In looking at the first six chapters of Daniel as a type of the National and Universal Sunday laws, certain aspects can be seen that help us to know with certainty what to expect. This applies in both the physical and spiritual realms.

In the spiritual realm there is often the question of when do we receive the seal of God. The Spirit of prophecy lets us know that we are not sealed when the first Sunday law test comes, as it 'is the great test for God?s people.'

"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided? In Revelation 13 this subject is plainly presented;" (Revelation 13:11-17, quoted).

"This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast?" (15MR 15.1-3)

In another place she lets us know when we do receive the seal:

"About four months since, I had a vision of events, all in the future. And I saw the time of trouble, such as never was,--Jesus told me it was the time of Jacob's trouble, and that we should be delivered out of it by the voice of God. Just before we entered it (Jacob's time of trouble), we all received the seal of the living God." (DS, March 14, 1846 par. 2)

When the Sunday law has gone global, it is then that Michael stands up and human probation closes. Then God?s people are plunged into Jacob's time of trouble. (GC 615-616)

The same thing is shown in Daniel. As we saw in the quotes in the first part, the raising of the image in Daniel 3 represents the raising of the Sunday law in America. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego represent God's people who are standing under the three angels messages as the Sunday law is enacted. They are thrown into the fiery furnace because of their refusal to bow to the image. The Bible records that 'they fell down bound in the midst of the burning fiery furnace.' God's people are not sealed at this point, because it is the great test they must have before they are sealed.

Two things are destroyed as a result of this test. The mighty men that cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace, and the bands that bound them. The destruction of these two things represent the final victory over our inherited and cultivated defects of character. It is in the heat of the trial that these things will be destroyed. This trial will be significant, in that we will experience wholesale persecution, reproach, hatred and contempt. Martyrs will also be produced.

It is interesting to note that these men had to successfully pass through the testing trials of Daniel 1 and Daniel 2 before they could pass through the test of Daniel 3. The same principle applies to the three angels' messages and the sanctuary. It is always the first two that prepare for the survival of the third.

This can be shown in type with the two angels that visited Lot. It was because of the instruction of those two angels that Lot survived the destruction of Sodom. 'Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot? Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.' Luke 17:26-30

The same is true with the two spies, or messengers (Josh. 6:25) who came to Rahab in Jericho. Again, it was only because of the instruction given by these two men that she knew to gather her family into her home, and to place the scarlet line out the window, thus enabling them to survive the destruction of the city. The scarlet line is the same as the blood on the doorpost, representing the atonement and merits of Christ, which caused the destroying angel to pass over.

Daniel 1, 2, and 3, are identical with the three angels, and these three angels are in turn, identical with the Courtyard, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place. The three testing temptations of Christ in the wilderness are also the same as the three tests of Daniel 1-3. The first temptation and Daniel 1 are on appetite, the second temptation and Daniel 2 are on presumption and prophecy, and the third temptation and Daniel 3 are about worship.

Daniel 4 and 5 represent the completion of the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of iniquity in each of the two classes of people. As a result of the seven times that Nebuchadnezzar passed through, just as the three Hebrews passed through the furnace heated seven times hotter, he is represented as having excellent majesty added unto him. (Dan. 4:36) Belshazzar, on the other hand, knew what Nebuchadnezzar passed through, but failed the test, and judgment was pronounced against him. These two men represent two classes of people.

The first class receive the seal of God, and the latter receive the mark of the beast. Just as they are sandwiched between chapter 3 and 6, so the spiritual condition of the two classes of people are brought to completion simultaneously between the National and Universal Sunday laws. The one class now perfectly reflects the character of Christ, and the other perfectly reflects the character of Satan.

Daniel 6 represents God?s people as sealed. Daniel is found with 'an excellent spirit within him,' and as 'faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.' (Daniel 6:3-4) Each group now have either the seal or the mark, and are prepared for the final battle.