Day: March 9, 2022

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

“Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:4-6 KJV).

Is today’s Scripture “dead history?” Or, could there be any relevance to something in “the ages to come?”

When enumerating the many members of the Bible’s great “hall of faith” in chapter 11 of his Book, the writer of Hebrews makes a quick, passing mention of “[those saints] Who through faith… Quenched the violence of fire” (verses 33,34). Of course, these believers would be none other than Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, survivors of Nebuchadnezzar’s burning fiery furnace.

The King of Babylon himself comments on the matter in Daniel chapter 3: “[28] Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, 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. [29] Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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. [30] Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”

Hebrews points to the time when the Antichrist—also connected to Babylon (see Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2,10,21)—constructs an “image” or idol for the world to worship (just like Nebuchadnezzar). His religious leader, the False Prophet, facilitates the heathenism: “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast [Antichrist], that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15). Here is Israel’s believing remnant of the future, targeted for their faith as their brethren in time past….