The Fiery Furnance

Amidst the chaos of the persecution of the elect, the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego unfold in Babylon. In Daniel, chapter 3, three Hebrew men were thrown in the Fiery Furnace by the king, Nebuchadnezzar. This image is the artist’s rendition to attempt to capture that moment in time.

Their crime: the refusal to bow down to the king’s image. So they faced the ultimate sacrifice the believer can endure. They agreed to follow God’s commands no matter what. To give up one’s life and trust in God no matter what the outcome.

An epic moment deserves an epic backdrop. Christ is that backdrop. The three figures are displayed around Christ surrounded by angels of fire keeping them from harm. If one looks close enough, they can see the angels themselves disguised as the flames.

The miracle of God’s protection in this scene is not overshadowed by the appearance of Christ himself. As the viewer pans out from this vantage point the grandeur of the moment can be appreciated. It was assuredly a monumental event. The king, his counselors, and mighty men were all assembled to administer punishment, thus attracting the attention of all Babylon. They are assembled in the image to be seen as a witness to the miracle of faith. Their reactions can be viewed as ones who have observed the truth and had truth set them free.

Millions and millions of ink dots bring this picture to life. They cannot be counted. Just as God only knows the number of His witnesses, no one else knows the number of dots on this page.

Within the facade of the Furnace a cross, on multiple pedestals, can be seen.

As mentioned in the account, the guards outside the furnace are lying on the ground having been burned to death.

Nebuchadnezzar, the only figure wearing a crown with his arm outstretched and his back to the viewer can be seen in a royal outfit completely made out of snakes.

As a comic relief, enjoy finding the likenesses of John, Paul, George and Ringo among the citizens of Babylon.

Grab a magnifying glass and also enjoy the complexity of the individuality of the fabrics and textures adorning the crowd.