Prophets and Kings
-CN- 41
-CT- The Fiery Furnace
-PR- 01
-PG- 511

By the deliverance of His faithful servants, Yehovah
declared that He takes His stand with the oppressed, and
rebukes all earthly powers that rebel against the authority

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of Heaven. The three Hebrews declared to the whole
nation of Babylon their faith in Him whom they worshiped.
They relied on Elohim. In the hour of their trial they remembered
the promise, "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." Isaiah 43:2. And in a marvelous manner their faith
in the living Word had been honored in the sight of all.
The tidings of their wonderful deliverance were carried to
many countries by the representatives of the different nations
that had been invited by Nebuchadnezzar to the dedication.
Through the faithfulness of His children, Elohim was glorified
in all the earth.

Important are the lessons to be learned from the experience
of the Hebrew youth on the plain of Dura. In this
our day, many of Elohim's servants, though innocent of
wrongdoing, will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse
at the hands of those who, inspired by Satan, are filled with
envy and religious bigotry. Especially will the wrath of
man be aroused against those who hallow the Sabbath of
the fourth commandment; and at last a universal decree
will denounce these as deserving of death.

The season of distress before Elohim's people will call for
a faith that will not falter. His children must make it manifest
that He is the only object of their worship, and that no
consideration, not even that of life itself, can induce them
to make the least concession to false worship. To the loyal
heart the commands of sinful, finite men will sink into

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insignificance beside the word of the eternal Elohim. Truth
will be obeyed though the result be imprisonment or exile
or death.

As in the days of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so
in the closing period of earth's history Yehovah will work
mightily in behalf of those who stand steadfastly for the
right. He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the
fiery furnace will be with His followers wherever they are.
His abiding presence will comfort and sustain. In the midst
of the time of trouble--trouble such as has not been since
there was a nation--His chosen ones will stand unmoved.
Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest
of Elohim's saints. Angels that excel in strength will protect
them, and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as
a "Elohim of Elohims," able to save to the uttermost those who
have put their trust in Him.