Hello, I'm Mike Browning,
welcome to: Let God Speak.
00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70
With the passage of time,
00:00:02.73\00:00:04.63
even the impact of a miracle
loses its impression on us,
00:00:04.67\00:00:08.24
God gave Nebuchadnezzar
a vision of the future
00:00:08.27\00:00:11.31
in Daniel chapter 2.
00:00:11.34\00:00:12.67
Initially, he'd accepted
the accuracy of the vision
00:00:12.71\00:00:15.91
but in time,
the impact wore off.
00:00:15.94\00:00:18.61
Nebuchadnezzar determined to
change the future for Babylon.
00:00:18.65\00:00:21.92
So, in Daniel chapter 3,
we'll see his futile attempt
00:00:21.95\00:00:25.35
to alter the will of God.
00:00:25.42\00:00:26.76
Music...
00:00:26.79\00:00:52.51
For the people
on our Panel today,
00:00:52.55\00:00:54.32
we have Colin
Hone and Rod Butler,
00:00:54.35\00:00:56.02
thank you Gentlemen for being
here to share with us today.
00:00:56.05\00:00:58.72
We'd invite you to pray with
us before we open the Scripture.
00:00:58.75\00:01:01.42
"Father in heaven,
00:01:01.46\00:01:03.43
thank You for the
opportunity we have today
00:01:03.46\00:01:05.73
of studying this
amazing chapter 3 of Daniel,
00:01:05.76\00:01:08.36
we pray that Your
Holy Spirit will guide us
00:01:08.40\00:01:11.53
as we share together
and as we study it, please,
00:01:11.57\00:01:13.44
in Jesus' name, amen. "
00:01:13.47\00:01:15.50
All right Folks,
00:01:15.54\00:01:17.81
today we're going to start
in Daniel chapter 3 verse 1,
00:01:17.84\00:01:20.88
we'd invite you to look at that
chapter with us if you would,
00:01:20.91\00:01:23.35
Daniel 3:1 goes like this,
00:01:23.38\00:01:25.71
"Nebuchadnezzar
the king of Babylon
00:01:25.75\00:01:28.28
made an image of gold,
00:01:28.35\00:01:29.95
whose height was sixty
cubits, it's width six cubits:
00:01:29.98\00:01:33.52
he set it up in
the plain of Dura,
00:01:33.56\00:01:36.39
in the province of Babylon. "
00:01:36.42\00:01:37.93
Now, Nebuchadnezzar built
this entire statue of gold
00:01:37.99\00:01:41.56
and he's got a message
here, what was he saying, Colin?
00:01:41.60\00:01:45.00
Colin: Well, what he's saying...
00:01:45.03\00:01:46.47
if we go back to
Daniel chapter 2,
00:01:46.50\00:01:47.84
he'd had the dream where
he was the head of gold...
00:01:47.87\00:01:50.07
there would be other
kingdoms after him...
00:01:50.11\00:01:51.47
and what was he saying?
00:01:51.51\00:01:52.84
He's saying,
"I'm defying you God,
00:01:52.87\00:01:54.21
I want to be all gold
00:01:54.24\00:01:55.74
and my kingdom's
going to last forever. "
00:01:55.78\00:01:57.11
So, he was defying God...
00:01:57.15\00:01:58.48
as events that
were going to happen.
00:01:58.51\00:02:01.32
Mike: Okay... and wanting to
change the course of history.
00:02:01.35\00:02:02.85
Colin: That's right.
00:02:02.88\00:02:04.22
Mike: Let's go to that
line which is interesting.
00:02:04.25\00:02:05.59
He had a particular message
for God here, didn't he, Ron?
00:02:05.62\00:02:08.99
Ron: He did... his
message was pretty blunt,
00:02:09.02\00:02:10.96
basically he's
saying, "You are wrong...
00:02:10.99\00:02:12.93
Babylon will last forever. "
00:02:12.99\00:02:14.86
Mike: Very interesting isn't it?
00:02:14.90\00:02:16.73
It was pretty straight...
plain statement wasn't it?
00:02:16.77\00:02:19.47
Very strong.
00:02:19.50\00:02:20.84
Can we excuse
Nebuchadnezzar for this?
00:02:20.87\00:02:23.71
He had a pagan
background, didn't he, Colin,
00:02:23.74\00:02:26.78
you know, can we
cut him some slack here?
00:02:26.81\00:02:29.84
Colin: Well, yes and no...
he had experiences before...
00:02:29.88\00:02:35.05
God had sort of
brought Daniel and his friends
00:02:35.08\00:02:38.29
and they passed the test of diet
00:02:38.32\00:02:41.02
and then they found him to
have wisdom beyond measure,
00:02:41.06\00:02:43.49
ten times more
wisdom, so he'd seen that
00:02:43.53\00:02:47.66
and then he'd seen the dream
where Daniel revealed the dream,
00:02:47.73\00:02:52.10
well, God revealed
the dream to Daniel
00:02:52.13\00:02:53.94
and he revealed to the king
00:02:54.00\00:02:55.34
so, the king saw
all this before him,
00:02:55.37\00:02:57.34
but still, he... he
obviously was dealing with...
00:02:57.37\00:03:00.68
with his pagan beliefs
and it was hard to shake.
00:03:00.71\00:03:03.95
Mike: It was... and he even...
00:03:03.98\00:03:05.81
and he even told Nebuchadnezzar
what he had been thinking.
00:03:05.85\00:03:09.08
Now, you have to be in touch
with the supernatural power
00:03:09.12\00:03:12.32
to do that, so he knew...
00:03:12.35\00:03:13.69
I notice in
chapter 2:29 it says,
00:03:13.72\00:03:15.52
"As for you, O king... "
00:03:15.59\00:03:17.03
this is Daniel
talking to Nebuchadnezzar...
00:03:17.06\00:03:19.23
"thoughts came to your
mind while on your bed,
00:03:19.26\00:03:21.40
about what would
come to pass after this:
00:03:21.43\00:03:23.30
and He Who reveals secrets
00:03:23.33\00:03:25.87
has made known to you
what will be in the future. "
00:03:25.90\00:03:28.54
So, he'd had plenty
of opportunities really,
00:03:28.57\00:03:31.77
to understand what God
was capable of doing...
00:03:31.81\00:03:34.94
the God of the Hebrews
00:03:35.01\00:03:36.34
and that was really
interesting... all right.
00:03:36.38\00:03:37.95
Okay, how... I mean...
00:03:37.98\00:03:42.35
these things did have a
big impact on Nebuchadnezzar
00:03:42.38\00:03:44.89
at the time... didn't they?
00:03:44.92\00:03:46.49
You know, he was
really impacted by this.
00:03:46.52\00:03:48.86
Rod: He was and if you go
back to chapter 2 and verse 46,
00:03:48.89\00:03:54.46
it says, "Then the
king Nebuchadnezzar
00:03:54.50\00:03:57.40
fell upon his face,
and worshipped Daniel... "
00:03:57.43\00:03:59.57
Now, you got to remember
who is... who's at play...
00:03:59.60\00:04:02.34
this is... this
is Nebuchadnezzar...
00:04:02.37\00:04:03.71
this is an absolute
monarch... a mighty king...
00:04:03.74\00:04:06.37
he's so impacted
00:04:06.41\00:04:07.84
that he falls on his face
in front of the Hebrew captive
00:04:07.88\00:04:11.11
okay, one of his rural
officers... to worship him.
00:04:11.18\00:04:14.08
That's what I would say
as being pretty impacted
00:04:14.12\00:04:16.69
by what he'd experienced.
00:04:16.72\00:04:18.05
Mike: Yeah, yeah, and
he... I mean, who does that...
00:04:18.09\00:04:21.99
who falls in
front of a human being
00:04:22.02\00:04:23.43
no matter how astounding
what they just said was
00:04:23.46\00:04:25.89
but he did
00:04:25.93\00:04:27.26
and so, yes, your point
is a very good one indeed.
00:04:27.30\00:04:30.07
It throws... this
whole talk story to me
00:04:30.10\00:04:34.00
throws a lot of light, Colin, on
what we will be remembered for
00:04:34.04\00:04:37.71
after we pass off the
scene of action in life.
00:04:37.74\00:04:40.11
Colin: That's true,
when it's all said and one
00:04:40.14\00:04:42.44
it's only our
faith that matters...
00:04:42.51\00:04:45.21
our faith in God...
00:04:45.25\00:04:46.58
our gold... our bank accounts...
00:04:46.61\00:04:48.72
our properties
or whatever we have
00:04:48.75\00:04:50.85
is really... means
nothing in the end.
00:04:50.89\00:04:52.65
It's our faith and
our... and belief in God
00:04:52.69\00:04:55.69
and trusting in
God and His plan.
00:04:55.72\00:04:57.63
Mike: Okay, and
that's what Nebuchadnezzar
00:04:57.69\00:04:59.26
is hopefully about to
learn and that's really good
00:04:59.29\00:05:02.33
so time goes by
for Nebuchadnezzar...
00:05:02.36\00:05:04.63
the deep
impression laid by that vision
00:05:04.67\00:05:07.74
of that statue in
chapter 2 slightly fades away
00:05:07.77\00:05:11.27
and then, his natural
sense of rebellion kicks back in
00:05:11.31\00:05:14.81
and the more he thinks
about it, the more he thinks,
00:05:14.84\00:05:18.31
"No, Babylon is not
going to pass away... "
00:05:18.35\00:05:21.08
and he just can't get over this.
00:05:21.12\00:05:22.98
So, what does he do
in chapter 3 verse 2,
00:05:23.05\00:05:25.62
it says here in verse 2,
00:05:25.65\00:05:26.99
"King Nebuchadnezzar sent word
to gather together the satraps,
00:05:27.02\00:05:30.23
the
administrators, the governors,
00:05:30.26\00:05:32.16
the counselors, the treasurers,
00:05:32.19\00:05:34.00
the judges, the magistrates,
and all the officials... "
00:05:34.03\00:05:36.10
anybody who had influence...
00:05:36.13\00:05:37.47
"to come to the
dedication of the image
00:05:37.50\00:05:40.27
which King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up. "
00:05:40.30\00:05:43.74
So, describe for us
what's going on here, Rod.
00:05:43.81\00:05:47.64
Rod: Well, what he's done is
00:05:47.68\00:05:49.74
he's wanting to make a
very powerful statement
00:05:49.78\00:05:51.41
to all his
subjects in his kingdom
00:05:51.45\00:05:52.91
and if you look at all
those people he's called,
00:05:52.95\00:05:55.55
they represent the government,
they represent the legislature,
00:05:55.58\00:05:59.15
they represent
the... the judiciary...
00:05:59.19\00:06:01.62
they're all the
important leaders
00:06:01.66\00:06:03.83
and if you also consider...
00:06:03.86\00:06:05.93
now, back then, we're talking
about Nebuchadnezzar's empire.
00:06:05.96\00:06:09.73
This was a... an area
which was basically...
00:06:09.76\00:06:12.53
today encompasses Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq,
00:06:12.57\00:06:17.51
bits of Turkey
and bits of Iran...
00:06:17.54\00:06:20.78
this is a... it all
divided into provinces,
00:06:20.81\00:06:23.14
there was a lot of people there,
00:06:23.18\00:06:24.51
and all those
people were influential...
00:06:24.55\00:06:26.78
this was the A-List
crowd being summoned together.
00:06:26.82\00:06:30.42
Mike: It was a huge job
bringing them over here though,
00:06:30.45\00:06:32.15
it must have taken lot of...
00:06:32.19\00:06:33.52
a lot of work and
organizing ability there.
00:06:33.56\00:06:36.89
Okay, so thanks for that,
00:06:36.93\00:06:38.89
he's also got another message
that he's giving here, Colin.
00:06:38.93\00:06:41.93
Colin: Yeah, he's saying,
00:06:41.96\00:06:43.37
"Enough of all
the other gods... "
00:06:43.43\00:06:45.13
messing around with gods...
00:06:45.17\00:06:46.50
he's basically saying,
00:06:46.53\00:06:47.87
"I'm God, you're
going to bow down to me. "
00:06:47.90\00:06:50.84
So, he's sending a
clear statement out there
00:06:50.87\00:06:53.88
to the world, as
you've just said,
00:06:53.91\00:06:55.24
that, "I am God...
00:06:55.28\00:06:56.68
my kingdom is
going to last forever
00:06:56.71\00:06:58.85
and what their God
said is not going...
00:06:58.88\00:07:00.92
the Hebrew God... is
not going to happen...
00:07:00.95\00:07:02.92
my god and me as God. "
00:07:02.98\00:07:05.59
Mike: This was...
this was a really...
00:07:05.62\00:07:07.49
a very defining moment
for this man, wasn't it?
00:07:07.56\00:07:09.72
I'm going to
read on in chapter 3
00:07:09.76\00:07:11.63
starting in verse 4 now,
00:07:11.66\00:07:13.46
"The herald cried
aloud: 'To you it is commanded,
00:07:13.50\00:07:17.57
O peoples,
nations, and languages... '"
00:07:17.60\00:07:19.63
so, he's addressing
everybody in the crowd...
00:07:19.67\00:07:21.44
verse 5, "at the time you
hear the sound of the horn,
00:07:21.47\00:07:24.67
the flute, the harp,
the lyre, and psaltery,
00:07:24.71\00:07:26.91
in symphony with
all kinds of music... "
00:07:26.94\00:07:28.88
they got an
orchestra here in the place...
00:07:28.91\00:07:30.61
very emotionally
moving music no doubt...
00:07:30.65\00:07:33.21
"you shall fall down then
and worship the golden image
00:07:33.25\00:07:37.35
that King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up... "
00:07:37.39\00:07:39.62
and that wasn't all...
00:07:39.65\00:07:40.99
verse 6... "whoever does not
fall down and worship the image,
00:07:41.02\00:07:46.29
shall be cast immediately
00:07:46.33\00:07:48.36
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace. "
00:07:48.40\00:07:50.70
Quite an incentive here,
00:07:50.73\00:07:52.33
so what was the underlying
issue here Rod, in all of this?
00:07:52.37\00:07:56.50
What's he got in mind?
00:07:56.54\00:07:57.94
Rod: Well, this
is all about worship,
00:07:57.97\00:07:59.64
this is about,
"You worship my god... "
00:07:59.67\00:08:02.91
this is actually a
challenge to God and it's...
00:08:02.94\00:08:06.65
it's about worship.
00:08:06.68\00:08:08.02
Mike: Yeah, and bearing in
mind that all these nations
00:08:08.05\00:08:09.62
that were
represented by these officials
00:08:09.68\00:08:11.82
had their own gods.
00:08:11.85\00:08:13.22
So, this is... not only...
00:08:13.25\00:08:16.73
not only is this an
affront to the Hebrew...
00:08:16.76\00:08:20.06
the God of
Creation but all gods.
00:08:20.10\00:08:22.66
Colin: And free choice...
free choice... free worship...
00:08:22.70\00:08:25.37
Mike: That's right, no freedom
of religion in those days.
00:08:25.40\00:08:28.07
Rod: It's also interesting too
00:08:28.10\00:08:29.50
that even up
unto recent centuries
00:08:29.54\00:08:31.44
monarchs felt that to
have stability in the empire,
00:08:31.47\00:08:35.18
people had to
worship the same...
00:08:35.21\00:08:36.71
and here's Nebuchadnezzar
enforcing his god.
00:08:36.75\00:08:40.12
Mike: Hmmm... Rod: Hmmm...
00:08:40.15\00:08:41.78
Mike: He's about...
he's about to learn...
00:08:41.85\00:08:43.99
not only he needs to learn
00:08:44.02\00:08:46.32
but he's going to
make a start, isn't he?
00:08:46.35\00:08:47.69
Okay, so, the orchestra plays...
00:08:47.72\00:08:50.13
the people fall on their faces
to worship Nebuchadnezzar...
00:08:50.16\00:08:54.96
he's "quite great" he
thought as he looks around
00:08:55.00\00:08:57.37
until something happens.
00:08:57.40\00:08:59.50
Colin: Hmmm... well
you read in chapter 3
00:08:59.53\00:09:02.64
verse 12, and so
what happened is...
00:09:02.70\00:09:05.87
some leaders came
up... Chaldeans...
00:09:05.91\00:09:09.01
they came... they came
up and it says in verse 12,
00:09:09.04\00:09:12.51
"There are certain Jews whom
you have set over the affairs
00:09:12.55\00:09:14.95
of the province of Babylon:
00:09:14.98\00:09:16.32
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego;
00:09:16.35\00:09:17.69
these men, O king, have
not paid due regard to you.
00:09:17.72\00:09:20.56
They do not serve your
gods or worship the gold image
00:09:20.59\00:09:23.56
which you have set up. "
00:09:23.59\00:09:24.93
So, obviously
Nebuchadnezzar didn't see that
00:09:24.96\00:09:26.93
because they brought
the attention to his men
00:09:26.96\00:09:29.16
and so he says, "Okay,
well, bring them to me... "
00:09:29.20\00:09:30.93
and he then tests them out.
00:09:30.97\00:09:33.07
So, he obviously
knew who they were
00:09:33.10\00:09:34.80
so they pointed them
00:09:34.84\00:09:36.27
and he had
experiences with them obviously
00:09:36.30\00:09:38.47
in the test of eating
and there was the dream
00:09:38.51\00:09:40.41
and so he was like,
00:09:40.48\00:09:41.81
"Okay, I'm going to give
these guys a second chance. "
00:09:41.84\00:09:43.18
Mike: Yeah, it's
really interesting isn't it,
00:09:43.21\00:09:45.71
there was a big crowd...
they got lost in the crowd
00:09:45.75\00:09:48.88
but they were seen just the same
00:09:48.92\00:09:50.92
so they'd come up and tell him.
00:09:50.99\00:09:52.92
Colin: And... and...
and it was a direct call
00:09:52.95\00:09:55.06
to break one of
God's Commandments...
00:09:55.09\00:09:56.73
that's the one about worship,
00:09:56.76\00:09:58.29
you can read that in Exodus...
00:09:58.36\00:09:59.83
it talks about that in
Exodus chapter 20 verse 4 and 5,
00:09:59.89\00:10:04.10
where God points out in
verse 4 of Exodus chapter 20,
00:10:04.13\00:10:07.97
verse 3, "You should have
no other gods before Me... "
00:10:08.00\00:10:11.74
and then He says, He
gets specific and He says,
00:10:11.77\00:10:13.84
"You shall not make for
yourself a carved image...
00:10:13.88\00:10:15.88
anything... likeness of anything
that is in heaven above,
00:10:15.91\00:10:18.28
or in the earth beneath,
00:10:18.31\00:10:19.65
or that is in the
water under the earth;
00:10:19.68\00:10:21.02
you shall not bow down
to them nor serve them.
00:10:21.05\00:10:23.25
For I, the Lord your
God, am a jealous God... "
00:10:23.28\00:10:25.65
and... and He says
this is a direct violation
00:10:25.69\00:10:28.02
of God's commandment.
00:10:28.06\00:10:29.56
That's what
Nebuchadnezzar was doing, so...
00:10:29.62\00:10:31.99
Mike: Yeah, yeah, so they
understood the Ten Commandments
00:10:32.03\00:10:34.80
just as we do today
00:10:34.86\00:10:36.46
and they weren't going
to break that Commandment,
00:10:36.50\00:10:40.84
that's apparently
the picture here...
00:10:40.87\00:10:43.00
um... Daniel chapter 3...
00:10:43.04\00:10:45.27
I'm going to read
on from where you...
00:10:45.31\00:10:46.88
you finished up in verse
2 by going to verse 13 there
00:10:46.91\00:10:49.74
which is, "Then Nebuchadnezzar,
in rage and fury,
00:10:49.78\00:10:52.58
gave the command to bring
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
00:10:52.61\00:10:57.39
So they brought these
men before the king... "
00:10:57.42\00:10:59.95
and he's really mad now...
00:10:59.99\00:11:01.46
and in verse 14 it says,
00:11:01.52\00:11:03.29
"Nebuchadnezzar
spoke, saying to them,
00:11:03.32\00:11:04.73
'Is it true,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
00:11:04.76\00:11:07.50
that you do not serve my
gods or worship the gold image
00:11:07.53\00:11:11.20
which I have set up?'"
00:11:11.23\00:11:12.57
So,
Nebuchadnezzar is really angry,
00:11:12.60\00:11:15.27
what do you think is
going through his mind, Rod?
00:11:15.30\00:11:17.31
Quite a lot of things...
00:11:17.34\00:11:19.57
Rod: A lot of things but
I think what he's thinking,
00:11:19.61\00:11:21.54
"Oh no, I've
forgotten all about them... "
00:11:21.58\00:11:23.98
he's probably just
remembered who they are...
00:11:24.01\00:11:26.35
he knows their background...
they're ten times wiser...
00:11:26.38\00:11:28.52
he knows the God they worship.
00:11:28.55\00:11:29.88
Mike: And Daniel
wasn't there obviously.
00:11:29.92\00:11:31.45
Rod: He's not there.
00:11:31.49\00:11:33.05
Mike: So I wonder
why... did he think about
00:11:33.09\00:11:34.69
sending Daniel
off on a special job?
00:11:34.72\00:11:36.32
Rod: We... we don't know
00:11:36.36\00:11:37.69
but he's probably
got this great dilemma
00:11:37.73\00:11:39.19
going through his
mind, "What do I do?
00:11:39.23\00:11:40.93
They defied me... I'm
the king... I'm the ruler...
00:11:40.96\00:11:43.26
I'm the
monarch... they defied me...
00:11:43.30\00:11:44.67
there's disobedience
here I've got to punish
00:11:44.73\00:11:46.53
but... they're special. "
00:11:46.57\00:11:48.37
Had it been anybody
else... straight in the furnace,
00:11:48.40\00:11:50.37
but he does give
them a second chance.
00:11:50.41\00:11:52.47
Mike: That's quite
remarkable actually
00:11:52.51\00:11:54.11
and Daniel chapter 3...
still People... on verse 15,
00:11:54.14\00:11:57.35
um... it says now...
00:11:57.38\00:11:59.08
Nebuchadnezzar says
to the three young men,
00:11:59.11\00:12:01.88
"Now if you are ready
00:12:01.92\00:12:03.99
at the time you hear the
sound of the horn, flute, harp,
00:12:04.02\00:12:06.09
et cetera, the orchestra...
00:12:06.12\00:12:07.62
and you fall down and worship
the image which I have made,
00:12:07.66\00:12:11.16
good!
00:12:11.19\00:12:12.53
But if you do not worship,
00:12:12.56\00:12:13.90
you shall be cast
immediately into the midst
00:12:13.96\00:12:16.36
of a burning fiery furnace... "
00:12:16.43\00:12:17.77
and then this,
00:12:17.80\00:12:19.53
"And who is the god who
will deliver you from my hand?"
00:12:19.57\00:12:23.71
Now, that's... we've
often read in the Scripture,
00:12:23.74\00:12:26.24
challenges like that
00:12:26.27\00:12:27.61
and God always seems to
rise to those challenges
00:12:27.64\00:12:29.54
but first of all,
why second chance, Colin?
00:12:29.61\00:12:32.41
Colin: Well, again, I
think he knew of their past
00:12:32.45\00:12:36.25
as we just spoke about,
00:12:36.28\00:12:38.05
he knew that these
guys have passed the test...
00:12:38.09\00:12:40.66
the eating test... they're ten
times smarter than everyone else
00:12:40.69\00:12:44.26
and he appointed them over...
00:12:44.29\00:12:45.63
gave them
governorships over that.
00:12:45.66\00:12:47.73
Mike: They had
integrity and he knew that.
00:12:47.76\00:12:49.23
Colin: Yeah, and he also knew
00:12:49.26\00:12:50.60
that they were part of
the group with Daniel...
00:12:50.63\00:12:53.30
you know, who
interpreted that dream...
00:12:53.34\00:12:55.20
which actually
led to this statue.
00:12:55.24\00:12:57.81
You know, he built the
statue and that was a reminder
00:12:57.84\00:13:01.01
that these guys weren't
going to bow down to that statue
00:13:01.04\00:13:03.95
because he had the dream about
the statue in the first place
00:13:03.98\00:13:06.88
and it was a different dream
00:13:06.92\00:13:08.52
than what he was now
trying to portray to the world,
00:13:08.55\00:13:11.19
so, it was a reminder
00:13:11.22\00:13:12.79
so he was trying to give
them a second chance to say...
00:13:12.82\00:13:14.76
"Okay, come on
guys, bow down... "
00:13:14.82\00:13:16.66
but they wouldn't do it.
00:13:16.69\00:13:18.03
Mike: Okay, so, he
throws out this challenge, Rod,
00:13:18.06\00:13:22.23
to the people...
Nebuchadnezzar...
00:13:22.26\00:13:23.97
he just makes it pretty plain
where he stands, doesn't he?
00:13:24.00\00:13:27.14
Rod: Yeah, and when we
look in verse 15 where it says,
00:13:27.17\00:13:30.31
"And who is that God
00:13:30.34\00:13:31.84
that shall deliver
you out of my hands?"
00:13:31.87\00:13:33.84
it brings to mind
another challenge,
00:13:33.88\00:13:37.35
if we turn back
to Exodus verse 5...
00:13:37.38\00:13:40.82
chapter 5 and verse 2,
00:13:40.85\00:13:42.52
we have another king...
another monarch called Pharaoh,
00:13:42.58\00:13:46.39
and he says, "Who is the Lord,
00:13:46.42\00:13:47.79
that I should obey his
voice to let Israel go?"
00:13:47.82\00:13:49.76
Mike: Hmmm... very similar.
00:13:49.79\00:13:51.39
Rod: There's a challenge,
we know what happened there...
00:13:51.43\00:13:53.53
after ten plagues,
the country was in ruins
00:13:53.56\00:13:56.26
and then, I think
of another one too
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.93
if we just turn to
2nd Kings chapter 18
00:13:58.97\00:14:01.54
and if we look at verse 35,
00:14:01.57\00:14:04.44
this is the...
this is the incident
00:14:04.47\00:14:06.47
where the
Assyrian king Sennacherib
00:14:06.51\00:14:08.44
has just gone and basically
rampaged through Israel
00:14:08.48\00:14:13.01
but he now wants
to take Jerusalem
00:14:13.05\00:14:15.22
and he says to Hezekiah...
00:14:15.25\00:14:17.62
Mike: What verse is this?
00:14:17.65\00:14:19.99
Rod: 2nd Kings
chapter 18 and verse 35,
00:14:20.02\00:14:23.29
here's his challenge,
00:14:23.32\00:14:25.19
"Who are they among all
the gods of the countries,
00:14:25.23\00:14:27.53
that have delivered
their country out of my hand,
00:14:27.56\00:14:29.80
that the Lord should deliver
Jerusalem out of my hand?"
00:14:29.83\00:14:33.23
Mike: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:14:33.27\00:14:34.60
Rod: Well, if we go one
chapter further, chapter 19...
00:14:34.64\00:14:36.40
and the same verse... verse 35,
00:14:36.47\00:14:38.74
the outcome of that didn't end
well for poor old Sennacherib,
00:14:38.77\00:14:42.44
it says, in one
night, the angel of the Lord
00:14:42.48\00:14:46.15
smote a 185,000 soldiers
00:14:46.18\00:14:48.85
and then Sennacherib
goes back to... to Nineveh
00:14:48.88\00:14:52.39
and he's killed by his sons.
00:14:52.42\00:14:53.86
Mike: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:14:53.92\00:14:55.26
Rod: So, it's never a good idea
00:14:55.29\00:14:56.62
to shake your fists
and say, "Who are you God?"
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.16
Which is what we see here
happening with Nebuchadnezzar.
00:14:58.19\00:15:01.76
Colin: Specially for a king,
00:15:01.80\00:15:03.13
it has... it's wrong to do that.
00:15:03.16\00:15:05.87
Mike: Yeah, okay,
so let's come back
00:15:05.90\00:15:08.04
to our story of Nebuchadnezzar,
00:15:08.07\00:15:09.40
thank you for
that, by the way, Rod,
00:15:09.44\00:15:10.84
back to that story,
00:15:10.87\00:15:12.21
how do these three respond
to the threat of the furnace?
00:15:12.24\00:15:16.34
Colin: Let's read in
Daniel chapter 3 verse 17,
00:15:16.38\00:15:19.18
it says... well,
first they've said,
00:15:19.21\00:15:23.89
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we
have no need to answer you
00:15:23.92\00:15:25.92
in this matter... "
this is in verse 16,
00:15:25.95\00:15:27.39
but 17 says this,
00:15:27.46\00:15:28.89
"If that is the
case, our God whom we serve
00:15:28.92\00:15:31.39
is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:15:31.43\00:15:34.23
and he will deliver us
from your hand, O king.
00:15:34.26\00:15:37.10
But if not, let it
be known to you, O king,
00:15:37.13\00:15:39.93
that we will
not serve your gods,
00:15:39.97\00:15:41.54
nor will we worship the gold
image which you have set up. "
00:15:41.57\00:15:44.27
They had made a stand
00:15:44.31\00:15:45.64
and they were
going to be faithful
00:15:45.67\00:15:47.01
no matter how the outcome...
00:15:47.04\00:15:48.44
whether they
were rescued or not,
00:15:48.48\00:15:49.91
they were going to make a stand.
00:15:49.94\00:15:51.28
Mike: Faithful, no
matter what. Colin: Yeah.
00:15:51.31\00:15:52.65
Mike: That's the only way to be,
00:15:52.68\00:15:54.02
we've all got to make those
kinds of decisions, I think,
00:15:54.05\00:15:55.75
in fact, it's
very fascinating to me,
00:15:55.78\00:15:57.65
I'm going to
turn now for a moment
00:15:57.69\00:15:59.52
to Revelation chapter 13,
00:15:59.55\00:16:01.12
because in
Revelation chapter 13,
00:16:01.16\00:16:03.76
we see a description there that
tastes very similar to this,
00:16:03.79\00:16:07.16
to this... that our
world is going to face
00:16:07.20\00:16:09.73
and we may well
have to face this test.
00:16:09.76\00:16:12.23
Revelation chapter 13, I'm
going to read verses 15 and 16,
00:16:12.27\00:16:16.30
it talks about a power at the
end of time... end of history...
00:16:16.34\00:16:20.34
who, it says, "was granted power
00:16:20.38\00:16:22.84
to give breath to
the image of the beast,
00:16:22.88\00:16:25.38
that the image of the
beast should both speak
00:16:25.41\00:16:27.85
and cause as many
as would not worship
00:16:27.88\00:16:29.75
the image of the
beast to be killed. "
00:16:29.78\00:16:31.59
This is the beast of
the Mark-of-the-Beast fame,
00:16:31.65\00:16:34.52
and in verse 16 it says,
00:16:34.56\00:16:36.99
"He causes all,
both small and great,
00:16:37.03\00:16:38.96
rich and poor, free and slave,
00:16:38.99\00:16:41.90
to receive a mark in their right
hand or on their foreheads,
00:16:41.93\00:16:45.23
that no man
might buy or sell... "
00:16:45.27\00:16:46.60
if you don't have...
00:16:46.63\00:16:47.97
it says, "the mark...
00:16:48.00\00:16:49.80
the name of the beast,
or the number of his name. "
00:16:49.84\00:16:51.67
Colin: Hmmm...
00:16:51.71\00:16:53.04
Mike: So, there is a
test which we all know
00:16:53.07\00:16:54.61
was the Mark of the Beast.
00:16:54.64\00:16:55.98
This time, it's
actually Babylon at work again
00:16:56.01\00:16:59.11
but it's
spiritual Babylon this time,
00:16:59.15\00:17:01.02
not literal Babylon as
we have with Nebuchadnezzar
00:17:01.08\00:17:03.49
and they're making
a... a similar demand
00:17:03.52\00:17:07.66
upon the faithful
right at the close of history
00:17:07.69\00:17:11.63
before the second
coming of Christ...
00:17:11.66\00:17:12.99
just before His coming.
00:17:13.03\00:17:14.36
Over in chapter 14...
still on the same page for me...
00:17:14.40\00:17:17.57
chapter 14 and
verse 8, it says this,
00:17:17.63\00:17:20.44
this is a message to the world,
by the way, and it says this,
00:17:20.47\00:17:24.71
"Another angel followed, saying,
00:17:24.74\00:17:26.68
'Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city,
00:17:26.71\00:17:30.15
because she has made all
nations drink of the wine
00:17:30.18\00:17:33.58
of the wrath of
her fornication. "
00:17:33.62\00:17:34.95
I should just point out...
00:17:34.98\00:17:36.32
again, this is not
literal Babylon over there
00:17:36.35\00:17:39.55
in the Middle East,
Folks, this is spiritual Babylon
00:17:39.59\00:17:42.32
and it's across the world
00:17:42.39\00:17:44.09
and it causes the whole
world... it says, "all nations
00:17:44.13\00:17:46.90
to drink of the
wine of the wrath
00:17:46.93\00:17:49.16
of her
spiritual fornication... "
00:17:49.20\00:17:51.40
which is very powerful indeed
00:17:51.43\00:17:54.40
can you brief us
on the issues, Colin?
00:17:54.44\00:17:57.84
We've talked about this,
give us a brief on the issues.
00:17:57.87\00:18:00.38
Colin: Well, we
see the same issue
00:18:00.41\00:18:01.91
that was in
Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon...
00:18:01.94\00:18:04.45
in literal Babylon...
00:18:04.51\00:18:05.85
is the same it's going to
be in spiritual Babylon...
00:18:05.88\00:18:08.95
it's over worship...
00:18:08.98\00:18:10.32
and so... where... where...
00:18:10.35\00:18:12.05
the worship is in
the Ten Commandments
00:18:12.09\00:18:14.22
and so, the
first four commandments
00:18:14.26\00:18:16.46
in the Ten Commandments
are about worshiping God
00:18:16.49\00:18:18.96
and the last six are about
our relationship to each other,
00:18:18.99\00:18:22.10
so, it will be on
the lines of worship
00:18:22.13\00:18:24.50
on the first four commandments.
00:18:24.53\00:18:25.87
Now, we're going to read
Revelation chapter 14 verses 7,
00:18:25.90\00:18:29.50
right, about...
00:18:29.54\00:18:30.87
in... in contrast to
this message in Revelation 13
00:18:30.91\00:18:34.34
about the "Mark of the
Beast" and false worship
00:18:34.38\00:18:36.44
and the governments, you
know, to the world and...
00:18:36.48\00:18:38.28
and religions to... to
force people to worship,
00:18:38.31\00:18:41.08
in contrast, there's this
message that goes out to the
00:18:41.12\00:18:43.65
world called the
"Three Angels Message"
00:18:43.69\00:18:45.15
in contrast... and
in verse 7 it says,
00:18:45.19\00:18:48.72
"Saying with a loud
voice, 'Fear God... '"
00:18:48.76\00:18:50.46
and wherever you
read "Fear God... "
00:18:50.49\00:18:52.53
if you do a Bible Study and go
back and look at "Fear God... "
00:18:52.56\00:18:54.66
it always has to do
with commandments of God...
00:18:54.70\00:18:57.67
there's a link
between "Fear God"
00:18:57.70\00:18:59.33
and the Commandments of God...
00:18:59.37\00:19:00.97
"and to give glory to Him,
00:19:01.00\00:19:02.44
for the hour of His
judgment has come... "
00:19:02.47\00:19:04.27
so, there's a
"judgment" message that started
00:19:04.31\00:19:06.17
and it says these
words, "and worship... "
00:19:06.24\00:19:08.11
so, there's that
word again, "worship"
00:19:08.14\00:19:09.64
"worship Him... "
00:19:09.68\00:19:11.05
and interesting,
this time it says,
00:19:11.08\00:19:13.45
"who made the
heaven and the earth,
00:19:13.48\00:19:14.88
the sea... the
springs of water. "
00:19:14.92\00:19:16.25
Now that's direct quote
out of the fourth commandment,
00:19:16.28\00:19:19.49
where... where God is the
Creator of the heavens and earth
00:19:19.52\00:19:22.72
and it tells about Who
He is... His territory...
00:19:22.76\00:19:25.59
what He created...
00:19:25.63\00:19:26.96
so, this is actually a reference
to the fourth commandment,
00:19:27.00\00:19:29.66
that he's quoting here.
00:19:29.70\00:19:31.03
Mike: Which deals
with the 7th day Sabbath...
00:19:31.07\00:19:32.40
which is interesting isn't it.
00:19:32.43\00:19:33.77
Colin: Yes, exactly, so there
will be a worldwide movement
00:19:33.80\00:19:38.61
to force people to worship
against the fourth commandment
00:19:38.67\00:19:43.58
of keeping the
7th day Sabbath holy.
00:19:43.61\00:19:44.95
Mike: Which is...
"God is the Creator"
00:19:44.98\00:19:46.31
and it's rather interesting...
in the description of the people
00:19:46.35\00:19:48.15
who are saying "No"
to the Mark of the Beast.
00:19:48.18\00:19:50.65
If you look at chapter
14 verse 12 of Revelation,
00:19:50.69\00:19:53.15
it says, "Here is the
patience of the saints... "
00:19:53.19\00:19:55.36
the people of God...
00:19:55.42\00:19:56.76
"here are those who
keep the commandments of God
00:19:56.79\00:19:59.83
and the faith of Jesus. "
00:19:59.86\00:20:01.20
The two go hand in hand
00:20:01.23\00:20:02.56
and especially
at the end of time.
00:20:02.60\00:20:04.23
Okay, thank you for
that, we'll have to move on...
00:20:04.27\00:20:06.13
those are the
issues, then, Colin,
00:20:06.17\00:20:09.57
at the end of time...
00:20:09.60\00:20:10.94
and it's very serious stuff,
00:20:10.97\00:20:12.97
all right, back to our story.
00:20:13.01\00:20:14.34
Nebuchadnezzar...
when these young men say,
00:20:14.38\00:20:18.25
"Look, we're not...
we just can't do that...
00:20:18.28\00:20:20.28
we can't worship
that golden image,
00:20:20.32\00:20:21.92
he loses it totally.
00:20:21.98\00:20:23.92
Daniel chapter 3, Folks,
00:20:23.95\00:20:25.79
if you can turn with
me to Daniel chapter 3,
00:20:25.82\00:20:28.29
and verse 9 this time,
and this is what happened.
00:20:28.32\00:20:32.73
Sorry, not verse 9,
this will be verse 19.
00:20:32.76\00:20:37.17
"Nebuchadnezzar
was full of fury... "
00:20:37.20\00:20:39.50
and he loses it
00:20:39.53\00:20:40.87
"and the
expression on his face changed
00:20:40.90\00:20:42.87
toward Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego.
00:20:42.90\00:20:45.01
He spoke and commanded
they should heat this furnace
00:20:45.04\00:20:47.98
seven times more than
it was usually heated. "
00:20:48.01\00:20:50.18
So the thing is
really scorching now.
00:20:50.21\00:20:51.71
Well, what did they do
00:20:51.75\00:20:54.12
with the young men?
00:20:54.15\00:20:56.45
They got the
furnace... what happens next?
00:20:56.48\00:20:58.29
Rod: Well these... these three
guys who had made their stand...
00:20:58.35\00:21:01.59
they had no inside information
they were going to be saved...
00:21:01.62\00:21:04.86
I mean, we know... we
know the end of the story,
00:21:04.89\00:21:06.53
but they
didn't... they're there...
00:21:06.56\00:21:08.86
as far as they knew,
they were going to be...
00:21:08.90\00:21:11.50
be burned...
00:21:11.53\00:21:13.13
they were bound up and
they've got time to reflect
00:21:13.17\00:21:16.24
but they still... they
stood by their decision
00:21:16.27\00:21:19.31
and the furnace
was so hot that the...
00:21:19.34\00:21:22.38
the soldiers were
killed walking to the fire
00:21:22.44\00:21:24.75
to throw them in.
00:21:24.78\00:21:26.11
Mike: Yeah, and then
something dramatic happened
00:21:26.15\00:21:27.62
according to verse 24 and 25.
00:21:27.65\00:21:29.55
"Then King
Nebuchadnezzar was astonished;
00:21:29.58\00:21:32.19
and he rose in haste and
spoke, saying to his counselors,
00:21:32.22\00:21:35.59
'Did we not cast three
men bound into the fire?'
00:21:35.62\00:21:38.56
And they answered and said
to the king, 'True, O king. '"
00:21:38.59\00:21:41.36
But there's obviously something
else happening here Folks,
00:21:41.40\00:21:44.13
and he says, "Look!
Well I see four men loose,
00:21:44.17\00:21:47.10
walking in the
midst of the fire;
00:21:47.14\00:21:49.14
and they are not hurt... "
00:21:49.17\00:21:50.51
and then this...
00:21:50.54\00:21:51.87
"the form of the fourth
is like the Son of God. "
00:21:51.91\00:21:54.84
Can you sort of
describe the scene for us here?
00:21:54.88\00:21:57.98
Colin: Well,
let's put it this way,
00:21:58.01\00:21:59.35
he sends three men to a fire
and you see a fourth man there,
00:21:59.38\00:22:02.22
who's sort of like...
like a form of "Son of God"
00:22:02.25\00:22:05.42
He was almost
glowing... you know,
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.46
the fire within the fire...
00:22:07.49\00:22:08.82
and they're walking
around and they're protected.
00:22:08.86\00:22:11.19
This reminds me back of that
story in Revelation we just said
00:22:11.23\00:22:14.73
where Spiritual Babylon
is going to do the same thing
00:22:14.76\00:22:17.57
but He is God... Son of God...
00:22:17.63\00:22:20.57
is going to protect
them and take care of them
00:22:20.60\00:22:23.07
and so, I thought it
was an amazing... amazing...
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.47
would have been quite amazing
00:22:25.51\00:22:26.84
to see a fourth person
walking around in the fire.
00:22:26.88\00:22:28.68
Mike: It is... and then
they're coming out of the fire
00:22:28.74\00:22:30.51
and all of the
leading men gather around
00:22:30.55\00:22:33.08
these three young men
00:22:33.11\00:22:35.12
and according to
verse 27, they do this,
00:22:35.15\00:22:37.89
"The satraps,
administrators, governors,
00:22:37.92\00:22:40.62
and the king's
counselors gathered together,
00:22:40.66\00:22:42.86
and they saw these men on whose
bodies the fire had no power;
00:22:42.89\00:22:46.59
the hair of their
head was not singed
00:22:46.63\00:22:48.80
nor were their
garments affected,
00:22:48.83\00:22:50.90
and the smell of the
fire was not upon them. "
00:22:50.93\00:22:54.37
Why the examination?
00:22:54.40\00:22:56.14
Well, they're
doing a close examination
00:22:56.17\00:22:58.17
of checking their
clothing and everything.
00:22:58.21\00:23:00.14
Well, this was an
undeniable miracle.
00:23:00.18\00:23:01.68
You know, with the passing of
time, no one would believe this,
00:23:01.71\00:23:05.71
so they physically
had to go out and see it
00:23:05.75\00:23:08.05
and they would acknowledge
00:23:08.08\00:23:09.68
God's mighty power over all
the elements... including fire.
00:23:09.72\00:23:13.19
Mike: Yeah, yeah, and
they'd never forget that.
00:23:13.22\00:23:15.02
Now, there's an important
part we need to consider here
00:23:15.06\00:23:18.23
very briefly,
00:23:18.26\00:23:19.59
does God always
promise to protect us
00:23:19.63\00:23:21.26
in situations like this, Colin?
00:23:21.30\00:23:23.26
Colin: He... He doesn't always
00:23:23.30\00:23:25.23
because we know that many people
have been burned at the stake.
00:23:25.27\00:23:27.57
but I've heard
incredible stories
00:23:27.60\00:23:29.77
that He gives you
courage when you need it
00:23:29.80\00:23:31.47
and how do you go singing when
you're being burned on a stake?
00:23:31.51\00:23:34.51
Mike: Nobody is a born martyr
00:23:34.54\00:23:35.91
but God's gift
can gift people to...
00:23:35.94\00:23:38.21
Colin: Yes, and so...
00:23:38.25\00:23:39.58
yes, but God does
promise to be with you
00:23:39.61\00:23:41.55
and that's what's
interesting about martyrs
00:23:41.58\00:23:43.22
when we look at them
00:23:43.25\00:23:44.59
and look at Isaiah
chapter 43 and verse 2,
00:23:44.62\00:23:46.52
there's even a
prophecy here where...
00:23:46.55\00:23:49.19
where it talks
about the... 43 verse 2...
00:23:49.22\00:23:51.79
"When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you;
00:23:51.83\00:23:55.06
And through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you.
00:23:55.10\00:23:58.30
When you walk through the fire,
you shall not be burned... "
00:23:58.33\00:24:00.84
now, this was written
00:24:00.87\00:24:02.20
a few hundred years
before they went in the fire,
00:24:02.24\00:24:04.94
so they would have
known about that...
00:24:04.97\00:24:07.14
and that God could deliver them
and walk with them in the fire
00:24:07.18\00:24:09.54
but He would be with you always
no matter what you go through.
00:24:09.58\00:24:11.91
Mike: Interestingly,
Isaiah who wrote that
00:24:11.95\00:24:14.35
himself was...
was not spared death.
00:24:14.38\00:24:16.18
Colin: Well, he was
sawn in half I believe...
00:24:16.22\00:24:17.89
something like that.
00:24:17.92\00:24:19.59
Rod: Can you imagine
what was going through
00:24:19.62\00:24:20.96
these three young men's minds,
00:24:20.99\00:24:22.72
they've just made a stand...
00:24:22.76\00:24:24.53
they've given up their
life of... of ease and...
00:24:24.56\00:24:27.53
and acknowledgement
being a rural officer,
00:24:27.56\00:24:29.70
they're being bound up...
00:24:29.73\00:24:31.73
they're probably thinking,
00:24:31.77\00:24:33.70
"Lord, if You're going to
save me, You'd better hurry up,
00:24:33.74\00:24:35.37
it's pretty hot here.
00:24:35.40\00:24:36.81
Or they could have just been at
peace and just rested in the...
00:24:36.84\00:24:39.64
I don't know... but
I've often wondered...
00:24:39.67\00:24:41.01
what were they thinking as
they're being marched off to...
00:24:41.04\00:24:44.05
carried off to a fiery furnace?
00:24:44.08\00:24:45.41
Mike: I think there would
be a profound peace with them
00:24:45.45\00:24:46.78
to be frank
with you on this one.
00:24:46.82\00:24:48.15
Okay, so now what
does Nebuchadnezzar do
00:24:48.18\00:24:50.49
with this experience?
00:24:50.52\00:24:51.92
He... he... he... he himself
has a response obviously,
00:24:51.95\00:24:56.83
and I'm looking at verse...
chapter 3 verse 29 and 30 there
00:24:56.86\00:25:01.26
and it says that he
says, "I'll make a decree... "
00:25:01.30\00:25:03.90
so, he... he gets...
and makes another decree
00:25:03.93\00:25:06.84
which is interesting
00:25:06.87\00:25:08.24
because these decrees
keep coming out of Babylon,
00:25:08.27\00:25:09.97
"that any people,
nation or language
00:25:10.01\00:25:14.34
which speaks anything against
the God of Shadrach, Meshach,
00:25:14.38\00:25:16.75
and Abednego shall
be cut in pieces... "
00:25:16.78\00:25:18.85
he got the same
attitude but he just...
00:25:18.88\00:25:20.95
he got a different God here...
00:25:20.98\00:25:22.92
"their houses shall
be made an ash heap;
00:25:22.95\00:25:24.29
because no other God...
00:25:24.32\00:25:25.65
there is no other God
who can deliver like this. "
00:25:25.69\00:25:27.92
Well, that was so true.
00:25:27.96\00:25:29.29
Rod: This must have
had a very deep impact
00:25:29.32\00:25:31.93
and I'm sure all the
previous things he'd seen
00:25:31.96\00:25:34.46
have come
flooding back to his mind
00:25:34.50\00:25:36.30
and he now really knows
about the God of heaven.
00:25:36.33\00:25:39.03
Mike: Yes, he does...
00:25:39.07\00:25:40.40
and he's... on pain of death
people are to be reverential
00:25:40.44\00:25:44.24
in the way they talk
about the God of heaven.
00:25:44.27\00:25:45.84
Okay, now we need to just
briefly talk about the question
00:25:45.87\00:25:49.31
that is this, "What
is the secret, Colin,
00:25:49.34\00:25:52.45
of a strong faith like that?"
00:25:52.48\00:25:54.38
Colin: Well, if you've ever read
the book of Hebrews chapter 11,
00:25:54.42\00:25:56.89
it's called the "Faith" chapter
00:25:56.92\00:25:58.25
and it has a story
of all these people
00:25:58.29\00:26:00.56
who are faithful in adversity,
00:26:00.59\00:26:01.96
it just goes
through... lists everyone...
00:26:01.99\00:26:04.09
it's like a
"Who's Who" of the Bible,
00:26:04.13\00:26:06.13
and the one thing
they all looked forward to
00:26:06.19\00:26:08.43
was the promise of the future...
00:26:08.46\00:26:09.80
a promise of a
kingdom that God would set up,
00:26:09.83\00:26:12.43
and no matter
what happened to them,
00:26:12.47\00:26:14.07
they're putting
their faith in that.
00:26:14.10\00:26:15.67
Mike: Yeah, okay,
so they... they trusted
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.27
that God was going to
bring something good out of this
00:26:17.31\00:26:20.21
and that there was an
eternal future for them.
00:26:20.24\00:26:21.74
Colin: That's right
00:26:21.78\00:26:23.11
and they were prepared
to go their death over it...
00:26:23.14\00:26:24.71
because they
looked at the future
00:26:24.75\00:26:26.15
for a promised heavenly kingdom.
00:26:26.18\00:26:27.52
Mike: Yes, and there
were millions of people
00:26:27.58\00:26:30.09
who went to their
graves covered with ignominy
00:26:30.12\00:26:32.55
but who were
God's champions in fact.
00:26:32.59\00:26:35.29
Rod: But having
gone to their grave,
00:26:35.32\00:26:37.96
they were a great
witness to those who saw that.
00:26:37.99\00:26:39.53
Colin: Yes.
Mike: That's correct,
00:26:39.56\00:26:40.90
that was a wonderful thing
00:26:40.93\00:26:42.26
and we've just read the
story of three young men
00:26:42.30\00:26:45.27
who were prepared to do that.
00:26:45.30\00:26:46.63
Rod: Yeah.
00:26:46.67\00:26:48.00
Mike: And I'm impressed with
the courage of these young men
00:26:48.04\00:26:49.97
and their faith.
00:26:50.01\00:26:51.34
So Folks, we need
to keep that in mind...
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.44
an authentic faith
00:26:53.48\00:26:56.48
means surrendering
our will to God's will...
00:26:56.54\00:26:58.88
whatever that should be...
00:26:58.91\00:27:00.25
it means doing
what is right and true
00:27:00.28\00:27:04.19
regardless of the consequences,
00:27:04.22\00:27:06.12
it means, people of principle
00:27:06.15\00:27:07.96
and God is seeking such people
to worship Him even today.
00:27:07.99\00:27:12.46
Well people, we hope you were
blessed by: Let God Speak today.
00:27:12.49\00:27:16.20
You can see all
of our past programs
00:27:16.23\00:27:20.00
on our website:
3abnaustralia. org. au
00:27:20.04\00:27:23.71
Teacher's notes can
also be downloaded there.
00:27:23.74\00:27:26.71
You can e-mail us
if you prefer to do so
00:27:26.74\00:27:29.64
on: Lgs@3abnaustralia. org. au
00:27:29.68\00:27:35.85
and we'd like to hope and
invite you to join us again
00:27:35.88\00:27:39.29
in our next program
and God bless until then.
00:27:39.32\00:27:42.32