN = A king or a Leader or a Nation (Dan 7:24, 8:5, 21, 22; Zec 1:18-19, Rev 13:1, 17:12)
HORSE = Powerful and strong in battle (Job 39:19, Psm 147:10, Pro 21:31)
LAMB = Jesus/sacrifice (Jhn 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7, Rev 5:6, 6:1, 16, 14:1, 4)
LEOPARD = Greece (Dan 7:6, Rev 13:2)
LION = Jesus, King, Judah, Powerful Nation like Babylon, Fierce destructive/devouring force, like Satan (Dan 7:4, 17, 23, Jer 50:43-44, 1 Pet 5:8, Rev 5:4-9)
RAM = Medo Persia (Dan 8:20)
SERPENT = Satan (Gen 3:1, 2, 4, 13-14, Isa 27:1, 2 Cor 11:3, Rev 12:9, 14-15, 20:2)
TONGUE = Language, Spoken word, Sharp Sword (Exo 4:10, Psm 57:4, 64:3, Pro 12:18, Rev 1:16, 2:16, 19:15, 21)
WINGS = Speed, Protection, Deliver (Exo 19:4, Rut 2:12, Psm 17:8, Isa 40:31, Mat 23:37, Rev 12:14)
WOLF = Crafty enemy sometimes disguised as a friend, fierce evil destroyer (Jer 5:6, Eze 22:27, Mat 7:15, Luk 10:3, Acts 20:29)
COLORS:
WHITE = Pure, Spotless, Cleanse, Redeem (Psm 51:7, Isa 1:18, Dan 7:9, 11:35, 12:10, Rev 3:4-5,7:14, 19:14)
GREEN = Living thing, alive (Job 8:12, Psm 52:8, Isa 15:6, Rev 9:4)
PURPLE = Royalty, Wealth, Status (Dan 5:7, 29, Eze 23:6, Mrk 15:17, Luk 16:19, Jud 8:26, Rev 17:4, 18:16)
RED/SCARLET = Sin, Evil, Corrupt, Wickedness (Isa 1:18, 2 Sam 1:24, Lam 4:5, Rev 12:3, 17: 1-4)
ELEMENTS AND NATURAL THINGS:
GOLD = Pure of character, precious and rare (Isa 13:12)
WATER = Holy Spirit, Everlasting Life (Jhn 4:13-14, 7:37-39, Eph 5:26, Rev 22:17)
WATERS = Masses of People, Nations (Isa 17:12-13, Rev 17:15)
SEAS = Masses of unruly People, trouble-makers
FRUIT = Works, deeds, actions (Gal 5:22)
HARVEST = Gathering at End of Age (Mat 13:39, Jhn 4:35, Rev 14:14-16)
REAPERS = Angels (Mat 13:39, Rev 14:14-16)
FIELD = World, People of the World (Mat 13:38, Jhn 4:35)
WHEAT = Saved, Righteous, Sons of the Kingdom (Mat 13:38, 43)
TARES = Wicked living among the righteous, Sons of the Wicked One
STARS = Angels, messengers (Rev 1:16, 20; 12:4, 7-9; Job 38:7)
SEED = Descendants (Gen 3:15, 4:25, Rom 9:8)
Anyone who thinks it isn't important to recognize figurative language in the Bible is really missing out on a good 1/3 of its real meaning. Some brag and say, "We believe the Word of God is to be taken literally" and they pride themselves all puffed up when they say it. What they don't know is it is really dumb to do that unless you only want to get 2/3 of it.
Is anything I've been saying to you make any sense at all? Sometimes I think you are on the verge of a breakthrough, of really starting to get it and it gives me hope to keep trying with you. I don't see much hope for some of the others. They are too set in their old ways.
If you want to do a cool exercise which proves what I've been saying, use the on-line version of the NKJV. It's free and can be found here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-King-James-Version-NKJV-Bible/#booklist
You can look up specific passages or better yet, and this is when my understanding started to take off, do KEY WORD searches. Take the Trumpets for example, just 1-4 for starters. Search for key words to see if they were used by the OT prophets and see how the OT prophets used them. You will find them used both literally and figuratively
Search for:
Mountain
Grass
Tree
Blood
Springs of Water
Earth
Sea (too many results)
Or, you can go to any number of sites on the internet like this one. It's pretty good, but not perfect:
Bible Symbols
They aren't all great. I've also been building my own list for my book. I'm only about half way done with it:
ANIMALS:
BEAR = Powerful Force, Kingdom of the Medes and Persians. (Pro 28:15, 2 Kings 2:23-24, Dan 7:5, Rev 13:2)
BEAST = World Kingdom or Empire/Major Political Force, usually had dominion over Israel (Dan 7:17, 23, Rev 13:1-4)
DOVE = Holy Spirt (Mark 1:10)
DRAGON – Satan or his agents (Psm 74:13-14, Isa 27:1, 30:6, Eze 29:3, Jer 51:34, Rev 12:7-9)
GOAT = Greece (Dan 8:21), sinful nation (Mat 25:23)
HORN = A king or a Leader or a Nation (Dan 7:24, 8:5, 21, 22; Zec 1:18-19, Rev 13:1, 17:12)
HORSE = Powerful and strong in battle (Job 39:19, Psm 147:10, Pro 21:31)
LAMB = Jesus/sacrifice (Jhn 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7, Rev 5:6, 6:1, 16, 14:1, 4)
LEOPARD = Greece (Dan 7:6, Rev 13:2)
LION = Jesus, King, Judah, Powerful Nation like Babylon, Fierce destructive/devouring force, like Satan (Dan 7:4, 17, 23, Jer 50:43-44, 1 Pet 5:8, Rev 5:4-9)
RAM = Medo Persia (Dan 8:20)
SERPENT = Satan (Gen 3:1, 2, 4, 13-14, Isa 27:1, 2 Cor 11:3, Rev 12:9, 14-15, 20:2)
TONGUE = Language, Spoken word, Sharp Sword (Exo 4:10, Psm 57:4, 64:3, Pro 12:18, Rev 1:16, 2:16, 19:15, 21)
WINGS = Speed, Protection, Deliver (Exo 19:4, Rut 2:12, Psm 17:8, Isa 40:31, Mat 23:37, Rev 12:14)
WOLF = Crafty enemy sometimes disguised as a friend, fierce evil destroyer (Jer 5:6, Eze 22:27, Mat 7:15, Luk 10:3, Acts 20:29)
COLORS:
WHITE = Pure, Spotless, Cleanse, Redeem (Psm 51:7, Isa 1:18, Dan 7:9, 11:35, 12:10, Rev 3:4-5,7:14, 19:14)
GREEN = Living thing, alive (Job 8:12, Psm 52:8, Isa 15:6, Rev 9:4)
PURPLE = Royalty, Wealth, Status (Dan 5:7, 29, Eze 23:6, Mrk 15:17, Luk 16:19, Jud 8:26, Rev 17:4, 18:16)
RED/SCARLET = Sin, Evil, Corrupt, Wickedness (Isa 1:18, 2 Sam 1:24, Lam 4:5, Rev 12:3, 17: 1-4)
ELEMENTS AND NATURAL THINGS:
GOLD = Pure of character, precious and rare (Isa 13:12)
WATER = Holy Spirit, Everlasting Life (Jhn 4:13-14, 7:37-39, Eph 5:26, Rev 22:17)
WATERS = Masses of People, Nations (Isa 17:12-13, Rev 17:15)
SEAS = Masses of unruly People, trouble-makers
FRUIT = Works, deeds, actions (Gal 5:22)
HARVEST = Gathering at End of Age (Mat 13:39, Jhn 4:35, Rev 14:14-16)
REAPERS = Angels (Mat 13:39, Rev 14:14-16)
FIELD = World, People of the World (Mat 13:38, Jhn 4:35)
WHEAT = Saved, Righteous, Sons of the Kingdom (Mat 13:38, 43)
TARES = Wicked living among the righteous, Sons of the Wicked One
STARS = Angels, messengers (Rev 1:16, 20; 12:4, 7-9; Job 38:7)
SEED = Descendants (Gen 3:15, 4:25, Rom 9:8)
Anyone who thinks it isn't important to recognize figurative language in the Bible is really missing out on a good 1/3 of its real meaning. Some brag and say, "We believe the Word of God is to be taken literally" and they pride themselves all puffed up when they say it. What they don't know is it is really dumb to do that unless you only want to get 2/3 of it.