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| 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king hath made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits; he hath raised it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon; |
Nebuchadnezzar – The representative lord of earth. B96
Recognized not only as civil, but also as religious ruler. R2494:6
Representing the Papacy. R2495:6
Made an image – Having just won some great victories over the surrounding nations of Egypt, Syria, etc. R2494:2
Pride overbalancing his judgment. PD51/62
Of Bel-Merodach, the god Nebuchadnezzar believed had given him his victories. R4874:1
To impress all nations with the greatness and magnificence of the Babylonian power and of the futility of resisting it. R4874:1
Symbolizing the coming Protestant Confederation, cooperating with the Papacy. D581; R2495:6
The Roman Catholic church is an idol, as are the Greek Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc. --all similarly demanding worship, obedience and revenue. R2496:1
The first step in the formation of the symbolic image of Papacy is the organization of the Evangelical Alliance; the second step is an active living cooperation of Protestants as one system. R2495:6
The great Evangelical Alliance of so-called Protestant denominations; the likeness to the "Beast" consisting of its doctrines and general policy. R1409:4
There are idols just as potent today--the various creeds of Christendom which men have set to intercept the worship of the true and living God. R1408:6
The religious unity of the empire was to be demonstrated b a general worship of the golden image. R4874:2, R2494:3, R4873:6
Ninety feet high and nine feet wide. R2494:3, R4874:2
Worship of the symbolic beast and his image is to be a great test or trial upon professing Christians in the end of this age. R2495:6
Of gold – Not necessarily of solid gold. Herodotus mentions a smaller statue at Babylon of solid gold, weighing 43,000 pounds. R4874:5
Set it up – Today various idols are set up all over Christendom. R2495:5
The plain of Dura – Probably in the center of the city of Babylon. R2494:3
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| 2 and Nebuchadnezzar the king hath sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the province, to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up. |
Sent to gather – Benevolence, as well as wisdom, was at the foundation of Nebuchadnezzar's scheme. R4874:1
Considering the theory of the Jews to bless all the families of the earth a wise one, and himself the opportune person to carry it out. R4874:1
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| 3 Then are gathered the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the province, to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up: and they are standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar hath raised up. |
Of the provinces – The provinces of Babylon today are the various civilized nations--deluded into calling themselves kingdoms of Christ, "Christendom." R2495:5
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| 4 And a crier is calling mightily: 'To you they are saying: O peoples, nations, and languages! |
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| 5 at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up: |
Golden Image – Which represented Nebuchadnezzar in that it represented his god. R4874:2
Having one religion might help to cement the various incongruous elements of his kingdom. R4874:1
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| 6 and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, in that hour he is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.' |
Falleth not down – Those who will not bow are overcomers. R2495:6, R323:6
The time is fast approaching when the religious liberty we now enjoy will be greatly restricted and the work of disseminating truth interfered with by combined civil and ecclesiastical power. R1409:1
The worship of the symbolic beast and his image are to be the great test or trial upon professing Christians in every province of symbolic Babylon in the end of this age. R2495:6
Fiery furnace – Symbolizing the time of trouble. B162; C146
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| 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples are hearing the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, falling down are all the peoples, nations and languages, doing obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up. |
The golden image – Representing Nebuchadnezzar in that it represented his god. R4874:2
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| 8 Therefore at that time drawn near have certain Chaldeans, and accused the Jews; |
Certain Chaldeans – No doubt the three Hebrews, like all good men, had their enemies. R2494:6
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| 9 they have answered, yea, they are saying to Nebuchadnezzar the king, 'O king, to the ages live! |
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| 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man who doth hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, doth fall down and do obeisance to the golden image; |
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| 11 and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. |
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| 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the work of the province of Babylon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, these men have not made of thee, O king, [any] regard; thy gods they are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up are not making obeisance.' |
Certain Jews – Daniel is not mentioned here, possibly because he was one of the king's personal staff and household. R2494:6
Just where Daniel was at this time we do not know. R4873:3
Have not regarded – Had defied the king's power. R4874:3
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| 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in anger and fury, hath said to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Then these men have been brought in before the king. |
Rage and fury – Disappointed at the only in harmony that had occurred with his great project. R4874:5
At the three whom the king had so graciously treated at the time of their captivity, and who apparently owed so much to him. How ungrateful and traitorous they appeared. R4874:6
When we read that King Nebuchadnezzar became furious we should sympathetically remember the circumstances. R4874:5
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| 14 Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and said to them, 'Is [it] a laid plan, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego my gods ye are not serving, and to the golden image that I have raised up ye are not doing obeisance |
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego – Daniel is omitted, possibly because, as a member of the king's personal staff, his conduct would not come so directly in contrast with the general conduct. R2494:6
Just where Daniel was we do not know, but his three companions were governors of Babylonian provinces. R4873:3
It was a crucial test for them, for they knew that to cross the king's will meant death. R2494:6
Worship the golden Image – All, including Israel, were commanded to worship the idol. R1408:2
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| 15 Now, lo, ye are ready, so that at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the image that I have made! and lo, ye do no obeisance in that hour ye are cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; who is that God who doth deliver you out of my hands ' |
If ye be ready – He would give these headstrong governors a further chance for their lives. R4874:4
Cornet, flute, harp – Picturing the enchanting music of the hour. R323:6
Ye fall down – Thus indicate their loyalty to the king and to his gods. R2494:5
If ye worship not – A treasonable offence punishable with death. R1408:2
Fiery furnace – Perhaps the one used in melting the gold for the image of immense size. R2495:3
Representing fiery trials--social ostracism and financial boycotts. R2496:1
If New Creatures be called upon to go through a furnace of affliction, God will be with them that they shall not be hurt, but blest. R1409:5
Who is that God – In his arrogance of mind he felt prepared to contest even the unseen and unknown invisible powers. R2495:1
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| 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego have answered, yea, they are saying to the king Nebuchadnezzar, 'We have no need concerning this matter to answer thee. |
Answered – In their faithfulness to God, these three men preferred a dreadful death. R1408:2
In modern times the killing is not necessarily physical, but in a social sense--cutting off of influence, name, etc. R1409:4
Not careful to answer – Not anxious to argue the matter with the king. R2495:2
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| 17 Lo, it is; our God whom we are serving, is able to deliver us from a burning fiery furnace; and from thy hand, O king, He doth deliver. |
If it be so – We are not able to know what may be God's will respecting the remainder of our lives. R4874:4
Whom we serve – Not merely worship. R2497:1
Let us resolve to neither worship nor serve sectarianism nor mammon, but only the Lord our God. R2497:4
God's children today should refuse to bow down to the image of war. Q731:4; R5755:5
Fiery furnace – Of tribulation; in their families, communities or businesses. R323:6
He will deliver us – If not a present deliverance, then a still more glorious deliverance and reward in the future. R1409:6
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| 18 And lo not! be it known to thee, O king, that thy gods we are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up we do no obeisance.' |
But if not – If he does not choose to deliver us, that will not alter our course. R5755:5
We must not expect God to deliver us in every case. R4874:4
There are two ways of escape--by avoidance of the trouble or being kept from its poignancy by "grace sufficient" --out of the furnace of affliction, or in the furnace heated seven times. R2975:5
While the Lord delivered the three Hebrews, he did not prevent the beheading of John; while Peter was delivered, James was not; while Paul's life was preserved, the Apostle John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil. R2496:3
To be loyal and true to God in these days requires as much courage and true heroism as was necessary in the days of gross idolatry. R1408:6
There are trials before the Lord's people today that are fully as severe. R2495:5
Not serve thy gods – Various creeds of Christendom and traditions of men. R1408:6
God's children should refuse to bow down to the image of war. Q731:4
We must neither worship nor serve sectarianism, nor mammon, nor fame, nor friends, nor self. R2497:4
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| 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar hath been full of fury, and the expression of his face hath been changed concerning Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; he answered and said to heat the furnace seven times above that which it is seen to be heated; |
Full of fury – He had conquered the world. Would he now be defied by these three men? R4874:5, R2495:1
Visage was changed – From admiration to hate. R2495:2
Heat the furnace – Naphtha may have been the fuel used in the great open furnace. R4874:5
Seven times more – To its utmost capacity. R2495:3; PD51/62
Forgetting that thereby the sufferings of those cast therein would be diminished. R4874:5
The Lord will keep his own--whether out of the furnace of affliction, or in it, heated seven times. R2975:5
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| 20 and to certain mighty men who [are] in his force he hath said to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to cast into the burning fiery furnace. |
Most mighty men – Prominent officers, to demonstrate the power of his army. R2495:3
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| 21 Then these men have been bound in their coats, their tunics, and their turbans, and their clothing, and have been cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. |
In their coats – In their official garb. R2495:3
Cast into the midst – So here, those who do not worship the image are speedily in a "fiery furnace" of tribulation. R323:6
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| 22 Therefore, because that the word of the king is urgent, and the furnace heated exceedingly, those men who have taken up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego killed them hath the spark of the fire. |
The flame of the fire – A Jewish legend tells that the fire streamed out 75 feet, perhaps driven by a gust of wind or perhaps occasioned by the throwing in of additional fuel. R4874:5
Slew those men – Possibly by the inhalation of the flames. R2495:3
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| 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, have fallen down in the midst of the burning fiery furnace bound. |
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| 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king hath been astonished, and hath risen in haste; he hath answered and said to his counsellors, 'Have we not cast three men into the midst of the fire bound ' They have answered and are saying to the king, 'Certainly, O king.' |
Three men – In Dan. 6:7 Daniel alone refused to wondeed" refused to worship the image. So the number who are not worshiping the image now are probably three to one over those who did not worship the beast. R323:6
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| 25 He answered and hath said, 'Lo, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth [is] like to a son of the gods.' |
Loose – Sometimes the fires of persecution merely burn the cords that bind the Lord's people and give them larger opportunities to serve the truth than they could otherwise have. R2496:3
They have no hurt – The Lord may possibly allow his saints to go through much of the time of trouble, but render them fireproof in the midst of it, because the Son of God is with them. B162
Form of the fourth – Of the most remarkable appearance, causing the kin to speak of him as one of the gods. R4874:6, R2495:3
The Son of God – The Head--the True Head--is with those who will not bow when all others bow. R323:6
The faithful ones pass through trying experiences with fortitude, having endured as seeing him who is invisible. (Heb. 11:27) R4784:4
New Creatures, going through a furnace of affliction, shall be blest by the Master's presence and communion. R1409:5, R2496:2
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| 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar hath drawn near to the gate of the burning fiery furnace; he hath answered and said, 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of God Most High come forth, yea, come;' then come forth do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, from the midst of the fire; |
Ye servants of...God – The king realized that he had made a great mistake and defied the great God. R2495:4
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| 27 and gathered together, the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the counsellors of the king, are seeing these men, that the fire hath no power over their bodies, and the hair of their head hath not been singed, and their coats have not changed, and the smell of fire hath not passed on them. |
Fire had no power – Satan imitates this exercise of divine power among Indian medicine men. R2174:2
The fire in the end of this age "shall try every man's work of what sort it is," (1 Cor. 3:13) consuming all but the gen R2496:4
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| 28 Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and hath said, 'Blessed [is] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who hath sent His messenger, and hath delivered His servants who trusted on Him, and the word of the king changed, and gave up their bodies that they might not serve nor do obeisance to any god except to their own God. |
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| 29 And by me a decree is made, that any people, nation, and language, that doth speak erroneously concerning the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, pieces he is made, and its house is made a dunghill, because that there is no other god who is able thus to deliver.' |
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego – The king rejoiced in the noble characters of these men. R2496:5
He promoted them to still higher positions. R2495:5
So with Christians. Having demonstrated their fidelity to God to this extent, their trials and troubles are turned into blessings and joys. R2496:2
No other God – A simple and beautiful acknowledgment of the God of the Hebrews. R2495:4
Sometimes even the worldly, seeing the Lord's people in the furnace of affliction receiving a blessing, thus glorify our Heavenly Father's name. R2496:3
While idolatry had been one of the chief sins of the Israelites before the captivity, they had little idolatry in its crude form afterward. R2495:4
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| 30 Then the king hath caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to prosper in the province of Babylon. |
The king promoted – To still higher positions, for they had still more of his confidence respecting their integrity. R2495:5
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