The Themes and Symbolism in the Book of Revelations

The author of Revelations is believed to be John. The overall theme of Revelations is the end of the world and the rise of a New Earth and New Heaven.

One criticism is falling into sin and following the devil.

One complement is keeping the faith and following Christ.

Babylon represents the Roman Empire falling. The jewelry represents wealth and the color purple represents royalty. These two are allusions to powerful people. The people who are given the names that God should have, we might apply this to today by saying that people are given the name "Lord" and that should not happen.

John is referring to when people are pure and time is right, everyone will enter heaven. This is also a reference to purgatory. We see this in scripture again when the Gospels talk about the vineyard and how we are the branches and Jesus is the vine.

Aspects of mass, specifically the Eucharist, foreshadow the heavenly liturgy. In mass, Eucharist is eaten and people are in communion with God. This foreshadows the heavenly banquet in heaven when we are in full communion with God.

Particular Judgement is our judgement from God ultimately deciding what happens to us after death. When our souls leave our bodies, we go to God. If one chooses to be without God, then they are sent to hell, where they will be for eternity. If one thinks they are not pure enough to be with God yet, they go to purgatory, where they will remain until they have atoned for their earthly sins. If one is ready to go into heaven, God will give them grace and they will live with God forever.

The woman gave birth to a child. The dragon waited and devoured the child. After, the woman grew wings and escaped to a place where God hid her and she was protected by the devil. This is an allusion to Genesis. The woman represents Mary, but the dragon represents the devil and the corruption of people with sin.

The first beast in Revelations represents the Roman Empire. This indicates that all great nations/empires will fall at the end of time. The second beast in Revelations represents Nero Caesar. This indicates that all people who think they are high and mighty will fall.

The church militant pray for those in purgatory (church suffering). Through these prayers, the church suffering enters heaven and becomes the church triumphant. The church triumphant intercedes the prayers of the church militant which will help their prayers be heard by God. This is important for us because one day we will be the church suffering and will need prayers to go to heaven eventually.

Biblical symbolic numbers often symbolize other mentioned things. For example, 3 is a biblical symbolic number. It represents the Trinity, in that, it contains three persons.