We find ourselves immersed in a world that is mesmerized with entertainment and fame, power and control, riches and ease, while striving for peace and safety. Students of Scripture see the warning signs of the apocalypse in every facet of society. Life has become tenuous by way of disease, crime, and natural disasters of epic proportion, war, mind-altering chemicals and technology. This all seems unpredictable until we analyze Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 in light of current events and particularly of the few unfulfilled events remaining in Bible prophecy.
People of the Word know these things must happen and that they provide a pretext for sharing the third angels’ message of warning and hope (the faith of Jesus) in equal proportions, with zeal! What concrete hope can we share in the face of the earth’s downward spiral? Where should we counsel people to take refuge? After telling the chief priests and elders the parables of the two sons and the wicked vinedressers,
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘the stone which the builders rejected; has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:42-44).
The passages of Daniel 2:34-35, 45 contain reference to a “Stone” cut out of the mountain and, after striking the image, again became a mountain that fills the whole earth.
“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:34-35,45).
We notice also that Ezra, looking back as he wrote about the decree of King Cyrus to rebuild the temple during Daniel’s time, says:
“Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands” (Ezra 5:8).
“In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house” Ezra 6:3-4 (Psalms 87:1)
Both the prophetic contexts, as well as a number of Bible texts (e.g. Deuteronomy 32:3-4,15,18,30; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2-3,32,47; 23:3; Psalms 18:2,46; Isaiah 8:13-15; 28:16; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; 1 Peter 2:3-8), indicate that the “stone” in these references is Jesus.
Questions
1. Is it possible that the literal “three rows” of “great Stones” in building the “foundation” of the “house of God” is spiritually significant also; or just a coincidence?
2. A careful consideration of Daniel 7:17 (“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth”) shows “beasts” represent both nations AND kings, and that “kings” literally represented lines of individual rulers during the time these nations ruled the earth. Consistently using the same prophetic logic, is it possible that “mountain” can be simultaneously symbolic for God’s church (His kingdom according to Daniel 7:14), as well as the individuals of the Godhead itself?
3. After considering certain additional texts (e.g. Exodus 15:17; Deuteronomy 33:15,19; Psalms 68:16; Isaiah 2:2-3; Ezekiel 17:22-24) does the understanding of the “Stone” identified as Jesus point to the “mountain” as being comprised of the members of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), whom establish and rule the Kingdom that displaces all earthly kingdoms?
4. Examining the Lord’s description of Lucifer recorded in Ezekiel,
“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:14-16).
Could the “stones of fire” that Lucifer had direct access to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on the “mountain of God”?
According to Dr. Strong, the Hebrew word “har” appears 546 times in the Bible; translated “mountain” or “mount” 485 times and “hill,” “hill country,” and “promotion” 61 times. Contextual placement indicates many of these refer to literal geography, some of great importance such as God instructing Abraham to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah (the future site of Solomon’s Temple) and Horeb (aka Mount Sinai) where God appeared to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone. Ellen White wrote,
“The covenant that God made with His people at Sinai is to be our refuge and defense…this covenant is of just as much force today as it was when the Lord made it with ancient Israel.” {SW March 1, 1904}
“Moses, the visible leader of the Israelites, was admitted into the secret councils of the Most High. The people were given evidence that Moses did indeed talk with God, receiving from Him the instruction given them.” {Lt259-1903.6} (www.egwwritings.org)
A significant number of references of the word “mountain” have a much deeper, spiritual connotation, both good and evil. We know that the enemy of souls has sought to establish a counterfeit system of government, including every facet of worship, leading God to say, “Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served, their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree” Deuteronomy 12:2 KJV. The famous showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal and the groves took place on Mount Carmel. Afterwards, when Elijah’s faith faltered, he ran “…unto Horeb the mount of God.” 1 Kings 19:8. In the following chapter, the servants of the king of Syria advised him that Israel’s “gods are gods of the hills” (1 Kings 20:22-23,28) indicating the well documented symbolism and association of both true and false worship of spiritual “mountains” as deities. When King Solomon apostatized, he brought in detestable gods placing them on the “mount of corruption” (2 Kings 23:13). Today, Satan’s city, the alternative to spiritual Jerusalem, is spiritual Babylon. Babylon is a false worship system described as a “mountain” of pagan gods.
“Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place” (Jeremiah 50:2,6).
The “Godhead” is mentioned in Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; and Colossians 2:9 and it certainly seems synonymous with the “Mountain of God” contrasted within this verse: “Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.” Psalms 76:4 KJV. Here, we may reasonably infer that the “Mountain of God” is “more glorious and excellent” and that the “mountains of prey” are symbolic of evil kings and kingdoms. Indeed, God’s kingdom is expressly addressed as ruling over the “mountains” and “hills” referring to the nations:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:2-3 KJV (note Micah 4:1-2,7). As the Godhead is the “refuge” (Isaiah 4:2-6) and “tabernacle” of His people, there is no literal temple (Revelation 21:22) in Heaven. God stands in rebuke of “…all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up” (Isaiah 2:14) against absolute truth.
“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain…. 44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall…. 47 Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her…. 52 Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan” (Jeremiah 51:25,44,47,52).
The nations of the world, including the United States with its 2015 ruling on gay marriage, have been and are being influenced by Satan to speak (legislate) against God and His law and therefore becoming persecuting “beasts.”
“And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, they are laid desolate, they are given us to consume. Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.” Ezekiel 35:12-13 KJV (Ezekiel 36:1-4,8).
Whom is this plural form of the “mountains of Israel,” referring to? “I AM the LORD”! None other than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is whom the dragon is rallying the nations against.
Very soon, spiritual Babylon will “…plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain” Daniel 11:45a KJV, referring to compelling the conscience of earth’s inhabitants contrary to God’s law. In a much more ominous prophecy identifying the leaders of the mother of harlots, the angel revealed to John the final events concerning our imminent future: “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings…” Rev 17:9,10a KJV. Due to length, a study of this “mystery” will be left for another time, however the term “mountains” used here is symbolic and interpretively consistent with the terms “heads” and “kings” in Daniel 7:17.
Our only hope is in Christ. He has promised to be our refuge, supplying all our needs in our journey to everlasting life. As our High Priest, our Savior and Redeemer, He merely asks us to listen to Him daily by the reading of His Word and open the door of our hearts so He can fill us with His Spirit. He will transform our characters in the process known as sanctification. He prepares us for Heaven, while still on earth. As we contemplate the awesome events rapidly taking place all around us, consider the refuge we have in our LORD:
“O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles” (Psalms 43:3).
“In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (Psalms 11:1).
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.” Psalms 48:1-3 KJV (re. Mount Zion: Psalms 74:2; 78:54,68-69; Job 37:22; Isaiah 14:13; Ezekiel 1:4; Daniel 11:44)
“The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness” (Psalms 72:3).
“Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel” (Isaiah 30:29).
“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever” (Psalms 125:1-2).
The Lord continues to plead with all people to take refuge in Him, the Mountain of God. This is our Hope. He is the foundation, the everlasting gospel. May we serve Him and praise His holy name.
Mark writes from Emmett, Idaho.