And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:14-15 NASB
Daniel 3:1-30 record the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Hebrew men who were carried into exile by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
The king had a large image made, and commanded everyone to assemble and fall down in worship as music played. Death was the only alternative for those who refused.
For these three, idolatry was not an option. They served Yahweh, the living God. And what makes this an even greater testimony is the fact that not only were they captives in a foreign land, but they were youths, possibly only teenagers when they were deported.
When the music began to play, and everyone fell down in worship these three refused. In a fit of rage Nebuchadnezzar gave them one chance to comply or else be cast into a blazing furnace of fire. The answer these youths gave is priceless.
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
Daniel 3:17-18 NASB
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. The God they served rescued them in this instance, but history is filled with individuals with the same determination to remain faithful in the face of death, who gave their lives while remaining true to Christ.
Someday this scenario will play out one final time, as the world goes after the beast, an individual empowered by Satan in his endtimes effort to destroy God's people. We are told how to overcome him.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and the did not love their life even when faced with death."
Revelation 12:11
Will we be ready?