¤[music ends]¤¤
00:00:15.98\00:00:17.98
>>John Bradshaw:
There's a 2,500-year-old story
00:00:20.82\00:00:23.62
in Daniel, chapter
5 that speaks directly
00:00:23.65\00:00:27.16
to the final days
of earth's history.
00:00:27.19\00:00:29.12
The story
introduces us to a new king.
00:00:29.16\00:00:31.46
Nebuchadnezzar is dead
by now, and his grandson,
00:00:31.49\00:00:34.73
now sitting on the throne,
has a terrifying experience
00:00:34.73\00:00:39.03
when he sees the
writing on the wall.
00:00:39.07\00:00:42.67
This story is the story
of the downfall of Babylon.
00:00:42.70\00:00:47.64
[whoosh]
00:00:48.64\00:00:49.94
¤[orchestral music swells]¤
00:00:49.98\00:00:51.28
[tinkling sound
of wind-blown sand]
00:00:51.31\00:00:52.95
[whoosh, distant bell rings]
00:00:52.98\00:00:57.62
[wind blowing, sand swishing]
00:00:57.65\00:01:00.96
Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded
by his son, Evil-Merodach,
00:01:00.99\00:01:04.39
which doesn't mean he was
evil, although one historian
00:01:04.43\00:01:07.76
did write that the man
reigned "unjustly and lewdly."
00:01:07.83\00:01:12.07
Evil-Merodach is an
anglicized version of his name,
00:01:12.10\00:01:15.74
Amel-Marduk, "man of Marduk."
00:01:15.77\00:01:18.94
That means he was
named after the supreme god
00:01:18.97\00:01:21.74
in Babylon's pantheon of gods.
00:01:21.78\00:01:24.35
Other than what we
read about him in the Bible,
00:01:24.38\00:01:26.18
there isn't a
lot known about him.
00:01:26.21\00:01:28.95
He's the man who released
Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
00:01:28.98\00:01:32.09
after Jehoiakim had spent 37
years in a Babylonian prison.
00:01:32.12\00:01:37.33
Amel-Marduk was assassinated
and was later replaced
00:01:37.36\00:01:40.23
by Nabonidus,
who went to Arabia.
00:01:40.26\00:01:43.37
Now, for years
critics of the Bible claimed
00:01:43.40\00:01:45.93
that the book of
Daniel was in error
00:01:45.97\00:01:48.04
when it referred to Belshazzar
as king, as Nabonidus was king.
00:01:48.07\00:01:54.18
Adding to the puzzle is
that there's little to be found
00:01:54.21\00:01:57.51
about Belshazzar
outside the Bible,
00:01:57.55\00:01:59.88
which shouldn't surprise anyone,
00:01:59.91\00:02:02.18
as any records
would be 2,500 years old
00:02:02.22\00:02:05.29
and inscribed on clay tablets--
00:02:05.32\00:02:07.59
not easy to find,
especially given that Babylon
00:02:07.62\00:02:10.96
was systematically destroyed
over hundreds of years.
00:02:10.99\00:02:15.06
Higher critics--ignoring
Daniel 2, Daniel 7,
00:02:15.10\00:02:18.20
and Daniel 9, strong
evidence for the veracity
00:02:18.23\00:02:21.17
of the book of Daniel--asserted
that the name Belshazzar
00:02:21.20\00:02:24.81
was an invention and
that the book of Daniel
00:02:24.84\00:02:27.84
was written in
the second century AD.
00:02:27.88\00:02:31.38
And then, what do you
know, the Cylinder of Nabonidus,
00:02:31.41\00:02:35.55
now in the British
Museum, was translated,
00:02:35.58\00:02:38.89
and it states that
Nabonidus entrusted the kingship
00:02:38.92\00:02:42.49
to his oldest son,
which is Belshazzar.
00:02:42.52\00:02:47.23
Daniel was right.
00:02:47.23\00:02:49.20
Belshazzar was a co-regent
with his father, Nabonidus.
00:02:49.23\00:02:53.47
Astronomer Carl Sagan
is credited with saying,
00:02:53.50\00:02:55.74
the "absence of evidence
is not evidence of absence."
00:02:55.77\00:02:59.27
And it pays to remember that
when dealing with archaeology.
00:02:59.31\00:03:02.91
Under Belshazzar's rule
Babylon began to decline.
00:03:02.94\00:03:06.55
At the same time the
Persian king, Cyrus the Great,
00:03:06.58\00:03:09.52
was growing in power.
00:03:09.55\00:03:10.95
Cyrus and his army
marched towards Babylon
00:03:10.99\00:03:13.76
and were at the gates of Babylon
00:03:13.79\00:03:15.66
at the time the
events of Daniel 5 unfolded.
00:03:15.69\00:03:18.89
The chapter starts, "Belshazzar
the king made a great feast
00:03:18.93\00:03:22.63
"for a thousand of his lords,
00:03:22.66\00:03:24.30
and drank wine in the
presence of the thousand."
00:03:24.33\00:03:27.70
A colossal mistake--
Belshazzar was partying
00:03:27.74\00:03:32.81
while there was an
enemy literally at his gates.
00:03:32.84\00:03:36.51
His judgment was impaired
00:03:36.54\00:03:38.41
because alcohol
impairs a person's judgment,
00:03:38.45\00:03:41.95
which leads to
terrible outcomes.
00:03:41.98\00:03:44.79
Crime, immorality,
lust, and anger--and more--
00:03:44.82\00:03:48.96
are fueled by
alcohol consumption.
00:03:48.99\00:03:52.09
Experts will tell you alcohol
is terrible for your health.
00:03:52.13\00:03:55.73
The MD Anderson Cancer
Center says, "About 5.5%
00:03:55.76\00:03:59.00
"of all new cancer
diagnoses and 5.8% of all deaths
00:03:59.03\00:04:03.87
"from cancer are
attributed to drinking alcohol,
00:04:03.91\00:04:07.61
according to the
National Institutes of Health."
00:04:07.64\00:04:10.35
Didn't Jesus drink wine?
00:04:10.38\00:04:12.18
No, Jesus drank grape juice.
00:04:12.21\00:04:14.92
Didn't they drink
wine in the Bible?
00:04:14.95\00:04:16.45
Yes, and some had multiple
wives, and many owned slaves.
00:04:16.48\00:04:21.12
The fact that
some drank wine then
00:04:21.16\00:04:23.29
doesn't mean Christians
should do the same today.
00:04:23.32\00:04:26.29
Belshazzar was getting drunk.
00:04:26.33\00:04:28.86
Never wise, always
harmful, and if that's you,
00:04:28.90\00:04:32.80
you can stop because God is
able to give you the victory.
00:04:32.83\00:04:38.44
If you're
thinking of cutting back,
00:04:38.47\00:04:39.77
keep in mind that the
World Health Organization says,
00:04:39.81\00:04:42.48
"When it comes to
alcohol consumption,
00:04:42.51\00:04:44.65
there is no safe amount
that does not affect health."
00:04:44.68\00:04:48.58
In other words, if
you're going to cut back,
00:04:48.62\00:04:50.75
cut back to zero, or else
you're doing yourself real harm.
00:04:50.79\00:04:54.76
Belshazzar's drunkenness spurred
him to make a reckless decision.
00:04:54.79\00:04:59.53
He "gave the command to bring
the gold and silver vessels
00:04:59.56\00:05:02.23
"which his father Nebuchadnezzar
had taken from the temple
00:05:02.26\00:05:05.20
"which had been in Jerusalem,
that the king and his lords,
00:05:05.23\00:05:07.77
his wives, and his concubines
might drink from them."
00:05:07.80\00:05:11.77
When
Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem,
00:05:11.81\00:05:14.48
"The Lord gave Jehoiakim
king of Judah into his hand,
00:05:14.51\00:05:17.68
"with some of the
articles of the house of God,
00:05:17.71\00:05:19.95
"which he carried
into the land of Shinar
00:05:19.98\00:05:21.88
"to the house of his god;
and he brought the articles
00:05:21.92\00:05:24.85
into the treasure
house of his god."
00:05:24.89\00:05:27.09
Now in a display
of brazen defiance,
00:05:27.12\00:05:30.26
Belshazzar had God's
own holy items brought out
00:05:30.29\00:05:34.56
so he and his friends
could drink alcohol out of them
00:05:34.60\00:05:37.57
while they praised false
gods, and God wasn't having it.
00:05:37.60\00:05:42.40
You know, this is
really a serious warning.
00:05:42.44\00:05:45.74
You can play with God,
you can keep God waiting,
00:05:45.77\00:05:48.54
you can ignore God,
00:05:48.58\00:05:50.91
but there comes a time when
your decision is irreversible.
00:05:50.95\00:05:54.45
People can get bold
when they insult God
00:05:54.48\00:05:56.65
and God doesn't seem
to do anything about it.
00:05:56.69\00:05:59.19
The wise man wrote, "Because the
sentence against an evil work
00:05:59.22\00:06:02.76
"is not executed speedily,
00:06:02.79\00:06:04.83
"therefore the
heart of the sons of men
00:06:04.86\00:06:06.66
is fully set in
them to do evil."
00:06:06.70\00:06:08.83
That's Ecclesiastes 8, verse 11.
00:06:08.86\00:06:11.20
That's Solomon saying,
00:06:11.23\00:06:13.10
because things carry on as
normal when some folks sin,
00:06:13.13\00:06:17.11
they continue in sin,
and they harden toward God.
00:06:17.14\00:06:21.81
And that's where Belshazzar was.
00:06:21.84\00:06:25.05
He knew better.
00:06:25.08\00:06:26.55
He abused the mercy of God
and turned it into license.
00:06:26.58\00:06:30.89
He was shaking his fist in
God's face in open rebellion,
00:06:30.92\00:06:35.46
and God said,
"Enough is enough."
00:06:35.49\00:06:38.26
It was time for the prophecy
in Daniel 2 to be fulfilled.
00:06:38.29\00:06:41.26
Remember how the
head of gold gave way
00:06:41.30\00:06:43.00
to the chest and arms of silver?
00:06:43.03\00:06:44.97
We're about to watch
that play out in real time.
00:06:45.00\00:06:48.57
"Then they brought the
gold vessels that had been taken
00:06:48.60\00:06:51.24
"from the temple of the
house of God which had been
00:06:51.27\00:06:53.27
"in Jerusalem; and the
king and his lords, his wives,
00:06:53.31\00:06:56.78
"and his
concubines drank from them.
00:06:56.81\00:06:59.61
"They drank wine, and praised
the gods of gold and silver,
00:06:59.65\00:07:04.15
bronze and
iron, wood and stone."
00:07:04.19\00:07:07.49
The holy things of God were
being used to honor the devil.
00:07:07.52\00:07:12.33
Belshazzar was going to
use vessels that had been
00:07:12.36\00:07:14.96
specially made for the
worship of the Creator God
00:07:15.00\00:07:19.20
to worship Marduk, as
well as the gods of air,
00:07:19.23\00:07:22.44
water, love,
fertility, and on and on.
00:07:22.47\00:07:26.27
But God intervened.
00:07:26.31\00:07:28.18
Now, this wasn't a
matter of God losing His temper.
00:07:28.21\00:07:30.75
God had extended mercy to
Belshazzar and had given light
00:07:30.78\00:07:34.52
to Belshazzar, but the
Babylonian king was stating
00:07:34.55\00:07:37.79
he just was never going
to respond to God's mercy.
00:07:37.82\00:07:42.56
So, "In the same hour
the fingers of a man's hand
00:07:42.59\00:07:46.43
"appeared and wrote
opposite the lampstand
00:07:46.46\00:07:48.90
"on the plaster of the
wall of the king's palace;
00:07:48.93\00:07:52.03
and the king saw the
part of the hand that wrote."
00:07:52.07\00:07:55.54
And now we see
something for the third time
00:07:55.57\00:07:58.57
in the book of Daniel.
00:07:58.61\00:08:00.11
When Belshazzar's
grandfather had a dream
00:08:00.14\00:08:02.38
in Daniel, chapter 2,
Daniel interpreted the dream.
00:08:02.41\00:08:05.85
The same thing
happened in chapter 4.
00:08:05.88\00:08:08.22
Now, there's the
mysterious writing on the wall.
00:08:08.25\00:08:11.89
Just as Nebuchadnezzar needed
someone to interpret his dreams,
00:08:11.92\00:08:15.12
Belshazzar now
needs someone to interpret
00:08:15.16\00:08:18.23
this communication from heaven.
00:08:18.26\00:08:20.36
His wise men
couldn't do it, so the queen,
00:08:20.40\00:08:23.10
who was likely the queen
mother, given that she refers
00:08:23.13\00:08:26.20
to what happened in the past,
recommended Daniel be summoned.
00:08:26.23\00:08:30.67
She said that "light and
understanding and wisdom,
00:08:30.71\00:08:33.58
like the wisdom of the
gods, were found in him"
00:08:33.61\00:08:36.41
and that "an excellent
spirt, knowledge, understanding,
00:08:36.44\00:08:39.68
"interpreting
dreams, solving riddles,
00:08:39.71\00:08:41.98
and explaining enigmas
were found in this Daniel."
00:08:42.02\00:08:45.95
Daniel is older
now. He's about 80.
00:08:45.99\00:08:48.19
The monarch promises Daniel,
00:08:48.22\00:08:50.09
"If you can read the
writing and make known to me
00:08:50.13\00:08:53.23
"its interpretation, you
shall be clothed with purple
00:08:53.26\00:08:57.03
"and have a chain of
gold around your neck,
00:08:57.07\00:08:59.37
and shall be the
third ruler in the kingdom."
00:08:59.40\00:09:02.37
But Daniel says, "Let
your gifts be for yourself,
00:09:02.40\00:09:06.31
"and give your
rewards to another;
00:09:06.34\00:09:08.34
"yet I will read
the writing to the king,
00:09:08.38\00:09:11.05
and make known to
him the interpretation."
00:09:11.08\00:09:13.55
In other words,
"I'll interpret the dream,
00:09:13.58\00:09:16.22
but you can keep your money."
00:09:16.25\00:09:18.85
For Daniel, serving God
was not about financial gain.
00:09:18.89\00:09:23.46
Then Daniel
explained to Belshazzar
00:09:23.49\00:09:25.19
the history of his grandfather,
00:09:25.23\00:09:26.76
the great
sovereign Nebuchadnezzar,
00:09:26.80\00:09:29.16
how God had given him "a kingdom
and majesty, glory and honor."
00:09:29.20\00:09:33.00
He referenced the seven years
00:09:33.03\00:09:34.77
Nebuchadnezzar
spent in the wilderness,
00:09:34.80\00:09:36.44
bereft of his right
mind, living like an animal,
00:09:36.47\00:09:40.38
"till he knew that the Most High
God rules in the kingdom of men,
00:09:40.41\00:09:44.71
and appoints over it
whomever He chooses."
00:09:44.75\00:09:48.25
And look at what
Daniel says next:
00:09:48.28\00:09:50.52
"But you his son, Belshazzar,
have not humbled your heart,
00:09:50.55\00:09:56.52
although you knew all this."
00:09:56.56\00:09:59.06
He knew.
00:09:59.09\00:10:00.40
Daniel said, "You
have lifted yourself up
00:10:00.43\00:10:02.63
against the Lord of heaven,"
00:10:02.66\00:10:04.20
before recounting
Belshazzar's wicked deeds:
00:10:04.23\00:10:07.44
using the holy worship
vessels from the temple of God
00:10:07.47\00:10:10.61
in Jerusalem to
honor and worship
00:10:10.64\00:10:13.24
and praise "the gods of silver
and gold, bronze and iron,
00:10:13.27\00:10:17.71
"wood and stone, which
do not see or hear or know;
00:10:17.75\00:10:22.25
"and the God who holds
your breath in His hand
00:10:22.28\00:10:24.65
and owns all your ways,
you have not glorified."
00:10:24.69\00:10:28.89
When Nebuchadnezzar was
convinced that the God of heaven
00:10:28.92\00:10:31.36
was the true God,
he humbled himself.
00:10:31.39\00:10:35.10
Belshazzar refused to.
00:10:35.13\00:10:37.97
Now Daniel
interprets the cryptic script
00:10:39.30\00:10:42.24
written on the wall in
the presence of the partygoers
00:10:42.27\00:10:45.01
by the hand of God.
00:10:45.04\00:10:46.61
"It said, 'MENE,
MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.'"
00:10:46.64\00:10:50.71
He told the king
that "MENE" meant,
00:10:50.75\00:10:53.18
"God has numbered your
kingdom, and finished it."
00:10:53.21\00:10:56.58
When God looked into his
case, He found that Belshazzar
00:10:56.62\00:10:59.15
had chosen to harden
his heart against God.
00:10:59.19\00:11:02.49
His kingdom was finished.
00:11:02.52\00:11:04.83
"TEKEL: You have been
weighed in the balances,
00:11:04.86\00:11:08.00
and found wanting."
00:11:08.03\00:11:09.90
It's important to
recognize every one of us
00:11:09.93\00:11:12.23
is going to experience
what Belshazzar experienced.
00:11:12.27\00:11:14.90
That is, the Bible says,
"Every knee [shall] bow," and
00:11:14.94\00:11:17.74
"every tongue [shall] confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord."
00:11:17.77\00:11:20.74
Paul wrote that "we must all
appear before the judgment seat
00:11:20.78\00:11:24.28
of Christ," in 2
Corinthians, chapter 5.
00:11:24.31\00:11:27.02
If you haven't
accepted Jesus as your Savior
00:11:27.05\00:11:29.75
and surrendered your life
to Him, you still have time.
00:11:29.78\00:11:33.46
Don't wait until it's too late,
because one day it will be.
00:11:33.49\00:11:38.46
God wants you to
invite Him into your life now.
00:11:38.49\00:11:42.63
Then, "PERES: Your
kingdom has been divided,
00:11:42.66\00:11:46.84
and given to the
Medes and Persians."
00:11:46.87\00:11:50.01
It's over for Belshazzar--
and over for Babylon.
00:11:50.04\00:11:54.28
And then the king does
something absurd, really.
00:11:54.31\00:11:56.81
Daniel has just told him
that his kingdom is finished,
00:11:56.85\00:11:59.95
that Babylon had fallen,
00:12:00.05\00:12:02.42
and the king still "gave the
command, and they clothed Daniel
00:12:02.45\00:12:05.62
"with purple and put a
chain of gold around his neck,
00:12:05.65\00:12:08.86
"and made a
proclamation concerning him
00:12:08.89\00:12:10.59
that he should be the
third ruler in the kingdom."
00:12:10.63\00:12:14.10
That poor, confused, misguided,
and, I expect, fearful ruler
00:12:14.10\00:12:20.97
honored the man who
just told him his kingdom
00:12:21.00\00:12:23.97
was going to be ripped away.
00:12:24.01\00:12:26.84
It was one of the last
things he would ever do.
00:12:26.88\00:12:31.28
"That very night Belshazzar,
king of the Chaldeans,
00:12:31.31\00:12:35.82
was slain."
00:12:35.85\00:12:38.15
Now, I want you to see
something incredibly important.
00:12:38.19\00:12:42.96
The fall of Babylon in the
Old Testament book of Daniel
00:12:42.99\00:12:46.90
prefigures the fall of Babylon
00:12:46.93\00:12:49.20
in the New
Testament book of Revelation.
00:12:49.23\00:12:51.97
Revelation borrows
heavily from the Old Testament.
00:12:52.00\00:12:55.64
Around 70 percent of
the verses in Revelation
00:12:55.67\00:12:58.21
contain quotes from or
allusions to the Old Testament.
00:12:58.24\00:13:01.84
The Tree of Life
in Revelation 22,
00:13:01.88\00:13:04.01
John got that from
Ezekiel, chapter 47.
00:13:04.05\00:13:07.12
It appears John got the
imagery for the four horses
00:13:07.15\00:13:09.48
in Revelation 6 from
Zechariah, chapter 1.
00:13:09.52\00:13:13.05
And all through
Revelation are references
00:13:13.09\00:13:15.76
to the Old
Testament sanctuary services.
00:13:15.79\00:13:18.99
Where Revelation talks
at length about Babylon,
00:13:19.03\00:13:21.46
that's drawn from ancient
Babylon in the Old Testament,
00:13:21.50\00:13:25.77
which tells us that Babylon
in the end of time will contain
00:13:25.80\00:13:29.94
many characteristics
of ancient Babylon.
00:13:29.97\00:13:32.94
If you want to learn about
Babylon in the end of time,
00:13:32.97\00:13:36.75
study Babylon in
the Old Testament.
00:13:36.78\00:13:39.55
The fall of Babylon features
prominently in Revelation.
00:13:39.58\00:13:43.62
Now, look at these parallels.
00:13:43.65\00:13:45.45
In Jeremiah 51:13, Babylon
dwelled "by many waters."
00:13:45.49\00:13:50.19
In Revelation 17:1, Babylon,
00:13:50.23\00:13:52.29
the great apostate
power of earth's last days,
00:13:52.33\00:13:54.93
is "the great harlot
who sits on many waters."
00:13:54.96\00:13:59.00
Again in Jeremiah, Babylon
is "abundant in treasures."
00:13:59.03\00:14:02.77
In Revelation 17:4,
Babylon is "adorned with gold
00:14:02.80\00:14:06.57
and precious stones and pearls."
00:14:06.61\00:14:09.11
In Jeremiah 51:7,
"Babylon was a golden cup
00:14:09.14\00:14:12.78
in the Lord's hand."
00:14:12.81\00:14:14.38
In Revelation 17:4, Babylon
has "in her hand a golden cup."
00:14:14.42\00:14:19.65
In Jeremiah 51, verse 8,
00:14:19.69\00:14:21.72
"Babylon has suddenly
fallen and been destroyed."
00:14:21.76\00:14:25.09
In Revelation 14:8,
00:14:25.13\00:14:27.23
Babylon in the last
days "is fallen, is fallen."
00:14:27.23\00:14:31.00
In Isaiah 47, Babylon says,
"I shall be a lady forever....
00:14:31.03\00:14:35.97
"I shall not sit as a widow,
00:14:36.00\00:14:38.17
nor shall I know
the loss of children."
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.54
In Revelation 18:7, "I
sit as queen, and am no widow,
00:14:40.58\00:14:45.81
and will not see sorrow."
00:14:45.85\00:14:47.95
Back in Jeremiah 51, "My people,
go out of the midst of her!"
00:14:47.98\00:14:52.92
In Revelation 18:4, God
says to His people in Babylon,
00:14:52.95\00:14:56.62
"Come out of her, my people."
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.83
Jeremiah 51:48,
when Babylon falls,
00:14:58.86\00:15:01.93
"Then the heavens and the
earth and all that is in them
00:15:01.96\00:15:04.43
shall sing
joyously over Babylon."
00:15:04.47\00:15:07.30
Revelation 18:20,
"Rejoice over her, O heaven,
00:15:07.34\00:15:11.34
and you holy
apostles and prophets!"
00:15:11.37\00:15:13.88
Jeremiah 51:64, "Thus
Babylon shall sink and not rise
00:15:13.91\00:15:19.18
from the catastrophe
that I will bring upon her."
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.78
Revelation 18:21, "Thus with
violence the great city Babylon
00:15:21.82\00:15:26.22
shall be thrown down, and
shall not be found anymore."
00:15:26.25\00:15:30.36
In describing the great
apostasy of the last days
00:15:30.39\00:15:34.10
of earth's history, John
reaches back to ancient Babylon
00:15:34.13\00:15:38.67
and draws parallels.
00:15:38.70\00:15:41.50
Ancient Babylon was pagan
and deep into spiritualism,
00:15:41.54\00:15:45.37
sun worship, and idolatry,
with a corrupt priesthood
00:15:45.41\00:15:50.01
and enormous
wealth and influence.
00:15:50.05\00:15:53.01
The great apostasy
of earth's last days
00:15:53.05\00:15:55.42
will have many of
these same characteristics.
00:15:55.45\00:15:58.99
God did everything He could
to reach Babylon back then.
00:15:59.02\00:16:04.89
In Jeremiah 51,
verse 9, the prophet says,
00:16:04.93\00:16:08.00
"We would have healed
Babylon, but she is not healed."
00:16:08.03\00:16:12.63
So how was it
that a city as mighty,
00:16:12.67\00:16:14.87
as powerful as Babylon fell?
00:16:14.90\00:16:17.54
It was the
greatest city in the world
00:16:18.54\00:16:21.04
and thought to be impenetrable.
00:16:21.08\00:16:23.65
Two chariots
could pass by each other
00:16:23.68\00:16:26.01
on the top of the city walls.
00:16:26.05\00:16:27.65
That's how broad
those walls were.
00:16:27.68\00:16:30.55
The Euphrates River
flowed right through Babylon,
00:16:30.59\00:16:33.59
much like the Danube
flows through Budapest
00:16:33.62\00:16:36.46
or the Nile through Cairo.
00:16:36.49\00:16:39.23
In 539 BC, Cyrus
wanted to conquer Babylon,
00:16:39.26\00:16:43.43
but how do you enter a city
00:16:43.47\00:16:45.23
surrounded by
those massive walls?
00:16:45.27\00:16:48.94
The people of Babylon
knew Cyrus was on his way
00:16:48.97\00:16:52.04
but weren't the
least bit concerned,
00:16:52.07\00:16:53.61
believing they
could wait out Cyrus
00:16:53.64\00:16:55.24
by holing up in
their invulnerable city.
00:16:55.28\00:16:58.41
Not able to enter Babylon,
00:16:58.45\00:16:59.71
the brilliant strategist
diverted the Euphrates River.
00:16:59.75\00:17:04.32
When the water level dropped,
his soldiers marched through
00:17:04.35\00:17:08.09
knee-deep water
and into the city.
00:17:08.12\00:17:12.13
Here's another thing
about this amazing story:
00:17:12.16\00:17:14.76
It was predicted that
Cyrus would lead the armies
00:17:14.83\00:17:18.30
of the Medes and Persians
150 years before he was born.
00:17:18.33\00:17:24.77
The book of Isaiah
was written around 700 BC.
00:17:24.81\00:17:27.64
Babylon fell in 539 BC.
00:17:27.68\00:17:30.51
Isaiah wrote, "Who
says to the deep, 'Be dry!
00:17:30.55\00:17:35.15
"And I will dry up your
rivers'; who says of Cyrus,
00:17:35.18\00:17:39.95
"'He is my shepherd, and he
shall perform all my pleasure,
00:17:39.99\00:17:43.29
"'saying to
Jerusalem, "You shall be built,"
00:17:43.32\00:17:46.13
and to the temple, "Your
foundation shall be laid."'"
00:17:46.16\00:17:49.66
Cyrus, you know, allowed
the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
00:17:49.70\00:17:53.60
"Thus says the Lord to
His anointed, to Cyrus,
00:17:53.64\00:17:57.07
"whose right hand I
have held--to subdue nations
00:17:57.11\00:18:00.38
"before him and
loose the armor of kings,
00:18:00.41\00:18:03.31
"to open before
him the double doors,
00:18:03.35\00:18:06.31
so that the gates
will not be shut."
00:18:06.35\00:18:09.98
A century and a half
before he was even alive,
00:18:10.02\00:18:13.49
God named Cyrus as the man
00:18:13.52\00:18:15.76
who would lead the
overthrow of Babylon.
00:18:15.79\00:18:18.59
Now, if God had promised years
before that Babylon would fall
00:18:18.63\00:18:22.26
and even named the man
00:18:22.30\00:18:23.60
who would lead the
armies into the city,
00:18:23.63\00:18:26.03
was God really giving Belshazzar
the opportunity to repent?
00:18:26.07\00:18:30.14
Oh, absolutely.
00:18:30.17\00:18:31.57
The fact that God knew what was
going to happen in the future
00:18:31.61\00:18:34.64
does not mean that He didn't
give the king every opportunity.
00:18:34.68\00:18:38.01
Belshazzar wasn't
doomed by the will of God.
00:18:38.05\00:18:41.65
He simply wouldn't
repent, and God knew that.
00:18:41.68\00:18:45.95
And that says a lot about God.
00:18:45.99\00:18:48.42
He knew the king
had a hard heart,
00:18:48.46\00:18:50.86
but He appealed to
him anyway--like Judas.
00:18:50.89\00:18:54.50
The betrayal of Jesus
by Judas was prophesied
00:18:54.56\00:18:57.77
more than 500
years ahead of time.
00:18:57.80\00:19:00.94
But Jesus appealed to
Judas, giving him evidence
00:19:00.97\00:19:04.51
that He read his
heart, even washing his feet.
00:19:04.54\00:19:08.81
So, with the fall of Babylon,
the head of gold in the image
00:19:08.84\00:19:12.01
of Daniel 2 gave way to
the chest and arms of silver.
00:19:12.05\00:19:15.95
This prediction was made in
Jeremiah 51, verses 36 and 37:
00:19:15.98\00:19:20.02
"Therefore thus
says the Lord: 'Behold,
00:19:20.06\00:19:23.32
"'I will plead your case
and take vengeance for you.
00:19:23.36\00:19:27.10
"'I will dry up her sea
and make her springs dry.
00:19:27.13\00:19:31.33
"'Babylon shall become a heap,
a dwelling place for jackals,
00:19:31.37\00:19:35.74
an astonishment and a hissing,
without an inhabitant.'"
00:19:35.77\00:19:40.54
Which seemed impossible.
00:19:40.58\00:19:43.24
Mighty Babylon? Desolate?
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.35
That prophecy was
read in Babylon 55 years
00:19:46.38\00:19:50.05
before the fall of Babylon
by Seraiah, a Jewish priest.
00:19:50.09\00:19:54.72
And here's
something interesting.
00:19:54.76\00:19:56.22
It is, it is possible--now,
there's some speculation here,
00:19:56.26\00:19:59.56
but it's possible--the
Bible says Seraiah,
00:19:59.59\00:20:03.53
who was commissioned by
Jeremiah to read this prophecy
00:20:03.57\00:20:06.37
in Babylon, went to Babylon
with King Zedekiah of Judah.
00:20:06.40\00:20:10.41
It's possible Zedekiah
went to Babylon at that time
00:20:10.44\00:20:15.41
to attend the dedication
of Nebuchadnezzar's image
00:20:15.44\00:20:18.38
on the plain of Dura when
Daniel's three young friends
00:20:18.41\00:20:22.18
were cast into a fiery furnace.
00:20:22.22\00:20:25.02
Jeremiah wrote that Babylon
"shall be desolate forever."
00:20:25.05\00:20:29.19
He said, "When you...[finish]
reading this book,...
00:20:29.22\00:20:32.09
"tie a stone to it and
throw it out into the Euphrates.
00:20:32.13\00:20:36.13
"Then you shall say, 'Thus
Babylon shall sink and not rise
00:20:36.16\00:20:41.17
from the catastrophe
that I will bring upon her.'"
00:20:41.20\00:20:44.14
When Alexander the Great
attempted to rebuild Babylon,
00:20:44.17\00:20:48.01
he could not.
Within a few hundred years,
00:20:48.04\00:20:50.01
Babylon was a ghost
town, and it still is today.
00:20:50.05\00:20:54.72
We learned several
things in this story.
00:20:56.15\00:20:58.12
We learned that when the Bible
says, "God so loved the world,"
00:20:58.15\00:21:01.46
it means the whole world,
00:21:01.49\00:21:03.59
even people like
Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.
00:21:03.63\00:21:06.56
He did all He could to
give both men everlasting life.
00:21:06.59\00:21:11.53
We learned that
prophecy will be fulfilled.
00:21:11.57\00:21:13.84
The destruction of ancient
Babylon was predicted by God,
00:21:13.87\00:21:16.94
and it happened
just as God said.
00:21:16.97\00:21:20.38
We know that the fall of
ancient Babylon is a precursor
00:21:20.41\00:21:24.48
to the fall of
modern spiritual Babylon,
00:21:24.51\00:21:27.72
which will take place
not too far into the future.
00:21:27.75\00:21:30.95
And we learn again
that God does what He does
00:21:30.99\00:21:34.72
because He wants people
to turn to Him in faith--
00:21:34.76\00:21:38.19
not because He has an ego,
00:21:38.23\00:21:40.20
but because He is
the source of life.
00:21:40.23\00:21:43.03
Of course He is.
He's the Creator.
00:21:43.06\00:21:46.27
There is no life outside of God,
other than what you can squeeze
00:21:46.30\00:21:50.74
out of your few short years
00:21:50.77\00:21:52.74
during the few passes
you make around the sun.
00:21:52.77\00:21:56.38
And then what?
00:21:56.41\00:21:58.21
These stories are
hugely consequential.
00:21:58.25\00:22:02.62
They show you that
God is real, present,
00:22:02.65\00:22:06.42
that He cares about this
world and the people in it,
00:22:06.45\00:22:09.76
that He cares about you.
00:22:09.79\00:22:13.56
Are you going to live your life
00:22:13.60\00:22:16.23
without inviting
God to be part of it?
00:22:16.26\00:22:19.80
The God who made this world,
00:22:19.83\00:22:22.27
who preserved
these remarkable stories,
00:22:22.30\00:22:25.87
who allowed His Son
Jesus to die for you on a cross
00:22:25.91\00:22:29.64
is appealing to you now.
00:22:29.68\00:22:32.08
He's asking for your heart,
and you can give Him that.
00:22:32.11\00:22:35.95
He's the one who knows
history before it happens.
00:22:35.98\00:22:38.62
It doesn't matter
what others think or say.
00:22:38.65\00:22:40.79
Daniel 5 is evidence
of God's love for you.
00:22:40.82\00:22:46.66
Belshazzar didn't
just refuse to repent.
00:22:46.70\00:22:51.27
He refused to repent while
having irrefutable evidence
00:22:51.30\00:22:54.54
of the love and
providence of God.
00:22:54.57\00:22:57.77
¤[soft reflective music]¤
00:22:57.81\00:22:59.77
You have that, too--in the
sunset you witness every day,
00:22:59.81\00:23:04.35
in the majesty of mountains,
the splendor of creation;
00:23:04.38\00:23:08.62
in the laughter of a child;
00:23:08.65\00:23:10.25
in the remarkable
machinery of the human body,
00:23:10.29\00:23:13.22
your heart beating
every couple of moments,
00:23:13.25\00:23:15.26
your brain constantly sending
chemical and electrical signals
00:23:15.29\00:23:18.56
throughout your body;
00:23:18.59\00:23:20.06
and then the Bible, with
its remarkable predictions.
00:23:20.10\00:23:24.10
We've seen today
many of them fulfilled.
00:23:24.13\00:23:27.44
This book is the Word of God.
00:23:27.47\00:23:31.11
And then? The cross,
where Jesus died for you.
00:23:31.14\00:23:36.98
The cross is the
greatest argument in favor
00:23:37.01\00:23:40.12
of surrendering to God.
00:23:40.15\00:23:42.38
Jesus gave His life for you.
00:23:42.42\00:23:44.42
You have to respond to that.
00:23:44.45\00:23:46.65
And Jesus is coming back soon,
00:23:46.69\00:23:48.69
to take the saved
to be with Him forever.
00:23:48.72\00:23:51.59
And you can be part of
that, if you'll believe
00:23:51.63\00:23:54.30
that God is who He says He is,
00:23:54.30\00:23:57.13
if you choose to
believe that Jesus died for you,
00:23:57.17\00:24:00.57
and if you'll allow Him to
live His life in you right now--
00:24:00.60\00:24:06.34
and from now on.
00:24:06.37\00:24:08.84
Daniel 5 ends, "And Darius
the Mede received the kingdom,
00:24:08.88\00:24:14.88
being about
sixty-two years old."
00:24:14.92\00:24:18.49
How is your story going to end?
00:24:18.52\00:24:21.82
It doesn't matter
what's been in your past.
00:24:21.86\00:24:23.86
Your future, if you'll
invite Jesus to be part of it,
00:24:23.89\00:24:27.50
is bright and eternal.
00:24:27.56\00:24:31.13
And I've written something
with you in mind to help you
00:24:31.17\00:24:33.90
in your journey into the
future with Jesus in your heart.
00:24:33.94\00:24:38.51
It's a resource that
accompanies these presentations
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.74
on the first six
chapters of Daniel.
00:24:40.78\00:24:43.18
It's absolutely free,
00:24:43.21\00:24:45.05
and you can get it right now.
00:24:45.08\00:24:47.52
>>male announcer: To
get today's free offer,
00:24:47.55\00:24:48.95
"The Stories of Daniel,"
00:24:48.98\00:24:50.75
call 800-253-3000.
00:24:50.79\00:24:53.29
That's 800-253-3000.
00:24:53.32\00:24:56.26
You can request
"The Stories of Daniel"
00:24:56.29\00:24:58.16
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:24:58.19\00:25:01.76
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:25:01.80\00:25:03.47
or text "freedaniel" to 71392.
00:25:03.50\00:25:07.47
"The Stories of Daniel,"
00:25:07.50\00:25:09.10
faith-building
stories given by God
00:25:09.14\00:25:11.31
to prepare you for the major
events of earth's last days.
00:25:11.34\00:25:15.11
"The Stories of Daniel,"
00:25:15.14\00:25:16.85
call 800-253-3000.
00:25:16.88\00:25:19.35
Go to iiwoffer.com
00:25:19.38\00:25:21.88
or text "freedaniel" to 71392.
00:25:21.92\00:25:25.55
Grow your faith as you
prepare for the return of Jesus.
00:25:25.59\00:25:28.82
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:25:29.82\00:25:31.76
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:25:31.79\00:25:35.53
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:25:35.56\00:25:38.07
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:25:38.10\00:25:42.47
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.14
to the address on your screen,
00:25:44.17\00:25:45.61
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:25:45.64\00:25:49.68
Thank you for your prayers
and your financial support.
00:25:49.71\00:25:51.88
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:25:51.91\00:25:55.62
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:25:55.65\00:25:59.15
>>male announcer:
Loving well is a way of life.
00:26:00.76\00:26:02.96
¤[soft reflective music]¤
00:26:02.99\00:26:04.56
And loving well means wanting
the very best for others.
00:26:04.59\00:26:08.86
"Go ye therefore"
becomes "I'll go, send me.
00:26:08.90\00:26:13.34
"Send me across the
world or across town.
00:26:13.37\00:26:17.41
"Work in me to impact
lives for such a time as this.
00:26:17.44\00:26:22.14
"And if I can't go
myself, I want to send others
00:26:22.18\00:26:24.91
who can take the everlasting
gospel to the world."
00:26:24.95\00:26:29.15
It Is Written's
Office of Planned Giving
00:26:29.18\00:26:31.62
gives you the
opportunity to leave a legacy,
00:26:31.65\00:26:35.16
to make a major
impact for Christ,
00:26:35.19\00:26:38.46
to lead others to faith in Jesus
in preparation for eternity.
00:26:38.49\00:26:42.16
Let God use you to
enable others to go.
00:26:43.87\00:26:48.20
To learn more,
visit hislegacy.com.
00:26:48.24\00:26:51.17
That's hislegacy.com.
00:26:51.21\00:26:53.54
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:26:56.64\00:26:58.65
>>John: Let me
pray with you now.
00:27:00.32\00:27:01.95
Our Father in heaven,
thank You for evidence
00:27:01.98\00:27:03.85
the Bible is trustworthy,
reliable, true--truth.
00:27:03.89\00:27:09.42
We thank You today for
the Christ of the Bible,
00:27:09.46\00:27:11.96
who's coming back soon for
those who have welcomed Him
00:27:11.99\00:27:15.03
into their heart.
00:27:15.06\00:27:16.36
Friend, Jesus is
speaking to you right now.
00:27:16.40\00:27:19.13
If you've never said,
"Jesus, be my Lord and Savior,"
00:27:19.17\00:27:21.80
would you pray that prayer now?
00:27:21.84\00:27:23.57
"Jesus, be my Lord and
Savior. Live Your life in me.
00:27:23.61\00:27:28.64
Guide me into
my eternal future."
00:27:28.68\00:27:31.28
Lord, we thank
You for Your Word;
00:27:31.31\00:27:32.68
we thank You that it is clear.
00:27:32.71\00:27:33.95
We thank You that the
past illuminates the future,
00:27:33.98\00:27:36.89
and that
shortly into the future,
00:27:36.92\00:27:38.22
Jesus is coming
back to take us home.
00:27:38.25\00:27:40.56
Grant that we be
ready now and ready then.
00:27:40.59\00:27:43.53
We pray with
thanks, in Jesus' name,
00:27:43.56\00:27:46.13
amen.
00:27:46.16\00:27:47.66
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:47.66\00:27:48.96
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:49.00\00:27:50.70
Until then, remember:
00:27:50.73\00:27:52.40
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:52.43\00:27:55.80
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:55.84\00:28:00.28
¤[dramatic,
triumphant theme music]¤
00:28:00.31\00:28:04.31
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:28:26.97\00:28:28.97