Category: The Nation Israel

The Burning Fiery Furnace #5

Monday, March 7, 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?”

Having decided to follow the LORD, Israel’s believing remnant undergoes a terrible fate: “[23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. [24] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, 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.” Never has Nebuchadnezzar beheld such a sight! Not only are the three men free from their bonds—walking around unharmed in the flames—there is a fourth man! This is none other but “the Son of God,” the Lord Jesus Christ, in a pre-incarnate appearance.

“[26] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. [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.” Furthermore, as these three saints exit the fire alive, there is no scent of fire emanating from them, their clothes are intact, and not even a strand of their hair is burned! The LORD Himself has personally intervened….

The Burning Fiery Furnace #4

Sunday, March 6, 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?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in an unenviable position. Either they could abandon the LORD God and worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, or they could disobey the king’s commandment and be thrown alive into a burning fiery furnace. It was quite an easy choice for them, for they bore in mind the timeless adage, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We read their response again: “[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. [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. [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.” Notice, they were so firm in their convictions they would never worship pagan gods—even if their God failed to rescue them from that awful death penalty!

Nebuchadnezzar, extremely upset, has the furnace’s temperature increased seven times hotter than usual (verse 19). Finally, true to his word, he proceeds to execute these saints! “[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. [22] Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. [23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

Let us now see the LORD work….

The Burning Fiery Furnace #3

Saturday, March 5, 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?”

“[13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. [14] Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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?

“[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. [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. [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. [19] Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. [20] And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.”

Daniel’s friends have been sentenced to death by fire….

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The Burning Fiery Furnace #2

Friday, March 4, 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?”

“[8] Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. [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. [12] There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Recall, the Southern Kingdom of Judah had been exiled to Babylon some years prior, resulting in the young Prophet Daniel and his three companions (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; cf. Daniel 1:6,7) living in a foreign land among Gentiles. In the context of today’s Scripture, Daniel’s absence is unexplained, but his three friends (bearing new names) are being persecuted for their faith in JEHOVAH God. In the midst of a heathen people (Babylonians), working in the government of a pagan king (Nebuchadnezzar), Daniel’s three believing associates are intensely pressured to participate in a satanic world religion. Nebuchadnezzar has constructed a gigantic idol—perhaps an obelisk, a tall tower symbolizing the male reproductive organ!—but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow before it during a “praise and worship” service. Their acts are considered treasonous and blasphemous to the Chaldeans, so these Gentiles tattle on them to Nebuchadnezzar.

Now, the King of Babylon responds most severely….

The Burning Fiery Furnace #1

Thursday, March 3, 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?”

We start at the beginning of Daniel chapter 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. [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. [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.

“[4] Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, [5] 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: [6] And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. [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.”

Let us see what happens next….

Two Abominations #4

Saturday, February 26, 2022

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a transdispensational truth, pertinent to any and every age.

“And there was much murmuring [grumbling, complaining] among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people” (John 7:12). Again, to the believers, Christ Jesus was a “good man.” To the unbelievers, He was nothing but a “deceiver.” Here are two views of one God-Man—the first truthful, the second inaccurate. Such diametrically divergent positions about Him are taken even now.

Our world abounds with various beliefs and sundry values. Everyone and everything cannot be correct. One person has adopted a certain course of action, but another follows the direct opposite path in life. What is right to one is wrong to the other. How can what we believe and do have any eternal, meaningful merit if each person uses a different set of assessment standards? According to the Bible, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). We can be certain there will be one final evaluation of everything everyone has believed and done. That is the only way true justice will ever be meted out.

As we read in today’s Scripture, the just finds fault with the unjust, and the wicked condemns the upright. Someone is right; someone is wrong. No, rather, one belief system is truth and the other belief system is false. The Holy Bible furnishes us with information by which we can gauge doctrine and conduct exactly as the Lord does. “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Yet, very few of us can ever master that data because denominations, philosophy, and other forms of unbelief waste our time and energy. If we do happen to be “upright in the way,” the majority—not upright, having squandered its time with nonsense—is unable to appreciate God’s ministry in us. Nevertheless, despite their hatred for us, we can make sure not to follow the “unjust” in their truly abominable thoughts and works.

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does, ‘bray a fool,’ mean?”

Two Abominations #3

Friday, February 25, 2022

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a transdispensational truth, pertinent to any and every age.

Delivering His Sermon on the Plain, the Lord declared: “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22). Years later, the Holy Spirit expanded on that in 1 Peter 3:16,17: “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” See also Matthew 10:22-25 and Luke 21:12-19.

“He that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Remember, the Book of Proverbs (including today’s Scripture) is God’s wisdom for Israel’s believing remnant as it outsmarts Satan’s wisdom under the Antichrist (yet future from us, after our mystery program has concluded). As the Antichrist’s supporters are deceived (wrongly believing he is Messiah/Christ; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12), they naturally begin persecuting their Jewish brethren who have trusted Jesus as Messiah/Christ. It is important these suffering saints not lose hope (purpose of 1 Peter).

Also, the Jewish Little Flock needs to detect error and discern truth (purpose of 1, 2, and 3 John), enabling them to see and avoid the unbelievers’ evil: “An unjust man [Antichrist’s follower] is an abomination to the just [Jesus’ disciple].” See 1 John 3:11-14: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren [the just, upright], if the world [the unjust, wicked] hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death [like Cain, really an unbeliever!].”

Thankfully, the Lord will make one final evaluation of all….

Two Abominations #2

Thursday, February 24, 2022

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a transdispensational truth, pertinent to any and every age.

When preaching to Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter described Christ’s earthly ministry in the following terms: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (verse 38). That is, whatever Jesus did during those three years had advanced Father God’s cause in Israel, thereby overturning Satan’s efforts in that same nation.

Now, mark well the observations of sinful flesh concerning Jesus. “Nay, but he deceiveth the people” (John 7:12)! “He is beside himself [crazy]” (Mark 3:21)! “He hath a devil, and is mad [crazy]” (John 10:20)! “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub [Satan] the prince of the devils” (Matthew 12:24)! “Thou hast a devil” (John 7:20)! “Behold a gluttonous [greedy for food] man, and a winebibber [drunkard], a friend [buddy] of publicans [tax collectors] and sinners” (Luke 7:34)! Such absurdities could come only from the lips of souls whom natural-man thinking dominated. Remember the second portion of today’s Scripture? “And he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Lost people still slander God’s people even now—“troublemaker,” “hater,” “narrow-minded bigot,” “self-righteous,” “know-it-all!”

Recall the first part of today’s Scripture. “An unjust man is an abomination to the just.” An example of this is Luke 16:15: “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Here, God is disgusted with sinful behavior because He hates it. Above all, He is most displeased when the “pious elite” pretend their religious works will ever be an acceptable substitute for His righteousness. That was the chief problem with the Pharisees to which that verse was addressed (verse 14)—and of many billions even now.

Let us see how today’s Scripture reaches into the future….

Only One Left? #7

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

Indeed, the Christian’s life is difficult, for it concerns surviving the pitfalls of the pervasive evil world system. Everyone, everywhere is actually walking through a spiritual minefield. As grace-oriented Christians, dispensational Bible students, we are even more mindful of the perils. Religious apostasy is universal!

Spending his last moments on Earth imprisoned in Rome, the Apostle Paul lamented: “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15). The precious believers in Christ in Turkey—that is, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosse, Laodicea, and so on—had forsaken grace doctrine. Paul himself had led them to faith in Christ, and taught them several years. Awaiting his execution, he recalled the heartbreaking news of their departure from the truth.

Demas, once an immensely helpful ministry friend (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24), deserted Paul too: “[Timothy] Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus” (2 Timothy 4:9-12). Despite all that heartache, Paul was not the only one left: faithful Timothy, faithful Crescens, faithful Titus, faithful Luke, faithful John Mark (having recovered from his own disappearance from ministry a decade-plus prior; Acts 13:13), and faithful Tychicus remained. Paul himself would soon pass off the scene—but the Holy Spirit would use his epistles, Romans through Philemon, to continue his ministry right up to our current moment.

If ever our associates in even grace ministry leave us, or even if we must take a stand against them for their error, we will feel like the “only one left.” Yet, we are not alone, for if we are on the Lord’s side, He is with us, and He (that) is sufficient! 🙂

Only One Left? #6

Monday, February 21, 2022

“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14 KJV).

Was the Prophet Elijah really “the only one left?”

No, he was not. Likewise, neither are we. To be sure, while there are far fewer genuine Christians than there could be, there are far more than we know personally. Although there is an even smaller number of mature saints among them, it involves more than you and me. The Message of Grace existed for almost 20 centuries before our birth; if the Lord permits, it will go on well after our death and subsequent graduation to Heaven. Our King James Bible has endured for over 400 years; it will outlast us. Whether we live or die, God’s rightly divided words will go on and on and on, throughout the endless ages to come. He will always be working through someone somewhere. “The word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Unquestionably, the very nature of the Dispensation of Grace is one of departure from the truth. Ever since Genesis chapter 3, it has always been popular to disregard God’s current revelation. Throughout the history of the nation Israel, God’s words were ignored. With the formation of the Church the Body of Christ these last 2,000 years, church history mirrors what happened with Israel. There was great spiritual light imparted at the beginning, but it was gradually overlooked and replaced with traditions and opinions of men. By the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, the doctrine He had given to Israel was just a hollow, worthless religious system. When He comes to take us at the Rapture, the organized church will be revealed to be a failure (a great many of the two billion “Christians” today left behind, lost as lost can be!); the few who are true believers, much of their doctrine will be exposed as insignificant at the Judgment Seat of Christ. As the Lord returns yet again for Israel, there will be another small believing remnant.

Again, even if it appears feeble and declining, God’s ministry goes on….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does ‘had in abomination’ mean?”