The mountain symbolizes a kingdom—specifically the kingdom that Christ establishes.
In Daniel 2, the stone cut without hands becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth. Les Feldick teaches that when Scripture uses a mountain symbolically, it always represents a kingdom, most generally 'the kingdom.' Thus the mountain in Nebuchadnezzar's dream is the kingdom of Christ that replaces the Gentile kingdoms pictured by the image.
Daniel 2:35 — Directly describes the stone becoming a great mountain that fills the whole earth.
Daniel 2:44 — Identifies the kingdom set up by God that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 2:45 — Shows the stone cut out of the mountain without hands—which Les identifies as Christ in His second coming.
Isaiah 2:2 — Used by Les to confirm that a symbolic mountain represents a kingdom in Scripture.
In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar sees a great image made of different metals. Daniel's interpretation records in Daniel 2:35 that when the stone struck the image, the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold were broken to pieces together and became like chaff of the summer threshingfloors, carried away by the wind. 'and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.' Daniel 2:44 says the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 2:45 ties the stone cut out of the mountain without hands to the revelation of what shall come to pass hereafter. Isaiah 2:2 also says that in the last days '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.'
Les Feldick teaches that certain symbolic words maintain their meaning throughout Scripture. A mountain, unless a specific mountain is named like Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb, represents a kingdom—and most generally 'the kingdom' (Clip 1). In Daniel 2, the stone cut without hands is Christ (Clip 3). When that stone smites the image, the Gentile kingdoms represented by the metals are blown away like chaff, and the stone becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth (Clip 5). This is Christ's kingdom in His second coming (Clip 4). Les also connects Daniel 2 with Isaiah 2, where 'the mountain of the Lord's house' is established in the last days as the top kingdom above all smaller kingdoms, and all nations flow into it from Jerusalem (Clips 2 and 7).
Les explains that a mountain used symbolically in Scripture is always a kingdom unless the text names a specific mountain such as Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb. Here in Daniel 2, no particular mountain is indicated, so the great mountain is a symbol of the kingdom. He says the kingdom is the kingdom—one kingdom.
Les identifies the stone cut out without hands as Christ, since Scripture consistently uses rock or stone to refer to Christ. Because it is cut without hands, no human element is involved, and a person of the Godhead must be God. The stone is Christ in His second coming.
Daniel's interpretation says the iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold become like chaff, powder, and dust, carried away by wind so no place is found for them. Les says everything these metals represent is blown away and nothing is left of them. The stone becomes a kingdom, and that kingdom fills the whole earth, not just the land of Israel. The image itself, with its head of gold, chest of silver, belly of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay, depicted all the great Gentile empires coming down through history.
Les reads Isaiah 2:2 as 'the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains,' and he says mountains used symbolically refer to kingdoms. The Lord's house is the top kingdom, exalted above the hills or smaller kingdoms, and all nations flow to it. The verse goes on to say the word of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem, not from heaven.
Daniel 2 Explained: The Stone Kingdom That Fills the Earth
of Star Wars or out of some comic strip. I don't care how you picture it, but I want you to picture it in the context of a human torso, and the head, as Nebuchadnezzar saw it, was of pure gold, the chest of silver, the belly area of brass, the legs of iron, and then you come down to the bottom where the feet were made a mixture of iron and clay.
Mountain Symbolizes a Kingdom
Les teaches that a mountain used symbolically in Scripture always represents a kingdom unless a specific mountain is named, and here it is the kingdom.
Isaiah 2 Kingdom Mountain
Les applies the mountain symbol to Isaiah 2, where the Lord's house is established as the top kingdom and all nations flow to it, with the word going out from Jerusalem.
Stone Cut Without Hands Is Christ
Les teaches that the stone cut without hands must be Christ, since a stone or rock in Scripture always refers to Christ and no human element is involved.
Stone Becomes Kingdom at Second Coming
Les connects the stone cut from the mountain without hands to Christ in His second coming, who destroys the Gentile kingdoms and fills the whole earth.
Stone Kingdom Fills the Whole Earth
Les teaches that the stone becomes a kingdom that fills the whole earth, not just Israel, after the Gentile kingdoms are blown away like chaff.
Image Represents Gentile Empires
Les provides context that the image's metals depict all the great Gentile empires coming down through history.
Mountain Symbol in Old Testament
Les repeats that mountain in Old Testament symbolism means kingdom, and you can replace 'mountain' with 'kingdom' without violating Scripture.
Daniel 2:35: 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.
This is the verse that directly shows the stone becoming a great mountain.
Daniel 2:44: 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.
This verse identifies the kingdom God sets up that replaces all previous kingdoms.
Daniel 2:45: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain 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.
This verse shows the stone cut from the mountain without hands, which Les identifies as Christ.
Isaiah 2:2: And it shall come to pass in the last days, that 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.
Les uses this verse to confirm that a symbolic mountain represents a kingdom.
Isaiah 2:3: And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
This verse shows the word of the Lord going forth from Jerusalem, which Les emphasizes.
No, not in this context. Les Feldick explains that when a mountain appears symbolically in Scripture and no specific mountain is named, it represents a kingdom. Here it represents the kingdom that God sets up through the stone.
Les teaches that the stone cut without hands represents Christ. Since it is cut without hands, no human element is involved, and whenever Scripture refers to the rock or stone, it points to Christ. He identifies this stone with Christ's second coming.
Daniel 2:35 says it fills the whole earth. Les emphasizes the last words of verse 35: the kingdom is not just in the land of Israel but fills the whole earth.
Les uses Isaiah 2:2 to show the same symbolism: 'the mountain of the Lord's house' is a kingdom established in the last days, exalted above the hills or smaller kingdoms, with all nations flowing to it and the word going out from Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: Daniel 2 Explained: The Stone Kingdom That Fills the Earth