The Rock: A Bible Study

By Bishop M. Lester Dighton

The most well-known of all Christian symbols is the cross, but right behind it is the Rock of Ages, and it is this symbol of our faith that Bishop Lester unfolds in this study. This study looks at the different ways the rock is presented to us in the scriptures, and what that has come to mean for us as Christians. That also means to look at every aspect of rocks and stones in creation around us and, by comparison, glean what is being told for us to do. He also gives us all the Bible passages so that we can evaluate the meaning of each passage in relation to the topics covered.

It is a clear and concise look at the various aspects of the rock and how it relates to us in our relationship with God and opens up on what it can mean to our Christian walk today and in our approach to our Bible studies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: May 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543407433

Book preview

A Bible Study

Bishop M. Lester Dighton

Copyright © 2018 by Bishop M. Lester Dighton.

ISBN:              Softcover                978-1-5434-0744-0

                        eBook                     978-1-5434-0743-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scriptures are taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769; King James Bible Online, 2017. www.kingjamesbibleonline.org.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/13/2018

Xlibris

1-800-455-039

www.Xlibris.com.au

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge my wonderful wife, Anne, for all her support and encouragement that she constantly gives to me, for that is greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank my friends who have given me support and encouragement, especially my friend and author, Patrick Zegenhagen, and those who contributed to this work by way of assistance in checking the details.

There are others whom have given me assistance in compiling this work, too many to name, including my students over time, and those to whom I was a student.

Of course, no acknowledgement would be complete without acknowledging the One God: Our Father in Heaven; His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who brings us into all Truth.

Thank you all, and may God Bless you.

CONTENTS

The Rock

Creation

Rock out of the Waters

Rock of Ages

Covering, Protection and Shelter

Habitation

Fortress

Markers and Boundaries

Comfort and Support

Temple

Altar

Commandments/Law

Israel

Rebellion

Pantheism

A Vision

Hard Hearts

Judgement

Water from the Rock

The Rocks of the Earth

The Tomb

Stumbling Block

Corner Stone

The Rock and the Living Bread

Jesus’s First Miracle

The New Temple

The Stone cut without hands

The Great Pyramid and Christ

Appendix

Rock

Rocks

Stone

Stones

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of any and all Bible Studies, is to allow us to better understand our Maker, our Saviour and Judge, and His Holy Spirit, what is being done for us, and our need of a relationship with them. It also allows us to better understand our part in it all. However, I believe that a GOOD Bible Study is one that challenges us and causes us to really THINK about what we believe in, for that not only reinforces our Belief and Faith, but stops it from being a Blind Faith, and turns it into an informed Faith. We then know exactly what we are believing in, and why we believe it.

This little study came about as part of my greater book that I am in the process of compiling; a work from Bible studies on the theme of Biblical Prophecy, which, in itself, came about from Bible Studies I conducted over the years. When I was getting my work checked for authenticity and Scriptural references, it was suggested that this particular study be published separately as a study, before the main work was finished. I prayed on this, and this little booklet is the result.

I intend to title the main work "Keys to Understanding Biblical Prophecy", so that you will recognise it when it is released, for there are many similar studies contained within.

I hope and pray that this is useful as a study for you, and that you glean something more of Our Lord and Maker from it, and our relationship with Him.

What I did for this study was to print out every Bible Passage containing the word Rock and Rocks, every passage containing the word Stone, and every passage containing the word Stones. From there, I asked my students to categorise each and every passage into core subjects, like Shelter, Habitation, Fortress, Temple, Altar, Law, Rebellion, Judgement, Boundaries, and of course, Our Lord Himself". It was amazing to see the discussions and the outcomes. I recommend you try this for yourself, even in other studies, for I myself learned a lot from doing this. You may even wish to complete this exercise before you get into this study.

I have included an index of all of these passages in an Appendix at the back of this book for your reference, so that you may also conduct this exercise for yourselves.

All Bible references used in this work are from the KJV (King James Version).

By the way, the Bible passages on the Rock on the front cover are:

John 1: 1 in Greek on the top of the stone:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

and Genesis 1: 1 in Hebrew on the side of the stone.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Thank you

Bishop Lester Dighton

The Front Cover Design

I have been asked to explain the symbolism used on the front cover as well, so I will.

The inspiration comes from Daniel Chapter 2: verse 34.

The Title is ‘The Rock’, whom is the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is on top because His is the "Name Above All