Mountains and the promises of the gospel

In my post Interpreting the mountains of prophecy, much variety in the interpretations proposed for mountains is evident. In this post, I endeavour to show that the meaning of mountains in prophecy is connected with the promises of the gospel. Scriptures that refer to mountains are listed in a table. In the column on the right, the meaning associated with mountains in each case is noted. In a majority of these scriptures, there is some connection with promises, blessings, inheritance, covenants, revelations of God, prophecy, all of which are elements of the gospel promise of salvation though faith in Christ.

Scripture	The mountains of prophecy	Association
Genesis 7:20; Psalm 104:6	The mountains were covered by the flood.
Genesis 8:4	The ark rested on a mountain.	mountains represent safety
Genesis 8:5	The tops of the mountains were seen.	mountains represent promise, and hope
Genesis 19:17	Lot fled to a mountain to escape the destruction of Sodom.	mountains represent safety
Genesis 22:2	Isaac was offered on a mountain.	this event prefigures the sacrifice of Christ
Genesis 49:26	Jacob compared his blessings to mountains.	Jacob’s blessings and promised inheritance are associated with mountains
Exodus 15:17	The people of Israel will be planted “in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established.”	God’s inheritance is associated with a mountain
Exodus 19-20	The law was given upon a mountain.	the law and the covenant are identified with mount Sinai
Deuteronomy 11:29 Joshua 8:33	After they entered the promised land, Israel proclaimed blessings upon mount Gerizim, and the curses upon mount Ebal.	the promises are associated with mountains
Joshua 14:12	Caleb’s inheritance was a mountain.	the mountain represents promise, and Caleb’s inheritance
Judges 5:5	The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.	promises, represented by mountains, may have other possible meanings
Judges 6:2	The children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.	people seek safety in mountains
1 Kings 18:30-38	Elijah sacrificed upon mount Carmel.	God revealed himself to Israel on mount Carmel
Psalm 36:6	God’s righteousness is like the high mountains.	mountains represent God’s righteousness
Psalm 48:2	Mount Zion is “the joy of the whole earth.”	a promise
Psalm 72:3	“The mountains shall bring peace to the people.”	a promise
Psalm 114:4, 6	The mountains “skipped like rams.”	the mountains are not literal ones, that are firmly attached to the earth; they represent spiritual promises
Psalm 125:1	They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.	a promise
Isaiah 2.2	Jerusalem and mount Zion are raised up; “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.”	all people will seek God
Isaiah 25:6-7	God will make a feast for all people in a mountain; “… the Lord of hosts will make unto all people a feast, and he will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.”	a promise that the gospel will be revealed to all
Isaiah 30:25	“There shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter.”	the promise of the Spirit
Isaiah 40:4-5	Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low … the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.	mountains are made low, when high and lofty prophecies and promises that refer to spiritual things are explained; God’s glory is revealed when their hidden meaning is recognized
Isaiah 41:15	Israel will thresh the mountains.	threshing suggests a thorough analysis and solving the riddles of prophecy
Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 55:12	Mountains break forth into singing.	benefits of the promises of the gospel
Isaiah 49:11	I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.	mountains represent God’s revelations, and the “way” of the saints as they seek the promised inheritance
Isaiah 57:13	Those who trust in God inherit his holy mountain.	promise, inheritance
Isaiah 65:9	An “inheritor of my mountains” will come from Judah.	Jesus inherits all things
Isaiah 65:25	The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.	a promise of peace
Isaiah 41:18	Rivers will flow upon the mountains.	a promise of the Spirit
Jeremiah 16:15-16	But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.	God will seek out his people, who have misunderstood the promises
Ezekiel 17:23; 20:40	In mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me.	Israel is God’s inheritance
Ezekiel 34:6	“My sheep wandered through all the mountains.”	sheep wandering on mountains of other lands are people who are confused, looking for answers in the wrong places
Ezekiel 34:13, 14	God will feed his sheep upon the mountains of Israel.	God will feed his saints with the spiritual nourishment of his word
Ezekiel 35:12	The heathen speak blasphemies against the mountains of Israel.	men who misunderstand or who don’t believe God’s promises blaspheme
Ezekiel 36:3	The mountains of Israel are made desolate.	the promises of the gospel have been obscured by flawed interpretations
Ezekiel 36:3	The mountains of Israel are possessed by the heathen.	the wicked wrongly claim the promises
Ezekiel 36:4	The mountains of Israel become “a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen.”	mistaken interpretations tend to discredit prophecy
Ezekiel 36:8, 11	The mountains of Israel will yield fruit to Israel; God will “do better unto you than at your beginnings.”	the promises of the gospel will be restored to the saints
Ezekiel 38:8, 17	The armies of Gog and Magog come against against the mountains of Israel, and the prophets of Israel.	promises of the gospel, and prophecies, are obscured by flawed interpretations
Ezekiel 39:4	The armies of Gog and Magog fall upon the mountains of Israel.	false interpretations will be exposed
Ezekiel 40:2	In his vision, Ezekiel was set upon a very high mountain.	the high mountain signifies a lofty spiritual revelation
Ezekiel 43:12	Ezekiel’s visionary temple is located on top of a mountain.	Ezekiel described a metaphorical and spiritual temple, not one made with hands
Daniel 2:35	In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.	the mountain represents the promise of God’s kingdom
Joel 2:5	The great army leaps on the tops of mountains.	people seek God’s promises
Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13	Mountains drop wine.	wine is new understanding; the mountains are God’s promises
Joel 3:17	God dwells in Zion, his holy mountain.	Mount Zion represents God’s inheritance, the saints
Hosea 10:8	They shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.	people seek the promise of salvation
Habakkuk 3:6	The everlasting mountains were scattered.	the gospel promises are extended to the nations
Zechariah 14:4	The mount of Olives is cleaved in the midst.	the prophecy that Jesus gave on the mount of Olives is misinterpreted in opposite ways, e.g. by preterism and futurism
Matthew 5-7	Jesus taught upon a mountain.	blessings, promises
Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; 9:28	Jesus went up into a mountain to pray.	communication with God
Matthew 24-25	The Olivet Discourse.	the mount of Olives represents the prophecy that Jesus gave there
Mark 13:14	But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:	it is time to seek God’s promises
Luke 23:28-30	But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.	people will seek the promise of salvation out of fear of God’s wrath
Galatians 4:26	Mount Sinai is identified with Jerusalem.	some mountains are mobile
Hebrews 12:22	“Ye are come to mount Sion.”	Mount Zion is God’s inheritance
Revelation 6:14	Mountains are moved out of their places.	God’s promises and prophecies are misinterpreted
Revelation 6:16	Men hide in the rocks and dens of the mountains.	people hope for salvation out of fear of God’s wrath
Revelation 16:20	The mountains are not found.	prophecy is misinterpreted; God’s promises are obscured
Revelation 21:10	John was carried away in the spirit to a great and high mountain.	the high mountain represents a lofty spiritual revelation

 

About these ads