How do symbolic words work throughout Scripture?
Symbolic words in Scripture maintain their symbolism almost all the way through from cover to cover unless the text specifies a particular meaning. For example, a mountain generally symbolizes a kingdom. Such symbols are not empty; they teach literal truth, as when the stone represents Christ and the mountain represents a kingdom.
Les explains that certain words of Scripture that are symbolic will maintain that symbolism almost all the way through from cover to cover. He gives mountain as a typical example: unless the text delineates a particular mountain, like Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb or some other definitive word, a mountain in Scripture is always a kingdom, most generally the kingdom. In the imagery here, the stone cut out without hands strikes the image upon its feet of iron and clay, crushing the metals until they become like chaff, powder, and dust, and then the stone becomes a great mountain. Les says this is all symbolism, but it is teaching a literal truth; the stone represents Christ, and the mountain represents the kingdom. As he stresses, the kingdom is the kingdom is the kingdom.