Tuesday: The Golden Image
Bible students have long noticed the link between Daniel 3, the story of the three Hebrews on the plain of Dura, and Revelation 13, a depiction of the persecution that God’s people have faced in the past and will face in the last days.
Compare Daniel 3:1-6 with Revelation 13:11-15. What are the parallels between these two passages?
Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
In both cases, the issue of worship is central, but both talk about a worship that is forced. That is, the political powers in control demand the worship that is due to the Lord alone.
Read Daniel 3:13-18. What can we learn from the story that should help us understand not only what we will face in the last days but also how we should face what is coming?
As the most powerful leader on earth, Nebuchadnezzar mocked these men and their God, saying, “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” He was soon to find out for himself just who that God was, for later he declared: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” (Dan. 3:28).
No question, after seeing such a miracle as that, the king was convinced that there was something special about the God whom these men served.
Suppose, though, that these young men were not delivered from the flames, something they realized was a distinct possibility (Dan. 3:18). Why would they still have done the right thing in not obeying the king’s command even if it meant being burned alive? This story presents a powerful testimony to their faith and their willingness to stand for what they believed, regardless of the consequences.
| When the issue of worship arises in the last days, how can we be sure that we will stand as faithfully as they did? If we are not faithful now in what is “least”, what makes us think we will be faithful in something as big as the final crisis? |
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I thank God for the message though his servants who stood for God's word even when they were on flames.
What about the Christians today? Let us always look at Jesus on the cross for us and the three servants on flames of fire and remember that if we pray faithfully to God we will be delivered from any consequences we will face.
May God bless us as we get on with the end time lesson. AMEN.
While I agree with what you are saying, we need to be careful that we do not create the impression that our view of consequences are the same as God's. Stephen, in the New Testament was stoned to death as a consequence of preaching the gospel. Perhaps a better way of thinking about the issue is to understand that God is with us, no matter what happens to us when we are faithful to him.
Best to remember we will be delivered, however time of deliverance is in God's hands whether immediately or when we see Him in His glory!
Amen! And 2 peter 1:4, and 2 Corinthians 7:1 tells us that it is by his precious promises that we will be kept from all that the devil throws at us and also that Jesus himself will attend us at every step of our way in serving him, just like the three Hebrews in the "Fiery furnace," had Jesus himself there in the hot flames with them.
It is true that temporal deliverance may not always be the result for the faithful, as history makes clear, yet, deliverance is promised and ultimately will come to all who place their entire trust in God and "love not their lives unto death".
Notice the exceeding great and precious promise in Isa 54:17, which will be fulfilled for all who love Christ's appearing. Notice also the conditions of this promise?
Last week we in the last stewardship lesson we learned that neither suffering nor famine nor death nor anything — can separate us from God’s love. Moreover, Christ’s presence with us, whether now or in the end times, does not mean that we are spared pain, suffering, trials, or even death. We have never been promised such exemptions in this life. As we can see,by Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego serving God faithfully did not prevent them from being thrown in the fiery furnace. Neither did Daniel's humility and faithfulness to the true God prevent him from being thrown in the Lion's den but the good news is that the true God they served was able to protect them inside their would be death dungeons. What a God!!
Brethren and sisters we serve a God who is able to protect us even in the worst possible scenarios. My prayer is that we all have the faith of the 4 Hebrew boys to the end. Amen.
Not everyone is called to go through the final conflict...but those who are, God will provide what strength is needed.
Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
when we are faithful as did the 3 youth the same God will keep us safe from the enemy in the last days
I have been put forward for a new job, but there is an issue to leave early on Fridays when the sunset is early. I have a meeting on Wednesday to discuss this in more detail. I pray and thank God for what ever the outcome, At least I will have the opportunity to share my faith with someone who currently has no knowledge of it. I welcome your prayers for God will to be done.
When the issue of worship arises in the last days, how can we be sure that we will stand as faithfully as they did? If we are not faithful now in what is “least”, what makes us think we will be faithful in something as big as the final crisis?
What a question to answer and it is personal. My prayer is that God will grant us all a strong faith in Him to withstand what is to come.
Stay blessed
Even if: Our Christianity should go beyond always expecting God to deliver us in all situations... Even if He decides not to intervene, may it be known that we wont leave Him. The Hebrew boys knew that God may decide not to intervene (because He is God).
We may not be forced to worship a known image, but we may be bowing before other gods! Self, appearance, clothing, money, cars, houses, work, music, pleasures, even family! Whatever comes first in the place of God in our lives, that's what we need to work on. These are times when most of us can still choose whom or what to worship, but we know that a time without this freedom of religion will come! And only a solid relationship today with the true God will help us go through a time of persecution!
It is because we say yes to the Holy Spirit, and say yes to Jesus that we cannot be separated. "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:39 KJV
I do believe that this means even principalities can not separate us from God. Why? Because we worship God, not graven images. And it is He that fights for us. Without the whole armor of God, we are lost. Ephesians 6:11-18.
Benard is right about some may even die, suffer, trials, and have pain. Look at James the brother of John sons of Zebedee, Herod killed James and put Peter in prison. Acts 12:1-11.
Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20 He is with us always, even to the end of the age. I try to keep my situations in perspective and remind myself everything here is temporary.
Such important lessons in this story that parallels so accurately with that which comes soon upon all the world. Daniel 3 stands as a type in many aspects, and the greatest focus should be on the confident faithfulness of the 3 men who faced the opposition of the world's greatest power. Had their desire been temporal prosperity they would have bowed in compliance as all others on the plain, including many of their fellow captives. We also learn how God can only be glorified in us as we trust and obey Him in all our ways.
Is it mere coincidence that only those who desired the original diet prescribed by God to man were steadfast under trial? Is there a connection to our true prosperity in everything we must make a choice upon, or only in some things? A related question: How wise is God in all His appointments for our good?
Beautiful lessons in Daniel for God's people.
I love these Sabbath School lessons!!! No matter what, God will always be there for us. We need to be faithful to him and obey Him at all times because He never stops loving us.
I have always wondered why only Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo were there to make the choice not to bow down to the Golden Image. Where was Daniel that he was not asked to bow down?
Just something that is not written in the Bible, I guess. Just a fascination of our family asking the same question during our lesson study time.
What I find fascinating about this story is God’s patience with Nebuchadnezzar and how He used him to draw others to the knowledge of the “Most High God”. Several times during the first 5 chapters, Nebuchadnezzar is convicted by Daniel’s interpretation of events and/or God’s salvation of His own who are loyal to Him, that God is the only true God. Despite that, Nebuchadnezzar obviously goes back to his old ways until the last time when he spends 7 years wondering and eating grass, then he finally gets it. Thank you God for your patience with us and demonstrating to us that you are not slow to take us home, just patiently waiting for all to decide for you.