Glossary of Key Terms
Babylon the Great: Initially symbolic of the Roman Empire, but later expands to represent systemic sin and opposition to God that existed before and beyond the Roman Empire.
Beast (First): In Revelation, symbolic of a powerful political entity, specifically aligning with the Roman Empire in the context of the passage.
Beast (Second): In Revelation, symbolic of a system that promotes worship of the first beast, specifically aligning with emperor worship in the context of the passage.
Confession: The act of publicly declaring one's faith or allegiance, particularly to Christ as Lord. Violating this confession, as with receiving the mark of the beast, signifies choosing allegiance to something other than God.
Dragon: Clearly identified as Satan in Revelation, the ultimate adversary of God and His people.
Endurance of the Saints: A call for God's people to persevere in their faith, obedience, and faithfulness during times of persecution and challenge.
Eternal Gospel: The good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, understood as God's plan from the very beginning of time, not limited to Jesus' earthly ministry.
Harvest Imagery: Symbolic representation of divine judgment, where God "reaps" the earth, separating the righteous from the wicked.
Judgment (God's): Refers to God's act of bringing justice, which can be against nations (historical "judgment days") or individuals (the final "judgment day").
Lamb: A central figure in Revelation, representing Jesus Christ, who is worshipped alongside God.
Mark of the Beast: A symbolic sign, historically linked to acts of emperor worship (e.g., saying "Caesar is Lord" to participate in commerce). It represents a conscious, public choice to serve Satan or another entity over God, violating one's confession to Christ.
Mount Zion (Figurative): A symbolic representation of being in God's presence, where His redeemed people (the 144,000) stand in worship.
Sickle: A farming tool used for harvesting, symbolizing the instrument of divine judgment in Revelation.
Son of Man: A title for Jesus, here depicted as the one who carries out the divine harvest/judgment.
Symbolic Numbers: Numbers in Revelation (like 144,000, 3 angels, time/times/half a time) that are not meant to be taken literally but convey a deeper, often theological, meaning.
Three Angels: Symbolic messengers in Revelation 14 who proclaim messages of the eternal gospel, the fall of Babylon, and the consequences of worshipping the Beast.
