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Here are some of the most common examples of symbols that will enable you to connect the themes underlying Scripture. Not all of these are symbolic of these things every time, but especially when a given Scripture is clearly in parable or metaphorical form, it is good to check and see if they fit before looking for other interpretations
Symbols
Almond tree = harbinger of the new year
Animal skins = sacrificial death
Blood = murder
Blood = life
Bronze/brass = a container for fire; related to sin
Carnelian, or sardius = (red stone) the Son
Clay = ritually corruptible, weakened, man-made
Chair = throne or judgment
Cherubim = angelic "guardians" of God's throne or position
Clouds = God's presence; mystery; multitudes of saints
Crystal = purity
Dove = clean, ritually pure; the Holy Spirit
Eagle = swiftness
Fig tree = Israel's religious life
Flour/meal/bread/grain = fellowship with God or with other men
Fire = Judgment or God's presence (especially in a torch)
Gates = the seat of judgment and decision-making in a city
Gold = Deity; highest quality; heavenly perfection
Goat = antithesis of sheep; often demonic or Gentile leader
(Animal) Horn = power, protection
Incense = acceptable prayer
jasper(diamond)= the holiness of the Father
Leaven = sin or pride (puffs up to appear more than it really is)
Lion = ruler / power
Living Water = running water; ritual purification
Light = revelation, truth
Line = measurement, boundary mark
Mountains = government
North = evil, idolatrous influence
Oil = the Holy Spirit
Olive tree = Israel's spiritual life
Ox = patience
Raven = representative of unclean birds (sometimes a term for demons)
(At one's) Right hand = position of highest privilege
Rod or scepter = rulership, protection
Rock = place of safety, military advantage
Sackcloth (burlap) and ashes = deep mourning
Sea = Gentile nations; the restlessness of human efforts; prison of some demons
Sheep = God's people
Shepherd = leader
Silver = representative of blood, redemption or its price
Snake/serpent/dragon = Satan/sin
Stone = something always ritually pure
Sword = war or judicial authority
Table = feasting
Tower = Place of security; watchfulness
Tent = transitory nature of life; sojourning; a mobile place of worship
Trumpet = awakening from normal routines
Uncut stone = the way God made it, unhampered by human effort
Vine = Israel's national life
Water = troublesome times , salvation and eternal life
Wind = spirit, breath
Wine (or cup) = either joy and gladness or stinging, burning "desserts"
Wood = corruptible flesh
Notice the combinations of symbols like the burning bush (God speaking through corruptible flesh without consuming it), brass serpent (sin being judged), etc.
Thanks to Chuck Missler, Arthur Custance, Web Hulon, and A.B. Simpson's Divine Emblems (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1995) for some of these insights.
How Certain Numbers are Used in the Bible:
Long before the "Bible codes" were discovered, scholars realized there was deep significance to each mention of how many of something there was in the Bible -- 3 of this, 7 of that, 12 of the other, etc. E.W. Bullinger's Number in Scripture (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1967) gives many details of the following legitimate understandings of numerology as used in the Bible. No hype, but awe-inspiring evidence of what only God could have woven into the text:
1 = Unity; primacy; sufficiency; beginning
2 = Division; differentness; opposition -- or intensification; doubling
3 = Solidity; divine perfection; entirety; substantiveness; Godhead; concentrated essence
4 = creation; createdness; material completeness
5 = grace; favor; healing; supernatural strengthening; forgiveness
6 = man's world; man's works; man's enmity to God; secular completeness
7 = spiritual perfection; God's choice vs. man's
8 = A new beginning; first of a new series; superabundance; resurrection
9 = end; conclusion of a matter;
10 = Perfection of the divine order; assurance of completion
11 = addition (subversive of and undoing) the divine order
12 = Governmental perfection (3 x 4)
13 = rebellion; apostasy; corruption; disintegration; adversaries yet also atonement ("He was numbered with the transgressors.")
Multiples or combinations of these numbers can represent combinations of these different themes. For example,
5's = nearly all dimensions and articles of the tabernacle come in multiples of 5
15 (3 x 5) = acts wrought by divine grace
17 (7 + 10) = perfection of spiritual order
19 (9 + 10) = perfection of divine order re: judgment
20 (21 - 1) = expectancy; waiting for fulfillment
21 (7 x 3) = completion re: spiritual perfection
22 (11 x 2) = intensified disorganization or disintegration
24 (12 x 2) = higher or heavenly government and worship
30 (3 x 10) = perfection of divine order; the right moment
40 (5 x 8) = probation; trial; discipline; or enlarged dominion, extended rule (4 x 10)
42 (6 x 7) = man's attempt at spiritual perfection
50 (5 x 10) = perfect deliverance; (7 x 7 + 1) = continued deliverance following the perfect consummation of time
70 (7 x 10) = spiritual order carried out with spiritual power
120 (3 x 40) = divinely appointed period of probation
666 = man pretending to be God; concentrated human pride, the Antichrist
Hebrew (and sometimes Greek) letters with these numerical values also signify the same themes.
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