"They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone."
Daniel 5:4
The long and short of it:
The corrupt and profane king of Babylon, Belshazzar, pisses off God by his profanity as he parties with all his friends using the Jewish temple treasures as drinking vessels. God's hand shows up and writes Belshazzar's doom on the wall with his finger. This frightens Belshazzar so intensely that his face goes white , his knees knock, and he craps himself.
This was predicted 150 years early in Isaiah 45:1. In fact, even the doom and how he'd be defeated by his opponents, (who were on their way), by means of open doors and gates that should have been guarded. God writes Belshazzar a note on the wall of his courts. God does this, and he sends his "watchers" to make these things happen as he commands, and it is literally written on the wall, not as a warning but as a proof of the might and power of God.
Belshazzar looks for answers to this phenomena and remembers the wise man from Jerusalem. He recalls hearing that Daniel had "a spirit of the gods" in him. He remembered that in his grandfathers court Daniel exhibited supernatural insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. And so Belshazzar tries to hire the prophet Daniel to interpret the supernatural message that had just appeared before them. But Daniel, who is probably in his nineties at this point, says, “You may keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else." Daniel doesn't want to prostitute his Spirit given gifts for these corrupt people.
He'll give the interpretation at no charge. This message is a freebee. The Holy Spirit speaking through Daniel immediately focuses on the source of all these things.
Daniel 5:18 "Your Majesty, the Most High God gave..."
That's the main point.
Not the historical facts and fictions. Not the changing tides and political climates. Not the lineages and who conquered who and why?
Daniel jumps right to the point. GOD DID THIS. All of it. Daniel lays it all out for Belshazzar so that before he gets to the message about the kings coming disaster, he knows the how and why of it. Daniel 5:22-23 “But you, Nebuchadnezzar's successor, you Belshazzar, you have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens." He purposely chose his own destiny and the manner in which he would go about his business. Daniel continues, "You have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in his hand and who controls the whole course of your life." (Daniel 5:23b)
And the message?
The king has been weighed and found wanting.
And what did the king and his court do? Did they convert and get baptized? Did they beg Daniel to give them the gift of the Holy Spirit?
No.
Business as usual, but not for long.
That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans was killed, and Darius the Mede conquerors Babylon. There's a great story in that event if you do a little research and if you like studying military engagements and tactics. In fact I think it would be a great idea because you'll learn again and again how God gets things done by means of the people he uses to accomplish his goals.
God didn't waste any time. For Belshazzar it was "times up". But what I've tried to make most clear in all this was everything is in God's hands. In this case the prophecy is literally in his hand. And The Holy Spirit is in the house in the person of the prophet Daniel. Again God using people to accomplish his mission. In every way God is in control.
Side Note: Food For Thought
I was talking with a coworker yesterday about these kinds of things and I mentioned that I'm not at all concerned about world affairs in the same way that the people who I listen to or watch for "infotainment". I'm concerned about world affairs. I keep close watch. And I speak out about all sorts of sociopolitical topics, but I don't "worry" about the outcomes and consequences in the same way.
I know the writing is on the wall. I know what's ultimately important. And I shared as an example the Hollywood version of end times events. Take movies like The Omen. One thing that always struck me as odd was how everyone is alarmed, shocked, surprised, and trying everything they can to stop the AntiChrist. Yet the very book, in which I place all my faith, that book the Bible tells me that these things MUST happen and WILL happen. Why are they always trying to stop it? These things happen because God has arranged it and he fulfills all of it. It's in his hands. And he's commanded us to be watchful and to be prepared for the return of his Son. Prepared in our hearts and in our faithfulness to his teachings. And to teach others likewise. He didn't mean we're supposed to buy gold, guns, and prepper foods, or build fallout shelters and hide under mountains. God talks about those people. God told us already in his word that those people will run and hide behind their own strengths and beg for the mountains to fall down upon them at the coming of The Lord.
How are you going to fall down at Jesus' feet or rise up to be with him in the sky if you're holed up in the ground relying upon your own feeble attempts at making a stand against the evil times. Stand against what? Millions of others wickedly intent upon taking everything you have stashed up for yourself? A one man army against millions?
Like Belshazzar you'll be about your business as usual, and in the late hours of the night they'll come and take it all from you. The hordes will come.
The writing is on the wall. Governments are not working for God's sake, but God is using them to fulfill all his promises. And even now we can see the world of wickedness is hard at work resisting God. But rest assured friends, God is in control. What comes comes.
Just keep foremost in your thoughts,
"Come Lord Jesus, come!"