Untitled Sermon (26)

The Golden Image THE IMAGE

"Nebuchadnezzar the King made an 'Image of Gold,' whose height was three-score cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the Province of Babylon." .

The events recorded in this chapter happened about twenty-three years after Nebuchadnezzar had his Dream of the "Golden Headed Image."

It is hardly likely therefore that that Dream suggested "The Golden Image." If it did, Nebuchadnezzar in his pride resolved to go one better, and, instead of erecting an image the head only of which was of gold and the remainder of the image of baser metals, resolved to make the whole of his image of "Gold." Nebuchadnezzar had reached a point in his career when he wished to emulate the kings of Egypt, who, while still alive, sought to perpetuate their memory, and the glory of their reign, by having carved out of the solid rock a statue or image of themselves. But as Babylon was located in a level country where there was no rocky formation, Nebuchadnezzar had to resort to a different kind of image or statue, and so he resolved, in harmony with the magnificent buildings of Babylon, as the "Tower of Bel," and the "Hanging Gardens," to make it of "Gold." The fact that it was erected on the "Plain of Dura," and not in the city of Babylon, reveals the fact that Nebuchadnezzar had a twofold purpose in its erection there. First, he did not want it to be overshadowed by the great buildings of Babylon, and in the second place, he had reached the conclusion that, if he was to keep his Great Empire intact, composed as it was of peoples from many nations, with various religious beliefs, he must cement them together by some form of "State Religion," and as he proposed to invite all the great men of the many provinces of his Empire, there would not be any place sufficiently large in the city of Babylon, so he chose the "Plain of Dura." The critics of the Book of Daniel claim that everything in it bears the stamp of "Reckless Exaggeration," and that an image ninety feet high, and nine feet wide (counting a cubit as eighteen inches) is not only enormous in size, but is out of proportion, and that there was not enough gold in that country to make such an image of solid gold. But they forget that the riches and splendor of those days, and of Egypt and Babylon, put our time in the shade, and that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Egypt, and taken back with him vast quantities of gold. But it does not say that the Image was of solid gold. It doubtless was a wooden image plated with gold, which would have the same appearance as an image of solid gold, and answer the same purpose. Again, the height of the Image in proportion to its width seems to indicate that the Image stood on a pedestal, high in the air, so it could be seen above the heads of the multitude all over the "Plain of Dura," and that the height of the "Image" included the pedestal, and as there would be no need of making the pedestal of gold, this would reduce the golden part of the Image. Whatever Nebuchadnezzar did was "Colossal." The stupendous walls of Babylon have never been equalled, neither have its public buildings. See the chapter on "The Fall of Babylon." The dimensions of the Image are not without significance. Its height was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits. Now six is the "NUMBER OF MAN." Six stops short of seven, which is the "Perfect Number," or the number of Completeness. Six then is the number of human incompleteness. Man was made on the sixth day. His appointed days of labor are six, the seventh day is God's day. The number six reminds us of the number of the "Beast" in , which is 666. Little did Nebuchadnezzar know that the erection of that "Golden Image" on the Plain of Dura was a "Prophetic Fore-Shadowing" of that Image that the "False Prophet" shall command the people to make to the "Beast," or "Antichrist." An Image that shall be given life, and the power to speak. And all who will not worship the Beast shall be killed, not by being thrown into a "Fiery Furnace," but by the "Guillotine." They will be beheaded. . In that day no one shall be able to buy or sell unless he has the "Mark of the Beast," which is his "Number," which is 666, the "NUMBER OF MAN." . The worship of the "Image of the Beast" will be the culmination of the "Deification of Man," and the outcome of all such idolatry will be the bringing to an end of "MAN'S DAY," or the "Times of the Gentiles," and the setting up of the "Stone Kingdom." DEDICATION OF THE IMAGE "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. 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." The arrangements for the Dedication of the Image were very elaborate. All the nations of the earth that had become subject to Babylon were called upon to send representatives to the great ceremony. Babylon was crowded with the great men and rulers of the nations and their retainers. Everything was on a scale of great magnificence. It was probably the greatest day in all Babylon's history. "Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and WORSHIP the 'Golden Image' that Nebuchadnezzar the King hath set up: and whoso falleth not down and WORSHIPPETH shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning 'Fiery Furnace.' Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and WORSHIPPED the 'Golden Image' that Nebuchadnezzar the King had set up." . It is not clear from the text that those who were invited to the "Dedication of the Image" understood that the "Dedication" would be of a religious character and take the form of WORSHIP. They probably expected the ceremonies to be of the usual character of such celebrations. The presence therefore of bands and orchestras did not make them suspicious. They probably had been informed that the Image was in honor of the King, and to memorialize the Golden character of his reign. But King Nebuchadnezzar had something else in mind. He was at the head of a vast Empire, composed of many kingdoms, speaking different languages, and of various religions. He knew for a nation to have but one religion would have a unifying effect. Such unification had probably become a political necessity. So he decided to set up a "State Religion," of a Babylonish type, to be known as the "RELIGION OF BABYLON," and of an idolatrous character, as were the religions of the surrounding nations. But in doing this he was guilty of "Religious Intolerance," in that the penalty of refusal was death in a "Fiery Furnace," a type of the "Inquisition." All men are religious by nature, and are easily carried away by anything that stirs their religious feelings. Knowing this, Nebuchadnezzar took advantage of it. Everything was done to excite and stir the religious emotions of that vast multitude on the "Plain of Dura." Large orchestras, with their various musical instruments, were stationed at convenient places, and all the paraphernalia and ritualistic ceremony of idolatrous worship, with the most gorgeous display of religious trappings, such as were used by the "Babylonian Cults," were doubtless used to impress the bystanders, and get them to worship the Image. The same method has its advocates today. And for argument they point to the Roman Catholic Church, and claim that its unity and success is largely due to the spectacular character of its religious services, which are of Babylonian origin. See the writer's work on the Book of Revelation, pages 149 to 153, for confirmation. There are movements on foot today for a union of all religious denominations and sects in one vast organization. The purpose is to establish one "Universal Religion" that will appeal to the "Artistic" and "Esthetic" in man. A religion that is "Cainite" in character because there is no BLOOD in it, and that exalts man and his works, which the Scriptures declare will be the character of the closing days of the "Times of the Gentiles," when men shall have "the form of Godliness" without the "POWER." . When the true Church is "caught out," those who are left behind will drift into the Papacy, that will then be the "Universal Church," the last phase of which is Babylonish, and is seen in the "Purple Clad Woman," that, in , rides the "Scarlet Colored Beast"— "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." To insure the success of his plan Nebuchadnezzar took one precaution. He was determined that there should be no lack of unity. The worship must be universal or there would be discord. An ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. It was best to forestall any rebellion, and so he had constructed near the Image a large "Furnace," like a blast furnace, in which a fire was kindled, into which he threatened to throw any person who would not bow down and worship his "Golden Image." He counted on the love of life, and the fear of suffering, to prevent any opposition. Doubtless those who were not in his confidence wondered why the "Furnace" was there and already lighted. But they did not long remain in doubt, for a herald announced that whosoever would not fall down and worship the "Golden Image" would be cast alive into the "Fiery Furnace." The result was, that, at the sound of the musical instruments, the vast multitude fell upon their faces. But not all. There were three men, all prominent officials, who refused to bow the knee. They were JEWS, and their names were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Where Daniel was we do not know. He may have been ill, or away on State business. But this we do know, that if he had been there he would have refused to worship the Image. The failure to worship of the "Three Hebrew Children" was noticed by certain Chaldeans, who had either been appointed as spies, or who were officials or politicians whose schemes had been blocked by these faithful public servants, and being jealous of the influence and power of the Jews in the affairs of the Empire, were glad of an excuse for bringing a charge against them, that they might get them out of the way. "Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the King Nebuchadnezzar, O King, live forever. 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 music, shall fall down and worship the 'Golden Image:' and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning 'Fiery Furnace.' 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." . When the King heard these three clearly-put charges he was furious. Furious that anyone had the temerity to show disrespect for him, and his gods, and disobey his command to worship the Golden Image. Surely there was some mistake. These men must either not have heard the command, or misunderstood it. So he immediately summoned them into his presence, and addressing them said— "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do ye not serve MY GODS, nor WORSHIP THE GOLDEN IMAGE THAT I HAVE SET UP? Now it ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, 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?" . This defiant challenge of the King—"WHO is that God that shall deliver you out of MY hands?" is so contrary to his confession made to Daniel at the time of the Interpretation of the King's Dream—"YOUR God is a GOD of gods, and a LORD of kings, and a REVEALER OF SECRETS," that we are led to inquire what has caused this radical change against the God of the Jews. Was Nebuchadnezzar not sincere when he made his confession to Daniel, or had subsequent events caused him to change his mind? We must not forget that the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar had occurred twenty years before, and that in the meantime, he had taken Jerusalem the second time (B. C. 598) and carried captive the majority of its inhabitants, including many of the sacred vessels of the Temple, and furthermore, he had besieged the city the third time (B. C. 587), took and destroyed it, and burned the Temple, and left the Holy Land in desolation. As Oriental Monarchs believed that their victories were a triumph of their "gods" over the "gods" of their vanquished foes, it would be conclusive evidence to Nebuchadnezzar that his victories over the earthly Capital of Jehovah, and the destruction of the Temple, meant that Jehovah was not the supreme Deity, but that his own God "Merodach" was. Hence his challenge—"WHO is that God that shall deliver you out of MY hands?" THE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in the matter. 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. 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." . What a noble answer. What men of faith they were. It was not a presumptuous reply, for they knew their God. They spoke with a decision that is magnificent. They said—"We are not CAREFUL." That is, we have no concern as to the matter. Phi 4:6-7. Our God is ABLE to deliver us, and He WILL deliver. BUT IF NOT, that is if He does not see fit to deliver us, it will make no difference as to our decision, we WILL NOT serve thy Gods, nor worship the Golden Image which thou hast set up. They had the spirit of the Martyrs. They "loved not their lives" and were resolved to be "faithful UNTO death." Not until the end of their natural lives, but unto the death of the "Fiery Furnace." They would not yield or compromise. There was no mistaking the meaning of their answer, and it made the King more furious than ever. THE HARMLESS FURNACE "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. 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.' 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.' Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning 'Fiery Furnace.' Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, 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. 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." . That the deliverance of the "Three Hebrew Children" from the burning "Fiery Furnace" was a MIRACLE no one can question. That men could survive and remain uninjured in fierce flames that would have melted iron, and walk to and fro and breathe as if only surrounded by the genial warmth of the sun, seems incredible. But that such a miracle was necessary to counteract the worship of the "Golden Image," and stop the persecution of the Jewish captives in Babylon, who were loyal to their religion, is clear. The king, in his rage, over-reached himself when he commanded the "Furnace" to be heated "seven times hotter." That would only shorten the sufferings of his victims and hasten their destruction, and it was the cause of the death of the mighty men who threw them in. But the hand of God was in it. The fact that the heat of the "Furnace" was increased sevenfold made the "Miracle" that much greater, and revealed the hand of God in their deliverance. It is evident that some supernatural intelligence controlled the flames, for while they consumed the cords with which they were bound, they did not touch their clothing or singe their hair, and when they emerged from the "Furnace" there was no smell of fire upon them. When the flames burned off their bonds they made no attempt to escape from the "Furnace." The king put them in, and it was up to him to call them out. Then they had no desire to leave the "Furnace," for they had therein the companionship of the "Son of God," and they would rather be in the "Furnace" with the "Son of God" than in the Palace with the king. To them was fulfilled the promise— "When thou passest through the waters (like the Red Sea), I will be with thee; and through the rivers (like the Jordan), they shall not overflow thee: when thou WALKEST THROUGH THE FIRE THOU SHALT NOT BE BURNED; NEITHER SHALL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON THEE." . It was to the three Hebrew Children that the writer of the Hebrews referred when he said, they "Quenched the violence of FIRE." . What a scathing rebuke to the king's arrogant assertion, "WHO is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? " was the deliverance of these men from the power of the flames. Their deliverance was a vindication of the course they had taken. None of the gods of the heathen had ever wrought such a deliverance as that, nor were they able to do so. The "Miracle" converted the king. He recognized that the God of the Jews was more powerful than his own gods. A CONVINCED KING "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. 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." . When bidden, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego walked out of the burning "Furnace," and the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, were gathered together that they might look upon, and have optical and tangible proof that a miracle had been wrought. The preservation of the men put a stop to the worship of the "Golden Image." THE ROYAL DECREE "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. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything 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. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the Province of Babylon." . Had these three Jews been "time servers," the name of the true God would not have been exalted in Babylon, they would not have been promoted, and the "Decree of Toleration" by the king would not have been issued. The purpose then of the Miracle was not merely the deliverance of those three men, but the conviction of the king and the issuing of his "Royal Decree." That "Decree of Toleration," which God brought about by the Miracle, was not intended by God as a temporary attitude by the Gentile nations of Nebuchadnezzar's day, but is the attitude that God requires of all Gentile nations toward the Jews during the whole "Times of the Gentiles," and for which He will judge them at the "Judgment of Nations," when the nations shall be judged for their treatment of Christ's brethren—THE JEWS. . TYPICAL TEACHING OF THE MIRACLE As we have seen that Nebuchadnezzar's "Golden Image" was a type of the "IMAGE OF THE BEAST" (), that is to be set up in Jerusalem in the closing days of this Dispensation, so the "Three Hebrew Children," who would not worship the "Golden Image" of Nebuchadnezzar, are a type of the "JEWISH REMNANT," the 144,000 "Sealed Ones" of , who will pass unscathed through "The Great Tribulation." They are seen later in the Book of Revelation () standing on a "Sea of Glass," MINGLED WITH FIRE, typical of the "FIERY TRIALS" () through which they had passed. They had come out of "The Great Tribulation," for they had gotten the victory over the "Beast," and over his "Image," and over his "Mark," and they are "Israelites," for they sing the "New Song" of "MOSES and of the LAMB," which only redeemed Israelites can sing. And as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were not only delivered but promoted, so the "Jewish Remnant" of the "End Time" will be promoted and given positions of power and influence in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.