What did Belshazzar do that defied the God of
heaven? Daniel 5:1-5
He gave orders to bring the gold and silver The king and his nobles, his wives and his
concubines might They
NOTE: Belshazzar must have had some knowledge
of the true God. Certainly he had heard the stories of Nebuchadnezzar's
insanity, the fiery furnace, and the great image. However, he chose not
to acknowledge the true God.
Nearly all of the leaders of Babylon
participated in Belshazzar's drunken feast. In defiance of the God of
heaven the rulers of Babylon drank intoxicating liquor from gold and
silver goblets which came from the temple of God in Jerusalem. Using
these vessels which had been consecrated to the worship of the true
God, they offered praise to the gods of gold and silver. This was the
act that brought about the fall of ancient Babylon. Here was an attempt
to mix the worship of the true God with the worship of pagan deities.
The technical term for this is blasphemy.
In the midst of their revelry, what suddenly
appeared and startled the entire assembly? Daniel 5:5, 6
The fingers of a human
NOTE: Fear enveloped the entire assembly as
they saw the fingers of a hand suddenly appear and write a mysterious
language on the wall of the king's palace. Belshazzar had every reason
for his knees to shake and turn weak. The day of reckoning had come.
Who did the king call to interpret the
writing? Daniel 5:7
... these
NOTE: Belshazzar had not learned
Nebuchadnezzar's lesson. He called for the same group of wise men that
had failed to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dreams.
Were the wise men able to interpret the
writing? Daniel 5:8
NOTE: Notice the progression in the
discrediting of the wise men of Babylon. In Daniel 2, they couldn't
reveal the king's dream, but Daniel could. In Daniel 4, they couldn't
interpret the dream, but Daniel could. Now, to their total discredit,
they couldn't even READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL! But Daniel could.
DANIEL
INTERPRETS Who suggested to the king that he call in
Daniel? Daniel 5:10-12
The
NOTE: For some reason the queen mother was not
in the room when the writing appeared. She was apparently related to
Nebuchadnezzar, and probably was acquainted with the true God. Perhaps
she was a converted person, which would explain the reason why she was
not present for the party. But as soon as she heard of the terror in
the ballroom, she immediately made her presence known and suggested to
Belshazzar that he call in Daniel, whom she knew would be able to
interpret the writing.
What position did Belshazzar offer to Daniel
if he read and interpreted the writing? Daniel 5:13-16
You will be made the
NOTE: There were already two rulers in Babylon,
Nabonidus and Belshazzar. That is why Daniel would be the third ruler.
Before interpreting the writing, Daniel tells
Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar's insanity because he failed to recognize
and honor the God of heaven. Did Belshazzar already know this? Daniel 5:17-22
Though you
NOTE: Belshazzar was acquainted with the true
God. But in spite of this, he had failed to humble himself and follow
in the footsteps of Nebuchadnezzar.
What had Belshazzar done that had invoked the
wrath of God? Daniel 5:23
You have You had the And drank
NOTE: It is this defiling, blasphemous act of
taking the vessels that were consecrated to the worship of the true God
and mixing them with pagan worship that brought the wrath of God upon
Belshazzar.
Read the writing on the wall. Daniel 5:25-28
Mene: God has Tekel: You have been Peres: Your kingdom is
NOTE: God was announcing the fall of Babylon.
That very night, October 12, 538 B.C., Babylon fell.
How soon was the prophecy fulfilled? Who became the new ruler of Babylon? Daniel 5:30, 31
That the
Median.
NOTE: Even while the feast was going on, the
fall of Babylon had begun. The Babylonians knew that the army of the
Medes and Persians was on the outside, but they felt secure in their
city. The walls were impregnable. There was plenty of food stored up
for a long siege. And a constant source of water, the river Euphrates,
ran right through the city.
However, Cyrus, the commander of the Medes and
Persians, performed an ingenious engineering feat. He had his soldiers
divert the river Euphrates. Then he marched his army down the river
bed, underneath the walls of the city and through the inside gates,
which had been left open by the drunken, overconfident Babylonians.
Thus mighty Babylon fell.
Before Cyrus left to continue his conquest of
the world, he set up Darius the Mede as King of the city-state of
Babylon.
What similar conditions are described in the
book of Revelation concerning the end times? Revelation 16:12-16
The river Euphrates was To prepare the way for the kings from the
NOTE: The same conditions that existed at the
fall of ancient Babylon will exist again at the end time. The drying up
of the ancient River Euphrates prepared the way for Cyrus and his
armies who came from the east. Having conquered Babylon, Cyrus
eventually allowed God's people to go back to Palestine from the
captivity. Thus he is seen as the deliverer of God's people.
In the book of Revelation the river Euphrates
is dried up. Symbolic, spiritual Babylon's support is dried up to
prepare the way for the 'kings of the east,' the mighty deliverer of
God's people.
What happens when the 'kings of the east'
come to deliver God's people? Revelation 16:18, 19
God remembered
NOTE: The same events that caused the fall of
ancient Babylon will cause the fall of spiritual Babylon at the time of
the end.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF Revelation makes it very clear that there will
be another Babylon at the time of the end. The Babylon spoken of in
Revelation is not the same as the Babylon of Daniel's day. When
Alexander the Great conquered Babylon it became a heap of ruins and has
remained so to the present day. The Bible foretells the rise of another
Babylon which will do the same to God's people as did ancient Babylon.
Modern Babylon is Revelation's symbolic name for the final great
oppressor of the people of God.
By what other symbolism does Revelation call
Babylon? Revelation 17:1, 5 What do the waters that the prostitute sits
represent? Revelation 17:15
The waters ... are
NOTE: The waters represent all the people over
which Babylon has control. Babylon is called a 'prostitute,' or
'harlot,' because of her illicit relationships.
What is the great sin of Babylon? Revelation 17:2
With her the kings of the earth have committed
NOTE: Babylon's great sin is adultery. Adultery
is an illicit relationship. We are talking here of spiritual things so
obviously in this case it is not physical adultery, but spiritual
adultery. Spiritual adultery combines the worship of God with false
worship. In Daniel 5 we saw that Ancient Babylon acted defiantly
against God by mixing elements of the worship of God with the worship
of pagan deities. Spiritual Babylon's adultery, likewise is an illicit
relationship that mixes elements of the worship of God with pagan
practice. There is nothing worse than mixing truth and error. Babylon
purports to worship God, but mixes truth with error, paganism with
Christianity. This can only lead to disaster.
What does God call this prostitute who defies
God by mixing paganism and Christianity? Revelation 17:5
the
NOTE: In Revelation God is warning us against
apostate religion that mixes paganism with Christianity and yet claims
to worship God. We must be vividly aware that both Daniel and
Revelation are warning us against false religion in the last days that
will attempt to force people to worship God falsely, just as ancient
Babylon. How important it is that we be as faithful as Daniel, so that
we are not corrupted by modern Babylon.
What message does God proclaim about modern
Babylon? Revelation 18:2
,
NOTE: Just as ancient Babylon fell when it
defied God by mixing the worship of God with paganism, so mighty
spiritual Babylon falls when it mixes paganism and Christianity. As it
commits this defiling act it becomes the place where devils dwell.
How widespread will be the influence of
mighty spiritual Babylon in the last days? Revelation 18:3
For
NOTE: Babylon the great is a worldwide
spiritual apostasy from truth. Her adultery is worldwide, and nearly
all are deceived by her.
What loving message does God send to His
people who are in Babylon? Revelation 18:4, 5
Come
NOTE: Interestingly, God states that He has
people who are in Babylon. Just as some people in ancient Babylon were
faithful to God, so today some of God's people are in modern spiritual
Babylon. But God is calling His people to come out of spiritual Babylon
before the final wrath is poured out upon her.
Spiritual apostasy may surround us on all sides
in the last scenes of earth's history. How important that we remain
loyal and true to the Bible. That is our only safety from the snares of
the final great apostasy.
Chapter 7 of Daniel adds significant details
about this false religion which will envelop the whole world in the
last days. God clearly warns us so that we will not be deceived by the
apostasy of the end time. In love, God warns us who may be entrapped by
modern spiritual Babylon to get out as soon as possible, before the end
of time -- before it's too late.
Are you certain you are not part of Babylon?
If you find that you have unknowingly been ensnared by 'Babylon' are
you willing to head God's warning?
