Philip Dampier's Blog

Animals

Many different animals appear in the pages of the Bible. These animals are sometimes used in their literal sense and sometimes they are used in a figurative or symbolic sense. Correct interpretation of many prophecies depends on understanding when they are used in a symbolic sense and why.

For the Old Testament writers and readers the use of animals as symbolic images was a common method of communication. Even in modern day use we instantly feel the emotion of the use of lion and lamb. How vivid these two different images make sense of the role of Christ.

We sense the same conflict between the sheep and goats when used of people.

Task for Today: Answer some questions. How is God like an eagle? How is He like a dove? Why are some people compared to dogs? Why are there four horses in Revelation and why are they different colors? Why would you say, “He’s a snake in the grass?”