Nebuchadnezzar and the three friends in the fire: a microcosm of the full gospel of Christ

This is a post from brother in Christ Wayne Biehn. The Lord had said to me one day whilst communing with Wayne and the Lord--- that he would give Wayne a great word and teaching---- of the subject matter we were speaking on, at some point in the future. I asked brother Wayne to link me to his post when it came forth: this is that post.

Thank you brother Wayne---- I am grateful for the work you and the Lord are doing together--- that benefits his whole body.

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"The story of Nebuchadnezzar and the three friends in the fire is a microcosm of the full gospel of Christ. Being the Hebrews 7:25 work of saving us "to the uttermost". The Psalm 138:8 promise of perfecting that which concerns us.

Being the finished work that He BEGINS in us and will COMPLETE at the coming of the Lord (Philippians 1:6). And where "at the coming of the Lord" is represented by the APPEARING of the Fourth Man in the fire.

In the story-line and playbook, Daniel (and his three friends) were in captivity in a foreign land. This represents the captivity of the world (John 17:16). Of being in the world but not of the world. They were instructed to eat of the king’s food. This food represents the unsavory food of the world. Yet contrary to the desires of world, they chose to not eat of it. They chose to rather SUBMIT to God and RESIST the enemy (James 4:7), being a twofold work, and to rather eat a better diet. Representing the guiding principle of seeking first the kingdom of God and the better food of His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). And as is promised, in doing so, all things were added to them. For God is not a man that He should lie.

Undaunted, even though the three friends chose to resist the enemy and to submit TO GOD, those in whom darkness dwelled set a trap for the three friends. Which was to get everyone to bow to Nebuchadnezzar. Which is to bow to the flesh. For Nebuchadnezzar is a type of the flesh. And just as Nebuchadnezzar represents the king or the Pharaoh or the Goliath of our flesh, these people in whom darkness dwelled represent the snares of the flesh that will rise up in us against the Spirit. "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬).‭

As such, eating from Nebuchadnezzar's table represents eating from the table of corruption through the fallen nature of the flesh. Which like the prodigal son, is to depart from the fatted calf of the Father's everlasting goodness, and to instead squander our inheritance (our life) on a life of dissipation (Luke 15:13). Which is to barter our birthright for the bowl of lentil soup.

But in Psalm 23:5 Jesus as our great Shepherd, who if we follow Him as our Shepherd declares we shall NEVER LACK, faithfully and lovingly reminds us that though the enemy has set before us a table in the presence of God, that as with the two trees in the Garden, Jesus has likewise set before us a table in the presence of our enemies. That He might anoint our heads with oil so that our cups may run over.

So the big question is who or what ARE those enemies that Jesus has prepared a table for us in the presence of? These enemies are the three enemies of "the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh and the pride of "life (1 John 2:15-17) that dwell in the darkness of the flesh. Being the "three course meal" of those things that draw us all away by our own evil desires and entice us or tempt us away (James 1:14). Just as Jesus was tempted in three ways. Being the banqueting table of ego. Which is to be drawn away and enticed by the power of our ego and our self righteousness.

For at the heart of the idol of self is the king of ego. For wasn't Nebuchadnezzar the epitome of an inflated ego? For had Nebuchadnezzar not built a golden statue of himself. And is that not the pride of life. The pride of ego. And did he not require everything and everyone to bow to the statue of himself ? And does the flesh not seek its own, that all should bow to it? And does gold not represent what we value? Which is the idol of self.

But when it comes to the act of eating from different tables, the word of God that is PROVEN and that makes OUR WAY PERFECT(Psalm 18:30) tells us, “You CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord AND the cup of demons; you CANNOT partake of the Lord’s table AND of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (I Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭21‬-‭22‬).‭

As such, because the three friends decided to resist the enemy (the flesh) and to submit to God (James 4:7), which was to eat of the choice food of the milk and honey of His righteousness, of the goodness of the Lord's table (Psalm 1:1-3), rather than to partake of the pig slop of the unrighteousness of the world, it is written that they PROSPERED and became STRONGER than everyone else (Daniel 1:12-16). For all increase is from God (1 Corinthians 3:17; Luke 2:52).

Being the fulfillment of the many assurances of Psalm 23. Assurances that declare that if we sit at HIS table, not only shall we NEVER LACK (Psalm 23:1), but for all those who sit at the table the Lord, that their cups SHALL OVERFLOW (Psalm 23:5), and that as for the three friends and Daniel, that GOODNESS and MERCY surely followed them ALL the days of their lives (Psalm 23:6).

As for "the three friends" of Daniel, the beloved of God (Daniel 10:11), what do these "three friends" who stepped into the fire represent? They represent the "three rooms" of Daniel's house. The spirit, soul and body. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬-‭24‬).

Just as it is written in Philippians 1:6, He who began a good work in us shall COMPLETE it, He who is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11) will do it. Which is by God working into us what is well pleasing in His sight (Hebrews 13:21) until all the rooms of our house — spirit, soul and body — are FILLED with the rare and precious treasures of the knowledge of Him (Proverbs 24:3-4). Which aligns with Habbakuk 2:14.

How does Jesus sanctify and purify us? When we accept not only His salvation, but His sanctification, not only his forgiveness, but his purification. When we don’t only seek heaven (salvation, forgiveness),!but His holiness (sanctification, purification). Which like the three friends, is to willingly yield or surrender like wood to the flame as a living sacrifice. Which is our reasonable service. "Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy to God, well-pleasing, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1).

Just as after a period of purging in the sevenfold fire of being refined as gold purified seven times, that the image and likeness of the Fourth Man suddenly appeared, for did not Nebuchadnezzar say, "Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25), for those who yield to the fire of His purifying love, Jesus will come suddenly to His temple.

““Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will SUDDENLY come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.” (‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭). For it is written in Ephesians 5:25-28, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her TO MAKE HER HOLY... ".

There it is. Christ gave Himself up to make us HOLY. Which is the great twofold work of Hebrews 12:6 of God "disciplining" and "correcting" those who like Daniel who He loved, all those WHOM HE LOVES! That He might first sweep our house clean (correct), and then work into us what is well pleasing in His sight (discipline).

For DISCIPLINE is to work something INTO us, whilst chastising or CORRECTION is to remove something FROM us. A twofold work. Just as the cross has two beams. Just as all the law and prophets hang on two commandments. Just as a thing is established by two or more witnesses. Just as those who entered the Ark went in two by two. And just as those who were released were sent forth two by two. Just as He sent out the disciples two by two. Just as He sent out the two of first Christ and then the Helper. Just as the word is a double edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). "For the Lord DISCIPLINES the one he loves, and CHASTISES every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:6).Being the Ephesians 2:10 masterpiece of the double edged work of Hebrews 4:12.

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. SANCTIFY them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭16‬-‭17‬). Which is by us all willingly surrendering to the fire of His burning (Isaiah 4:4) by burning OUT of us all the chaff, and burning INTO us all the goodness of Christ. For the three friends were not allowed to leave the fire until all the bonds that bound them were LOOSED, and until the Fourth Man APPEARED. A two fold work. Where just as Christ said to the Father, I commit My spirit into Your hands, is for us to commit ourselves into His hands. Which is for our ego to be burned out of us, and for the image and the likeness of the Fourth Man to appear in us, Christ IN US, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). A two fold work.

Which is the double-edged work of he who humbles himself before THE HAND of God will be exalted in due time. Which is to first work into us humility through surrender, and to simultaneously remove from us pride. Which is ego. Which is to follow Christ as His disciple according to John 8:12, Matthew 16:24 and Revelation 14:4. For it is written, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be EXACTLY LIKE his teacher" (Luke 6:40).

For how do we know that as the Pattern Son, that Jesus likewise demonstrated great humility?

Firstly, "being in the form of God, He emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." In other words, just as we are called to willingly deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus in the way and the truth and the life of emptying ourself of self or ego that Christ may fill us, He willingly emptied Himself of self. And became of no reputation.

Secondly, Jesus saying, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" is the blueprint of the heart posture of surrender. It's the surrender that produces the John 15:5 fruit of abundant life that would otherwise never manifest without abiding through surrender. Saying, “into Your hands I commit My spirit” is the hallmark of why dying to self as a seed falling to the ground produces much life. The abundant life (John 10:10). Being the blueprint of surrender. Just as willingly stepping into the fire is the blueprint of surrender. Which is the heart posture of humility.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk HUMBLY with your God?”

— ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭

For the way of the cross that leads to the life that few find is the way of surrender. Which is to walk HUMBLY with your God. “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬). ‭

For just as the two greatest commandments are the embodiment of the full gospel of Christ, the parable of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel and the three friends is a microcosm of the two greatest commandments.

It is only if we love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind that we will not only resist the enemy of the flesh, that he might flee, but it is only if we love the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and soul that like the three friends, who submitted to the consuming fire of God,’that we shall willingly step into the sevenfold fire of His purification and sanctification. And become as the light of seven days in the day that the LORD BINDS up the bruises of His people and HEALS the stroke of their wound (Isaiah 30:26). A two fold work.

And just as the two greatest commandments doesn't end with the first commandment, it is only by yielding to the fire of His purifying love like wood yields to the flame, that when we step out of the fire with the image and likeness of Jesus burning in us like a fire that goes before us and a flame that follows behind us (Joel 2:3) in loving our neighbor as ourself, that even the most evil of the world will recognize God the Son in us. "Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25).