Marvin J. Rosenthal

Daniel's three friends -- Hananiah, Mshael, and Azariah -- were faced with a life-threatening dilemma: bow before the image Nebuchadnezzar created, or be cast into a blazing furnace. Daniel's three friends knew if they remained faithful to their God and chose to devy the heathen monarch, Nebuchadnezzar would make good on the threat. Nonetheless, Nananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to bow -- and were hurled into the furnace. However, to the shock of the assembled heathens, the power of God was manifested, and the three young men emerged victorious. The story of three courageous men who defied a king -- remained faithful to their God and emerged victorious. Those three Hebrew boys didn't bow, they didn't bend, and so they didn't burn. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to assimilate and control captured lands and peoples through religion -- to have worship of one deity bring ... provinces together. Nonetheless, in the face of such overwhelming adversity, they would not bow to a lifeless image, no matter how large, impressive, or expensive. They would not worship a man -- not even mighty Nebuchadnezzar. The Antichrist will set up an image in his own likeness ... He will demand that the jews in Israel bow to the image.… (mais)