Daniel Unlocked #21. The Call to Worship.
Babylon is the first worldwide heathen empire to dominate the people of God after the destruction of the temple. Babylon celebrated its supremacy by a decree enforcing idolatrous worship and attached to the decree was the threat of death. In the latter days another ‘image’ for the self same purpose shall be erected (Rev.13:11-18.) This passage indicates that there will be a universal financial boycott of God’s people and ultimately a death decree upon those who refuse to worship the beast and his image. Daniel 3 is the first indication of the ‘abomination of desolation’ that Jesus warned us about and told us to understand in Matthew 24:15. It is first sketched here by the Old Testament prophet as an idolatrous persecuting power that requires submission or death.
The very first issue in our world was over worship with Abel and Cain.
Abel brought the offering of grace pictured in the lamb and Cain, in disobedience, brought the works of his own labours. Thus began the millenial conflict between salvation by faith (evidenced by obedience) and salvation by works (evidenced by disobedience.)
The image of gold standing on the plain of Dura, whose name in Akkadian means “walled place”, gives the impression of a vast sanctuary. As if it were not enough, the furnace nearby can well evoke an altar. Babylonian music is to be part of the liturgy. The statue is 60 cubits by six cubits, with six types of musical instruments are listed, as if to convey the completeness and effectiveness of the adoration protocol and mirroring the 666 of Revelation 13. The Babylonian system was based on the number six. We still have remnants of that today. e.g. 360 degrees in a circle, 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute etc.
Today, we are bombarded from every side by calls to adopt new lifestyles, new ideologies, and to abandon our commitment to the authority of God as expressed in His Word and to surrender our allegiance to contemporary successors of the Babylonian empire. The allure of the world at times seems overwhelming, but we should remind ourselves that our ultimate allegiance belongs to the Creator God.
According to the prophetic calendar, we are living in the last days of earth’s history. Revelation 13 announces that the inhabitants of the earth will be called to worship the image of the beast. That entity will cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, (a group of 6) to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads” (Rev. 13:16). The word worship occurs 7 times in Revelation 13 and 14 and is the keyword in the final drama of the ages.
Six categories of people are said to give allegiance to the image of the beast: “small and great, rich and poor, free and slave”. The number of the beast, which is 666, also emphasizes six. This shows that the image erected by Nebuchadnezzar is just an illustration of what the eschatological Babylon will do in the last days (see Dan. 3:1 for the imagery of six and sixty). Therefore, we do well to pay close attention to what transpires in this narrative and how God sovereignly directs the affairs of the world.
Worship isn’t just bowing down before something or someone and openly professing ultimate allegiance. There are other ways, much more subtle ways, that we can end up worshiping something other than our Lord!
i believe we are living in the end days and as in the old days it was about obedience to God through worship and now in the end days it will be the same God bless your day 🙏
Hi Ross, really great summation today, thank you. Fascinating use of the number 6 in scripture to indicate the works / disobedience of man. Regards
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2. Being able to discern what is of God’s and what is not is crucial to the times we are living in as satan is so crafty and subtle in trying to deceive God’s children. His word warns us that even the very elect will be deceived.