Every symbolic use of 'stone' or 'rock' in Scripture points to Jesus Christ.
Les Feldick demonstrates this with Daniel's stone cut without hands, the smitten rock of Exodus, and the rejected stone of Acts 4. In Matthew 16, the 'rock' on which Jesus builds His church is Christ Himself, not Peter. Scripture and Les together show that Jesus alone is the foundation and the only source of salvation.
Daniel 2:34 — The stone cut without hands that destroys the image is Les's first example of Christ pictured as a smiting stone at His return.
Psalm 118:22 — The rejected stone becoming the head of the corner is the Old Testament foundation for Acts 4:11 and the 'stone of stumbling' concept.
Matthew 16:18 — This verse is the focal point of Les's teaching that the 'rock' is Christ, not Peter.
1 Corinthians 10:4 — Paul explicitly identifies the rock from which Israel drank as Christ, supporting Les's rule that rock/stone symbolism points to Jesus.
Exodus 17:6 — The smitten rock in Exodus is connected by Paul to Christ and is a key picture for Les of salvation by faith.
In Scripture, the stone or rock appears as a symbol of God's Messiah. In Daniel's vision, 'a stone was cut out without hands' and struck the great image, becoming a mountain that filled the earth (Daniel 2:34). In the wilderness, Moses struck the rock at Horeb and water flowed for the people (Exodus 17:6); Paul later identifies that rock as Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). Psalm 118:22 says the stone the builders refused became the head stone of the corner, and Acts 4:11 applies this language to Jesus. Peter likewise calls Christ a 'living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,' and warns that to those who disobey He is 'a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence' (1 Peter 2:4,8).
Les Feldick emphasizes that throughout Scripture, whenever the word 'rock' or 'stone' is used in a symbolic setting, it refers to only one person—Jesus the Christ. He shows the rock cut without hands in Daniel 2 as a picture of Christ at His Second Coming, striking the nations as a smiting stone. He also carefully explains Matthew 16:18: Peter is 'a stone,' but the capital ROCK on which Christ builds His church is Christ Himself, not Peter. Les connects the smitten rock in Exodus 17 to Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—the finished work believers appropriate by faith. He further teaches that Israel's builders rejected the chief cornerstone, and that Christ became to Israel a stone of stumbling, while God made Him the head of the corner. The same imagery appears in 1 Peter 2, where Christ is the living stone chosen by God, and believers become living stones built into a spiritual house. Therefore, Jesus is the sole, solid foundation of salvation.
In Daniel 2, a stone cut without hands strikes the image on its feet and becomes a great mountain. Les Feldick identifies this stone as Christ, pictured as a smiting stone at His Second Coming. This is one of the earliest symbolic stone pictures of the Messiah in Scripture.
No. Les explains that in Matthew 16:18 Peter is called 'a stone,' but 'upon this rock' (the capital ROCK) refers to Christ Himself. He says the rock referred to here is the only rock of Scripture, and that is Christ. The church is built on Christ, not on Peter.
Les sees the smitten rock of Exodus 17 as a picture of Christ and the finished work of the cross. He asks how we appropriate that finished work on this side of the cross and answers: by faith. The rock was struck so water could flow, just as Christ was smitten to bring salvation to believers.
Les teaches that Israel was the builder of God's kingdom and rejected Christ, the chief cornerstone. Like the stone cast into a vacant lot, Christ became a stone of stumbling to Israel. Peter says the same stone that is precious to believers is 'a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence' to the disobedient.
Acts 4 Explained: No Other Name — Only Jesus Saves
the people. Who were Israel's rulers? They're religious leaders. They're priests. Ye rulers of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent, or the crippled man, by what means he is made whole, if this is what we're on trial for, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel. You see that? Who is he talking to? Jews.
Christ as the Smiting Stone
Les identifies Daniel's stone cut without hands as Christ at His Second Coming and clarifies that in Matthew 16 the 'rock' is Christ, not Peter.
The Rock Is Christ, Not Peter
Les insists Matthew 16:18 does not make Peter the rock; the only rock of Scripture is Christ, and the smitten rock of Exodus points to Christ's finished work.
Rock and Stone Always Point to Christ
Les states that whenever rock or stone appears symbolically, it refers to Jesus the Christ, who is also the stone of stumbling and rock of offense.
The Rejected Stone Becomes Head of the Corner
Les explains Acts 4:11, using the temple-building legend to show that the rejected chief cornerstone is Christ.
Israel Rejected the Chief Cornerstone
Les applies the rejected-stone picture to Israel: they built God's kingdom but threw Christ aside, and He has become a stone of stumbling to them.
Believers as Living Stones
Les teaches from 1 Peter 2 that Christ is the living stone chosen by God, and believers are built up as living stones in a spiritual house.
Peter Is a Stone, Christ Is the Rock
Les highlights Matthew 16:18, asking whether the rock is Peter or Christ, and answers that Christ is the rock all the way through Scripture.
Daniel 2:34: Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
This stone cut without hands is Les's key Old Testament picture of Christ as the smiting stone at the Second Coming.
Exodus 17:6: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
The smitten rock prefigures Christ, whom Paul later identifies as the spiritual Rock.
Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the Old Testament verse behind Acts 4:11 and Peter's message about the rejected cornerstone.
Matthew 16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Les uses this verse to show that Peter is 'a stone' while the 'rock' on which the church is built is Christ.
Acts 4:11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Peter applies the rejected-stone language to Jesus before Israel's religious rulers.
1 Corinthians 10:4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Paul explicitly identifies the wilderness rock as Christ.
1 Peter 2:4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.
Peter calls Christ the living stone that men rejected but God chose.
1 Peter 2:8: And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
The same stone that is precious to believers is a stone of stumbling to the disobedient.
Yes. Les Feldick explains that the rock in Matthew 16:18 is Christ, not Peter. Christ is the only rock of Scripture, and the church is built upon Him.
The stone cut without hands represents Christ at His Second Coming, striking the nations as a smiting stone. Les uses this as a key example of stone/rock symbolism pointing to Jesus.
Because Israel rejected Him as their chief cornerstone, casting Him aside like the builders. Les says Christ has become a stone of stumbling to Israel ever since, while to believers He is the precious living stone.
Watch the Teaching: Acts 4 Explained: No Other Name — Only Jesus Saves