Death before Dishonor

A Description of the 144k
And I said unto him, Sir, thou
knowest. And he said to me, These
are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have
, and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)

Counsel To the Laodiceans
I counsel thee to
, that thou mayest be rich;
, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and
, that thou
mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)

The Example of Jesus
For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his steps: , neither
was guile found in his mouth: Who,
, reviled not again;
he threatened not; but
: (1 Peter 2:21-23)

Joseph
Joseph’s life can be summarised in
the following way.
• Persecution at Home
• Persecution in Captivity
–Jailed in Captivity
• Victory and Rulership

Persecution at Home
And when his brethren saw that their father
loved him more than all his brethren, they
hated him, and could not speak peaceably
unto him. (Genesis 37:4)
And his brethren envied him (Genesis 37:11)
Then there passed by Midianites
merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up
Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the
Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and
they brought Joseph into Egypt.(Genesis
37:28)

Persecution in Captivity
• And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain
of the guard. (Genesis 37:36)
• And it came to pass after these things, that
cast her eyes upon Joseph; and
she . (Genesis 39:7)
• And it came to pass, as
, that he hearkened not unto her, to
lie by her, or to be with her. (Genesis 39:10)

His Dilemma
But Joseph's faith and integrity were to
be tested by fiery trials. His master's wife
endeavored to entice the young man to
transgress the law of God. Heretofore he
had remained untainted by the corruption
teeming in that heathen land; but this
temptation, so sudden, so strong, so
seductive--how should it be met? {PP
217.2}

The Choices
Joseph knew well what would be the
consequence of resistance. On the one hand
were concealment, favor, and rewards; on the
other, disgrace, imprisonment, perhaps death.
His whole future life depended upon the
decision of the moment. Would principle
triumph? Would Joseph still be true to God?
With inexpressible anxiety, angels looked
upon the scene. {PP 217.2}

His Response
Joseph's answer reveals the power of religious
principle. He would not betray the confidence of his
master on earth, and, whatever the consequences,
he would be true to his Master in heaven. Under the
inspecting eye of God and holy angels many take
liberties of which they would not be guilty in the
presence of their fellow men, but Joseph's first
thought was of God. "How . . . can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God?" he said. {PP
217.3}

Slavery in Captivity
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with
me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled,
and got him out. (Genesis 39:12)
And it came to pass, when his master heard the
words of his wife, which she spake unto him,
saying, After this manner did thy servant to me;
that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's master
took him, and put him into the prison, a place
where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was
there in the prison. (Genesis 39:19)

Joy in Prison
At the first Joseph was treated with great severity
by his jailers. The psalmist says, "His feet they hurt
with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron: until the
time that his word came to pass; the word of the
Lord tried him." Psalms 105:18-19, R.V. But
, even in the darkness of
the dungeon. ; his
years of faithful service had been most cruelly
repaid, yet this did not render him morose or
distrustful.
. {PP 218.2}

Lessons from Prison
He found a work to do, even in the prison.
God was preparing him in the school of
affliction , and he did
not refuse the needful discipline. In the
prison, witnessing the results of oppression
and tyranny and the effects of crime,
, that prepared him to exercise power
with wisdom and compassion. {PP 218.2}

Elevated
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's
hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and
whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
(Genesis 39:22)
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such
a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God
hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet
and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house,
and according unto thy word shall all my people be
ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
(Genesis 41:38-40)

Prophecy Opens Doors
But a divine hand was about to open the prison
gates. The king of Egypt had in one night two
dreams, apparently pointing to the same event
and seeming to foreshadow some great calamity.
He could not determine their significance, yet
they continued to trouble his mind. The
magicians and wise men of his realm could give
no interpretation. The king's perplexity and
distress increased, and terror spread throughout
his palace. {PP 219.3}

Prophecy Opens Doors
The general agitation recalled to the chief
butler's mind the circumstances of his own
dream; with it came the memory of Joseph,
and a pang of remorse for his forgetfulness and
ingratitude. He at once informed the king how
his own dream and that of the chief baker had
been interpreted by a Hebrew captive, and
how the predictions had been fulfilled. {PP
219.3}

Principles Unchanged
The same fidelity to God was manifest when he
stood in the palace of the Pharaohs as when in a
prisoner's cell. He was still a stranger in a heathen
land, separated from his kindred, the worshipers of
God; but he fully believed that the divine hand had
directed his steps, and in constant reliance upon
God he faithfully discharged the duties of his
position. Through Joseph the attention of the king
and great men of Egypt was directed to the true
God; and though they adhered to their idolatry, they
learned to respect the principles revealed in the life
and character of the worshiper of Jehovah. {PP
222.1}

The Four Hebrews
The choices of the four Hebrews can be
summarized in the following manner
• Choice of food
• Prophecy saves lives
• Refusing to Bow
• Continuing in prayer

Resolution
• Daniel purposed in his heart that he would
not defile himself with the portion of the
king's meat, nor with the wine which he
drank: therefore he requested of the prince
of the eunuchs that he might not defile
himself. (Daniel 1:8)
• When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before thee: And
put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man
given to appetite. (Proverbs 23:1-2)

Food Choice
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days;
and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to
drink. (Daniel 1:12)
–Pulse. Heb. zero‘im, “food derived from plants,”
such as cereals and vegetables. According to
Jewish tradition, berries and dates were also
comprehended in the term. Since dates are a part
of the staple food of Mesopotamia, they seem
likely to have been included here. {The Seventh-
day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4. page
761}

The Choice Made clear
They decided that as flesh-meat had not composed
their diet in the past, it should not come into their
diet in the future, and as wine had been prohibited to
all who should engage in the service of God, they
determined that they would not partake of it. The fate
of the sons of Aaron had been presented before
them, and they knew that the use of wine would
confuse their senses, that the indulgence of appetite
would be-cloud their powers of discernment. These
particulars were placed on record in the history of the
children of Israel as a warning to every youth to avoid
all customs and practises and indulgences that would
in any way dishonor God. {4BC 1166.7}

Prophecy Saves Lives
• And it is a rare thing that the king requireth,
and there is none other that can shew it
before the king, except the gods, whose
dwelling is not with flesh. (Daniel 2:11)
• The secret things belong unto the LORD our
God: but those things which are revealed
belong unto us and to our children for ever,
that we may do all the words of this law.
(Deuteronomy 29:29)

God Reveals
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he
would give him time, and that he would shew the
king the interpretation. (Daniel 2:16)
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets,
and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what
shall be in the latter days. (Daniel 2:28)
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)

No Bowing
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered
and said to the king, 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)

An Interesting Parallel
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.
(Daniel 3:1)
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath
understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number
is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation
13:18)

Surviving the Fire
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the
king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake,
and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three
men bound into the midst of the fire? They
answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He
answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking
in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and
the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (Daniel
3:23-25)

The Fourth
How did Nebuchadnezzar know that the
form of the fourth was like the Son of
God? He had heard of the Son of God
from the Hebrew captives that were in
his kingdom. They had brought the
knowledge of the living God who ruleth
all things (RH May 3, 1892). {4BC
1169.7}

Pray Without Ceasing
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house; and his
windows being open in his chamber toward
Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three
times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
before his God, as he did aforetime. Then
these men assembled, and found Daniel
praying and making supplication before his
God. (Daniel 6:10-11)

The Den
Then the king commanded, and they brought
Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the
king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom
thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
(Daniel 6:16)
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions'
mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as
before him innocency was found in me; and also
before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (Daniel
6:22)

Amazing Truths
• For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews
12:29)
• And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep
not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the
book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
(Revelation 5:5)

Heaven’s Ambassador
While Daniel clung to God with unwavering
trust, the spirit of prophetic power came upon
him. While honored by men with the
responsibilities of the court and the secrets of
the kingdom, he was honored by God as His
ambassador, and taught to read the mysteries
of ages to come. Heathen monarchs, through
association with Heaven's representative, were
constrained to acknowledge the God of Daniel.
{Ed 56.1}

Kings Acknowledge God
"Of a truth it is," declared Nebuchadnezzar, "that
your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings,
and a revealer of secrets." And Darius, in his
proclamation "unto all people, nations, and
languages, that dwell in all the earth," exalted the
"God of Daniel" as "the living God, and steadfast
forever, and His kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed;" who "delivereth and rescueth, and . .
. worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in
earth." Daniel 2:47; Daniel 6:25-27. {Ed 56.1}

The Greatest Want
The GREATEST WANT of the world is the
want of men--men who will not be bought or
sold, men who in their inmost souls are true
and honest, men who do not fear to call sin
by its right name, men whose conscience is
as true to duty as the needle to the pole,
men who will stand for the right though the
heavens fall. {Ed 57.3}

Conscious Choice
But such a character is not the result of
accident; it is not due to special favors or
endowments of Providence. A noble
character is the result of self-discipline,
of the subjection of the lower to the
higher nature--the surrender of self for
the service of love to God and man. {Ed
57.4}

The Report
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of
Jephunneh, … rent their clothes: And they spake …
saying, The land, which we passed through to search it,
is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us,
then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a
land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel
not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of
the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is
departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear
them not. But all the congregation bade stone them
with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the
tabernacle of the congregation before all the children
of Israel. (Numbers 14:6-10)

A few things to Consider
These men, having entered upon a wrong course,
stubbornly set themselves against Caleb and
Joshua, against Moses, and against God. Every
advance step rendered them the more determined.
They were resolved to discourage all effort to gain
possession of Canaan. They distorted the truth in
order to sustain their baleful influence. It "is a land
that eateth up the inhabitants thereof," they said.
{PP 389.1}

A few things to Consider
This was not only an evil report, but it was also a
lying one. It was inconsistent with itself. The spies
had declared the country to be fruitful and
prosperous, and the people of giant stature, all of
which would be impossible if the climate were so
unhealthful that the land could be said to "eat up
the inhabitants." But when men yield their hearts
to unbelief they place themselves under the
control of Satan, and none can tell to what lengths
he will lead them. {PP 389.1}

Overcoming Sin
• “You can’t overcome sin else you won’t need a
Saviour.” (We need a Saviour because of past sins
overcoming temptation doesn’t pay for the past.)
• “If a person overcomes sin they will be proud.”
(Pride is the cause of ALL sins, one who overcomes
sin must be humble see Philippians 2:5.)
• He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy
the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

Joshua in Canaan
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho,
that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold,
there stood a man over against him with his sword
drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and
said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the
LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to
the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What
saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of
the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe
from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou
standest is holy. And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15)

Caleb’s Desire
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day
that Moses sent me: as my strength was then,
even so is my strength now, for war, both to go
out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this
mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day;
for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims
were there, and that the cities were great and
fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I
shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
(Joshua 14:11-12)

The Super Choice
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in
sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which
your fathers served on the other side of the flood,
and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem
evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this
day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which
your fathers served that were on the other side of
the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose
land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15)

God’s Ideal
God's ideal for His children is higher than the
highest human thought can reach. "Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect." This command is a promise. The plan of
redemption contemplates our complete recovery
from the power of Satan. Christ always separates
the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the
works of the devil, and He has made provision that
the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every
repentant soul, to keep him from sinning. {DA
311.2}

Staked on God’s Honor
Of the Spirit Jesus said, "He shall glorify Me."
The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the
demonstration of His love; so the Spirit was to
glorify Christ by revealing His grace to the
world. The very image of God is to be
reproduced in humanity. The honor of God,
the honor of Christ, is involved in the
perfection of the character of His people. {DA
671.3}

Think it not Strange
Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened
unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(1 Peter 4:12-13)

Death before Dishonor

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Death before Dishonor