|
DANIEL Chapter 5 "The Final Doom." This Bible Study
is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's transcription is provided
with written permission by http://www.theseason.org When you study Revelation of the New Testament, the word "Babylon" comes up several times. There is a reason "Babylon" keeps coming up in reference to end time prophecy. That is because what is going to happen is an example of what has already happened in the old Babylon of Daniel's day. So, as we continue in Chapter Five, know that there is a type (relationship) between then, and what Christians of today are to know. From the Fifth Chapter on we will not read again of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar, as we read, was converted to the lord, died, and went to be with God. In the Fifth Chapter we are going to study about his grandson, Belshazzar. Daniel l5:1 "Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand." "Belshazzar" means "prince of Bel". "Bel" is the devil. Let's see if he lives up to his name. This feast was the biggest event of the time, and everyone of any position was present. This feast was a royal orgy; a drunk fest. The hall which held this great feast has been excavated. The size of the hall measures 60 feet wide and 172 feet long. The walls of this grand hall were beautifully decorated with paintings and stucco design, like the mosaic designs of the Muslim temples. The time of the event was in 426 B.C., which made Daniel 87 years old. Daniel 5:2"Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein." First, let's observe that there is no term in Chaldee for "Grandfather", for we know Belshazzar's father's name was Nabonidus, the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar was going to take the sacred vessel and use it for a drunken feast that was an abomination to God. The wine, which in 427 years, would become part of Christ's Holy Communion. To be used at this time for Belshazzar's feast became blasphemy. Belshazzar is living up to his name, "prince of Bel (Satan)". "Daniel 5:3 "Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them." "Daniel 5:4 "They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone." Understand, this wine is drunk from the sacred vessels from the holy temple at Jerusalem. In mockery to God, they gave praise to all the heathen gods of man-made objects; made from gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone. Did you count the materials? Six (6) of them - - Satan's number. Daniel 5:5 "In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote." There was no time delay; it was at the same moment. As the hand was writing, Belshazzar gazed up from his drunken abomination and watched the had write. Daniel 5:6 "Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubles him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another." The king was shaken as he watched the writing on the wall. He knew immediately he was toying with Almighty God, and he was scared. That playfulness of the party was gone, his knees began to knock, and the old king just wet his britches. He knew immediately he messed up before God. Daniel 5:7 "The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Just like in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the first to be brought in were religious leaders. Remember in Daniel 2:2 when the astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers were called on to interpret grandpa's dream of the image? Well, here we are looking at their grandchildren, two generations later, and they are marched in. Just like Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar tries to bribe them. Whenever anyone is in trouble, they always call for the religious leaders first. Belshazzar has already offended the God of gods. It's not going to help him to call on this bunch of jerks, the soothsayers, astrologers and Chaldeans. Notice Daniel has not been called. The new generation did not pay attention to what grandfather Nebuchadnezzar learned. So, what's new under the sun? Daniel 5:8 "Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof." When you bring in the wise men, religious leaders of today, they also cannot read or understand much of God's writings today. To "transliterate" is a mechanical thing. It brings words from one language to another. But to translate is to bring the full meaning and emotion (intention) to the foreign reader. To be able to do this is a gift, and Daniel had that gift. The gifted teacher can give you the very thought within the translation. Daniel 5:9 "Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied." The king and all present were concerned, and very troubled. Daniel 5:10 "Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:" The queen Nitocris was the mother of Nebonidus, Belshazzar's father. As she arrived at the banquet and entered, she saw how everyone was upset. " . . . O king, live for ever: . . ." is the normal salute to the king. The queen then tried to cheer up the king. Calm yourself, grandson. Daniel 5:11 "There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the "gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;" The queen knew of Daniel and the relationship that he had with the Holy God. She didn't question it. She told her grandson how Daniel was so full of wisdom that after interpreting his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he put Daniel over all. The gift that God gives a gifted teacher is understanding, and it is through that teacher that understanding comes to others. Daniel 5:12 "Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation." Queen mother is telling her grandson, the king, this Daniel can tell you what this all means. He has the spirit of understanding in revealing this thing that troubles you, so send for Daniel. Daniel 5:13 "Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?" Belshazzar listened to granny and sent for Daniel. The word "Jewry" is used four (4) times in the King James, and it is not a word in the Chaldee manuscripts. The word is Judah, which was the southern kingdom, with Jerusalem its capital. It was made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and part of the tribe of Levi. Daniel was in the group brought to captivity, and promoted following Nebuchadnezzar's dream he interpreted. Daniel 5:14 "I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee." Daniel 5:15 "And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:" So again Daniel is the only one with a mind blessed by God, and open to His spirit, that could do this interpreting. Daniel 5:16 "And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: not if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shat be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom." Here again is the bribe. However, Daniel is 87 years old and has spent his entire life in that capacity. The king just isn't too smart in understanding people. There are some people you just cannot bribe. Daniel 5:17 "Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation." You keep your gifts and give your wealth to others, Daniel said. However, I'll tell you the meaning of this writing. Daniel knew there was going to be no kingdom following that night, and the interpretation; The "prince of Bel" or King Belshazzar, was finished. This was a dangerous thing, to tell the king that he and his kingdom were to end that night. Daniel 5:18 "O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:" Those are the highest and finest credits one could get. Nebuchadnezzar knew where they came from at the end. It was God that gave it all to him. Daniel 5:19 "And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down." When God gave Nebuchadnezzar his world-wide throne of power and authority, he revered God at the end. His authority was final. Nebuchadnezzar could promote a person to a high position, or even unthrone a king under him. He ruled the world. Daniel 5:20 "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:" Daniel is reminding Belshazzar that when his grandfather's heart was full of pride, and then God took away all the glory he had. "They" are the "Kenites", the same ones that blended with the House of Judah in Babylon, and later called themselves "Jews". "Daniel 5:21 "And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." Remember in Ezekiel 28 that it is written that the king of Babylon (Satan) in the end times will fall also, through his pride. ". . . his body was wet with the dew of heaven; . . ." tells us it was God that was in control of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar. When he finally came to recognize who rules over all kingdoms of men; he saw that it is God. Then with his mind fixed on God, he regained his wisdom and throne. Know today that God is still in control, and what is now going on is within His plan. Daniel 5:22 "And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;" Belshazzar grew up with all the wisdom and books of his day at his finger tips. He was taught from his youth, yet he rejected it. He chose to disregard God. He knew it, but did not believe it. Daniel 5:23 "But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:" You have shamed God, Daniel says, through your worship of man made idols. You have also brought God's wrath by using vessels from His temple for your drunken orgy. You have completely disregarded the "Most High God" who rules over all men, and even gave you the breath that you breathe. Nebuchadnezzar respected the vessels of the Living God, and even protected them. But not his grandson; not the Prince of Bel. In this generation, Satan's kids are taking the precious things of God that our forefathers respected and worshipped, and are making a mockery of them. The things God holds dear are being handled and misrepresented right in the church houses and homes across our land. Christians, as well as others from the president on down, are doing exactly as King Belshazzar in old Babylon did. Friend, God will not stand for it. Satan goes where the crowd goes. Daniel 5:24 "Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written." Daniel 5:25 "And this is the writing that was written, ME'-NE, ME'-NE, TE'-KEL, U-PHAR'SIN." Daniel 5:26 "This is the interpretation of the thing: ME'-NE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." There is a dual meaning, numbered and ended. "ME'-NE" is "NUMBERED", and it's his kingdom that is numbered. Just as Belshazzar's kingdom was numbered, so is Satan's Babylon kingdom numbered in these end days. The final day is coming quickly. Daniel 5:27 "TE'-KEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." "TE'-KEL" also has a two-fold meaning, the "weighing" in the balances looks at Belshazzar's moral values. It also looks at where he puts his spiritual values. Taking the vessels out of the temple for his drunken orgy was the limit for our Heavenly Father's patience. Daniel 5:28 "PE'-RES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." When Satan's great city in these end times falls, they will weep for her also. This is what is spoken of here. Satan will allow his pride to blind him, and he will make an abomination that will end this entire earth age. Just as old Babylon fell, so likewise will Satan's Babylon. Friend, it's here now, and most churches of today are preparing the table for the Antichrist's return. If you're living today in this generation, you will be present, just like the rulers in attendance at Belshazzar's drunken orgy. Most of the signs of the end times are displayed on the evening news every night. Can't you see them, or are you waiting for the handwriting to appear.? When that appeared, it was too late. Do you think you can play church with the spiritual things of God and condone sodomy and all sorts of immorality, even right in our churches, our military, and even in our schools? If you coddle such filth and support this immorality, and hinder and belittle those who speak out, that finger of God will point directly at you very shortly, friend. Belshazzar's kingdom, morals, idolatry, and handling of God's holy words and teachings are the same today as they were then. Belshazzar and Satan both have the same title and meaning, "Prince of Bel". Daniel 5:29 "Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom." Belshazzar kept his word, and Daniel got his reward as Belshazzar had promised. So will Satan also keep his word to you when he promises you whatever you want to follow him. Remember though, just as Belshazzar's days were numbered, so also are Satan's. Daniel knew whatever his king gave him was hollow, for the end was soon to come. We know lenght of Satan's time on earth, according to Revelations 9:5,10 will be five (5) months. How can you be so foolish as to compare five (5) months to eternity? If I knew I was going to face this great deceiver, parading around as the Antichrist, I would certainly learn all I could possible know about him. Daniel 5:30 "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:31 "And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old." In the same night; the night of the writing on the wall, Belshazzar was slain. Darius of the Medes overthrew Babylon, and the kingdom was split. It was exactly as God wrote on the wall that night, and as Daniel had interpreted the writing. King Astages was called Darius, and his wife was Queen Esther of the Book of Esther. At the time of the overthrow, Darius was 62 years old, and their son, Cyrus, was age 40. It was at the order of Cyrus that the command to Jews was given to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
Home
.~ Plough
.~ Seeds
.~ Vine .~
Potter
.~ Seasons
.~ Sonshine
.~ Rain .~
Field
|