The Three Holy Children respond to the King (Dan. 3:16:18)

 

o   This account also demonstrates that they took seriously the truth of Matt. 10:28:

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

o   Also, this incident is a dramatization of Jesus’ words in regard to Disciples’ proper expectations for this Age as we stand in testimony unto the Nations:

 

Mark 13:9-11: “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.  And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

 

o   The Three Holy Children, as true disciples, knew that whether we live or die, it is ultimately a “win/win-more” situation! We gain Christ either way!

Php 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

  

o   Modern missionary martyr Nate Saint (1923–56), killed in Ecuador:

The way I see it, we ought to be willing to die. In the military, we were taught that to obtain our objectives we had to be willing to be expendable. Missionaries must face that same expendability.

 

o   This account also underscores the necessity for believers to engage in Biblical Civil Disobedience rather than disobey the express command and revealed will of God as given in Scripture. Note the following examples:

 

o   The Hebrew midwives disobedience to Pharaoh’s cruel edict (Ex. 1:16-21), for which they were blessed by God (1:20-21).

 

o   Moses’ parents hid their child from Pharaoh (Ex. 2:2)—an act of faith (Heb. 11:23).

 

o   Daniel’s refusal to compromise his prayer life & habits (Dan. 6:10).

 

o   Mordecai’s refusal to bow before the wicked anti-Semite, Haman (Est. 3:1-5).

 

o   Peter & John’s disobedience to the Jewish High Council, which commanded them not to speak nor teach in the Name of Jesus:

Acts 4:19-20: But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

 

o   Peter and the full company of Apostles also defied the same command from the High Council, preaching before the people in the Temple.

Acts 5:29: But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

 

o   Future saints will also refuse to worship the Antichrist Beast during the 70^th Week of Daniel (i.e., the Great Tribulation; Rev. 13:15, 15:2, 20:4).