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| 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, |
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| 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
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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 falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be 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 people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. |
The golden image – Representing Nebuchadnezzar in that it represented his god. R4874:2
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| 8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, 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 spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. |
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| 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 music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: |
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| 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. |
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| 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. |
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 his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men 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 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? |
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 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 music, 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? |
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 Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
Most mighty men – Prominent officers, to demonstrate the power of his army. R2495:3
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| 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. |
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 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 Abednego. |
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 Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. |
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| 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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| 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. |
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 promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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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