*Isaiah 46:5-10, "To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."

Although no time periods are mentioned in Daniel chapter three let's take a look at the second stage of the captivity of Judah. We know that Daniel and his friends had been in captivity for two years at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; however, upon further study of the siege itself chapter three becomes a little clearer.

Nebuchadnezzar set his course against Egypt and took from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt. It would appear that from the interpretation of his dream he set his course to fulfill the prophesy of "the head of gold." From that time the king of Egypt remained in his land. Jehoiakim had trusted in the king of Egypt for help. When he died Jehoichin became king. Jehoiachin reigned for three months and ten days in Jerusalem and did all that was evil in the eyes of the Lord just as Jehoiakim had done.

The scriptures tell us in II Chronicles 36, "when the year had expired," Nebuchadnezzar's servants came up against Jerusalem and besieged the city. From the wording it could be concluded that Jehoiachin reigned along side Jehoiakim from the age of eight. When the eleven year reign of Jehoiakim's had expired, Jehoichin's three month reign, Nebuchadnezzar's servants came up against Jerusalem and besieged the city.

At the end of the three month and ten day period, 597 BC, Jehoiachin went out to the king of Babylon along with his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers and the king took them. Also, Nebuchadnezzar carried out all the treasures of the house of the LORD, as well as the treasures of the king's house. He cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD and carried them to Babylon.

Just as the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet he carried away all Jerusalem, all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor. Ten thousand captives including all the craftsmen and smiths; and, including Ezekiel the prophet. No one remained except the poorest of the people. All that were strong and capable for battle the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD according to all that Jehoiakim had done. II Kings 24:18-20, "Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon."

*Jeremiah 10:2-10, "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."

Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold that was approximately 90 feet in height and approximately 9 feet wide. The statue itself was colossal in size and believed to be the image of his dream. It was formed and fashioned of gold and set upon it's base in the Plain of Dura.

Then Nebuchadnezzar gathered the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the councillors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image. They stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up and a herald cried, "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, when you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer that you fall down and worship the golden image that king Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Who ever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a burning fiery furnace."

When Daniel had been set over all the province of Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar he had requested that Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah be set over the affairs of the province. However, at the time that the music sounded they did not bow down and worship the statue of gold as the king had commanded. Certain men of the Chaldeans noticed this and went to the king and protested against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. *Daniel 3:10-13, "Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king."

So Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do you not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? If you will fall down and worship the image which I made no harm will come to you but if you don't worship you shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. What God can deliver you out of my hands?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up," *Daniel 3:17-19.

Nebuchadnezzar became extremely angered by their words and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was supposed to be heated. Then he commanded the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace. Then they bound these three men in their garments and cast them into the fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent and the furnace was very hot, the flames of the fire killed the men that threw them into the furnace and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell bound into the middle of the burning flames.

*Isaiah 43:1-2, "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

*Daniel 3:24-30, "Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon."

Three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were cast into the firey furnace, but praise be to God the Lord came and walked in the flames with them. He protected them because of their obedience to His word. They chose not to bow down before the gods of the nation of their captivity. Their faith brought glory and praise to the Lord God Almighty to the lips of their oppressor. The fourth man in the firey furnace, Jesus Christ the Son of God, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will sustain us. He will protect us. He has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us. He watches over us because His desire is to bring us to an expected end.

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

 

For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive," *Jeremiah 29:4-14

*Isaiah 40:18-28, "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."

& II Chronicles 36 tells us that Zedekiah refused to humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet when he spoke the word of the Lord. He rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God but he "stiffened his neck and hardened his heart" from turning to the LORD God of Israel. God continued to send His messengers because he had compassion on his people, but, they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and misused his prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, "until there was no remedy."

Next we will look at the vision of Ezekiel which the Lord gave him while he was in captivity in the land of Shinar. This will reveal why the total destruction of Israel was inflicted by their God. Please continue your studies and read through the book of Ezekiel. This will prepare your heart and reveal God's divine purpose in the plan of the ages.