Presents
Daniel chapter 3
In order to have His Word sealed in your mind, you have to want it there.In our last study we learned a great mystery concerning the final kingdom to come upon the earth when the 10 supernatural kings, that angelic host who is cast out of heaven with Satan at the sound of the 6th Trump, the 6th Seal, and the 6th Vial, come and reign upon the earth for that one hour, that hour of temptation which is actually the five month period of the locusts in Rev. 9.
These supernatural kings are the ten horns and the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image who are the first to be smashed by the Stone cut out of the mountain of God without hands, i.e. Jesus Christ our Rock!
You "see", there is nothing really complicated about all this for those whose minds are not too busy with the things of this world and who find... no, who take the time to study and rightly divide the Word of truth.
They soon discover that there are no mysteries for when you go to Him He reveals the secret things that are hidden to others who ignore His Word.
It is only when man takes shortcuts and then because of his lack of knowledge tries to insert his own interpretations into the Word instead of allowing the Word of God to interpret itself, that confusion arises.
As we begin chapter 3 of Daniel (God is Judge) we move ahead about 20 years from the time of Nebuchadnezzar's dream to 475 BC, which was Daniel's 38th year.
Nebuchadnezzar is about to set up an image for the whole world to bow down and worship. However, he's also about to mess with the wrong bunch, God's elect, and in doing so our Father is going to give him a real lesson in who is judge and who is in charge.
This is a lesson we should never forget for it applies directly to God's elect in these last days and portrays a vivid and graphic picture in our mind's eye of the promise our Father has made that when Satan comes he is not allowed to harm one hair on the head of His faithful servants (Luke 21:18), those who have the seal of God in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4).
We will also find in this third chapter that Daniel is not present.
Perhaps he is away on business in Shushan and has left his companions Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to remain in Babylon to carry on the affairs of the kingdom.
Therefore Daniel will not be part of the delivering up we are about to witness, but remember he does get cast into a den of lions when he is entrapped by politically correct legislation and convicted of violating a law which prohibits one from giving prayer and supplication to anyone other than the king.
My how far our legislators have progressed in arming the enemies of Christ.
Of course that should come as no surprise when one considers how many non-Christians there are in our legislators. (Shame on us! We elect them to office.)
Nevertheless, one thing we do know for sure from our Father's Word in Rev. 13:2 and that is when Satan comes he will exercise all the power of the first beast and these laws will be enforced against those who hold fast to the Word of God.
Not to worry though, as we shall see.
Let's see. A score is 20, so three scores are 60. And the breadth was 6 cubits so this image is first set up as 66. We will pick up another six to add to it in a moment giving us three 6's... as in 666. Y'all know whose number that is, don't you? Did you also know that other great men of the Bible who stood in defiance of God are likewise stamped with 6's? Take Goliath for instance. He had 6's all over him. He was 6 cubits tall and the head of his spear weighed 600 shekels, etc. And here in Daniel we have Nebuchadnezzar's image measured in 6's and of course then there is antichrist, whose number is 666.Daniel 3:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Let us also keep in mind that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew well God's laws and they were faithful obedient servants, rich in knowledge and wisdom.
How do we know?
Well, for three years while they were being educated in Nebo's college they disciplined themselves and ate pulse, the pure word of God, and drank only from the living water while at the same time keeping themselves undefiled from the king's meat and his spiritually intoxicating wine.
So what does our Father have to say about images that are "set up"!
Exodus 20:2-5
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.[3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
[4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
However, this is just a type, call it a shadow if you like, because spiritually speaking it is what is graven in your mind that becomes an idol to you!
Listen to Paul in Hebrews chapter eight as he quotes from Jeremiah 31:33.
The Greek word for "write" is "epi-grapho" which means to write over or to inscribe.Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
write = epigrapho, ep-ee-graf'-o, Greek 1924; from Greek 1909 (epi) and Greek 1125 (grapho); to inscribe (physical or mental) :- inscription, write in (over, thereon).
Therefore you are to have the Word of God engraved as is etched upon the walls of your mind which is located in your forehead behind your flesh eyes.
That is what it means to be "sealed" with the Word of God.
And if you do not have the Word of God written and permanently engraved in the back of your mind, what is it we would see if we looked through your eyes and saw what was engraved back there?
A car, a house, a job, a 401 K?
How about a big church?
Could be any image... and any image that is engraved there in the absence of God's Word being foremost that is written, is an idol my friend.
Think about it!
Consider also that when you read and absorb your Father's Word you "write over top" of those images and they eventually begin to fade away until they are no more idols.
And you know what else? In order to have His Word sealed in your mind, you have to want it there.
Those who do not hunger and thirst after His righteousness, which is His Word, who just go to church and follow after the traditions of men, will end up with the image of the beast marked in their foreheads and will most assuredly bow down and serve the false messiah. But what does the commandment say about bowing down?
[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
So what is it that consumes your thoughts and your time that you follow after (bow to)?
Are you too busy to study your Father's Word?
Are there bigger images etched in the back of your mind that you need to serve, that you deem more important than taking a few minutes or an hour a day to seek wisdom and knowledge from His Word?
Well, although this image Nebuchadnezzar has set up represents the false messiah, it is an image of gold and people are very quick to bow down to gold.
Many will even sacrifice their own children, as in spend little or no time with their loved ones, to bow down to gold.
In fact, many are willing to sell their own souls for a piece of the golden nugget.
Daniel 3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Notice though who is missing, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
They weren't gathered!
They didn't go!
To that end, were going to plow just a little deep here for a moment because remember, the time frame for this is when the king of Babylon is present.
In fact that "one hour" is going to be mentioned a few verses hence to lock in the time period.
Let's go to the book of Zechariah.
Zech. 8:20-23
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:[21] And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
He's in Jerusalem! (In The Temple, they should say)
Yes, let's all go!
[22] Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Hey, isn't that where the false messiah, the instead-of-Jesus comes claiming to be the LORD?
Pay close attention to what is being said here or you will think this is talking about the true LORD being in Jerusalem just like all these many (multitudes of) people and nations believe it to be so and are telling their friends and relatives.
Haven't you read that when the King of kings and Lord of lords actually returns that "every eye shall see Him"?
You won't have to go tell anyone He is here!
[23] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Don't go my friend!
And what about these "ten men" who shall "take hold"?
Well, haven't we been talking about ten kings in both Daniel and Revelation?
- These guys are really something if you understand the Hebrew word for "take hold".
Here it is:
take hold, chazaq, khaw-zak', Hebrew 2388; a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figurative courageous, causative strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer :- aid, amend, × calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong (-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
Read what Jesus Christ said concerning that one hour when antichrist and his angels are here?
Mark 13:20-23
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.[21] And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Hey, who knows, you may end up there but it will be because you are delivered up to give witness and testimony.
[22] For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
In other words, Satan and his angelic host are coming to shew forth great signs and wonders and perform miracles in the sight of men, like calling fire down from heaven, to deceive the people and spiritually seduce them.
Rev. 13:13-14 "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."
pseudochristos, psyoo-dokh'-ris-tos, Greek 5580; from Greek 5571 (pseudes) and Greek 5547 (Christos); a spurious Messiah :- false Christ.
Paul warned us about in 2 Cor. 11:4.
But you who have studied your Father's Word and know the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word, shall remain virgins unto the coming of the true Messiah and not be taken in by the false messiah, the kenite (a certain Jew) messiah, and his "ten kings"!
[23] But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
By the way, do you know what the word for "dedication" is?"Daniel 3:3
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
dedication, chanukka', chan-ook-kaw', Hebrew 2597; (Chaldee); corresponding to Hebrew 2598 (chanukkah); consecration :- dedication.
(They are all celebrating "chanukkah".)
They all heard and listen to the sweet seductive music and marched in tune with antichrist and his crowd.
[4] Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Uh oh!
That's a problem because the knees of God's elect won't bend to Satan.
They have the gospel armor on and they STAND (Eph. 6)!
[5] That at what time ye hear the sound of the (1) cornet, (2) flute, (3) harp, (4) sackbut, (5) psaltery, (6) dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
This is the sweet seductive music that is played as the harlot sings in the ears of the people to cause them to bow to the golden image. Are you familiar with the globalization of the one world system that takes place in this final generation?
Nevertheless, if you were standing there before the golden image would you obey the king's command and bow down?
Who knows, you may get your chance to stand before the real king of Babylon, (Satan) who is coming soon.
Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 make it quite clear that some of God's elect will be delivered up at the time of the end.
Now let's see what the penalty is for not falling down and worshipping the image during the "hour of temptation"!
[6] And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Also, the "same hour" spoken of here should bring to mind the hour of temptation in Revelation 3:10 which is that one hour when the ten kings are present and reign with Apollyon for that same hour as noted in Rev. 17:12.
The point is, things are going to get real hot for God's elect who refuse to bow down to the image antichrist sets up.
Just remember the words of Jesus Christ to those of the church of Smyrna to remain faithful unto death (One of Satan's names is Death) and He will give them a crown of life!
So when we get the picture of what yet lies ahead and put things in perspective, we shouldn't even count the things in our daily lives now that are only boiling over at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Consider them as warm-up exercises for the great tribulation that is still to come and stop whining.
You "see", gold doesn't melt until the temperature reaches 1947o Fahrenheit.
Check it out.
So only when things get really, really hot can we get rid of the "slag" in our lives!
Slag is what the impurities in gold are called that rise to the surface and are skimmed off when the gold is melted.
Thus is the gold made pure.
This should remind us of Daniel 12:10 "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."
Those who are spiritually rich like those of the church of Smyrna are wise and have understanding and they can take all the heat the old dragon can pump out because they have put their trust in their Shepherd to watch over them and protect them.
[7] Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Sound familiar?
Remember this is a type. And so it shall be that the one who deceives the "whole world" shall come and have them all bowing to his image.
But wait... HOLD IT!
There's trouble in pseudoparadise!
It's not the whole, whole world! Remember the knees of God's elect will not bow to Baal (Rom. 11)!
So here come the snitches.
[8] Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
So consider that these religious hypocrites are most assuredly kenites!
[9] They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
[10] Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
[11] And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Now for the late breaking news!
[12] There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
In other words, these kenites had surveillance on them and then turned them in.
[13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
The king is insanely enraged again.
(Those Chaldeans have a way of doing that to him, don't they?
They made him hot back in chapter two when they called him "an unreasonable king" because he asked them to tell him his dream.)
Nevertheless, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneggo have now been brought before the king of Babylon, the head honcho!
This is perhaps a good time to review what their Hebrew names mean to give us some insight as to what is etched in the back of their minds.
Misha-el = Who is as God? (Our Father
has all power!)
Azari-ah = God has helped! (He
takes care of and helps those who love and serve Him.)
Hanani-ah = God is gracious! (God's
love His children... so don't mess them!)
Next in our study these servants of God are going to be put to the final test when the king of Babylon commands his furnace to be turned up "7" times hotter than it was wont to be and challenges their God to deliver them from it!
Let there be no doubt that the Book of Daniel was written for the last days, the time of end.
This is evidenced not only by the fact that Jesus Christ told us to read Daniel because it contains understanding concerning the abomination of desolation, but also by the fact that angel told Daniel in the last chapter to SEAL UP the words and close the book until the time of the end and then the wise would understand.
The wise are those who seek after wisdom and understanding from the Word of God, instead of just sitting in their church pew week after week listening to their one verse rev. speak after the vain and foolish traditions of men that are taught in most so-called Christian churches, as the unwise do.
You see, the unwise because of their lack of wisdom and knowledge of His Word, can only guess about the events of the last days or believe the vanity (emptiness) of some soothsayer who tells them a your-gonna-fly-on-out-of-here-at-any-moment fairy tale and so you really don't need to study Revelation or Daniel because you won't be here when those things come to pass!
Teaching such fables is a cop-out and a lame excuse by those preachers and ministers who should have understanding and teach their people Father's Word.
It is evident by the prevailing Biblical ignorance throughout our land that most preachers and ministers and priests, etc., would rather take the easier softer way and teach the traditions of men and facilitate worship services rather than labor in the Word and allow Him to reveal the mysteries that are hidden to those who ignore His Word.
So they remain in the dark and so do their congregations who have not the true image of the Lord Jesus Christ sealed in their hearts and minds... and so the scripture of Isaiah comes to pass:
In other words, though they sing praises to Him, all they end up doing is giving lip service to Him because they have not the mind of Christ in them, which is the rich wisdom and knowledge of His Word.Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Their heart is their mind and it is distanced (removed) from Him because of their lack of knowing Him through His Word.
All they know about the love of God is what they have been taught by the precept of men (i.e. traditions) instead of the chapter by chapter and verse by verse precepts of their Father.
("Fear" means "to revere" and thus should be translated "reverence".)
And because they do not have His Word sealed in their minds, they will easy prey for the false messiah and his kings and priests (his locust army) to deceive into believing the Lord has returned and so they will fall down and worship antichrist.
But you do not have to follow after their ways because His Word is NOT written to those who are seminary graduates but rather to each one of His precious children.
It is His personal letter of instruction and guidance and comfort written to each and every one of us telling us how to be happy and what His will is for us to do.
So start reading your own mail for a change!
Have you taken heed to the things
that are written in the Word of God...
all of it,
the
Old Testament too?
As we return to Daniel we find that there has been a big gathering of the "princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces (Dan. 3:3)", unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
And they all stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Of course none of the servants of God attended that gathering to participate in the dedication for even if they were invited to the gathering they would not have gone.
Nevertheless, the king made a decree and had it proclaimed to the "people, nations, and languages (Daniel 3:4)" that "at what time they hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, they are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up (Daniel 3:5)".
There is only one problem with that decree and that is that God's elect, the servants of the Most High God, do not bow down to idols or graven images nor will they bow a knee to Baal (Rom. 11).
Now there were a bunch of religious Chaldeans, no doubt kenites, who spied out the servants of God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and had them delivered up to king Nebuchadnezzar after reminding him how great he was and reinforcing the fact that if anyone dared not obey his decree that they would be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
So here they are, God's elect, His servants who have remained faithful to His Word and not partaken of the king's meat nor drunk of his spiritually intoxicating wine.
Nebuchadnezzar now inquires of them as he wants to hear it directly from the horse's mouth.
Daniel 3:14
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
[15] Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Whenever you see this take place know and understand that this makes it God's business and He will surely deal with that leader as He sees fit.
Secondly, notice that the casting into the fiery furnace shall be in "the same hour" which is that final hour of temptation spoken of in Rev. 3:10 and Rev. 17:12 because it will be during that "hour" when the old dragon's (Satan's) fire will be increased to the spiritual maximum (7 times hotter) when he and the mightiest men of his army, those ten kings we have been learning about who will take hold and try to bind up God's servants, are present when the great gathering to the false bridegroom's wedding feast takes place in Jerusalem (Mat. 24:28).
Let us also be reminded as we see these men of God delivered up before the king of Babylon, that God's elect are instructed by Jesus Christ NOT to premeditate about what they will say when they are delivered up before antichrist and they are also instructed not to worry or be anxious.
Here is your documentation:
Notice the definition of the Greek word "promerimnao" translated "thought"!Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
thought, promerimnao, prom-er-im-nah'-o, Greek 4305; from Greek 4253 (pro) and Greek 3309 (merimnao); to care (anxiously) in advance :- take thought beforehand.
Now let's see what the three children of God, the meanings of whose name's sum up their faith and trust in God, have to say to the king of Babylon who has just threatened them to death.
In other words, they have been delivered up to death, who is Satan, the king of Babylon of these last days!
[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Didn't even have to think about it!
Nor were they afraid or intimidated one bit!
Always remember this type for it
is given for our ensample upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Cor.
10:13).
That's you and me!!!!, Don't you
know?
This is a type of the strong faith and richness of those of the church of Smyrna who shall be delivered up and give "witness" to the princes and rulers of all nations who shall see the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let's listen to what else these faithful men of God have to say:
[17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Remember what Jesus Christ said to those of Smyrna, "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Rev. 2:10)."
I wonder if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be rewarded following this?
We will find out in the last verse of this chapter.
[18] But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They have not only flat out refused to bow down and worship the golden image but they have insulted king Nebuchadnezzar.
Time to turn the heat up on these boys and bind them up and toss them in the fiery furnace.
[19] Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
This is an illustration of how great the tribulation shall be when Satan and his mighty locust army are cast out of heaven to this earth.
Now notice what the king of Babylon orders the "MOST MIGHTY MEN" in "HIS ARMY" to do!
He orders them to "bind" the servants of God and then "cast" them into the midst of the burning fiery furnace to destroy them.
[20] And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
They are going to be used to "turn up the heat" on God's elect and try to "bind" and "cast" them, as in to "cause them to fall"!
cast, remah, rem-aw', Hebrew 7412; (Chaldee); corresponding to Hebrew 7411 (ramah); to throw, set, (figurative) assess :- cast (down), impose.ramah, raw-maw', Hebrew 7411; a primitive root; to hurl; specifically to shoot; figurative to delude or betray (as if causing to fall) :- beguile, betray, [bow-] man, carry, deceive, throw.
You "see", these servants of God already have on the whole armour of God and are fully protected by the Holy Spirit.
You might say as they do on Star Trek, their shields are up and Satan's lasers, his fiery darts (Eph. 6: 16) cannot penetrate their shield of faith.
To that end, you will find them fully dressed in their gospel armor in the next verse.
[21] Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Are you prepared to take a stand?
God is looking for a few good men and women who are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Actually, He knows right where they are for He Himself sent them and commissioned them and had them fully trained and outfitted to engage in the great spiritual warfare of these last days... and they will take a stand!
Here are Paul's instructions to those who desire to stand against the wiles of Satan.
Ephes. 6:11-16
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
[14]Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And you know what?
It was their garments they had on, symbolic of the gospel armor, that enabled them to withstand the fire of the wicked one.
[15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
[16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Paul defines "faith" in Hebrews 11:1 as "hupo-stasis" or "sub-stance".
In other words, it is that which is under (sub, hupo) you upon which you stand.
If you stand upon the Rock, meaning your faith comes from knowing and understanding the Word of God, then you stand firm and solid.
If you think you have faith but
you are ignorant of your
Father's Word and follow after the traditions
of men, then the foundation under you is nothing but sand and you
will fall down in the great spiritual deception of antichrist.
In fact Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:11-13 that if you think you stand, i.e. are in good standing with God, yet you have not taken heed to the things that are written for our ensamples upon whom the ends of the world are come, then YOU will fall indeed!
1 Cor. 10:11-13
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.[12] Whereforelet him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Have you taken heed to the things that are written in the Word of God... all of it, the Old Testament too?
Daniel 3:22
Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
[23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
You "see", He has been with them all along... the evidence of which was even seen when He intervened and "brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs (Dan. 1:9)" that led to them being able to receive pulse and water.
God takes care of His own, those who love and serve Him.
You know, there is an apocryphal book called "The Song of the Three Children" which you will find in the original 1611 King James Bible and even in the Septuagint, BUT NOT IN THESE LATER VERSIONS.
Why? Because of the Famine!
Though it is not canonized you can still read it for it contains the beautiful prayers of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were cast into the burning fiery furnace.
Here are the first few verses from that book:
[1] And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.[2] Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,
[3] Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers - thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:
[4] For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us - yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth.
Remember, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are types of God's elect in these last days who overcome the beast and his image... and they did!
Rev. 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev. 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Pretty amazing, isn't it?
Daniel 3:24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
[25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose , walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt ; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
It was Melchisedek, which means KING of the JUST. "Melchi" is king and "zadok" is just!
And the Zadok were just "bound" and "cast" into Satan's fiery furnace but his binding could not hold them and his fire had no effect on them whatsoever.
You "see", Satan cannot bind God's elect for they are loosed of his bonds by Jesus Christ and Satan's fire has no power over them for it cannot penetrate the Holy Spirit that protects them.
To the contrary, God's elect are given power over Satan and over all our enemies (Luke 10:19)!
Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Remember, though God uses him as a type to teach us, Nebuchadnezzar himself will be converted and even write one of the most beautiful prayers in God's Word.
[27] And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
They saw how the power of Satan's fire had no affect on them and not an hair on their heads was singed.
You "see", Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego gave WITNESS unto the power and strength and glory of Almighty God!
And one other thing.
We already documented that Jesus Christ had the Book of Daniel on His mind in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 when He told us to go read it for understanding concerning the arrival of the abomination of desolation.
Well, Luke 21 which also contains the account of His Olivet teaching concerning the events of the final generation, also show He had the Book of Daniel on His mind.
Here is what He said concerning the delivering up (you can go read it in context for yourself):
Luke 21:18
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Then too, not even the smell of the smoke from the pit did cling to their garments.
Daniel 3:28
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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.
[29] Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
You can count on it.
So do count on it!
[30] Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
What a type we have seen here with these three servants of Yahveh.
Our Father blesses and rewards His children who love and serve Him.
Of course the big promotion and crown they receive is the promotion (raising) to Eternal Life.
Let's conclude today's study with the following verses from Romans chapter eight concerning those who have a destiny, those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Not even Satan and his angelic host can come against God's elect!
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
1 Tim. 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Now consider carefully the next few verses.
Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Remember Eph. 6:12?
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
We have the victory in Him![39] 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.
Praise God for "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."