"The Beast and his image"

   from Dwelling in Daniel

WHEN THE EARTH IS UNDER A ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT OR LEADER (THE ANTI-CHRIST) WHAT WOULD LIFE BE LIKE? WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE ASKED TO BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP THIS RULER OR AN IMAGE OF HIS MAKING.

Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, 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.

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

IN CHAPTER 2 OF DANIEL WE SAW EVIDENCE THROUGH NEBUCHADNEZZER’S DREAM THAT WE ARE MOST SURELY IN THE END TIMES. GOD SHOWS US WHAT MUST COME TO PASS AND OVER THE AGES IT HAS DONE JUST THAT.

THE GREAT EMPIRES HAVE COME AND GONE AND NOW WE ARE IN THE LAST SEGMENT OF TIME BEFORE CHRIST COMES, AND HIS KINGDOM REINS FOREVER. THE PROPHECY PUTS US IN AN AREA OF TIME TALKED ABOUT BY JESUS, WHEN HE SAID THERE WOULD BE WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. ( MAT 24. 6) AND NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION. (MAT 24. 7).

FROM THE TIME OF THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO THIS DAY THERE HAS BEEN ONE WAR AFTER ANOTHER. AND EVEN TODAY WE HAVE RUMORS OF WARS, KOSAVO, CROATIA, SOMALIA, THE PERSIAN GULF WARS, VIET NAM, AFGHANISTAN, WW I AND WW II, AND SO ON. AND JESUS SAID THESE ARE JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE SORROWS. (MAT 24.8)

DANIEL CHAPTER 3

Dan 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.

Dan 3:2 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.

THE TIME IS SOON AND WE WILL HAVE THIS VERY THING HAPPEN. IT HAS BEEN FORETOLD BY THE GREAT PROPHETS. AND SOON DANIEL WILL TELL US BUT FIRST WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE UNDER SUCH POWER.

READ ISIAH CHAPTER 46, WHO WAS ALSO FROM AROUND THIS TIME, AND SEE WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT BABYLON’S IDOLS AND GODS. AND IN THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK . Hab 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

Dan 3:3 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.

TAKE NOTICE OF THE SIZE OF THE IMAGE 60 X 6. THE NUMBER 6 IN THE BIBLE MOST GENERALLY MEANS SOMETHING IS INCOMPLETE, UNFINISHED OR IMPERFECT.

WE CAN ALSO SEE THAT THE KING WILL RULE EVERY ONE BECAUSE ALL ARE UNDER HIM. ALL THE OFFICES FALL UNDER THE RULER AND WE FALL UNDER THEIR RULE AT ONE LEVEL OR ANOTHER.

Dan 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

Dan 3:5 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:

Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

WE WILL NOT ONLY BE UNDER THE RULES OF THE ONE WORLD POWER BUT WE WILL BE EXPECTED TO WORSHIP ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. READ REV 14. 9-10

REMEMBER THE SIZE OF THE IMAGE, MOST WRITINGS LIST 6 INSTRUMENTS IN VERSE 5 THUS THE THIRD 6 POSSIBLY SHOWING THE REPRESENTATION OR EXAMPLE OF THE BEAST FROM REVELATION. PART OF GODS PLAN OR COINCIDENCE?

IF WE REFUSE TO WORSHIP THE IMAGE IT WILL SURELY BE FOR CHRIST’S NAME BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER REASON WHY SOMEONE WOULD REFUSE. THOSE WHO REFUSE TO WORSHIP THE BEAST OR RECEIVE HIS MARK WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BY OR SELL AND LIFE WILL TRULY BE A TRIBULATION. (REV 13. 16-17)

Dan 3:7 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.

Dan 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

WE SEE ALREADY THAT THE CHALDEANS ARE ALREADY POINTING THE FINGER AT THE JEWS. WHAT WAS JESUS SAYING? (Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.)

Dan 3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Dan 3:10 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:

Dan 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Dan 3:12 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.

IT LOOKS LIKE DANIEL’S BUDDIES GOT CAUGHT NOT BOWING DOWN TO WORSHIP THE IMAGE. AFTER ALL WHAT WAS THE VERY FIRST OF GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS?

Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

GOD SHOWS MERCY TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

Dan 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Dan 3:14 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?

Dan 3:15 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?

THE KING CAN’T BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WOULD REFUSE TO WORSHIP HIS GODS. PROBABLY MOST ANYONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEM INSANE AFTER ALL TO REFUSE TO BOW DOWN IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Dan 3:17 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.

WHAT A GREAT EXAMPLE OF TRUE FAITH IN GOD. IF IT IS HIS WILL HE IS PERFECTLY CAPABLE TO DELIVER US FROM THE FIRE. PAUL IN HIS SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY GIVES A GOOD TESTIMONY TO HIS TRUST IN THE LORD. 2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

`NOTE THAT THEY WERE NOT EVEN CAREFUL AS TO HOW THEY WOULD ANSWER THE KING BECAUSE TO THEM THERE WAS ONLY ONE ANSWER. LET’S SEE WHAT JESUS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS

Luk 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

Luk 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Dan 3:19 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.

Dan 3:20 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.

SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO HAVE PUT MORE THAN MERE TRUST IN GOD THEY HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES IN HIS HANDS.

Pro 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Dan 3:21 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.

Dan 3:22 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.

THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT ITS HEAT KILLED THE MEN THAT TOOK THE BOYS TO THE FURNACE.

Dan 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Dan 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, 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.

Dan 3:25 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.

I PICTURE THESE MIGHTY MEN STRUGGLING WITH THE HEAT MORE THAN THEY DID WITH THE THREE HEBREWS AND WHEN THEY COLLAPSED FROM THE HEAT THEN THE BOYS FELL ON INTO THE FIRE.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON SEEN IN THE FIRE COULD IT BE AN ANGEL OR IS IT JESUS HIMSELF. ONE THING IS FOR SURE OLD NEB ADMITS IT LOOKS LIKE THE SON OF GOD.

Dan 3:26 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.

Dan 3:27 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.

A FIRE SO HOT THAT SEVERAL MEN DIE FROM JUST GETTING TO CLOSE BUT SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO DON’T EVEN SMELL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN NEAR A FIRE. AWESOME!

Dan 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.

Dan 3:29 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.

Dan 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO SOMEONE WHO TRULY BELIEVES AND PUTS THEIR TRUST IN GOD. MAYBE OLD KING NEB IS FINALLY COMING AROUND.

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

WHAT OBVIOUS LESSONS WE RECEIVE FROM DANIEL, CHAPTER ONE SHOWS US THAT THE CAPTIVE HEBREWS COULD LEARN TO LIVE IN CAPTIVITY UNDER THEIR NEW KING AND STILL DO GODS WILL. IN CHAPTER TWO WE HAVE A GREAT PROPHECY THAT TELLS US WE ARE INDEED IN THE END TIMES. CHAPTER THREE GIVES US THE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE WORLD ORDER AND POLITICAL RULE OF THE BEAST WE WILL HAVE TO ENDURE AND LETS US KNOW THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TRUST IN HIM. READ WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE FAITH OF THESE EARLY PROPHETS AND OTHERS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES IN HIS LETTER TO THE HEBREWS, CHAPTER 11.

WHO WILL BOW DOWN ?

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