History repeats itself. During the Tribulation, Antichrist rules the Beast (world government) and the False Prophet rules the second beast (world religion). They make and give life to the image of the Beast. We do not know if the form is android, cyborg, clone or demon. All of humanity must worship the image or die. Many Christians will take a stand for God. They are willing to die than bow the knee. Through life or death, our God is able to deliver us from the hands of Satan and his doomed kingdom and into the presence of God.

… they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 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 (Revelation 13:14-15).

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End War Chapter 6 - Symbols Revealed, Chapter 13 - Minor Feasts, Major Events, Daniel's Dream, Unholy Trinity, World Government, World Religion, World Economy

Daniel 3: Taking a Stand
May 2022

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream. There was a statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay. He demanded his advisors tell the dream and the interpretation. Daniel and his friend prayed and God revealed the dream and 3600 years of human history. Babylon is the head of gold, Media-Persia is the chest and arms of silver, Greece is the stomach and thighs of brass, Rome is the legs of iron and the revived Roman empire is the weak feet of iron and clay. During the Tribulation, ten king give power to the Antichrist (Revelation 17:12-13). Then all nations fall and Jesus Christ reigns.

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was [ninety feet], and the width was [nine feet]: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon (Daniel 3:1).

While Daniel used prophecy to glorify God, Nebuchadnezzar used prophecy for pride. He commanded they make an image of gold ninety feet tall. Then he invited all government officials to the dedication so they could worship the image of the king.

That at what time you hear the sound of … all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up (Daniel 3:5).

Maybe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not get the message to fall down and worship. So the whole assembly repeated the music a second time. The three Jews took a stand and did not bow the knee to anyone but the God of Abraham. Daniel is not mentioned in this chapter but his commitment to God strengthened the faith of his Jewish friends. A few jealous wise men went to Nebuchadnezzar and accused the Jews of not worshipping the image and they must face the consequences of the fiery furnace.

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up (Daniel 3:17-18).

Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter. The king's elite soldiers bound the men and threw them into the furnace. The soldiers died because of the hot fire.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished … 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. He answered and said, Look, 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 (Daniel 3:24-25).

At the beginning, the three fell down in the furnace. Unlike the soldiers, fire had no power over them. They did not hurt, their hair was not singed, their clothes did not burn and they did not smell of fire. However, the fire burned their ropes and they were truly free and walking around. Nebuchadnezzar saw three men sent in the furnace but he saw a fourth man like the Son of Man. God the Son has already gone through the fire at the cross and God is always with us especially when we take a step of faith and go into the fire for the glory of God.

Nebuchadnezzar called the three to come out. He made a decree to protect the Jews from persecution for worshiping God. The three were promoted which helped the Jewish people captive in Babylon. In the Hall of Faith, they "Quenched the violence of fire" by their faith in God (Hebrews 11:34).