No Compromise

Youth Article Written by: Elijah Rodgers, 13 yrs old

 

God gave Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the empire of Babylon, a dream. This dream would become renowned because it was a prophecy of the kingdoms of this world till God sets up His everlasting kingdom. God gave Daniel a night vision of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation. In the dream God showed the kingdoms of the world in an image that had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and part clay. Then Daniel told the king, “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” “it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Daniel 2:44.

“The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” Daniel 2:47. But Nebuchadnezzar, now unconverted, would dare to defy the dream God had given him. In the dream Babylon was the head of gold which was to pass away with all the other kingdoms on the image, and the stone kingdom, God's everlasting kingdom, was only one to last forever. Nebuchadnezzar in his pride said, “Babylon will last for ever!” And as a symbol of this he commanded a mighty image of all gold, contrary to the dream, to be made.

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:1. To this image Nebuchadnezzar had a dedication in which the image would be consecrated as a pagan god to be worshiped. To this dedication “the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces” had to come. Many of these people were taken captive from many different countries by the kingdom of Babylon.

“Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.” Then the decree went out that when they heard “the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick,” they were to “fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:” and that those who did not fall down and worship, “shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:3-6.

God gives all the freedom of choice for He says, “choose you this day whom ye will serve”. He does not force the disobedient to worship Him, but with tender entreaty says “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. He says, “behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. But, Satan and his followers use cunning allurements such as money, “peace” through compromise, positions of honor, and influence to have the follower of Christ compromise with evil; but, if all this fails he uses force and cruelty, to secure the worship of man.

Among this big crowd were three Jews named by Nebuchadnezzar; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three young men were Daniel's companions. They were taken captives when youth, and brought into heathen Babylon. But these youth were taught by their God fearing parents to worship only God who “made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:7) and rules over all; also they were taught to not compromise with evil. They had heard the warnings of the prophets and the judgments that would befall the nation for their rebellion against God. What they had learned they applied it to their heart. They were “rooted and built up in him [Jesus Christ], and stablished in the faith, as” they had “. . . been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7.

When in Babylon they purposed in their heart to not defile themselves with the kings meat and the wine which he drank, that was unclean or sacrificed to idols. They did not compromise even in this matter, which to some seemed small.

These three youth had to make a choice if they would stay faithful to God, or worship the image that was set up. It had been commanded that all must bow and worship the image. A death decree had also been made for all who did not worship the image.

“. . . At that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Daniel 3:7. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to be faithful to God, and did not worship the image. “Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 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.” Daniel 3:8-12.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.” Daniel 3:13. And he spake to them and said, “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” Daniel 3:15. But they knew of the power of God and said, “. . . 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 3:16-18.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was “full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against” them. Daniel 3:19. Then these three young men were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. But God delivered His servants who were faithful to Him. God walked with them in the fire. “. . . 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.” Daniel 3:27. The knowledge of the true God went far and wide. God and his truth were vindicated.

This will be repeated, but this time all the world will be involved. All the world will be commanded by force to worship the beast and his image. How will they worship them? It will be through the enforcement of the false Sunday sabbath, which was instituted by the Papacy. God has given us the seventh-day sabbath by His authority, while Sunday as the sabbath was established by man's authority. When someone keeps the first day, when the light of the true seventh-day sabbath has been given, they have exalted man in the position of God and they are worshiping the authority by which it has been set up – the Papacy.

“History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan's plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation.” {Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897 par. 14}

It will be commanded that those who do not worship the beast will not be able to buy or sell. And eventually a death decree will be made. It will be commanded “. . . that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15. There will be all out war against God's people.

Even while all the world is bowing down to the beast, through Sunday enforcement, God will have a remnant “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. They will not compromise and accept false religion when they are not able to buy or sell, imprisoned, and when even in the face of death.

In this great test many will compromise and bow down to the great image of worship. They will do it so they can eat, and keep “peace”. They will yield to the pressure of the world and worship the beast.

We must now stand and be rooted in truth, and established in the faith. We must not compromise with the world; in truth, diet, dress, music, etc. If you compromise now, when the great test comes, you will compromise then.

“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ's righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness.” {Testimonies for the Church Volume Five p. 81.1}

In order to stand in this great test we must “watch and pray”. (Matthew 26:41) We must “. . . continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,” grounded in the rock Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:23) We must have on Christ's robe of righteousness, and Jesus says, “. . . Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15) We cannot trust ourself, for if we depend on self we would fail and receive the mark of the beast no matter how much you know about this. We must in humility, fully depend upon the strength of Christ Jesus. If we, through Christ's power, have and do this, we shall be able to stand in the great test.

In this great test “when thou passest through the waters,” says God, “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.

In this time of crisis we must not compromise like the three Hebrew young men. We must say, “the God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3. And God says, “because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” Psalms 91:14-15.