Just as we find Daniel pondering over the writings of Jeremiah (Dan.

9:2), so we can readily believe that the three friends found all the

encouragement they needed, when facing the ordeal of fire set by

Nebuchadnezzar, in the precious words of Isaiah 43.

Again, as space is limited, we have no need to 'prove' to the spirit -

taught believer, this blessed position of complete immunity, demonstrated by

Daniel 3 and prominent in Isaiah 43, as being equally true of all believers.

We therefore turn our attention to the second division of this aspect of

The test of faith and of works.

'The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that

perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and

honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ' (1 Pet. 1:7).

Here, it is not salvation that is under the test, it is the 'trial of

faith'.  The Greek words dokimion 'trial' and 'tried' dokimazo, have

reference to the testing of metals, indeed the LXX of Proverbs 27:21 uses

dokimion to translate the word, 'a fining pot' or 'crucible' and Job said,

'When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold' (Job 23:10).  Peter again

speaks of 'the fiery trial' that was about to try some of his readers (1 Pet.

4:12).  Paul writing to the Corinthians makes it very clear, that those who

are building upon the one foundation, namely Christ, while never in danger of

'being lost' might 'suffer loss' as over against 'receiving a reward' and

uses the trial by fire to illustrate his teaching:

'Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious

stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and

the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's

work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself

shall be saved; yet so as by fire' (1 Cor. 3:12 -15).

Here 'works' are in view, and 'works' only.  When examining the

character of the Millennium we drew attention to the words of the Saviour to

the seven churches, 'I know thy works' and how they were linked with

Revelation 20, 'the dead were judged ... according to their works'.  First,

to every one of the seven churches, the Saviour said, 'I know thy works', and

so dominant is this reference to 'works' in these two chapters (Rev. 2 and

3), that we find the Greek word ergon occurring fourteen times.  It is to one

of these churches made up of the redeemed that the overcomer is promised 'He

... shall not be hurt of the second death' (Rev. 2:11), a promise fulfilled

in Revelation 20:6 for there those who 'reign' with Christ for the thousand

years, are said to be blessed and holy; they are said to be priests of God

and of Christ, and 'On Such the second death hath no power'.  Every one of

these seven churches is linked with the Millennial kingdom by either the

promise to the overcomer, or the warning to the slacker, or by both.  Let us

see this for ourselves:

(Rev. 2:7 and 22:2).

Not hurt of the second death

(Rev. 2:11 and 20:6).