Mountain – A concept that expresses many ideas – literal mountains, a place of worship, or a symbol of heaven, God’s church, or kingdoms.

A place of worship - good or evil. Genesis 22; Deuteronomy 12:2; I Kings 18, II Kings 23:13; Isaiah 57:3-12; Jeremiah 3:6; Ezekiel 6:1-4.

A place where God reveals Himself. Exodus 3,19-20,33-34.

Babylon referred to as a mountain and as a destroying mountain and a burnt mountain. Isaiah 13:1-4; Jeremiah 51:24-25; Revelation 8:8.

Heaven. Isaiah 14:13; Ezekiel 28:14-16

Mount Zion is a symbol of God's kingdom. II Kings 19:31; Psalms 48:1-2; 74:2; 78:68; 125:1-2; Isaiah 2:2-3; 4:2-6; 8:18; 10:32; 24:23; 27:13; 56:1-7; 57:13-15; 66:20; Ezekiel 20:40;Daniel 9:16,20; (See Daniel 2:34,44-45 and Zechariah 12:3); 11:45; Joel 2:1,32; 3:16-18; Obadiah17; Micah 4:1-2; Zechariah 8:3; Hebrews 12:18-22; Revelation 14:1

Symbol of kingdoms. II Kings 19:20-23; Ezekiel 6:1-6; Daniel 2:34,44-45 (See Zechariah 12:3); Amos 4:1; 6:1; Obadiah 8-9; Zechariah 4:7; Malachi 1:3; Revelation 17:3,9,10

The text I found today is in Matthew 21:17-21. In this text Jesus is discussing the fig tree without fruit and it withered away. I believe that the fig tree is a symbol of Israel who had failed to accept Jesus and it withered and died.

The thought that I had today was that expressed in Matthew 21:21. The idea that was new for me today was that the mountain is Jesus. He is "this mountain" and it was removed and cast into the sea of the peoples. I personally had never seen or thought of it in that way before.

I am also wondering if this concept can apply in any way to Revelation 8:8. I am wondering if a mountain in the trumpets can be a person like Jesus, or His enemy? I would appreciate any feedback that anyone has.

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Only did a typing error within the name of this topic. - Daryl

[ March 25, 2002: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Luke 18: 8 ... Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Sorry. I didn't study it out, and there are probably hidden depths and complex relationships. Superficially, if Christ is the figurative mountain, and seas represent people in the bible, the interpretation sounds pretty basic. The throwing might be similar to sowing?

I'll leave this alone, and let better minds deal with it.

The night before his work of cleansing the temple courts and healing the sick, Christ had spent in prayer in the mount of Olives. "In the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away." The next morning, on his way again to Jerusalem, he passed the withered fig tree. "And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." {RH, February 13, 1900 par. 6}

The fig tree was covered with promising, pretentious leaves, but was entirely destitute of fruit. It represented impenitent Israel, who had failed to do the work of God's appointment. And not only does this lesson apply to the Jews, but in its terrible significance it reaches to every age, warning each soul of the sure result of profession without practice. Let professing Christians inquire into the meaning of the curse pronounced upon the fig tree. The tree was full of promise, but investigation revealed its barrenness. It bore no fruit; and because of this defect, words were spoken that caused it almost immediately to wither away. {RH, February 13, 1900 par. 7}

A fig tree is created to bear fruit; and if it does not do this, it is not fit for a place in the orchard. It is treated as a cumberer of the ground. So the Lord created men and women to bear fruit to his glory and for the good of their fellow creatures, and he has provided them with every facility necessary to enable them to do this. By creation and by redemption we are God's. Christ came as our substitute and surety, that we might bear fruit for him. A probation has been granted us that we might not be like the fig tree, full of flourishing leaves, making great pretensions of success, yet destitute of good works. {RH, February 13, 1900 par. 8}

Consider that this is literal rather than symbolic. At the Third Coming of Jesus, what happens to the Mount of Olives ? It is caused by Jesus Whose faith is absolute. The distance between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea is not sufficient for New Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives does something as the feet of Jesus touch it.

“At the end of one thousand years, Jesus, the king of glory, descends from the holy city, clothed with brightness like the lightning, upon the mount of olives--the same mount from whence he ascended after his resurrection. As his feet touch the mountain, it parts asunder, and becomes a very great plain, and is prepared for the reception of the holy city in which is the paradise of God, the garden of Eden, which was taken up after man's transgression. Now it descends with the city, more beautiful, and gloriously adorned than when removed from the earth. The city of God comes down and settles upon the mighty plain prepared for it. Then Jesus leaves the city surrounded by the redeemed host, and is escorted on his way by the angelic throng. In fearful majesty he calls forth the wicked dead. They are wakened from their long sleep. What a dreadful waking! They behold the Son of God in his stern majesty and resplendent glory. All, as soon as they behold him, know that he is the crucified one who died to save them, whom they had despised and rejected. They are in number like the sand upon the sea-shore. At the first resurrection all come forth in immortal bloom, but at the second, the marks of the curse are visible upon all. All come up as they went down into their graves. Those who lived before the flood, come forth with their giant-like stature, more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and well proportioned. The generations after the flood were less in stature. There was a continual decrease through successive generations, down to the last that lived upon the earth. The contrast between the first wicked men who lived upon the earth, and those of the last generation, was very great. The first were of lofty height and well proportioned--the last came up as they went down, a dwarfed, feeble, deformed race. A mighty host of kings, warriors, statesmen and nobles, down to the most degraded, came up together upon the desolate earth. When they behold Jesus in his glory they are affrighted, and seek to hide from his terrible presence. They are overwhelmed with his exceeding glory, and with one accord are compelled to exclaim in anguish, "Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord." {3SG 83.2}

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You need never feel that you are alone. Angels are your companions. The Comforter that Jesus Christ promised to send in his name, abides with you. Christ said of his followers, "Ye are the light of the world." It is your part to let the light shine forth in clear, steady rays. Let your good works represent Christ. How many there are who feel that it would be a good thing to tread the soil of old Jerusalem, and that their faith would be greatly strengthened by visiting the scenes of the Saviour's life and death! But old Jerusalem will never be a sacred place until it is cleansed by the refining fire from heaven. The darkest blot of guilt rests upon the city that refused the light of Christ. Do we want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? We need not seek out the paths in Nazareth, Bethany, and Jerusalem. We shall find the footprints of Jesus by the sick-bed, by the side of suffering humanity, in the hovels of the poverty-stricken and distressed. We may walk in these footsteps, comforting the suffering, speaking words of hope and comfort to the despondent. Doing as Jesus did when he was upon earth, we shall walk in his blessed steps. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." When the sin-cursed earth is purified from every stain of sin; when the Mount of Olives is rent asunder, and becomes an immense plain; when the holy city of God descends upon it,--the land that is now called the Holy Land will indeed become holy. But God's cause and work will not be advanced by making pilgrimages to Jerusalem. The curse of God is upon Jerusalem for the rejection and crucifixion of his only begotten Son. But God will cleanse away the vile blot. The prophet says, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." Rev. 21:1-5, R. V.
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{RH, June 9, 1896 par. 4}

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“The city of Jerusalem is no longer a sacred place. The curse of God is upon it because of the rejection and crucifixion of Christ. A dark blot of guilt rests upon it, and never again will it be a sacred place until it has been cleansed by the purifying fires of heaven. At the time when this sin-cursed earth is purified from every stain of sin, Christ will again stand upon the Mount of Olives. As His feet rest upon it, it will part asunder, and become a great plain, prepared for the city of God. {RH, July 30, 1901 par. 2}

Zechariah 14:
1 ¶ Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
8 ¶ And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

[ March 23, 2002: Message edited by: Edward F Sutton ]

In N.T. Strong's numbers = <3735>

3735 orov oros or’-os

probably from an obsolete oro (to rise or "rear", perhaps akin to 142, cf 3733); TDNT-5:475,732; n n

AV-mountain 41, mount 21, hill 3; 65

1) a mountain

3735. orov oros or’-os; probably from an obsolete orw oro (to rise or "rear"; perhaps akin to 142; compare 3733); a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain):—hill, mount(-ain).

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But the subject makes me think of the things the symbolism of mountains were sometimes used for. A place where God is, & a refuge where life is kept and taken care of, & hiding in God.

Armageddon or Har Meggido (The mountain of God & the valley of slaughter) The times God's children who obeyed Him inspite of the threat of death, were fought for & protected by Him.

717 Armagedwn Armageddon ar-mag-ed-dohn’

of Hebrew origin 02022 and 04023 Nwdgm rh; TDNT-1:468,79; n pr loc

AV-Armageddon 1; 1

Armageddon =" the hill or city of Megiddo"

1) In #Re 16:16 the scene of a the struggle of good and evil is suggested by that battle plain of Esdraelon, which was famous for two great victories, of Barak over the Canaanites, and of Gideon over the Midianites; and for two great disasters, the deaths of Saul and Josiah. Hence in Revelation a place of great slaughter, the scene of a terrible retribution upon the wicked. The RSV translates the name as Har-Magedon, i.e. the hill (as Ar is the city) of Megiddo.

717. Armageddwn Armageddon ar-mag-ed-dohn’; of Hebrew origin [02022 and 04023]; Armageddon (or Har-Meggiddon), a symbol. name:—Armageddon.

Armageddon begins with the 7 last plagues, is inturrupted by the rescue of the redeemed, they are prepared for 1000 yrs to endure what they will see & hear & have to endure; as soon as the Mount of Olives is split in two. Armageddon resumes as the wicked are raised to life & judged & the fire falles and obliterates them. Then Armageddon is forever finished.

Then the last of Daniel ch 2's prophecy is fulfilled at last.

Daniel 2:
34 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.

35 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 threshingfloors; 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.

44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain<06697> 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.

O.T. Strong's definitions & #'s
02022 rh har har

a shortened form of 02042, Greek 717 Armagedwn; TWOT-517a; n m

AV-mountain 261, mount 224, hill 59, hill country 1, promotion 1; 546

1) hill, mountain, hill country, mount

02022. rh har har; a shortened form of 02042; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively):—hill (country), mount(-ain), X promotion. Greek 717.

02042 rrh harar haw-rawr’

from an unused root meaning to loom up; TWOT-517; n m

AV-mountain 10, hill 2, mount 1; 13

1) mountain, hill, hill country, mount 02042. rrh harar haw-rawr’; from an unused root meaning to loom up; a mountain:—hill, mount(-ain).

02906 rwj tuwr (Aramaic) toor

corresponding to 06697; TWOT-2752; n m

AV-mountain 2; 2

1) mountain

02906. rwj tuwr (Aramaic) toor; corresponding to 06697; a rock or hill:—mountain. 06697 rwu tsuwr tsoor or ru tsur tsoor

from 06696; TWOT-1901a; n m

AV-rock 64, strength 5, sharp 2, God 2, beauty 1, edge 1, stones 1, mighty One 1, strong 1; 78

1) rock, cliff
1a) rocky wall, cliff
1b) rock (with flat surface)
1c) block of stone, boulder
1d) rock (specific)
1e) rock (of God)
1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei 1g) Rock

06697. rwu tsuwr tsoor; or ru tsur tsoor; from 06696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):—edge, X (mighty) God (one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also 01049.

Context & cross referencing adds it's own explanations & shows which definition is appropriate to use in which case. SOP opens up the explanations from God in these latter days.

Could Jesus be talking about being cast in to the sea like Jonah was cast into the storm?