Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

In a small mountain village in Colombia, Joaquín was well known for one thing: he could explain difficult Bible verses that others found confusing. For years, he had helped his neighbors understand the difference between symbolic and literal Bible passages.

One rainy afternoon, a university student named Sofía came to visit. Her face showed frustration as she held up her Bible. “I don’t get it,” she said. “My professor says Revelation is just made-up stories. But my grandmother says everything in here is literal. Who’s right?”

Joaquín smiled and poured her a cup of hot panela tea (a traditional Colombian drink made from raw cane sugar). “God’s Word is like this rain—it gives life, but you need to know how to catch it the right way.”

He opened his well-worn Bible to Daniel 7. “Look here,” he said, “if we take everything literally, we’d expect to see real beasts with wings and ten horns walking around. But Daniel tells us these strange animals represent kingdoms.”

Sofía leaned closer as Joaquín showed how other Bible verses explain symbols: how a woman can represent the church, horns represent kings or powers, and how a sword represents God’s Word.

“So you’re saying we let the Bible explain its own symbols?” she asked.

“Exactly,” Joaquín nodded. “It’s not about guessing. The Bible teaches us how to read it. Some parts are symbolic, and others are literal. And often, it tells us which is which—if we slow down and compare scripture with scripture.”

As the storm outside softened into a drizzle, Sofía smiled. “I see now. My professor and grandma were both missing something. God speaks in both ways—literal and symbolic—but always to help us understand.”

The Bible often uses symbols in prophecy. These are not meant to confuse us. God includes the meanings in other parts of Scripture:

  • Horns = Kings or powers (Daniel 7:24)
  • Sword = God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12)
  • Pure woman = Faithful church (Revelation 12:1, Ephesians 5:31–32)

By comparing verses, we learn how to tell if something is symbolic or literal. For example, Jesus said, “I am the door”—clearly symbolic. Likewise, when Daniel and Revelation describe beasts and horns, other scriptures explain what they mean.

The best way to understand prophecy is to let the Bible interpret itself.

🔥 Personal Reflection:

  • Have you ever found a Bible verse confusing or hard to understand? What helps you make sense of it?
  • Why do you think God sometimes uses symbols instead of plain language?
  • When you read prophecy or difficult parts of the Bible, do you compare it with other verses to get a clearer picture?

🙏 Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving us the Bible, filled with both clear teachings and meaningful symbols. Please give me wisdom when reading Your Word. Help me to understand what is symbolic and what is literal. Teach me to let Scripture explain Scripture, so I don’t rely only on my own ideas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.