Read Daniel 4:1-33. What happens to the king, and why? God gives Nebuchadnezzar a second dream. This time, the king does not forget the dream. But because the Babylonian experts fail again, the king summons Daniel to provide the interpretation of the dream. In the dream, the king sees a big tree reaching up to heaven … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Dan. 4:1-33, Prov. 14:31, 2 Kings 20:2-5, Jonah 3:10, Dan. 4:34-37, Phil. 2:1-11. Memory Text: “How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:3, NKJV). Pride has been called the first sin. It is first made manifest in Lucifer, an angel … Continue reading –>
Attacked at School By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission Stepan Avakov, born and raised in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, had his life planned out at the age of 13. He loved basketball and claimed the title of best player in his age group in Azerbaijan. “You have nothing to worry about”, his coach said. “You will become … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: From Furnace to palace “Important are the lessons to be learned from the experience of the Hebrew youth on the plain of Dura. In this our day, many of God’s servants, though innocent of wrongdoing, will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who, inspired by Satan, … Continue reading –>
As we reflect on the experience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, we may ask ourselves: What is the secret of so strong a faith? How could they have been willing to burn alive rather than worship the image? Think about all the ways that they could have rationalized bowing in submission to the orders of the king. … Continue reading –>
Read Daniel 3:19-27. What happens? Who is the other person in the fire? Having thrown the faithful Hebrews into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar is puzzled to perceive the presence of a fourth person inside the furnace. To the best of his knowledge, the king identifies the fourth figure as “the Son of God” (Dan. 3:25). The king cannot … Continue reading –>
For the three Hebrews, the image worship imposed by the king is a blatant counterfeit of the temple worship in Jerusalem, which they experienced in their earlier years. Although they hold offices in the empire and are loyal to the king, their allegiance to God sets a limit on their human loyalty. They are certainly … Continue reading –>
Read Daniel 3:8-15 and Revelation 13:11-18. What parallels can we see between what happens in Daniel’s time and what will happen in the future? The image of gold standing on the plain of Dura, whose name in Akkadian means “walled place”, gives the impression of a vast sanctuary. As if it were not enough, the furnace nearby can … Continue reading –>
Read Daniel 3:1-7. What likely motivates the king to make this statue? Some time elapsed between the dream and the construction of the image. Nonetheless, it seems that the king can no longer forget the dream and the fact that Babylon is doomed to be replaced by other powers. Not satisfied with being only the head … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Daniel 3:1-30, NKJV, Rev. 13:11-18, Exod. 20:3-6, Deut. 6:4, 1 Cor. 15:12-26, Hebrews 11:1-40, NKJV. Memory Text: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king” (Daniel 3:17, NKJV). “Thus these youth, imbued with the Holy Spirit, declare to … Continue reading –>
