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Daniel episode 3: The fiery furnace

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego make a stand for God.
Contributed by David & Goliath (DG)
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King Nebuchadnezzar's power and authority expanded until he became the greatest king in the world. – Slide 1
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Every year he added more and more territories to his Kingdom. People everywhere feared him, so it is no wonder that he became proud of his success. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that a gold statue over 300 feet (100m) high was to be made. – Slide 2
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This statue was an idol to be raised on the plain of Dura in the land of Babylon where everyone could see it. When it was finished, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered all the servants of the Kingdom to come and worship before this idol. Princes, governors captains, judges, legislators and leaders from all over the Kingdom were summoned to the Dura plain. No one dared to go against the King's orders. Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were among the people who came before the golden statue. – Slide 3
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King Nebuchadnezzar command one of his servants to shout, ‘People of every nation and every language, when you hear the sound of the musical instruments you have to bow down and worship before the golden statue king Nebuchadnezzar has built. Whoever refuses to bow will be thrown into the fiery furnace. – Slide 4
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Instruments began to play and people knelt before the King’s statue to worship the idol. They were all afraid of the King’s threats and none of them wanted to be thrown into the blazing hot furnace. – Slide 5
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Everyone bowed down except for three young men who remained standing. – Slide 6
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Who do you think they were? Yes, Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When the King’s servant saw that the three young men were standing, they immediately ran to inform the King. – Slide 7
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They reported, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They won’t serve your gods and refuse to worship the image of gold you have set up.’ King Nebuchadnezzar became very angry and ordered the three men to be brought before him. – Slide 8
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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were arrested and taken to the King. – Slide 9
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A furious King Nebuchadnezzar asked Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ‘Is it true that you did not worship my golden statue?’ The king knew that the three friends before him had been captured as slaves from Jerusalem and were among the best of his governors. So, he gave them another chance, ‘Now when you hear the sound of the music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my power? – Slide 10
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The three friends, full of courage, replied, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar we do not need another chance. We will not kneel and worship the idol as we only bow down before our God, the one true God. Our God is so great and powerful that He can save us from the blazing hot furnace. But if He does not save us, you should know that we still won’t serve your gods and we will not worship the golden idol.’ – Slide 11
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King Nebuchadnezzar was mad with rage. He had just offered these young men another chance to worship the golden statue but instead of taking his offer they had insulted him in front of all his servants. He immediately ordered his servants to heat the furnace seven times hotter. – Slide 12
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Then in a voice like thunder shouted, ‘Who do you think you are? How dare you challenge my authority? I will teach you all a lesson.’ – Slide 13
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King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his servants to throw all three men into the fiery furnace. – Slide 14
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The King’s servants firmly tied up the three friends and threw them into the blazing furnace. The servants had to get so close to the furnace to carry out the King’s order, the flames immediately swallowed them up. – Slide 15
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The King watched what happened, then suddenly his eyes grew wide with amazement. – Slide 16
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He rubbed his eyes and moved closer to get a better look inside the furnace. ‘Didn’t we throw three people in the fire?’ the king asked his servants. ‘Yes,’ they answered, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.’ – Slide 17
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‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed,’ the King gasped. ‘And the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ – Slide 18
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Nebuchadnezzar got as close as he could to the door of the furnace and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ – Slide 19
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Immediately, the King’s servants gathered around and saw the three friends stepping out of the furnace had not been harmed. Not a single strand of their hair was burned and their clothes didn't even smell of smoke. Only the ropes used to tie them up had been burned by the fire. – Slide 20
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King Nebuchadnezzar now understood that these three men were brave, faithful and truly served a powerful God who was able to deliver them from the fire. ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants!’ the King announced. ‘They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. I decree that the people of any nation who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other God can save in this way.’ – Slide 21
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King Nebuchadnezzar then promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to higher positions within his Kingdom. – Slide 22
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