God will bring down the lofty looks of men. What's interesting to me is how Belshazarr stood great and proud before his 1000 lords, full of wine, arrogancy and pride. Alcohol and power can fill a person with boastful words - as was the case with this king. But, his demeanor and attitude quickly changed when the hand began writing. It says his muscles in his loins loosened which leads me to think he used the bathroom on himself and his knees shook. He was filled with fear and troubled thoughts. God quickly erased his puffed up attitude and high minded thoughts. It's a warning to us all - that we have to watch the things that come out of our mouth - because we never know when we will be weighed in the balance - and if found wanting - will be quickly cut off. Belshazarr got cut off the night Daniel explained the writing to him. It pays to be humble and sober.
Dear All Daniel 5 tells us, firstly Belshazzar took the vessels from the temple. Secondly, he and his people drank from them. Thirdly, he and his people worshipped the gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood and stone. Then came the writing on the wall. Belshazzar promised scarlet clothes, chain about the neck and a high position to the person who could interpret. Although Daniel, presumably, may not have been motivated by the offer of scarlet, gold and a position, he did what God had wanted him to do, to humble himself and do what he was told. The vessels are children of God, they were contaminated, the thing which was done against God was that Belshazzar praised the gods of earthly things, and Daniel, possibly unknowingly, ended up being surrounded by earthly things, the gold chain, the scarlet clothes and the high employment position. Let us not be tempted with these things even in ignorance. However, Daniel was in a very difficult position and despite his previous experience of the lion's den, he risked it and told Belshazzar the truth, that he will surely die and his so called kingdom will be split in two. All must surely know that God's kingdom shall not be put to shame.
God who is our Most High God should not be disrespected. His Words stand and we must follow or perish. Our Lord's command is straightforward and should not be mistaken. This verse and the previous shows that profession means nothing if you are not a child of God. Praise his Holy name.
Babylon the Great as stated here is not the U.S, neither the ancient City of Babylon.BABYLON THE GREAT HERE IN REVELATION IS SYMBOLICALLY USE TO THE EMPIRE OF FALSE RELIGION.
Revelation was written at the end of the first century C.E and describes events that would reach down to our day. The city of Babylon was taken by the Persians under Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C. Later Alexander the Great planned to make Babylon the capital of his eastern empire, but after his death Babylon gradually lost importance. Today the city (near Baghdad Iraq, is an uninhabited ruin.
In the symbolism of Revelation, Babylon the Great is referred to as a "great city", a "kingdom" that rules other kings.(Rev.17:18) Like city, it would have many organizations within it: and like a kingdom that includes other kings in its domain, it would be in international in scope. It is described as having relations with political rulers and contributing much to the wealth of men in commerce, while itself being a third element that "has become a dwelling place of demons" and a persecutor of "prophets and of holy ones".- Rev.18:2,9-17,24
History of ancient Babylon was outstanding noted for its religion and its defiance of Jehovah God- the God of Hebrew.(see Exodus 6:3 and Psalms 83:18)
At Gen.10:8-10, " Nimrod...displayed himself a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah...And the beginning of his kingdom came to Babel [later known as Babylon].
At Daniel 5:22,23- Belshazzar-Babylonian king exalted himself against the Lord of heavens and 'have praised mere gods of silver and of gold," etc...."that are beholding nothing or hearing nothing". but the God who gave breath and everything to Belshazzar , he have not glorified.
Ancient cuneiform inscription reads; "there are Babylon 53 temples of the chief gods,55 chapels of Marduk,300 chapels for the earthly deities, 600 for the heavenly deities, 180 altars for the goddess Ishtar, 180 for the gods Nergal and Adad and 12 other altars for different gods"- Quoted in THE BIBLE AS HISTORY (New York, 1964), W. Keller,p,301.
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA COMMENTS: "Sumerian civilization [which was part of Babylonia] was dominated by priests; at the head of the state was the "LUGAL"(literally 'great man'), the representative of the gods."-(1977).Vol.3,p.9.
REASONABLY, therefore, BABYLON THE GREAT as referred to in REVELATION is RELIGIOUS.Being like a city and an empire, it is not limited to one religious group but includes ALL RELIGIONS that are in OPPOSITION to Jehovah, the true God.
ANCIENT BABYLONIAN RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES ARE FOUND IN RELIGIONS WORLDWIDE.
"Egypt, Persia, and Greece felt the influence of the Babylonian religion...The strong admixture of Semitic elements both in early Greek mythology and in Grecian cults is now so generally admitted by scholars as to require no further comments. These Semitic elements are to a large extent more specifically Babylonian."- THE RELIGION OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA (Boston, 1898) M. Jastrow, Jr.pp699,700.
THEIR GODS: There were triads of gods, and among their divinities were those representing various forces of nature and ones that exercised special influence in certain activities of mankind. (Babylonian and Assyrian Religion, Norman, Okla.; 1963, S.H.Hooke,pp.14-40).
" The PLATONIC TRINITY, itself merley a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian Churches... This Greek philosopher's [PLATO] conception of trinity...can be found in all the ancients [pagan] religions."- Nouvea Dictionnaire Universe (Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M.Lachatre, Vol 2,p.1467
USE OF IMAGES: [In Mesopotamian religion} the role of the image was central in the cult as well as in private worship, as the wide distribution of cheap replicas of such images shows. Fundamentally, the deity was considered present in its image if it showed certain specific features and paraphernalia and was cared for in the appropriate manner."- Ancient Mesopotamia-Portrait of a Dead Civilization ( Chicago, 1964), A.L. Oppenheim,p.184
POSITION OF THE PRIESTHOOD; "The distinction between priest and layman is characteristic of this [Bayblonian} religion."- Encyclopedia Britannica (1948),Vol 2,p.861
BELIEF REGARDING DEATH; "Neither the people nor the leaders of religious thought [in Babylon] ever faced the possibility of the total annihilation of what once was called into existence. Death was a passage to another kind of life."- The Religion of babylonia and Assyria,p.556.
PRACTICE OF ASTROLOGY,DIVINATION,MAGIC,AND SORCERY: Historian A.H. Sayce writes: " In the religion of ancient Babylonnia...every objecy of force of nature was supposed to have its "zi" or spirit, who could be controlled by the magical exorcisms of the Shaman, or sorcere-priest." "The Chaldeans{Babylonians} made great progress in the study of astrology through an effort to discover the future in the stars. This art we call 'astrology."-says The Dawn of Civilization and Life in the Ancient East.
BABYLON THE GREAT IS LIKE AN IMMORTAL HARLOT, ONE LIVING IN SHAMELESS LUXURY;
Rev.17:1-5 says, "Come hither; "I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters[means PEOPLES]:With whom the kings [means political leaders] of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. ...And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev. 18:7 adds that "she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury."
*It is true that the dominant religious organizations have made it a practice to consort with political rulers for power and material gain, though this has resulted in suffering for the common people? Is it not also true that their higher clergy live in luxury, even though many of the people to whom they should minister may be impoverished?
WHY CAN RELIGIONS THAT PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIAN PROPERLY BE VIEWED AS A PART OF BABYLONIAN THE GREAT HARLOT, ALONG WITH THOSE WHO KNOW NOTHING OF THE GOD OF THE BIBLE?
JAMES 4:4 (please read the verse in your copy). So though they know what the Bible says about God, they make themselves enemies of God if they CHOOSE friendship with the world by imitating its ways.)
Also at 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14,15 (read in your copy) The god of this world is Satan and "Satan keeps on transforming himself into an angel of light" and so Satan's ministers also transforming themselves as ministers of righteousness... THUS< JEHOVAH"S chief adversary, Satan the Devil himself, is really being honored by all who do not worship the true God in the manner that He has appointed, even though they may claim to be Christian. See also 1 Cor.10:20 and Matthew 7:21-23
THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO GET OUT OF BABYLON THE GREAT WITHOUT DELAY:
Just as Rev.18:4,21 then compare Luke 21:36, (anyone serious of worshiping God of the Bible in spirit and truth) or people of God must get out of Babylonian type worship as NOT to receive the PLAGUES for her.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE BIBLE TRUTH BUT LIVED AND DIED IN THE PAST AS PART OF BABYLON THE GREAT?
ACTS 17:30 SAYS: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
The Scripture cannot be broken, and the Word of God is yea and Amen.God is not a respecter of persons, therefore, all Honour and Glory must be given unto him,for He created the Heavens and the Earth and everything and everyone in it (ps.24:1).God CANNOT SHARE HIS glory with a man or an Idol for God's soul hates idolatory. Belshazzar not only blatantly flaunted Idolatory before God by praising the gods of gold and silver,he desecrated the holy vessels of God by turning them into personal drinking vessels,thus showing utter disregard for God,and incurring the anger of God,for He is a jealous God. This makes us realise that we are accountable to God for whatever we do, we should also give him glory for any blessings we have,and flee far from idolatory.
Revelation was written at the end of the first century C.E and describes events that would reach down to our day. The city of Babylon was taken by the Persians under Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C. Later Alexander the Great planned to make Babylon the capital of his eastern empire, but after his death Babylon gradually lost importance. Today the city (near Baghdad Iraq, is an uninhabited ruin.
In the symbolism of Revelation, Babylon the Great is referred to as a "great city", a "kingdom" that rules other kings.(Rev.17:18) Like city, it would have many organizations within it: and like a kingdom that includes other kings in its domain, it would be in international in scope. It is described as having relations with political rulers and contributing much to the wealth of men in commerce, while itself being a third element that "has become a dwelling place of demons" and a persecutor of "prophets and of holy ones".- Rev.18:2,9-17,24
History of ancient Babylon was outstanding noted for its religion and its defiance of Jehovah God- the God of Hebrew.(see Exodus 6:3 and Psalms 83:18)
At Gen.10:8-10, " Nimrod...displayed himself a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah...And the beginning of his kingdom came to Babel [later known as Babylon].
At Daniel 5:22,23- Belshazzar-Babylonian king exalted himself against the Lord of heavens and 'have praised mere gods of silver and of gold," etc...."that are beholding nothing or hearing nothing". but the God who gave breath and everything to Belshazzar , he have not glorified.
Ancient cuneiform inscription reads; "there are Babylon 53 temples of the chief gods,55 chapels of Marduk,300 chapels for the earthly deities, 600 for the heavenly deities, 180 altars for the goddess Ishtar, 180 for the gods Nergal and Adad and 12 other altars for different gods"- Quoted in THE BIBLE AS HISTORY (New York, 1964), W. Keller,p,301.
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA COMMENTS: "Sumerian civilization [which was part of Babylonia] was dominated by priests; at the head of the state was the "LUGAL"(literally 'great man'), the representative of the gods."-(1977).Vol.3,p.9.
REASONABLY, therefore, BABYLON THE GREAT as referred to in REVELATION is RELIGIOUS.Being like a city and an empire, it is not limited to one religious group but includes ALL RELIGIONS that are in OPPOSITION to Jehovah, the true God.
ANCIENT BABYLONIAN RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES ARE FOUND IN RELIGIONS WORLDWIDE.
"Egypt, Persia, and Greece felt the influence of the Babylonian religion...The strong admixture of Semitic elements both in early Greek mythology and in Grecian cults is now so generally admitted by scholars as to require no further comments. These Semitic elements are to a large extent more specifically Babylonian."- THE RELIGION OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA (Boston, 1898) M. Jastrow, Jr.pp699,700.
THEIR GODS: There were triads of gods, and among their divinities were those representing various forces of nature and ones that exercised special influence in certain activities of mankind. (Babylonian and Assyrian Religion, Norman, Okla.; 1963, S.H.Hooke,pp.14-40).
" The PLATONIC TRINITY, itself merley a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian Churches... This Greek philosopher's [PLATO] conception of trinity...can be found in all the ancients [pagan] religions."- Nouvea Dictionnaire Universe (Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M.Lachatre, Vol 2,p.1467
USE OF IMAGES: [In Mesopotamian religion} the role of the image was central in the cult as well as in private worship, as the wide distribution of cheap replicas of such images shows. Fundamentally, the deity was considered present in its image if it showed certain specific features and paraphernalia and was cared for in the appropriate manner."- Ancient Mesopotamia-Portrait of a Dead Civilization ( Chicago, 1964), A.L. Oppenheim,p.184
POSITION OF THE PRIESTHOOD; "The distinction between priest and layman is characteristic of this [Bayblonian} religion."- Encyclopedia Britannica (1948),Vol 2,p.861
BELIEF REGARDING DEATH; "Neither the people nor the leaders of religious thought [in Babylon] ever faced the possibility of the total annihilation of what once was called into existence. Death was a passage to another kind of life."- The Religion of babylonia and Assyria,p.556.
PRACTICE OF ASTROLOGY,DIVINATION,MAGIC,AND SORCERY: Historian A.H. Sayce writes: " In the religion of ancient Babylonnia...every objecy of force of nature was supposed to have its "zi" or spirit, who could be controlled by the magical exorcisms of the Shaman, or sorcere-priest." "The Chaldeans{Babylonians} made great progress in the study of astrology through an effort to discover the future in the stars. This art we call 'astrology."-says The Dawn of Civilization and Life in the Ancient East.
BABYLON THE GREAT IS LIKE AN IMMORTAL HARLOT, ONE LIVING IN SHAMELESS LUXURY;
Rev.17:1-5 says, "Come hither; "I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters[means PEOPLES]:With whom the kings [means political leaders] of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. ...And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev. 18:7 adds that "she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury."
*It is true that the dominant religious organizations have made it a practice to consort with political rulers for power and material gain, though this has resulted in suffering for the common people? Is it not also true that their higher clergy live in luxury, even though many of the people to whom they should minister may be impoverished?
WHY CAN RELIGIONS THAT PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIAN PROPERLY BE VIEWED AS A PART OF BABYLONIAN THE GREAT HARLOT, ALONG WITH THOSE WHO KNOW NOTHING OF THE GOD OF THE BIBLE?
JAMES 4:4 (please read the verse in your copy). So though they know what the Bible says about God, they make themselves enemies of God if they CHOOSE friendship with the world by imitating its ways.)
Also at 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14,15 (read in your copy) The god of this world is Satan and "Satan keeps on transforming himself into an angel of light" and so Satan's ministers also transforming themselves as ministers of righteousness... THUS< JEHOVAH"S chief adversary, Satan the Devil himself, is really being honored by all who do not worship the true God in the manner that He has appointed, even though they may claim to be Christian. See also 1 Cor.10:20 and Matthew 7:21-23
THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO GET OUT OF BABYLON THE GREAT WITHOUT DELAY:
Just as Rev.18:4,21 then compare Luke 21:36, (anyone serious of worshiping God of the Bible in spirit and truth) or people of God must get out of Babylonian type worship as NOT to receive the PLAGUES for her.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE BIBLE TRUTH BUT LIVED AND DIED IN THE PAST AS PART OF BABYLON THE GREAT?
ACTS 17:30 SAYS: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Also read Acts 24:15 and Job 34:12.