Many of the apocalyptic prophecies were given while the prophets were in a hostile foreign land. One reason God cloaked the prophecies in symbols was to protect the messages.
Horse = Strength and power in battle - Job 39:19, Psalms 147:10, Proverbs 21:31
Dragon = Satan or his agency - Isaiah 27:1;30:6, Psalm 74:13-14; Revelation 12:7-9; Ezekiel 29:3; Jeremiah 51:34
Beast = Kingdom / government / political power - Daniel 7:17, 23
Lamb = Jesus / sacrifice - John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7
Lion = Jesus / powerful king i.e. Babylon - Revelation 5:4-9, Jeremiah 50:43-44, Daniel 7:4,17,23
Bear = Destructive power / Medo Persia - Proverbs 28:15, 2 Kings 2:23-24, Daniel 7:5
Leopard = Greece - Daniel 7:6
Serpent = Satan - Revelation 12:9; 20:2
Tongue = Language / speech - Exodus 4:10
Wolf = Disguised enemies that hunt in a time of darkness - Matthew 7:15
Dove = Holy Spirit - Mark 1:10
Ram = Medo Persia - Daniel 8:20
Goat = Greece - Daniel 8:21
Horn = King or kingdom - Daniel 7:24; 8:5, 21, 22; Zechariah 1:18, 19; Revelation 17:12
Wings = Speed / protection / deliverance - Deuteronomy 28:49, Matthew 23:37
White = Purity - Revelation 3:4,5; 7:14; 19:14
Blue = The Law of God - Numbers 15:38-39
Purple = Royalty - Mark 15:17, Judges 8:26
Red / Scarlet = Sin / corruption - Isaiah 1:18; Nahum 2:3; Revelation 17:1-4
Gold = Pure character, precious and rare - Isaiah 13:12
Silver = Pure words & understanding - Proverbs 2:4, 3:13-14, 10:20, 25:11, Psalms 12:6
Brass, Tin, Iron, Lead, Silver dross = Impure character - Ezekiel 22:20-21
Water = Holy Spirit / everlasting life - John 7:39, 4:14, Rev. 22:17, Eph. 5:26
Waters = Inhabited area / peoples, nations - Revelation 17:15
Fire = Holy Spirit - Luke 3:16
Tree = Cross / People / Nation - Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Psalm 92:12, 37:35
Seed = Descendents / Jesus - Romans 9:8, Galatians 3:16
Fruit = Works / actions - Galatians 5:22
Fig Tree = A Nation that should bear fruit - Luke 13:6-9
Vineyard = Church that should bear fruit - Luke 20:9-16
Field = The world - Matthew 13:38, John 4:35
Harvest = End of the world - Matthew 13:39
Reapers = Angels - Matthew 13:39
Thorns / thorny ground - Cares of this life - Mark 4:18-19
Stars = Angels / messengers - Revelation 1:16, 20; 12:4,7-9; Job 38:7
Jordan = Death / rebirth - Romans 6:4, Deuteronomy 4:22
Mountains = Political or religio-political powers - Isaiah 2:2,3; Jeremiah 17:3; 31:23; 51:24,25; Ezekiel 17:22,23; Daniel 2:35,44,45
Rock = Jesus / truth - 1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:13, 14; Romans 9:33; Matthew 7:24
Sun = Jesus / the gospel - Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 17:2; John 8:12; 9:5
Winds = Strife / commotion / "winds of war" - Jeremiah 25:31-33; 49:36,37; 4:11-13; Zechariah 7:14
Angel = Messenger - Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26; Hebrews 1:14
Bread = Word of God - John 6:35, 51, 52, 63
Honey = Happy life - Ezekiel 20:6, Deuteronomy 8:8-9
Lamp = Word of God - Psalm 119:105
Oil = Holy Spirit - Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5
Wine = Blood / covenant / doctrines Luke 5:37
Sword = Word of God - Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12
Clothing = Character - Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 59:6
White Robes = Victory / righteousness - Revelation 19:8; 3:5; 7:14
Crown = A glorious ruler or rulership - Proverbs 16:31, Isaiah 28:5, Isaiah 62:3
Ring = Authority - Genesis 41:42-43, Esther 3:10-11
Babylon = Apostasy / confusion / rebellion - Genesis 10:8-10; 11:6-9; Revelation 18:2, 3; 17:1-5
Mark = Sign or seal of approval or disapproval - Ezekiel 9:4; Romans 4:11; Revelation 13:17; 14:9-11; 7:2,3
Seal = Sign or mark of approval or disapproval - Romans 4:11; Revelation 7:2,3
Jar / Vessel = Person - Jermiah 18:1-4, 2 Corinthians 4:7
Time = 360 days - Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32; 7:25; Daniel 11:13 margin
Times = 720 days - Daniel 7:25, Revelation 12:6,14, 13:5
Day = Literal year - Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34
Trumpet = Loud warning of God's approach / pending judgment - Exodus 19:16-17, Joshua 6:4-5
Eyes = Spiritual discernment - Matthew 13:10-17, 1 John 2:11
Forehead = The mind - Deuteronomy 6:6-8, Romans 7:25; Ezekiel 3:8,9
Feet = Your walk / direction - Genesis 19:2, Psalm 119:105
Hand = Deeds / works / actions - Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 59:6
Harlot = Apostate church / religion - Isaiah 1:21-27; Jeremiah 3:1-3; 6-9
Heads = Major powers / rulers / governments - Revelation 17:3,9,10
Skin = Christ's righteousness - Exodus 12:5, 1 Peter 1:19, Isaiah 1:4-6
Thief = Suddenness of Jesus' coming - 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10
Woman, Corrupt = Apostate church - Ezekiel 16:15-58; 23:2-21; Hosea 2:5; 3:1; Revelation 14:4
Woman, Pure = True church - Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-27