and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And

King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors,

the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to

come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. NKJV

iniquity. At its core is the desire to be admired, to be worshipped. This

temptation has been around since the beginning of free-willed creatures. The

Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You

who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will

ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will

also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most

High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of

the Pit." NKJV

a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves."

obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let

Israel go." NKJV

Judah, saying: 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you,

saying, "Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."

11 Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands

by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods

of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan

and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of

Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?'" NKJV

6. Nebuchadnezzar

7. Antiochus Epiphanes IV

The epithet Epiphanes is an abbreviation of theos epiphanes, which is the

designation given to himself by Antiochus on his coins, and means "the

god who appears or reveals himself." Egyptian writers translate the

inscription, "God which comes forth," namely, like the burning sun,

Horos, on the horizon, thus identifying the king with the triumphal,

appearing god. (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia,

Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)

Jewish rabbis considered the prophecy fulfilled when the Jews erected an

idol altar, described as "the abomination of desolation" in 1 Macc. 1:54;

6:7. This was necessarily followed by the profanation of the temple under

the Old Testament antichrist, Antiochus Epiphanes. He built an idolatrous

altar on the altar of burnt offering to Jupiter Olympius, and dedicated the

temple to him, and offered swine's flesh. (from Fausset's Bible Dictionary,

Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998 by Biblesoft)

Josephus says of him that he "did neither rebuke them [the people] nor

reject their impious flattery. A severe pain arose in his belly, and began in

a most violent manner. And when he was quite worn out by the pain in his

angel, but says that when he looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a rope

over his head, and judging it to be an evil omen; he immediately became

melancholy, and was seized with the pain.

[Because he did not give God the glory] Because he was willing to receive

the worship due to God. It was the more sinful in him as he was a Jew, and

was acquainted with the true God, and with the evils of idolatry. He was

proud, and willing to be flattered, and even adored. He had sought their

applause; he had arrayed himself in this splendid manner to excite

admiration; and when they carried it even so far as to offer divine homage,

he did not reject the impious flattery, but listened stir to their praises.

Hence, he was judged; and God vindicated his own insulted honor by

inflicting severe pains on him, and by a most awful death.

[And he was eaten of worms] The word used here is not found elsewhere

in the New Testament. A similar disease is recorded of Antiochus

Epiphanes, in the Apocrypha, 2 Macc. 9:5, "But the Lord Almighty, the

God of Israel, smote him with an invisible and incurable plague; for a pain

in the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the

inner parts (Acts 12:9), so that worms rose up out of the body of this

wicked man," etc. Probably this was the disease known as morbus

pedicularis. It is loathsome, offensive, and most painful. See the death of

Antiochus Epiphanes described in 2 Macc. 9. With this disease also Herod

the Great, grandfather of Herod Agrippa, died (Josephus, Antiq., book 17,

chapter 6, section 5). Such a death, so painful, so sudden, and so

loathsome, was an appropriate judgment on the pride of Herod. (from

Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

"salvation."

a. It is interesting when you look at the Hitler youth movement and how

referenced by the deity of the God in salvation of men and women.

All the Hitler youth had to say it like a chant. If you do a precursory

study of this phrase on the internet, you will find songs of that day

written to Hitler. Songs were written for worship.

b. In the youth movement after they were finished with their devotions,

When they had finished their devotions, every greeting to someone

11. Antichrist

2 Thess. 2:3-43 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will

not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is

revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all

that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple

of God, showing himself that he is God. NKJV

Rev. 13:2-8 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were

like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon

gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his

heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and

NKJV

Rev. 13:13-16 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire

many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. NKJV

too quickly -- 1 Tim. 3:6-7 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he

fall into the same condemnation as the devil. NKJV

1. In the plain of Dura, Nebuchadnezzar sets up a massive monument. It is

probably wood overlaid with gold and points one back to the image of the

man in chapter 2 where Neb and Babylon is referred to as a head of gold.

2. In chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar understands that Yahweh is a revealer of

mysteries but has not learned that might is His. The scenario is set up for

Nebuchadnezzar to understand His delivering power, that might and

power are His. Yahweh raises kings up and He tears them down.

Dan. 3:3-7 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the

judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication

of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that

Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples,

nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and

psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image

that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be

cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 7 So at that time, when all the

people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all

the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King

Nebuchadnezzar had set up. NKJV

A. The Gathering

B. The Worship

Dan. 3:12-18 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of

Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to

you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up."

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that

you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are

ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with

all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if

you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And

who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we

have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able

to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship

the gold image which you have set up." NKJV

A. God sets up the decisive issue for the point He will make to Nebuchadnezzar.

"And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" Sounds similar to the

charge of Sennacherib against Hezekiah. "Has any one of the gods of the nations

delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Who among all the gods

of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should

deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"

B. Where was Daniel?

C. The History in God of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego

D. Their Reply

1. We have no need to answer you in this case

2. He is able to deliver

your gods nor worship the image you have set up. The interplay of

deliverance and martyrdom. The three in wisdom recognize the purposes

of God in both deliverance and martyrdom. We see this in the book of

Acts and the early church.

a. Acts 7 - Stephen is killed.

c. The Deliverance of the Apostle John

d. The Martyrdom of Polycarp.

4. Believer in Nigeria at a University in the Muslim Dominated North.

E. Heb. 11:32-38 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of

Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the

prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,

obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire,

escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant

in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead

raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they

might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and

scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were

sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in

sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -- 38 of whom the

world was not worthy. NKJV

Dan. 3:24-25 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke,

saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?"

They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four

men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the

fourth is like the Son of God." NKJV

A. The Fury of the King

B. The Intensity of the Furnace

C. The Death of the Men of Valor

D. The Fourth Man in the Fire

1. Four Men loose

2. Walking in the midst of the fire

3. They are not hurt

4. The Fourth Man Is Like the Son of God

E. Nebuchadnezzar calls them to come out. I can picture one of the three smirking,

maybe even Jesus, and saying, "Why don’t you come in here?"

Dan. 3:26-29 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and

spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out,

and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27

And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they

saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor

were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego,

who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the

king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their

own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks

anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces,

and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like

this." NKJV

1. The fire had no power

2. The hair of their head was not singed

3. Their garments were not affected

4. The smell of fire was not on them

1. Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego!

C. Dan. 12:5-7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of

the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore

by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and

things shall be finished. NKJV

D. Rev. 15

E. Rev. 19