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Three men stand up for God

Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego and the fiery furnace.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
1
When the Babylonians invaded Israel they took many Jews as captives back to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar promoted three captives to be officials in Babylon and gave them new Babylonian names: Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego. – Slide 1
2
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 27 metres (90ft) high and 2.7 metres (9ft) wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in Babylon. All the rulers and officials were summoned to attend the dedication of the image. – Slide 2
3
A herald loudly proclaimed, ‘Everybody, is commanded, as soon as you hear musical instruments (trumpets, oboes, lyres, zithers, and harps) you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’ – Slide 3
4
As soon as the music played, everyone bowed down to the golden image – everyone, that is, except the Jews, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego. They believed they should worship God and Him only. – Slide 4
5
The Babylonian astrologers reported to Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had not bowed before the image of gold nor did they worship his gods. – Slide 5
6
At that, the king flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him. He gave them one more chance to bow down when the music played or they would be thrown in the furnace. ‘Do you think there is any god who can save you?’ he shouted. – Slide 6
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The three men bravely replied, ‘Your Majesty, if the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power, then He will. But even if He doesn't we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue.’ – Slide 7
8
Nebuchadnezzar lost his temper, and his face turned red with anger. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. The strongest men in his army tied the three Jews up and threw them, fully clothed, into the roaring furnace. – Slide 8
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Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement. ‘Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the blazing furnace?’ he asked.They answered, ‘Yes, we did, Your Majesty.’‘Then why do I see four men walking around in the fire?’ he asked. ‘They are not tied up, and they show no sign of being hurt—and the fourth one looks like an angel or Son of God. – Slide 9
10
So Nebuchadnezzar went up to the door of the blazing furnace and called out, ‘Shadrach! Meshach! Abednego! Servants of the Supreme God! Come out!’ And they came out at once.All the princes, governors, and other officials gathered to look at the three men, who had not been harmed by the fire. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were not burned, and there was no smell of smoke on them. – Slide 10
11
The king said, ‘Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel and rescued these men who serve and trust Him. They disobeyed my orders and risked their lives rather than bow down and worship any god except their own.’ – Slide 11
12
The King continued, ‘I command that if anyone speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he is to be torn limb from limb, and his house is to be made a pile of ruins. There is no other god who can rescue like this.’Then the King promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. – Slide 12
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