The Writing’s on the Wall
The ‘Writing on the wall’ idiom is one of many phrases in the English language taken from the Bible. There are at least 85 such phrases, most of them are still commonly used today.
Writing on the wall occurs in the book of Daniel. There was a king in Babylon named Belshazzar. Belshazzar, that’s a funny name you may be familiar with; maybe not. He was the son of a king who’s fairly well known; King Nebuchadnezzar. I can’t tell the story of Belshazzar without first giving a brief history of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar.
King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and the tribes of Judah. Daniel, a young man, was one of the spoils of war brought to Babylon.
Daniel’s name was changed to Belteshazzar by the chief eunuch of Babylon. Why is that important? I’ll get to that.
Dreams
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He called in his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers. He said, “Tell me what I dreamed, then give me the interpretation.” They responded to the king, “Tell us the dream, then we’ll tell you what it means.” The king wasn’t having it. If they couldn’t tell him what he had dreamed, he was going to kill them all. They couldn’t, so the killings began. When they knocked on Daniel’s door, he talked the king into giving him some time to seek God. Daniel turned to God, who showed him what the king had dreamed, then gave him the interpretation. That also saved the life of the false prophets who had not yet been killed.
Have you ever had a dream that you partially remembered when you awoke? I believe King Nebuchadnezzar remembered at least part of the dream. If that was indeed the case, he would have known if his ‘wise men’ were for real or were frauds. They dared not pull a story out of thin air lest the king kill them on the spot. When Daniel gave the interpretation, the king knew he was authentic. I wish I could remember who came up with that theory so I could give them credit, for it’s very plausible. But it’s not in the Bible, therefor it will remain a theory.
The dream concerned a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron then iron and clay; the head being gold, going down to the feet and toes of iron and clay. The interpretation concerned Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom of gold and those other kingdoms that would follow after his. They all came to pass over generations as Daniel prophesied, with the final kingdom of iron and clay being fulfilled in our present day.
Statue
Because Daniel accurately interpreted the dream, the king promoted him to rule over Babylon and the ‘wise’ men.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a brief period of respect for Daniel’s God. But eventually, he got haughty and built a golden image to be worshiped. Neither Daniel nor his countrymen, Shadrach, Meshac and Abed-Nego would bow to the image. Daniel’s friends were thrown into a fiery furnace for not bowing to a false god. A fourth person (probably the pre-incarnate Jesus) in the fire with them rescued them. Not the fire nor the smell of smoke could touch them or their clothes.
King Nebuchadnezzar got religion again and honored the God of Shadrach, Meshac and Abed-Nego (Daniel’s God). Apparently, religion was not enough.
The king had another dream. Daniel interpreted this dream also then warned the king about his sins. The King foolishly responded by bragging about how great Babylon was which he had built. He also boasted about his mighty power and the honor of his majesty.
Before the king could get all the words out of his mouth, he went mad and lived like an animal for a long period of time.
In the end, King Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity returned and he blessed the Most high and praised Him. This may have finally been a genuine and lasting repentance. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was restored to him.
Now, let’s return to King Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar. A question I’ve long had is this; did King Nebuchadnezzar so respect Daniel (aka Belteshazzar) that he named his son after the Hebrew prophet? If you know the answer, please let me know.
The Writing on the Wall
Belshazzar was a somewhat chip off the ‘old block’ of his father. Belshazzar was a party animal. He made the foolish decision to get the gold and silver vessels his dad had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and drink from them. They got drunk and began to praise the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Note: the metals are the same from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
A hand appeared and wrote on the wall. Belshazzar saw the hand and freaked out. He called for the astrologers and soothsayers to interpret the writing. None could do it. The queen reminded Belshazzar that there was a man in Babylon in whom was the Spirit of the Holy God. It was Daniel who had accurately interpreted dreams of his father.
Daniel was now 62 years old. He had been pushed aside; forgotten. When he was brought before King Belshazzar, the king tried to bribe him to give the interpretation. Daniel told him to keep his stuff, but that he would interpret the writing on the wall. First, Daniel reminded him that he knew of the dire circumstances of his father, so he had no excuse for behaving the same.
Daniel gave King Belshazzar the interpretation. This Biblical phrase too has become part of the English lexicon: ‘You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting’.
King Belshazzar was killed that very night. His kingdom was taken over by Darius the Mede.
Daniels trials and triumphs, which I won’t get into, continue throughout his namesake book,
Last Days
What’s the point of ‘The Writing on the Wall’ short video (above)? If there was only one or two catastrophes dominating the headlines in our presence, we could say it was business as usual. Unfortunately, many of them are screaming at us daily. The Bible foretold that life would go on as usual in the turmoil leading up to the last days. Matthew 24:36-39
America reminds me of King Nebuchadnezzar. Like Nebuchadnezzar, America has sat on the throne of world power. America has also been haughty, humbled, then seemed to get religion. Remember 9/11? The churches of America set attendance records. But when America began the ‘Shock and Awe’ bombing of Iraq in revenge, it appeared that many people turned from God for safety and replaced Him in the might of American military forces.
Going further back, the Jesus Movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s made it appear that we had changed our ways. This awakening was countered by the sexual revolution, led in part by church leaders.
Billy Graham came on the scene calling America to repent. Christian television began to blanket our nation and spread its satellite signals into other nations. At the same time, secular media, and especially that fairly new technology called the internet was polluting hearts and minds with senseless entertainment and porn.
As victories were being won to save children in the womb, attempts were being made to accelerate the pace of killing the innocent and most venerable among us. Abortion went mainstream. So-called medical advances says to females, ‘Take two pills and your problem is solved’.
America’s Future
The writing is on the wall. Now, a Belshazzar-type spirit rules America. Drunk on power and quick to hand out favors and bribes for votes. No one wants to hear, “America, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.”
As I write this, March 16, 2023, there’s talk in America about revival. I certainly pray that people in America and around the world would turn to Jesus. I’m not a prophet like Daniel, but I’m gripped by the words of Daniel; ‘America, nations of the world, you’ve been weighed in the balances and found wanting.’
So, what should you do? Become a Christian? I say this with a heart full of love for my Christian brothers and sisters; being a Christian may not be enough. Yes, I know they were called Christians in the Bible. But Jesus never said, “Become a Christian.” He said, “Follow Me.”
Unfortunately, some Christians hold beliefs contrary to scripture. For example, some say, “We’re all children of God,” However, Jesus said to many religious leaders of His day, and continues to say today “You’re a child of the devil.”
Some Christians say, “There are many paths to God.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except by Me.” John 14:6 Some may call Jesus narrow minded. I call Him the Truth.
Some Christians say, “My body, my choice.” The Bible (aka, the Word; aka, Jesus) says to His followers, ‘…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?’ That earth suit you’re walking around in doesn’t belong to you…that is, if you’re a follower of Jesus.
You’re not off the hook Christian men. The Bible (aka, the Word; aka Jesus) says to His followers, But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.
Follow Jesus
Would you rather be a follower of Jesus or a Christian? I need to warn you though, following Jesus demands sacrifice. Of course, all who follow Jesus will get the ‘follow’ thing wrong from time to time. When, not if you do, be quick to go to Him for forgiveness. Thank the Lord, He is a forgiving God.
Christianity can be just another religion. Following Jesus is the only relationship leading to God. Follow Him.
