There are several words in the general vocabulary of Revelation, the connotations of which must be understood. These are the words:
- Air
- Earth
- Sea
- Quake
- Heaven
- Stars
- War
The symbols are employed in the following meaning:
- Air , the sphere of life and influence.
- Earth , the place of the nations.
- Sea , society described as either troubled and tossed or placid and peaceful.
- Quake , the political shaking of the nations.
- Heaven, the governments, authorities and dominions.
- Stars , the rulers and officials of governments.
- War, the upheavals in the governments and among inhabitants of the earth (various provinces of the empire); and the conflicts between the heathen authorities and the church in the waging of the persecutions of the saints.