other than the kingdom of Christ. Christ's kingdom is:

(i) Divine.

The image Nebuchadnezzar saw was composed of metals made by human hands. The stone from out the mountain had no quality contributed by man. It came from above. In spite of the emphasis laid upon evolution, Nebuchadnezzar's image attests the fact that the natural course of man is downward.

(ii) Eternal.

The shores of history are strewn with the wrecks of empires. Men have planned, but in vain. Christ's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. "Of its increase there shall be no end.” "And He shall reign for ever and ever," is not only the opinion of Handel, but of the whole wide universe.

(iii) Omnipotent.

The kingdoms of this world have been built upon the force of arms. They who have taken the sword have perished by the sword. The kingdom of Christ is infinite in its power. That single wooden Cross on Golgotha touches every strata of life, and gives to the weakest the strength of heaven.

During the reign of Queen Victoria, Handel's Messiah was being rendered at the Crystal Palace in London. When the Hallelujah Chorus was reached the great audience arose and a most unusual thing happened. Queen Victoria, who with her court attendants was present, also arose although the custom in vogue was for the Queen to remain seated. The words "For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth" were too much for her. With eyes full of tears she too felt the power of the Eternal and although every inch a queen she must needs give to the Christ her adoration and worship.

It is interesting to note that Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream resulted in saving

the lives of the wise men.

What benefits the

godly man confers upon the world! If it were not for the believer, God would have destroyed this old world long ago.

CHAPTER THREE

THEME "The Crucible of Life." 3:1-30. Divisional Words-Perversion-Persecution-Per

manence.

(a) PERVERSION. 3:1-7.

Nebuchadnezzar the king 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.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

3 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.

4 Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Twenty-seven years have passed since Nebuchadnezzar had his dream. Time has a peculiar way of making us forget. No doubt the king was gratified with the thought that he represented the head

of gold, but the thought of an inferior empire overthrowing him rankled in his soul. Determined to create universal adoration of himself, he set up an image on the plains of Dura. Everyone was ordered at a given moment to fall down and worship it. What a perversion of the Word of God this act of Nebuchadnezzar's was. One would imagine that after the revelation of the great image, the king forever would have humbly served Jehovah. The real fact of the matter is, however, he could not understand the Word of God, nor accept it, for he was of the flesh and that which is born of the flesh is flesh.

A university professor once published a paper concerning certain strange variations which he had found in the magnetic points of the compass. As a result a learned scientific society appointed a special committee to visit the professor in his laboratory. Upon the occasion of their visit they saw the professor seated upon a high stool bending over a compass and their surprise knew no bounds when they saw the needle leaping north, east, south and west. They were dumfounded, nothing quite so wonderful had ever come under their observation. One of the investigators took the place of the professor upon the stool and what was of greater surprise was that the needle suddenly became stationary and pointed due north. Again the old professor seated himself upon the stool and a second time the needle of the compass went through all sorts of strange movements. Then it was discovered that the professor had on a pair of steel rimmed eye-glasses and every time he moved his head, the needle would follow the steel rims around. Thus is it with many who seek to understand the Word through eyes of pure rationalism.

Whenever we find men denying this and doubting that in the Bible, we may be sure that their perversion is due to the fact that they have never been "born again." Let us take the Word of the Lord and believe it, live it, and die with it. Apparently Daniel was absent at the time of the erection of the image. When the man of God is withdrawn from a

community or the church is not properly recognized, then is that community in a bad way.

(b) PERSECUTION. 3:8-21.

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

10 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 music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11 And whoso falleth not down and wor shippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furance.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 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 music, 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?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furance, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 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.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore
he spake, and commanded that they should heat
the furance one seven times more than it was
wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty
men that were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into
the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning furnace.

Though absent, Daniel was not without a witness. Three young men-Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, because of the king's command, came to the dedication. When the trumpets blew they refused to fall down and worship. Walking in the atmosphere of heaven, they could not sacrifice principle. One can almost see the wise men of the kingdom watching the three young men through their fingers. Gratified beyond measure at what they saw, they rushed into the presence of the king. Calling before him the three young men, the ancient monarch asks, "Who is able to deliver you?” Asserting their faith, they replied "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us." Full of fury, the king ordered that they be cast into the fiery furnace. What a strange crucible life is. These men had been captured, tested, exalted, and now because of their convictions they were about to be annihilated. There is a common so

phistry which says, "Every man has his price." Thank God, these young men could not be bought. We frequently hear, "When in Rome do as the Romans do." No doubt the friends of these young men advised them not to be too puritanical.

A great many years ago a Roman emporer said to a Greek architect, "Build me a Coliseum, and when it is done I will make your name famous through all the world.' The work was done and a great host was gathered in the Coliseum to celebrate it. Then they brought out some Christians, who were ready to die for the truth, and the emporer said, "The Coliseum is done, and we have