Our SSLesson this week (Feb. 1-8, 2020) entitled, “From Arrogance to Destruction”. Let’s focus our attention on the lesson that we can apply in our daily lives. This lesson gives us five points to ponder upon:

1. The arrogance of Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1-4):

The arrogance of Belshazzar by using the sacred instrument in worshipping the true God to worship the Babylonian gods. Has its parallel in the end time event, Babylon (daughter of Babylon – Protestant world) will also use the same “golden cup” of lies and abominations to get drank all nations with her fornication. “We are not to covet the goodly Babylonish garments, and the things which God has appointed to destruction; for they are not to be desired. Note: Please read the whole statement of Mrs. E. G. White. {YI, February 1, 1894 par. 6}

In the last days, Babylonian lifestyle will be exercise by those who have not been converted to the truth and will be trap in arrogance and have not learned the lesson of humility. All types and lies and abominations will be used by Satan to divert our attention on the true essence of the truth reveal in these last days. Like the stone of Daniel 2:35, 44, 45 – it was clear as crystal that God will establish an eternal kingdom in the days of these kings but human private interpretation marred God’s people to acknowledge this truth because the leaders spiritual pride cannot submit to God’s appointed channel to reveal the meat in due season.

2. God’s message (Dan. 5:5-8):

In the days where abominations are rampant supernatural interventions will be seen as a warning or messages from God to make us aware of God’s judgment.

The feast was interrupted by a supernatural phenomenon: A hand was writing on the wall. Everyone was scared. Belshazzar called all the wise men in his kingdom. However, he was seeking wisdom in the wrong place. He offered great gifts as a reward:

a. Purple clothing. Royal dignity,

b. A chain of gold. Authority,

c. Third ruler in the kingdom.

After Nabonidus and himself. He forgot God’s appointed channel of truth – God’s prophet Daniel.

Same in our days, our leaders may forget God’s leading through His prophet EGWhite who had been instrumental in giving counsels and prophetic guidelines on the future events. And as an eye of the Church, EGWhite prophecied,

Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: "You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message." {TM 475.3}. We must look for the fulfillment of this in our time! God will guide us if we honestly search and test all spirit if it is of God or not! Let’s not forget God’s leading through His prophets – the two eyes, a visionary and an interpreter in our midst – through the Golden Bowl (Study Zech. 4). https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/11-the-golden-bowl-zec-4?authuser=0

3. The Queen’s Advice (Dan. 5:9-12):

The queen reminded Belshazzar that there was an exceptional person in his kingdom:

a. He has the Holy Spirit [“the spirit of the gods/of God”].

b. He has superior knowledge and understanding.

c. He is chief of the wise men.

d. He can interpret dreams, solve riddles and explain enigmas.

Daniel had worked with Belshazzar at least until his third year as governor (Daniel 8:1, 27). However, the king didn’t want to deal with someone who disturbed his conscience. The queen was aware of the influence that Daniel exerted on her father. If anyone in Babylon could help Belshazzar, it was Daniel.

4. The interpretation of the message (Dan. 5:13-28):

Daniel reviewed the past, bringing before Belshazzar the light which he had received from the history and judgment of Nebuchadnezzar. "And thou his son O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified." {BEcho, September 17, 1894 par. 3}

Then the writing on the wall was read and interpreted. Belshazzar heard the irrevocable sentence: "God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." "Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." Belshazzar was without excuse, for abundant light had been given him to reform his life. But he lost all the benefits of the knowledge by his course of self-indulgence; he did not meet the mind of God, as a man or a king, and because of this the kingdom had been taken from him. He who has power to set up and to tear down, gave the kingdom to another. {BEcho, September 17, 1894 par. 4}

5. The Destruction of Belshazzar (Dan. 5:29-31):

While the people of Babylon were enjoying the feast, the Persians were digging a canal to divert the Euphrates. They crossed the walls by using the riverbed and easily entered the city (which was left unguarded because of the feast). The city was captured in just some hours, and Belshazzar was killed. Cyrus chased Nabonidus, and Darius the Mede stayed as the governor of Babylon city. The story of Belshazzar teaches us to make the most of the opportunities that God mercifully gives us to accept His salvation.

Before destruction/judgment (1Pet. 4:17; Isa. 66:15-18) come to God’s people, He sends the warning of the “purification of the church” as it is depicted by the cutting out of the stone from the mountain (Dan. 2:35, 44, 45). The mountain represents God’s people through (SDA Church), but it has been mingled with unconverted, tares, bad fish, goats, dead stones, so, God will intervene by cutting a portion of Jacob (Jer. 51:19-20) to be used as God’s battle ax to destroy nations and cut them in pieces those who will be against it (Dan. 2:45, PK 713-725). Ezekiel had been given a vision with regards to this startling revelation (TM 445 – the sealing of the first fruit, 3T. 266, 267, 5T 211).

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“Little did Belshazzar think that an unseen Watcher beheld his idolatrous revelry. But there is nothing said or done that is not recorded on the books of heaven. The mystic characters traced by the bloodless hand testify that God is a witness to all we do, and that He is dishonored by feasting and reveling. We cannot hide anything from God. We cannot escape from our accountability to Him. Wherever we are and whatever we do, we are responsible to Him whose we are by creation and by redemption.” E.G.W. (Temperance, cp. 6, p. 49)