Nebuchadnezzar throws God’s people into the fiery furnace: Global government throws Christians into the fiery tribulation

Daniel 3:19-30

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

This post is part 3 of 3 of the image of gold.
click for part 1 0f 3 of the image of gold.
click for part 2 of 3 of the image of gold.

In the previous verses (part 2 0f 3 of the image of gold) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the image of gold, they continued to worship God. That refusal sent Nebuchadnezzar into a rage, and he gave the three men of God an ultimatum, either worship the image of gold or be thrown into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied that no matter what happened they would not bow down to worship the image of gold. The following verses pick up from there.

• Christians and all of Chrsitianity are thrown into the fiery tribulation.
•  The fiery tribulation is not survivable without Jesus Christ.
• Christians are tossed into the fiery tribulation with faith in God.
• The government of the beast watches the burning of Christianity.
• The government of the beast is witness to the durability of Christians.
• Jesus Christ comes back after the burning fiery tribulation.
• Every eye will see our victory in Christ and the return of Jesus Christ.
• We give our body to the Spirit of Christ not the image of the beast.
• Eternal rewards and eternal punishment.

Christians and all of Chrsitianity are thrown into the fiery tribulation. “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.” Daniel 3:19a. Those who govern by the image of the beast are infuriated when people are outright defiant to their authority. That’s because they have their authority through the masses of people who welcome the image of the beast to live and speak through them. To reject the image of the beast is to deprive them of authority and power. Those in authority are employers, schoolteachers, politicians, managers of every type, etc. To accept God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is to reject the thing that forms what we think, feel, and do (it gives life to the image of the beast.) We refuse to live by the mark of the beast.

“He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.” 19b. The hotter the rage of Nebuchadnezzar the hotter the heat of the furnace. That describes the hatred and despise that exists in this world today towards Christianity. To uphold the teachings of the Bible, in the face of those who welcome the image of the beast to live and speak through them, incites a fiery rage.

What would happen if someone tried to explain to employers, school officials, politicians, managers of every type that their policies are wrong because they violate the Gospel of Christ? It would incite negative reactions and hostility towards the Christian. There is a fiery oven prepared for Christians who defiantly oppose authority and refuse to allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them.

“And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:20 The global “democratic” society of the beast has a great army of people in every city around the world. They are valiant in their opposition to Christianity and with their rage and despise they cast Christians into their burning fiery furnace. The followers of Christ are made to suffer hardships and afflictions of many types and even suffer death at the hands of the silent killer of the psychotic “lamb.”

“Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:21 The masses of the “democratic” society of the beast bind Christians and every aspect of Christianity. That’s easy to see because the churches of today have tossed out the Gospel of Christ and have joined the community agenda. That agenda embraces humanism rooted in the mark of the beast as they welcome the image of the beast to live and speak through them.

The “democratic” society of the beast do to us the same as what they have done to Christ; a crown of thorns on the head is to make it painful to think within the Spirit of Christ. They nail the hands to the cross to make it impossible to do anything in accordance with the teachings of the Bible. They nail the feet to the cross to make it impossible to move around in society with the Gospel of Christ. They run a spear through our heart to make us suffer heartache within the love we have for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

John 15:18-20

 The fiery tribulation is not survivable without Jesus Christ. “Therefore, because the king’s command was harsh, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.” Daniel 3:22 Without Jesus Christ, people cannot tolerate what a hostile society throws at them, and the way society restricts them. They cannot tolerate having their thoughts oppressed, their hands tied from being able to do what they want, their feet bound from being able to go where they want to go and having their heart broken time after time. They are intolerant of the thing which forms what people think, feel, and do which enables the image of the beast to live and speak through them.

People are killed in many ways by the fiery furnace within the “democratic” society of the beast. Many people take up aggressive and violent rebellion against those who are taking their freedoms away. Many people are dying in violent ways and a common phrase nowadays is “suicide by cop.” Many would rather die rebelling than to live a low-level menial and accosted life. Suicide in itself comes by people who are not able to tolerate bullying, belittlement, social disapproval, etc. Substance abuse is exorbitant because people would rather hide away in their addiction than to face the fiery furnace sober. Overdose deaths are ridiculously high. The list goes on and on of those who are victims of the fiery furnace, built by the society of those who welcome the image of the beast to live and speak through them.

Mass migrations at borders around the world signify the multitudes of people not able to tolerate the fiery furnace that exists in the country which they are fleeing. However, the fiery furnace burns just as hot in the countries which they are fleeing to. The fiery furnace is global in every country and city because it is a creation of the global government of the beast.

Christians are tossed into the fiery tribulation with faith in God. “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:23 Christians are bound and not able to do a thing against being thrown into the fiery tribulation. Many people resort to aggressive and violent rebellion or other self-destructive behaviors to fight against their unwanted circumstances/bondage. As followers of Christ, we respond differently to the hostility from the “democratic” society of those who allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them. We put on the armor of God, we believe in God, acknowledge our need for Jesus Christ, and embrace the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we know our battle isn’t against anyone on this earth, it is a spiritual battle that can only be won by faith in God through Jesus Christ. The armor of God is written about in Ephesians 6:14-18, which includes living in the truth of Jesus Christ, wearing righteousness (which keeps us from ugly behaviors and attitudes), walking in the Gospel of peace, having the shield of faith (to deflect the hurtful and fiery darts thrown at us), being assured of our Salvation of eternal life for living for Jesus, the sword of the Spirit to keep us set apart from the ways of the world (which is the word of God), being full of prayer in the Spirit, and praying for other Believers, and always watchful with perseverance for the return of Jesus Christ.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 

Ephesians 6:11-18

The government of the beast watches the burning of Christianity. “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.” Daniel 3:24 Nebuchadnezzar was watching to make sure his order was carried out to burn Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Today, the global government of the beast is watching to make sure their agenda is carried out in every city, state, and nation around the world. That includes dismissing belief in God, discarding the need for Jesus Christ, and trampling on the Holy Spirit. They do not tolerate disobedience to their authority. The hand and feet of Christians are bound, and their mouth gagged from being able to do anything for the cause of Christ.

The global government depends on the image of the beast living and speaking through people so that they can sit in our body as God, “…it opposes and exalts itself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that it sits as God in the temple of God, showing itself that it is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 The thing that has the ability to form what we think, feel, and do gives life to the image of the beast to live within us as if it were God.

The global government is watching Christianity being burned in the fiery furnace as national, state, and local laws discard Biblical values to establish the “democratic” values promoted through the “left wing.” They are watching Christianity being burned in the churches as the Gospel of Christ has been discarded. They are watching Christianity being burned in the educational system as the teaching curriculum no longer espouses Biblical values. They are watching to make certain that every sector of society has put Christianity in the burning fiery furnace. They are watching to make certain that the influence of Christians is burning in the fiery furnace. They are watching to make sure Christians are in that burning fiery furnace.

The government of the beast is witness to the durability of Christians. “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.” Daniel 3:25 Jesus Christ is with us through the tribulation within the burning fiery furnace. He gives us the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, by the remission of sin to enable us to walk in Holiness. Walking in Holiness is to put away ugly attitudes and behaviors that might arise from the fiery darts and trials hurled at us. The fiery darts and trials come from the “democratic” society of those who allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them.

The prayer of Jesus Christ is not to take us out of this world and out of the burning fiery furnace, but to send us the “fourth man,” the Holy Spirit, and to set us apart from the ways of the world. That is our sanctification, our walk of Holiness. In fact, a faithful and few followers of Jesus Chris will exist to the very end of this world until the day that Jesus Christ comes back. Those who live and govern through the image of the beast will see the durability of Christianity surviving within the burning fiery furnace of persecution.

 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Set them apart hem by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17:15-21

Jesus Christ comes back after the burning fiery tribulation. “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.” Daniel 3:26 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego might have been called out of the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar, but it is not the global government of the beast who puts an end to the global tribulation happening around the world. The servants of the “Most High God” are going to be called to Christ at the end of the global tribulation when He comes back,

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 and 2 Peter 3:10-13

Every eye will see our victory in Christ and the return of Jesus Christ. “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.” Daniel 3:27 Everyone of Nebuchadnezzar’s governing officials saw how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the burning fiery furnace and were not at all singed.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ through the burning fiery furnace of the “democratic” society which allows the image of the beast to live and speak through them. That is true for us today and for the Christians who will be here tomorrow. Those who enclose us into their fiery furnace of afflictions will see our victory in Christ, and they will see the return of Jesus Christ. That is a sad day for them and a glorious day for us,

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 1:7

We give our body to the Spirit of Christ not the image of the beast. “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!” Daniel 3:28 The Holiness we live in the Spirit of Christ has nothing to do with trying to earn the praise of those who govern through the image of the beast. We trust in God through Jesus Christ as we embrace the Holy Spirit through the global fiery furnace.

Those who live and govern by the image of the beast use harsh tactics to try to make Christianity undesirable, then they use sweet humanitarian and churchy sounding words to try and make us responsive to their will. They are trying to modify our behavior to deny God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and to make us welcome the image of the beast to live and speak through us.

We Christians have the victory over the policies of the “democratic” society of the beast because we give our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. We refuse to make our body the dwelling place for the image of the beast to live and speak through us. We reject the thing that has the ability to form what we think, feel, and do.

We will be praising God with all the Angels in Heaven,

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

Revelation 19:1-5

Eternal rewards and eternal punishment. “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.” For the global government to make a decree that no one can speak against Christianity doesn’t mean a whole lot. That’s because everyone is required to praise, worship, and live for the image of the beast. It just makes everybody mute when it comes to Christianity.

It is necessary to speak and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and to believe that God raised Him from the dead. Those who reject God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are condemned to the burning lake of fire,

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:13-15

“Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:30 Being promoted in this world by those who govern by the image of the beast doesn’t mean much when God is going to promote us into the province of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth.

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

Revelation 19:9 and Revelation 21:6-7

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1