Daniel 3, The Image Setup 666, king of Babylon

Daniel 3

We learned in the last chapter that Nebuchadnezzar was not necessarily a corrupt individual, and also that God caused Israel to become captive in his hands. Now what did God intend to accomplish by this?

Daniel 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.

This image is thought by scholars to be an Asherah, a tree-like thing that the Gentiles worshipped at this time, but let's take a closer look.
Threescore cubits is 60, and 6 cubits wide, give us sixty by 6.
Revelation 13, the image that was made, which everyone must worship and its number was?
Revelation 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.
So we see the mark of Satan all over this thing.
Remember this is prophecy, and these things shall come to pass in last generation.
The last generation was setup May 14 1948.
It will happen in our generation.
You are told to count the number of a man, a certain man, anthropos, as recorded in the Greek, a certain individual that holds with a hypnotic stare or gaze.
The first beast in Revelation 13 is a political system, and when Satan made an image to the beast that had the wound and was about to die, that this symbolizes the political system.
Satan is the king of Babylon in our day.
Nebuchadnezzar is the king of Babylon in the book of Daniel.
Keep the parallel in mind, because we see now Nebuchadnezzar has made an image and he's going to insist that people worship it.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

This setup is the key words = about twenty years later
Every government office is included here.
The king sent = This great Durbar would hardly have taken place till after the campaign refereed to in note on "came".
Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
It was therefore probably held about 475 B.C., in Daniel's thirty-eighth year, twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar's dream of himself, the "head of gold"

Daniel 2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Captain = leaders, or representative

3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, 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.

Notice the use of the words "set up" here.
And I want you to remember the exact use of them in the 12th chapter of Daniel.
When you see the abomination of desolation "set up".
Those two words are key words.
It is a Hebrew quote that leans toward and they stood.
Again in this verse we see these particular government offices.
Ginsberg and other scholars count eight, but as "all the rulers" is nebulous, I rather think this indicates ten, which could be the leaders from seven nations in Revelation that will form this government system in the latter days.
The king seat, this great Durbar would hardly have taken place till after the campaign referred to in note on "came". It was therefore probably held about 475 B.C. in Daniel's thirty-eighth year, twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar's dream of himself, the "head" of gold.
To gather together, note the eight technical terms. well know to Daniel, but difficult for a Jew in Jerusalem 300 years later to enumerate so minutely and so accurately.
Princes = satraps
Captains = the first three being governmental.
Daniel 2:48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

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

Note there is no mention of the Israelites or Christian people.
It is addressed to everyone.
People = peoples, or nations
Nations = races, or tribes. He talking about a one world order.
Languages = tongues

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:

There are 6 instruments here .. again a hint.
The call to worship of the king of Babylon, or the false christ, is to be done with six instruments.
Also, the sons of Cain are usually gifted musically.
Genesis 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
So we see of Cain extremely and strongly connect with this image.
Revelation 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.
You have to know God's plan
What happens at the 6th seal, 6th trumpet and 6th vial?
Bible study hour: Mark of the beast

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

Now what's going to happen to those who do not worship the beast in the last days?
Revelation 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.
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:
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.
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.
And again we see the parallel.

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.

These 6 instruments, or the mark of the false christ, appears four times. In verses, 5, 7, 10 and 15 of this chapter.
All the people worshipped the image
Jeremiah 27:6 And now have I given all these lands unto the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.
The captivity of Judah
Historical events connected with its beginning
Verse 1 and 2 = Time
In the third year. It was in the third year of Jehoiakim that Nebuchadnezzar set out from Babylon; and Daniel, writing there, speaks of the starting, not of the arrival at Jerusalem.
In the fourth year Jehovah says by Jeremiah 25:9 "I will send", The date would be 497 B.C. and Daniel's sixteenth year, he being born probably in 513 B.C. (Josiah's eighteenth year).
Jeremiah 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 18:21 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

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

Jews here is improperly translated, being the Judeans that were in captivity.
Daniel 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

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

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:

Here they're setting a trap for the three Judeans.
This is example of last days... Matthew 24.. will you worship Satan?
Matthew 24, God's elect will be deliver up, for God will speak through you, for the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Satan himself standing in Jerusalem, in the Holy Place, saying he is Christ, deceiving those that did not know the truth.
Do you follow the parallel here?

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

I'd like to bring your attention here to Revelation 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.

Matthew 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.
We know in Revelation 11, there are only two that Satan kills, they are God's two witnesses.
Matthew 24, God's elect will be deliver up, for God will speak through you, for the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Satan himself standing in Jerusalem, in the Holy Place, saying he is Christ, deceiving those that did not know the truth.
Do you follow the parallel here?
I'm trying to point out that you're going to be requested to worship this beast, this false christ and the system he sets up.
This is a reality that you will be experiencing before many years go by now.
I want you to keep this in mind as we continue, and also to realize what happened to these three.
Did God desert them?
Certainly not.
So what will you do, when you must make a choice?
Remember God will be with you, standing with you, just as He was with these three.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; 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; again, Judeans here is improperly translated.
Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
You will be pinpointed out, possibly by your own family; mother, daughter, father or your son.
Why? Because they will be deceived into believing the false christ is Jesus Christ and they will ask him to convert and save you.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Satan wants you to worship him
True = of set purpose.

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?

With the parallel again.
You will be told when you refuse to worship the false christ that this is indeed the Christ, so you will be threatened with the fiery, but false, furnace of hell.
Nebuchadnezzar just said: Daniel 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
See how Nebuchadnezzar has forgotten Daniel just reveal his dream to him.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Are not careful = do not account it needful to answering your question.

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.

I assure you that the God whom we serve was guarding these three, and He will deliver you in that hour.
Can you remember David and Goliath?
1 Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
David is saying, just as God helped him slew both the lion and the bear, Also God will help him bring down the Philistine, because he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said more over, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

David gave all the credit to God, he didn't say, I slew the bear and lion.

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.

Neither will we worship the image that Satan sets up in Jerusalem in the near future.
Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will be with you literally.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

These three would not worship Nebuchadnezzar image.
Nebuchadnezzar commanded to put them in the furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar commanded them to heat up the furnace 7 times hotter.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Satan comes with his fallen angels, 7000 and 10 fallen angels
Revelation 13:1 I saw a political system rise up out of the people, with ten rulers that take hold out of the seven nations or dominations in the whole world and almost brings in one world political government.

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.

Why was it indicated here that they were dressed and all this?
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
These three wore the armor of God, not physically, but spiritual.
They had His shield.
They had His sword, which is the truth.
Hats = turbans, mantles, or cloaks

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 Abed-nego.

The fire was so hot that those who carried the three there were burned and died.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Notice the number three: Three is the first of four perfect numbers, Three denotes divine perfection, Seven denotes spiritual perfection; Ten denotes ordinal perfection; and Twelve denotes governmental perfection.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

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.

No wonder the king was astonished.
The three were walking free and unhurt in the midst of this fiery hell on earth, and there was a fourth with them like unto the Son of God
When you find yourself in this position, Christ Himself will also be with you and speak through you.
Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will be with you literally.
Note that Nebuchadnezzar saw Christ with his own eyes.
He was there.

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar saw the miracle of the three men
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
God's going to be with His elect
Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Satan's comes saying he is Christ

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.(Revelation 9)

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, 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.

These three witnessed to these government officials, just as the two witnesses in Revelation 11 will witness to the whole world.
While the two witnesses suffered death, as we know it, they were resurrected unharmed.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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.

Realize this is Nebuchadnezzar saying this.
Also keep in mind, you must not worship any other god, but the living God of heaven, the Father.

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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.

This back fired on those that tried to have the children of God killed
Verse 8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Jews here is improperly translated, being the Judeans that were in captivity.

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

Know that when you serve God, you shall always have the victory.
Praise God.
When you show yourself approved to God, God's going to give you wisdom and you don't have nothing to worry about in the end times.

• Exactly 2520 years from the exile of Benjamin, Iceland became an independent nation.

• The first tribe to be conquered by the Assyrians was Manasseh, in 745 B.C. Exactly 2520 years later America became a nation on July 4, 1776.

• Study the book: Abrahamic Covenant, (A study outline of the identity of God's people) By E. Raymond Capt - page 25