Moving Kingdoms: Decoding the Spiritual Symbolism of Mountains in Scripture
“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20, NKJV).[i]
How many times have I read this verse conjuring up images of large mountains plunging into the ocean? Now, I have never seen this happen nor witnessed my prayers causing even a pebble to move out of place. Or have they?
We need to understand that Yeshua was telling us a parable, commonly called a metaphor. He was not saying that we could re-landscape our entire yard simply by having faith and wishing or praying about it. Although, I admit that would be fantastic.
He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15). Yeshua was talking about kingdoms. We read, “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8-9).
Now, it should be evident there is not a single mountain anywhere in the world, including Mount Everest, where you can visibly see all the kingdoms of the world. So again, this narrative is spiritual, and therefore, the images we read about are allegorical. Thus, we can assume that mountains in the Bible, especially those mentioned in the prophesies, often represent kingdoms.
For example, we read, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house [Kingdom of God] Shall be established on the top of the mountains [kingdoms of this world], and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it” (Isaiah 2:2). “And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces…” (Isaiah 25:6). “And the stone [who is Christ] that struck the image [of the beast] became a great mountain [kingdom] and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:35). In these verses, the stone is an image of Christ, and “the mountain of the Lord” clearly signifies His Kingdom.
The Lord declared, “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth” (Isaiah 40:4). “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12). Again, these mountains are allegories that signify earthly kingdoms.
Considering this understanding, we can now reread the words of Yeshua this way: “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this [kingdom], ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” In other words, Yeshua is telling us that we, the church, have authority over earthly kingdoms. Presently, these kingdoms are under the control and dominion of Satan and his powers of darkness.
Paul said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Thus, moving earthly kingdoms requires more than just faith. We must also wrestle against them in prayer, fasting, and speaking the truth of God’s word. However, faith is the foundation of all things.
Notice the context of our opening scripture. The disciples had just watched Yeshua rebuke a demon. It came out of a boy, and the child was healed immediately. Perplexed, they asked Yeshua, privately, “Why could we not cast it out? “So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief…” (Matthew 18 & 20).
I wonder. Are we like the disciples who lack the faith to understand the authority we have in Christ? But, even if we are strengthened in our faith, do we have the discipline of prayer and fasting? Do we know scripture well enough to declare God’s truth and wrestle against Satan’s deception? And do we recognize the purpose for why God has anointed us to wrestle against dark principalities and move earthly kingdoms?
Some falsely teach that the church not only has the authority but has the responsibility to move these kingdoms out of this world and establish Christ’s Kingdom now. This theology is called dominionism and is a false teaching. Aspects of dominionism have worked their way into patriotism and nationalism, causing people to incorrectly believe that the church is called to take this nation somehow back from Satan and establish it as a Christian one.
Yeshua said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). We read in Revelation, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15).
We need to accept the truth that presently, all nations, including the nation of Israel, are under the dominion of darkness. There is a time already set in the future when Christ will return to the earth and establish His Millennial Kingdom.[ii] Until then, we are called to work and advance His Kingdom. So, how is this view different from dominionism? Let us find out.
There are global systems in place that are governed by both earthly and spiritual principalities. Paul said, “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). In other words, a person who does not have the Holy Spirit will naturally follow the ways of the world. They are incapable of seeing the Kingdom of God and do not realize they are at enmity with Him. They are blind, but even more so, they are dead—spiritually dead to God, and one day their bodies will physically die also. As it is written, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
When we pray, fast, and declare God’s word, we are in effect wrestling against the rulers of the darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places who have blinded and deceived all humanity. We are moving their kingdoms and their deceptions out of the way so the dead who are presently living under their lies and deceit can hear and see God’s truth and be saved.
As Peter declared, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
We are laboring to establish God’s Kingdom in the hearts of men and women. Thus, Yeshua said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 20:19-21).
The only thing in this world that is of eternal value is our soul. Therefore, the most valuable treasures we can store up for ourselves in heaven are the souls of those we lead into the Kingdom by moving mountains. And since Christ’s Kingdom is not yet established on earth, His mountain, for now, advances in the hearts and minds of those who are being saved. Our treasure is being stored up for a future time.[iii] But there is more for us to understand about moving mountains.
When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, He not only revealed Himself to the Israelites, He made Himself known to the kingdoms of this world.[iv] Many years later, the Prophet Elijah came to this same place, and the Lord spoke to him there, saying, “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 20:15-18).
From the root sin-nun, the Hebrew word Sinai means "thorn" or “thorn bush.” It is believed that Moses saw a burning thorn bush on Mount Sinai.[v] Mount Sinai is also called Mount Horeb (hhorev). The Hebrew word hhorev comes from the root hharav, which means "to lay waste," "be dried up," and "to fight." In Hebrew, the words sinai and hhorev are synonymous with a dry wasteland filled with thorn bushes. However, there is an interesting correlation and similarity between Mount Sinai and the Garden of Eden, which appear to be dichotomies.
When God expelled Adam and Eve from Eden, He placed a flaming sword at its entrance.[vi] The Hebrew word for "sword" is hherev. Hherev comes from the same root, hharav, and implies “to fight” and “make waste.” It also derives from the word hhorev (called Sinai), which, as we just learned, also implies “a wasteland filled with sharp thorns.” Thus, it is believed that the burning thorn bush that Moses saw is a picture of the flaming sword at the entrance to the Garden of Eden. So, how does all this correlate with Christ and His church? Let us find out.
When Adam and Eve sinned and were expelled from the Garden of Eden, they brought a curse of thorns and desolations (hhorev) upon the creation. As it is written, “Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field” (Genesis 3:8). But we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose.[vii]
On the cross, Yeshua took upon Himself our curse of thorns (hhorev), as it is written, “And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head” (Mark 15:17). Thus, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…” (Galatians 3:13). Yeshua has now laid waste (hharav) our sins and has called all men to repentance.[viii] And He has fulfilled the Law given on Mount Horeb (Sinai) and freed us from its condemnation leading to death.
In the same mountain (earthly kingdom) of hhorev, which is a wasteland filled with thorns, He has fought against (hharav) our adversaries with a flaming sword (hherev). As it is written, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15).
As the Lord judged the gods of Egypt at the Exodus,[ix] He will now bring His final judgment against all principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.[x] It is written, “I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. I will lay waste [hhorev] the mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, And I will dry up the pools” (Isaiah 42:14-15).
And if humanity does not repent, we will be judged with these spirits and principalities, as the Lord declared, “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword [hherev] of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16). “I will lay it waste [hhorev]; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it” (Isaiah 5:6).
The Lord has also declared His final judgment against the nations for their hatred of Israel, as it is written, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against you; I will stretch out My hand against you [hharav], and make you most desolate; I shall lay your cities waste [hhorev], And you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. Because you have had an ancient hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword [hharav] at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end’” (Ezekiel 35:3-5).
God has moved mountains, earthly kingdoms so that we might be saved. He has laid waste our sins and fought against our adversaries with a flaming sword. And now, the Lord is calling and empowering His church to do the same. Therefore, let us have the faith and discipline to fast, pray, and declare the truth of the gospel to all men, the Jew first, and the Gentiles.[xi] And let us move mountains to free humanity from the tyranny and deception of Satan and invite all men into the freedom and Sabbath rest of Christ’s eternal Kingdom.
[i] All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Bible (NKJV) unless otherwise noted, Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982.
[ii] Matthew 24:36.
[iii] Matthew 6:19-20.
[iv] Exodus 19:4.
[v] Benner, Jeff A. Mount-Sinai. Ancient Hebrew Research Center.
[vi] Genesis 3:24.
[vii] Romans 8:28.
[viii] Acts 17:30.
[ix] Exodus 12:12.
[x] Ephesians 6:12.
[xi] Romans 1:16.