This chapter parallels the prophecy in Revelation 13, where the image of the beast is set up and worship is forced. Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold to show off His superiority and boast that His kingdom would last forever, thus defying God’s authority and rule. He made it the object of worship, forgetting his recent experience when Daniel had finished interpreting his dream for him.
•The word “gold” in Daniel 2 and 3 links the chapters.
•The word “image” is in both chapters.
•The expression “set up” is used in the chapter.
•In Daniel 2:44 God had stated that He was going to “set up” his indestructible kingdom (Daniel 3:1, 2, 3, 7, 12, 14, 15 and 18). Nebuchadnezzar attempted to counteract God’s scenario by setting up an image totally of gold.
King Nebuchadnezzar called everyone in his kingdom to the plain of Dura to worship the image, and music played an important role. Those who refused to bow down to the golden image faced punishment (a fiery furnace), and the same thing will happen before the end of the world. The world and its rulers will follow after the Beast, forcing worship on the earth's inhabitants in the Book of Revelation. Those who do not want to comply will face persecution and trials. Trials develop character and strengthen our faith. Our characters will come forth as gold out of the fiery trials; our characters will emerge as gold. But we must now make the decision to obey Christ in the little things, not when the time comes. We will not be able to make the right choices under pressure.
🟨Main themes in Daniel 3
•The primary issue was worship
•There was a union of church and state (Daniel 3:2).
•The decree to worship was universal (Daniel 3:4).
•A death decree was given against those who did not worship the image of the beast (Daniel 3:6, 11, 15 and 19).
•There was a faithful remnant that refused to worship the image of the beast (Daniel 3:12). The religious leaders accused the three young men to the civil power (Daniel 2:2, 4, 5, 10, 12; 3:9-12).
•King Nebuchadnezzar attempted to intimidate the remnant who kept the commandments of God and worshipped only Him (Daniel 3:15) (Compare to the actions of dragon in Revelation 12)
•Time of trouble for the three young men (Daniel 3:20-23).
•Their tormentors died instead (Daniel 3:22).
•Christ Himself stood up to deliver His faithful remnant in the midst of the time of trouble (Daniel 3:25).
🟨Daniel 3 similar to the book of Revelation chapters 13 to 18
•The power which will rule the world in the end-time will be spiritual and global Babylon (Revelation 14:8; 16:12-16, 19; 17:1, 2, 5, 18, 21).
•There will be a union of church and state (Revelation 17:1, 2; 18:3).
•God’s people will once again be captive in Babylon and this is the reason they are called to come out of her (Revelation 18:4).
•In Revelation there is a power which is described as the beast and the beast is a symbol of the Roman Catholic Papacy (Revelation 13:2).
•The beast will have an image built in its honor. The image is a replica of the Papacy that is raised up in its honor by Protestant America (Revelation 13:11-18).
•The Mark of the Beast will be Imposed by force.
•A death decree will be proclaimed against God’s faithful remnant (Revelation 13:15).
•The death decree will be universal (Revelation 13:15, 16).
•Once again worship will be the central issue and it will be worldwide (Revelation 13:3, 8, 16; 14:6; 16:13, 14; 17:15).
•But the commandments will also be an issue, especially the first table of the law (Revelation 12:17; 14:12).
•God will have a faithful remnant which will refuse to worship the image to the beast (Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 15:2-4).
•Satan will manifest his wrath (Revelation 12:17). There will be a similar question as was asked by Nebuchadnezzar (Revelation 13:3, 4).
•Jesus will personally intervene to deliver His people.
•The wicked oppressors of God’s people will perish with their own weapons.