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In the light of Dan. 7: we realize that the interest passes from the beast as a whole to
"the horn that shall arise". This is more fully dealt with in chap. 17:, the main outline
being sufficient here. The second beast, who is called the false prophet (19: 20), leads
the world to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. This beast has
power to perform miracles, he makes fire come down from heaven, and deceives them
that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight
of the beast. An image to the beast is made, and life is given to it so that the image
speaks, all who refuse to worship the beast are ordered to be killed. Who that reads these
words does not think of the image in the plain of Dura, the dulcimers and the sackbut and
all kinds of music, the command, "whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the
same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace". We remember the noble
answer of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego:--
"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 (what a marvelous lack of worldly
wisdom! What a ruthless lack of compromise! but if not), be it known unto thee, O king,
that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image thou hast set up"
(Dan. 3: 16-18).
The glorious testimony of these three, together with the equally glorious witness
presently of Daniel himself under a similar trial (6: 1-28), while being historic fact
concerned personally with the four men named, is placed in the prophecy, illustrating for
us more plainly than any vision could portray the days of the beast and the false prophet,
and the sterling testimony of those who:--
"overcame because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony,
and they loved not their lives unto the death."
As Nebuchadnezzar testified that one like unto a son of God walked with the faithful
three in the furnace, so angelic fellowship will be granted to those who are faithful even
unto death.
The epistles of Paul speak of the end of this age in terms of apostasy and darkness.
Let us not be merely moved as we read the splendid courage and faithful witness of these
men of old, let us also in our day and generation hold fast the faithful word, even to the
extent of saying the "But if not" of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.