Revelation 13:18; Here Is the Wisdom
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.
Courage of Faith (Daniel 3:12-23)
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Even their names showed the intimate knowledge of the living and true God and the parents desired for God’s favour, power and help to be manifested in their lives – Shadrach (Jah has favoured), Meshach (Is as El), and Abednego (Jah has helped) were true to their Hebrew names. They had the courage to cling on to the promises of God and would rather please God than man.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in hisrage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is ittrue, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
They were interrogated before the king. It was a terrible ordeal. Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful dictator on earth at that time. Who dared defy him? But in the heart of these three they knew that there is a sovereign and Almighty God that is over and above this great king.
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 isthat God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we arenot careful to answer thee in this matter.
“We are not careful to answer thee in this matter” (v16) – there is no necessity that they should reply the king on that point. They had made up their minds, and, whatever was the result, they could not worship the image which he had set up, or the gods whom he adored. They felt that there was no necessity for stating the reasons why they could not do this. Perhaps they thought that argument in their case was improper. It became them to do their duty, and to leave the matter with God. They had no need to go into an extended vindication of their conduct, for it might be presumed that their principles of conduct were well known. The state of mind, therefore, which is indicated by this passage, is that their minds were made up; that their principles were settled and well understood; that they had come to the deliberate determination, as a matter of conscience, not to yield obedience to the command; that the result could not be modified by any statement which they could make, or by any argument in the case; and that, therefore, they were not anxious about the result, but calmly committed the whole cause to God. (Barnes)
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver usout of thine hand, O king. 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.
Why tremendous courage and testimony it must have been to all who listen to their words of faith. They were prepared to suffer for their convictions. If God would deliver them from the fiery furnace, so be it, it is up to Him. They were prepared to die. They were determined in their heart to remain faithful and let God take care of the outcome. They did what they know is right. And let God take care of what come next. They understood that God may intervene to deliver them but He is not obligated to do so. They were prepared to honour Him and glory His Name anyway. What courage of faith!
The Apostle Paul said these same words whilst languishing in prison to hold fast to his faith despite great sufferings.
Philippians 1:19-20 “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and myhope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but thatwith all boldness, as always, sonow also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it beby life, or by death.”
God gave to the three captives courage beyond measure, boldness to testify for their Lord for all eternity. Indeed, even today, God is praised, Christ exalted for their faith even unto death. They knew, absent from the body, is present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:6 “Therefore we arealways confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.”
Their unfeigned faith, steadfast and sure infuriated the king.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: thereforehe spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
To ensure that they pay for their disobedience, the furnace was heated up 7 times stronger.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 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. 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 Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
There is a price to be paid for their faith as Jesus said to the persecuted church in Smyrna – Christ exhorted them to be faithful unto death. Indeed, the time of trial and tribulation is most unbearable. Yet we are to realize that when we hold fast to our faith even unto death, God is pleased.
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.”
Amen.