Foreword:

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”

John 16:12

In the revelation of truth, Jesus was patient and gentle with the  disciples in revealing  truth, but often He had to be plain spoken because the times and events dictated such.

I think of this verse and the Savior’s methods of dealing with men, women, and children.  I especially think of it when I approach the topic you are about to read.  For some people, this will not be the right time to hear this; for others, it will be light upon their path and it will make sense to them.  Wherever you are in your Jesus journey,  remember that truth is not dangerous.  It will bring freedom and peace to your soul:

Jesus said,

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Psalm 119: 105

I encourage you to prayerfully check to see if what I am writing is true when compared with the scriptures and the historical references.

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One of the reasons I know the Bible is true and that its writers are honest is because they do not try to sugar coat the bad stuff.  We live in a world where the bad stuff is often kept secret.  Advertisers would never talk about the negatives of their product.  If they are forced to do so (medicine for example), it comes in the form of a  palatable soothing monotone voice to minimize the impact.

Being politically correct is no longer an option.  It is a requirement in our society.  But, in the Bible, God tells it like it is; it is not politically correct.  That is why many who would quote the words, even in a caring loving manner are considered uncaring and maybe even a bigot.  Many people don’t like what they hear from God’s word, but that does not change what is true.

Then, there is the matter of rightly handling the word of truth.  Often those who would teach or speak God’s word will do so in error, conjecture, or poor interpretation.  Then, throw in the work of the enemy to pervert truth and we have a world of confusion, anger, and distrust.

Before I begin this difficult study, please read the material with the desire to know truth and a prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  I try to use as many scripture as possible to reveal the gems of truth that lies within its pages.  This is a difficult topic, but it is truth.  Truth is not always found on the main highway, but lies along the narrow path.  It is not on the lips of the majority, but in the hearts of a few who seek it with all their heart.  Jesus and His word is the “pearl of great price.”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:45-46

That said, let’s jump in…

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Daniel saw some things that disturbed him greatly and it caused him to be sick.  I can identify with him.  Truth is not always comfortable, but it will always bring a peace that passes understanding.  Truth will increase your faith and trust in the God who made you and all creation.

“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;  and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

Daniel 7: 19 – 20

Daniel seems to be clear about the three beasts of this chapter and what they represented, because his only interest after his vision was to know about the 4th beast and particularly the strange looking little horn that came up out of the 4th beast.

Shouldn’t we want to know the truth about the fourth beast and the horn?  Can we know the truth?  Yes, we can!  How do we know? Because the angel comes back and explains them to Daniel.

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

Daniel 7:16

While much of the vision is yet future for Daniel, we can see his future in the interpretation and it will help us understand the basis for interpreting our future!

This 4th beast  was different from the others.  What does that mean? First of all, this beast so so different that Daniel could not find anything in nature such as the lion, the bear, and the leopard to represent its appearance nor its character.

If one thinks about it, Daniel could easily understand how the Lion with two wings and the Bear with three ribs  could represent Babylon and the Medes/Persian empire because he lived during the fall and rise of Babylon.  He also lived to see the Medes and Persians begin to become a world power. But Greece was yet to appear as was the 4th kingdom of Rome and the little horn power.

Fulfilled prophecy is more clearly understood as one looks back .  Wouldn’t you agree?  The fulfillment of prophecies past is the basis for the principles involved in interpreting those parts of the prophecy yet future. The fulfilled prophecies of Daniel were so accurate that many attempt to put Daniel’s vision at a later point so it becomes history rather than the divine hand of God moving among the powers of the earth.  This is impossible when you consider the time span covered in the prophecy.

Through archaeological discoveries, historians catch up with the word of God and validate its accuracy.  Truly, Daniel saw these visions of 4 great Monarchs before they happened.  He was there personally at the rise and fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia.  But, he was not there for the other powers that were to arise nor the time of judgement and the 2nd coming of Christ as this vision depicts.

Daniel is careful to describe the times of his visions for those in the future who would doubt.

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon

Daniel 7:1

This time  in the 6th century BC was before the events yet to occur as described in the picture below.

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Daniel 2 and 7 Comparison:

The imagery of the ferocious 4th beast and the cunning and power of the little horn, made Daniel sick.  I am sure if we were given a look into the future to see how it all ends, we would be troubled greatly too!  This is what will happen to many who read Daniel and Revelation.  The scripture unfolds the identity of the 4th beast and the little horn power. It also gives us a picture of heavenly things.

“This is the end of the account.  As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel 7:28

As we saw from the previous study, the fourth kingdom to appear on the world scene was the iron monarchy of Rome.

At this point, let’s see the comparison of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 regarding those powers during Daniel’s time and those yet future.  (Daniel 8 will also add to this chart, but we will fill it in when we study that chapter next.)

Daniel 2 was a simple straight forward prophecy of 4 major kingdoms rising and falling.  The prophecy was a time line  that spoke to the diminishing value  of the metals and therefore the value of its countries, particularly in a spiritual sense..  It is finally a mixture of strong and weak as demonstrated by the combining of iron and clay in the feet and 10 toes.

Daniel 7 repeats Daniel 2, but begins to layer in detail and some facts that are difficult to accept.  Daniel 7 fills in some elements of time, but even more obvious is its attention to the power ruling just before God sets up His kingdom.

Daniel 7 does not stop at the 10 divisions (10 horns of the 4th beast), but goes further into Daniel’s future and we will see even more detail of the worlds future events when we compare it with Revelation!

New Detail of Daniel 7:

The new detail about the 4th power (legs of iron with 10 toes or the 4th beast with 10 horns ) is that three of the 10 divisions are uprooted by the little horn that speaks great things and persecutes others after it comes up among the 10 horns.

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things”

Daniel 7:8

The interpretation of this is clear:

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

Daniel 7:24

The horns represent ten kings that shall arise and the little horn is a different type of king that shall subdue three kings.

Since the symbols (metal and animals) are demonstrating a time line of succession, we have the basis to identify  the  king that arose during the 10  divisions of Rome.

There are some identifying marks in this chapter that helps us determine who was or is the little horn power.

 1.) It will come up among the divided kingdom of Rome between the time of 350-500 A.D. (Verse 8)

2. It would be a little Kingdom. As noted by the little horn (Verse 8)

3 . It would have a man speak at the head of it. (Verse 8)

4. It would be “diverse” or different from the other 10 Kingdoms. [(Verse 24)

5. It would “Pluck up” or “subdue” 3 of the 10 divisions. (Verse 8, 24)

6. It would speak great words against God. (Verse 25)

7. It would emerge from Pagan Rom (Verse 7, 8

8. It would wear out the Saints for “time, times, and dividing a time” (Verse 25)

9. It would “THINK” to change times and laws(Verse 25)

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What power in history fits all nine traits?  What power came on the scene as Rome was being divided into the modern countries of Europe today?

It is Papal Rome.  No other power on earth fits all the features of the little horn.

Let’s revisited the 9 identifying markers and see if the papacy fits:

1. (Origin) Comes up among the divided Kingdom (Verse 8)

The Papacy came up in Rome Italy, the heart of the divided Kingdom in 538 AD.

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2.  (Size) It would be a little Kingdom. As noted by little Horn. (Verse 8)

Rome is now known as the smallest country in the world. 

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3. (Communication) It would have a man speak at the head of it. (Verse 8)

The Papacy does have a head.  He is known as the Pope. 

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4.  (Comparative Characteristic) It would be “diverse” or different from the other 10 Kingdoms. (Verse 24)

The Papacy is diverse in that it is a “Religious” power. as compared to the other 10 kingdoms which were “Secular” Powers. 

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5. (Origin actions) It would “Pluck up” or “subdue” 3 of the 10 divisions. (Verse 8, 24)

The emperors of Western Europe were largely Catholic and supported the papacy in its growth and authority.

Three Arian kingdoms, however, did not support the papacy–the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths. So the Catholic emperors decided they must be subdued or destroyed.

Here is how Dr. Mervyn Maxwell, a theologian and historian, described the results in volume 1, page 129, of his book God Cares: “The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian Heruls in 493. And the Catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the Arian Vandals in 534 and significantly broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths in 538.

Thus were Daniel’s three horns –the Heruls, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths–‘plucked up by the roots.’ ” It is not difficult to recognize that the papacy fits this point.

It is interesting that the Vatican, home of the pope, sits near what is called the 7 hills of Rome.

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6. (In the place of God) It would speak great words against God. (Verse 25). 

Just as the term anti-Christ does not mean against Christ, but rather in place of Christ, the phrase “speak great words against God is better translated “speak great words concerning God..  The Hebrew word for “against” (tsad) is only used 1 other time  and it is in the previous chapter of Daniel!:

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning (or against) the kingdom;

Daniel 6:4

One of the names of the Pope is “Vicar of Christ.” The term “vicar” comes from the Latin word vicarius, which means “instead of.”  Calling the pope the “Vicar of Christ” implies that he has the same power and authority that Christ had over the church

The Papacy claims to be the voice of God on earth. When the Pope makes a judgement on doctrine, his pronouncements are infallible:

“An infallible pronouncement—whether made by the pope alone or by an ecumenical council—usually is made only when some doctrine has been called into question. Most doctrines have never been doubted by the large majority of Catholics. “

From Catholic Answers website

 “The Pope can make and unmake laws for the entire Church; his authority is supreme and unquestioned. Every bishop, every priest, every member of the Church is subject to him.” Quoted in the New York CatechismThe Catholic book, “My Catholic Faith” which is based on the Baltimore Catechism, on page 251

Further evidence of Roman Catholicism replacing God and His word is in the tradition of seeking a priest to forgive sins.  Only Jesus can forgive sins.  He has attained that right through his sinless life, death, and resurrection.  To think another man can forgive sins is operating “instead” of Christ and is blasphemous.

The Bible defines blasphemy as man claiming to forgive sins

When He saw their faith, He said to him, 

“Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Luke 5:21

The papacy has set up a non-biblical confessional for people to get there sins forgiven.

The Bible tells us we have direct access to Jesus:

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

Jesus said, our confession for the forgiveness of sins is tied  directly to God and not another

“If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

1 John 1:9.

The priest and the one confessing truly belief that sins are being forgiven through the priest:

“Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.”

Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p. 279.

And he also claims to be God………….

“We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”

Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512), manuscript SC, Vol. 32, col. 761 (Latin).

“Thou art another God on earth.”

Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter “The Reunion of Christendom,” dated June 20, 1894, trans. in The Great Encyclical letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: 
Benziger, 1903), p. 304.

“The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.” 

Catholic National, July 1895.

Truly the little horn (the papacy) speaks great words “in place” of God himself.

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7. (Roots in paganism & its practices) It would emerge from Pagan Rome  (Verse, 8)

There is little doubt here, but to let Rome answer for themselves. 

“The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptised … The very capital of the old Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of the pope.” 

Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the Medieval Church, pp. 148, 149.

“Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left … [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the emperor’s disappearance. The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation.” 

Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (New York: Putnam, second edition, revised, 1901), pp. 269, 270.

So again we see the Papacy fits the point. 

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8.  (Activity and time span)  It would wear out the Saints for “times, time, and dividing a time” (Verse 25)

I am going to save this time prophecy until next time so I can spend more dedicated time on confirming its accuracy.  We will see that the rule of the papacy started from 538 AD (the last opposing power against the papacy is conquered) and ended in 1798 (The pope is taken into captivity and dies).  A period of 1, 260 years as predicted by God’s word.  The Bible says after this time that the “wound would be healed” and this is the time we now live in.  The time of the healed papacy that is daily ascending in power and recognition.  The news and internet confirms this.

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9. (Attempts to change God’s word) It would “THINK” to change times and laws (Verse 25)

The papacy has made several changes to the Holy Scripture, but most importantly to the eternal law contained in the ten commandments.  More specifically, the 2nd commandment has been eliminated, the 4th commandment changed, and the 10th commandment divided into two commandments.

This is despite warnings from Jesus and many of the writers of the Bible.  Here are just a couple of verses:

From Jesus (the law giver)

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 18-19

Even the smallest punctuation mark cannot be changed.  Whoever teaches anything different is in danger.  How can the Pope have authority to change anything regarding the eternal law of God?

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:12

The  Roman Catholic church may “think” to change God’s law, but His law is still the same.  It is still a sin to transgress even the smallest of its precepts.

To demonstrate this attempted change, I have listed the 10 commandments (in summary) as described in the Catechism.  This is the official book of the Catholics to teach new converts:

1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Now, compare the 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5:

1.  You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. 

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

A careful comparative review will show that the Roman Catholic church leaders eliminated the 2nd commandment completely and divided the last commandment into two.  Why?

Part of the Roman Catholic worship is to pray to  the”saints” and little figurines that represent them.  While this may seem harmless, it is a direct breaking of the 2nd commandment as given directly to mankind through Moses.  It is also against the spirit of worship of praying directly to the Father through the Holy Spirit.  If the practice of praying to saints in front of their image is harmless, then let the Pope reinstate the 2nd commandment

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They have also changed the 4th Commandment as proof of the church’s authority to do so:

If you were to convert to Catholicism, you would be taught the following….not from the Bible, but from the church’s commentary on the Bible:

In the Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, we read:
Q. Which is the Sabbath day?

A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday….
Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday.
Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her!
—Rev. Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., (1946), p. 50.

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My Friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ.  The little horn power has done more than change a jot (a period) and a title (comma),  which Jesus said was forbidden.  It  has taken a harsh chisel to the immutable law of God.

But, those who would go by God’s word alone (sola Scriptura) are clearly identified as those who oppose the work of the little horn and honor every word of God’s unchanging law.  It is out of love for God and fellow man that they respect the word of God over any power who would speak great things “in place” of God:

And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (church), and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:17

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:12

The final conflict between the little horn (Papacy) and those who oppose its work, will be those who honor every word of God’s commandments

‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

It is a sad commentary that many protestant churches today wonder after and follow the little horn power by minimizing the law of God and looking for another power to be the little horn power.  For a more complete study on God’s law, please go to the category “God’s Will For Us.”

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In the next study, we will layer in more detail concerning the time prophecy found in Daniel 7 and then look at Daniel Chapter 8.  We will then bring in the companion verses of Revelation.  The key to unlocking the prophecies of Revelation are found in Daniel.  As we will see, John saw many of the same things as Daniel.

Blessings my friend!  Make it a God day!

 

All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us, for we live at a time when the end is about to come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

This verse has never been more true than now.  As we study prophecies for our time, it is more than just beasts and symbols.  Some things happened to God’s people that were written down as warnings for us because “we live at a time when the end is about to come.” This is why I must talk about the events of Daniel 3 before we get into the heavy symbols of beasts and future powers.

As shown (from Scripture) in other blogs from this site, the end occurs when Jesus returns.  There is no second chance with a seven-year tribulation.  That time period and the events of the second coming have been misinterpreted. See: Part 3-Second Coming Predictions (7 years of Tribulation?).

There are two types of people when Jesus comes:  Those caught unaware and not watching and those aware and looking:

To the unaware, the Lord comes like “a thief in the night.” They are not looking for Him and don’t expect Him.  To them, everything continues day in and day out as it has since the beginning of time.

There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen. For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. When people say, “Everything is quiet and safe,” then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape. But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-5

Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2 Peter 3:4

It is not so much about the return of Jesus as it is being prepared and aware. Those who trust in Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him are not caught unaware.  He will not come as “a thief in the night.”  This is shown in their exclamation when he finally does come:

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God;we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 25:9

This story found in Daniel 3 gives us warnings, but most of all, it gives us hope in the One who will ultimately save us from the presence and power of sin.  If we read a few verses beyond the warning of 2 Peter 3:5 (shown above), we can understand why the Day of The Lord is postponed.  It is God’s great love and mercy that causes him to tarry.

The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you because he does not want anyone to be destroyed but desires all to turn away from their sins.

2 Peter 3:9

If you read all of 2 Peter, you will see that the above verse is in the context of the second coming.  He promises to return, and He mercifully waits because when He comes, it is over.  There is no seven-year second chance as the enemy and Hollywood would have us believe.

The events of ages past, including Daniel 3, were written down to give us hope during our lowest moments and through the fires of our trials. During this time come the words, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” May we all seek and grip tightly the hope offered us as we read this part of scripture about three young men who made a decision to follow the true God even if it meant giving up their lives.

Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us to have hope through the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us.

Romans 15:4

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We can see in chapter 3 King Nebuchadnezzar has changed his tune from  chapter 2 when he proclaimed to Daniel:

“Your God is the greatest of all gods, the Lord over kings, and the one who reveals mysteries. I know this because you have been able to explain this mystery.”

Daniel 2:47

Twenty-three years have passed between the time of the dream of chapter 2 and the events of chapter 3. The king is like many who, after an exciting revealing of God and the passage of time, soon forget and even doubt the sovereignty of the great Creator.  An experience with God is a continual growing journey, not a destination per se. We must learn to “continue” with God every day (excitement and high spiritual experiences, or not)  otherwise, our tune will change too.

The 23 years of being king with no appearance of “an inferior kingdom of silver” has puffed him up, and his dramatic dream is a distant memory.  Because the kingdom of silver has not shown up, the king perhaps doubts the truthfulness of the dream.  Maybe it was all just a bad dream, or Daniel misinterpreted it.

The king’s pride and self-confidence led him to build an idol that was 90 feet tall and made of gold from the top of its head to the bottom of its feet and toes.  There is no succession of metals such as silver, bronze, iron, and miry clay.  There is certainly no reference or symbols to the rock cut out without hands filling the whole earth.

King Nebuchadnezzar then uses all his political power to force people to worship this idol representing Babylon, especially himself.  He now believes his kingdom will never perish. He tries to become a substitute for Christ (the Son of man)…An anti-Christ of sorts.  Anti does not mean “against” or opposing to Christ.  No!  It is something even more severe.  It means “in place of.”  The king is putting himself in place of God.  This has been Satan’s desire from the start. To be a substitute for God, he is willing to work through the sinful and selfish heart of mankind.

“People of all nations, races, and languages! You will hear the sound of the trumpets, followed by the playing of oboes, lyres, zithers, and harps, and then all the other instruments will join in. As soon as the music starts, you are to bow down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.”

Daniel 3: 4-5

The king falls back into his pagan egotistical ways by making the image entire of gold, thereby denying the plan God has set out to have an “inferior” kingdom arise after the fall of Babylon. He then forces the leaders to come to this service to worship him, represented by this statue made entirely of gold.

The king is also proclaiming himself to be God, but the Lord has three men out of the thousands gathered by the king’s order who are faithful to only the true God. Their experience with God is continuous…

Jesus showing up is not a magic formula or saying the right words in prayer but rather the life that continues in Him and expresses faith (trust) daily.

When the king is informed that three men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) are not bowing as he commanded, he is enraged and heats the furnace seven times to burn them alive.  This show of force does not deter the men whose names were changed from Hananiah (God is my Judge), Mishael (Beloved of the Lord), and Azariah (Who is as God?)

They are given a second chance to bow down and worship, but their answer is quick and to the point:

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, 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. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3: 16-18

Their response is….our Lord will protect us and if He chooses not to do so, we will still stay true to Him. This is the same mind that Job had when he said,

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

Job 13:15

This should be our mind, too; when the time comes for a test, a strong test, we will put our lives entirely in the hands of the Lord who walks with us among the flames of trials and temptations. Our afflictions are but light today. Most of us do not live under a threat of death, but that could all change one day. As we will see in the prophecies of Revelation and Babylon described in its chapters, there will be a similar time of being told to worship the Beast under the threat of death.

The furnace is so hot that the men who throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego bound by cords into the furnace are killed themselves.

As with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus shows up as the “other form” in the midst of their affliction at just the right time. Often it is not until we have demonstrated complete faith that He acts on our behalf. Other times, He just shows up when we are discouraged, as he did with the two men on the road to Emmaus.  He knows and understands our weaknesses.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103: 14

The men come out of the furnace without a trace of the smell of smoke or flame.  The cords that bound them are the only things burned by the fiery ordeal.

As we put our trust in the Lord during the flames, the cords and sin that bind us are consumed like dross from silver revealing freedom and a polished character.

Blessed be the experience, however severe, that gives new value to the stone, enabling it to shine with living brightness!.. From the devotional book, Our Father Cares, p. 282

When the King sees the men in the hot furnace, he asks and exclaims:

“Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”…Look!…I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Daniel 3: 24-25

The king then goes as near as he can get to the furnace and says to them to “come out” and “come here.” The men to come out and the rulers of the land observe that not only was no hair on their head burned, but they don’t even have the smell of fire or smoke on them!

….they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Daniel 3: 27

To come out of an intense ordeal or experience is a powerful testimony for the Kingdom of God.  Our experience with God is not just about our salvation from the flames, but for those who watch and see the protection and grace of our Lord.  Our trials are opportunities to seek God’s will and witness for His kingdom to reach the hard heart of unbelievers.

This experience teaches the King something about the true God.  He praises God and says,

 “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!”

Daniel 3:28

The story ends with the promotion of the three men.  But also the king’s proclamation that is not in character with God.  The king still has much to learn about the character of God.  In the next chapter, we see that he again slips back after this powerful experience.

 I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

Daniel 3:29

King Nebuchadnezzar makes a decree that forces others to worship the true God under the penalty of death. While that day’s experience is a victorious turn of events and the king wants to recognize the great Deliverer, it is not a good decree. God does not force people to accept Him. Instead, He draws people by His character and His love as demonstrated on the cross:

 “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness, I have drawn you.”

Jeremiah 31:3

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:32

A better response from the king would be to honor God instead of forcing people under the threat of death. Thus it will be in the last day when the great image of the beast is erected for all to fall down and worship or be under a penalty of economic sanction and even death.

In Chapter 3 of Daniel, this story is a warning about another Babylon found in Revelation.  God will encourage people to come out of her.  The Beast of Revelation 13 will use the same force to make people worship another image. But those who know God and the light of His word will be like the three men who said,

“we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

 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.

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.

Daniel 3: 17:18

Our Lord will walk with us during times of trouble.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalm 37: 39

He has said,

 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

May we continue in God as we consider His warnings found in His word and trust in His promises.

As we get into the heavy symbols of end-time events, remember that regardless of how you might feel about them, it is essential that you know the Lord, for there is salvation in no other name.  Knowing Him will keep us all safe from the treacherous events already arising on this earth.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10