Hello
Friends!
Welcome
back
to our Encouraging Concepts Bible
study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book
of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 5: Verses 5-9)
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. 6 Then the king's
countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of
his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 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. 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. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly
troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied – Daniel
5:5-9
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Mysterious “fingers” from a Magnificent “man's hand” had commandingly “came forth” as He “wrote over against” the clandestine “candlestick” perched “upon” the “wall”
of this cantankerous “king Belshazzar “ and his CORRUPT company.
And the “king” himself
solemnly “saw” quite plainly
the powerful “part of the hand that wrote”
of his coming CONDEMNATION in which was SOON to follow. The “feast”
founded “upon” such blatant LICENTIOUSNESS became
suddenly a fearful “feast”
of gilded GLOOM and corrosive CONSTERNATION contending. Not to mention, the “king’s” useless “astrologers” and the chided “Chaldeans” along with the silly “soothsayers” as the monarch’s APPOINTED wicked
“wise men” of bewildered “Babylon” could NOT once AGAIN at
all diligently DETERMINE this wonton – WRITING on the WALL!
The
FIRST surreal scene in this challenging
chapter was of a drunken ORGY horribly held on October 29th, 539 B.C.
and was flagrantly FILLED with despicable desecration,
blatant blasphemy and every EVIL act. And in the very midst
of this demonic DEBAUCHERY arrives the awesome intervention
of the glorious “God of heaven”
in Whom pronounces dire DOOM upon the ENTIRE empire of “Babylon”
at the horrendous hand of “Darius the Mead”
within just a – FEW short hours…
God’s GLORIOUS Graffiti!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: In the MIDST of all the satanic revelry, at
that “same hour” our great “God” had said ENOUGH is
absolutely ENOUGH! My patience
has ENDED!
And when the “king’s”
obstinate orgy was at its absolute apex
there IMMEDIATELY appeared
a sudden and swift swipe of Divine “fingers” of which collectively “came forth” to powerfully PRONOUNCE His serious SUPERNATURAL judgment:
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 – Daniel 5:5
ALL the drinking and the singing
and the “feasting” had been STOPPED dead
in their tracks. ALL the
loud mouths were slammed shut and ALL that remained
was a deathly SILENCE as a ferocious FEAR had finally fallen like a
blacksmith’s hardened HAMMER upon the avid ANVIL
of this entire group in “God’s”
personally directed – Divine DISRUPTION!
The
modern-day archeologists of whom excavated “Babylon” have found in the “palace” from the “time” of this “King Belshazzar” a very LARGE room
measuring some 55 feet wide by 169 feet long containing “plaster” walls. And it included
a niche carved into one “wall”
with an illuminating “candlestick”
apparatus apparent where they believe the “king”
himself sat exclusively ELEVATED
far above the crowd. WHY?
Because the belligerent “Belshazzar”
was the CENTRAL figure of this factious “feast” enabling him to be socially SEEN by
absolutely – EVERY Attendee!
”Then” in this satanic
setting, the “king's countenance was changed”
completely FOREVER to come:
Then the king's countenance was
changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were
loosed, and his knees smote one against another – Daniel
5:6
That’s
a MILD statement! The “king’s”
coveted “countenance was changed”
and his face no doubt also “changed”
to an ashen white color as sheer TERROR gripped
that man’s heart. Suddenly, the flush red face that had
been WARMED by the wicked “wine”
and the diabolical “drink” and
the fastidious “food” along
with the revelry of emotional PERVERSION that
was taking place had literally LEFT
him. He was indeed treacherously “troubled”
in his tarried “thoughts” as
the jaded “joints of his loins were loosed”
and his kingly “knees smote one against
another” uncontrollably! However, although he did NOT seem
to be too “troubled” by a NATURAL forceful foe flourishing outside
his palace… He was VERY
well “troubled” by the SUPERNATURAL Sovereign
Foe inside his palace – Fingers
of FEAR!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The Old
Testament prophet “Nahum” uses the very same
expression of “knees smiting together”
regarding the wicked Assyrian
pagan pogroms of “Nineveh” to
which the pious prophet “Jonah”
evangelized approximately 150 years prior:
But Nineveh is of old like a pool
of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none
shall look back. Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there
is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture. She is
empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite
together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather
blackness – Nahum 2:8-10
The
prophet “Haggai” had this to
say concerning the “overthrow”
of the wicked “kingdoms” of
the “heathen” such as that of
beguiled “Babylon” itself:
And again the word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four
and twentieth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah,
saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne
of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen;
and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses
and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. In that
day, saith the Lord of
hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith
the Lord, and will make thee
as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts – Haggai
2:20-23
And
the prophet “Zephaniah” writes
about the same telling “trouble” to come upon the “fenced cities” and the “high towers” that have solely “sinned against the Lord” in kind:
The great day of the Lord is
near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there
bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of
wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and
thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and
against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall
walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured
out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold
shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the
fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that
dwell in the land – Zephaniah 1:14-18
But,
WHERE in the world will “Belshazzar” turn TO for
honest HELP in this critical CRISIS he foolishly faces and WHAT is
he going to DO now? Similar to his now deceased
grandfather “Nebuchadnezzar” in
kind, this caustic “king”
abruptly “cried aloud” as he
selfishly SCREAMS at the TOP
of his lungs to “bring in” the
so-called “wise men of Babylon”
being the very same aloof “astrologers”
and charlatan “Chaldeans” and
satanic “soothsayers” to his
aid:
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 – Daniel
5:7
This
bunch of “Babylonian” buffoons
continue their FANATICAL folly after ALL these years! They were utterly USELESS the
first TWO times they were swiftly summoned
to assist. But what ELSE can he really do? Therefore,
the “king” calls in the
boasted brain trust of “Babylon”
to rightly “read this writing”
and to “shew” him the “interpretation” it reveals. And IF they
actually “shall” indeed do so,
they would be comfortably “clothed with
scarlet” royalty sporting a top-choice “chain of gold about his neck” and then
gladly be GRANTED the spot of “third
ruler in the kingdom” itself – WOW!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Many Scripture SCOFFERS and
rigorous REJECTORS of the “Lord Jesus
Christ” Himself point DIRECTLY to this particular passage to
pragmatically PROVE that the Holy Writ has indeed made an egregious ERROR here
in its HISTORICAL narrative. Really?
But, WHY then is the “third ruler” noted here
as such? Because Nabonidus was the FIRST noble in command with “Belshazzar” acting as co-regent (possibly
through marriage) as the SECOND nimble one in command as such. Therefore, WHOEVER would
provide the insightful “interpretation”
unto the concerned “king”
would stand along with them BOTH as the THIRD in
command. And even though the de facto nigh Nabonidus was
actually the reigning “ruler”
rooted in exile under the “Meads
and Persians” none the less, it still had to be acknowledged
that he was indeed the final “King of
“Babylon” proper – Chain of COMMAND!
However,
the “king's” waning “wise men” had avidly ARRIVED on
the scene AGAIN to absolutely NO avail. WHY?
Because “they” were the sordid
spiritual charlatans set to fully FAIL their mandated
mission:
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 – Daniel 5:8
These
foolish FRAUDS themselves “could
not read the writing” writ by the Divine “hand” of the great “God in heaven” Himself. And “nor” were they able
to “make known” the
accompanying “interpretation”
set forth. WHY? Perhaps “they” were SUPERNATURALLY blinded
to the actual words themselves. Perhaps “they” were too dreadfully DRUNK to clearly
see the “writing” on the wall.
For whatever reason considered, if these so-called “wise men” could NOT rightly
“read” this INTENSE inscription
“they” certainly could NOT at
all “make known” to their
confounded “king” the CORRECT insightful
“interpretation” he so – DESPERATELY Desired!
Apparently,
“king Belshazzar” was abiding
in a bit of relief and perhaps the COLOR was
even returning to his face when his worthless “wise men” arrived. However, when “they” came up with another
zilch ZERO nada yet AGAIN,
their contorted “king” went
right BACK to being “greatly troubled” once more:
Then was king Belshazzar greatly
troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied –
Daniel 5:9
The
word “astonied” here means
there was much MUNDANE movement about the caustic “king’s” court. There was so much CONFUSION conferred
as these lost “lords” leaped
about in AMAZEMENT over this wondered “writing”
etched into the “wall”
of sheer SHAME inscribed – Ridiculous
RABBLE!
Quite
frankly, this solemn SHOW is getting rather RIDICULOUS indeed. The SAME old silly song and dumb dance
routine is rendered. This lame LANGUISHING lot of woeful “wise
men” mined from this wicked wondering “world” system continue
to manically MARCH into the miry mix every time
there is a so-called CRISIS at hand. They then turn around
and MARCH right back OUT again with NO adamant answer provided. WHY? Because the waning “wisdom of this world” is fickle “foolishness” in kind:
Where
is the wise? where is the scribe? where
is the disputer of this world? hath not God made
foolish the wisdom of this world? – 1 Corinthians 1:20
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the
wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God
ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this
world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory – 1 Corinthians 2:6-8
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be
wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in
their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain – 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
For our
rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience,
that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but
by the grace of God, we have had our conversation
in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward – 2 Corinthians 1:12
Absolutely
NO
assuring answers will EVER soundly
suffice from amongst the beguiled brain trusts
of this waffling “world”
hierarchy. And even when “they”
give themselves OVER unto a fanatical frazzled state
of FRENZY these sorts will
NEVER deliver the CORRECT answer to life’s ETERNAL questions. WHY?
Because the nigh “natural man”
is detrimentally DEAD in hopelessness of heart and
meandered mind combined:
But God hath revealed them unto
us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of
God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things
also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he
that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the
mind of Christ – 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Beloved,
our Glorious “God in heaven”
is the Sovereign Savior of Whom
righteously RULES all throughout human history.
And HIS annotated ANSWERS absolutely can NOT be intently “interpreted”
from a horrid – HUMANISTIC Perspective!
More to follow… STAY tuned!
In
closing:
REAL REFLECTIONS: The twelve chapters of “Daniel” are powerfully PROMISED prophecies depicting the unfolding
of the HISTORIC events of which will take place leading up to
the literal “time” of the SECOND awaited
physical “coming” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” back to the earth:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel 2:44
And
our SERIOUS study of these PROPHECIES will
rightly REVEAL to each student of God's wonderful “Word” that the events FORETOLD
some 2,600 years ago could
possibly be FULFILLED in the seemingly near future…
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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