An alternative view of Biblical Prophecy
Mt. Rainier from the daffodil fields of the Puyallup River Valley
We all been told that moving mountains is about faith, and it is. However the context is not some literal mountain. The “This Mountain”, has to do with demonic activity.
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matt. 17:14 -20
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FYI: In the symbolic language of prphecy, “mountains” represents nations or countries. e.g. Is. 13:4; Jer. 4:24; Jer. 51:25; Ezek. 36:1; Hab. 3:6; Zech. 4:7; Rev. 16:20.
The context of a similar passage, is the Withered Fig Tree. In other passages in the Bible the fig tree symbolizes Israel’s national/political conditions [Hos. 9:10; Mt 24:32-35; Mk 13:28-31; Luke 21:30 ] So it is Israel’s national/political condition was about to be cast aside.
And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. . . . . Mark 11:13-14
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:20-24
We don’t have to look far to find in the Bible, some national/political condition that is also demonic. For even though it may look like we are fighting against wicked nations and peoples. Our fight is with spiritual rulers of this present darkness. They seem to us as an immovable mountain, an invincible foe. They move people and nations to hate, persecute, and kill God’s people.
For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12
Long have we recognized that the ultimate ruler of this present darkness is Satan, So much so that we have nick named him the prince of darkness. He is ruler of the nations, the Great Red Dragon in the book of The Revelation.
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev. 12:9
The Great Red Dragon i.e. Satan hold sway over these imperial powers. We are told that he has given his authority to this beast. (This composite beast is made up of all the bestial empires that are named in Dan 7. The lion was Babylon, the bear was Persia, the leopard was Greece, and together they became the terrible beast that was Rome.)
And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bears, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. Rev. 13:2
This mountain we are suppose to be able to move are the imperial powers of this present age. The kingdoms under Satan’s control. We believers have not moved one of these mountain since 476 A.D. when our faith brought down the Roman Empire. Now we must pray and bring down the little nations that empire broke into. Then a Great Nation will grow in their place.
When this mountain moves it will be replaced by one that shall never be moved.
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” Dan. 2:44-45
One hundred years ago we were singing songs like “Onward Christian Soldier”. Many taught and many more believed that we were going to bring in the millennium. We were going to convert the world by persuasion alone. Since then, we have lost our faith, our authority, and our power. We are now luke warm. The three frogs of Evolution, Socialism, and Papal Authority, have lulled us all to sleep. They constantly croak their lies. Many of us think or feel we are the ones who are the ignorant fools.
I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Is. 40:4
We are about to receive the victory. All it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
I agree that the people of God have “little faith” and that we war not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness,etc but let us not give place to the devil. 2 Chron 20:6 and said, oh Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven ? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen ? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee.
The Lord sets up, and tears down, In Dan 4:2,3 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
And agian Dan 4:34,35 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou.
The Lord has dominion and his kingdom is established, we have both recieved in faith the Kingdom, and are yet waiting for it.
The mountain though you can conclude that it is principalities of darkness as the root to unbelief is not about the nations but it is unbelief in the heart of men. I wonder if the epileptic son thought it was about the nations?
I am not trying to provoke an argument about the word and what we see in it, the real question is what are we doing about the problems we see ? I have a great burden for this nation and it’s people as well as the people of God. We have become destitute of the Moral heart of God within us we need more than ever to bind together and earnestly and fervently pray for his people.
Looking forward to hearing from you. If you have time and so desire come and be a part of afrministries.com/blog there’s no charge we would like to hear your input as well.
With Love in Christ our Savior ron.
Ron
It is always nice to hear from readers.
Never apologize for being confused by some else’s lack of clarity. We did forget to put in a small word study showing that in symbolic passages, mountains are put for nations or countries. It is there now.
As to your concern that the epileptic boy did not understand about the mountain, it is doubtfull that the he even heard the teaching. As it was given to the disciples not the epileptic boy.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. Matt. 17:19 -20
As for arguing, that is what we do. After all, all things are clouded by time, language, and culture. No one can possible overcome all that, all the time. No one ever has. Everyone one has mistakes in their doctrines and dogmas. If no one else points them out , how will we see our misstakes?
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Prov. 27:17
If we don’t argue and discuss, how are we to obtain the meaning or meanings?
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Pet. 1:20
As to your burden. We share some of that concern. But our burden is for the deplorable teachings that are being given to the saints. The people perish for lack of sound doctrine. If we both are about our Master business, we will complement each other.
And finially, we have already posted commentary on Dan 4.
http://issachar5.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/daniel-4-leviticus-26-and-the-2520-years/
Yours in Messiah
Tola
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