What brought this on though? Nebuchadnezzar, through some persuasion by God, eventually turned to God and had a strong and successful reign. By the time Nabonidus became king though much had changed. Obviously, if Nebuchadnezzar’s experience had any influence, it had worn off by this time. By the way, Nabonidus spent most of his 17 year reign out of the country and left his son Belshazzar in charge. This would be the reason we are discussing Belshazzar and not Nabonidus, and also why Belshazzar offered Daniel the position of third ruler in the kingdom and not second.
This just goes to show that each generation must account for its own actions against God and man. Nebuchadnezzar, in my opinion, became a righteous man, but that doesn’t automatically mean that those who follow him will be righteous.
Most of our forefathers in this country were righteous people, but each generation must answer to God, and our current spiritual condition in this country is a far cry from our forefathers.
The following verses give us some insight into the spiritual condition of a nation (Babylon) in Belshazzar’s day.
Daniel 5:1-9
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
Just a note for verse two: Nebuchadnezzar was possibly Belshazzar’s grandfather, since Nabonidus was his father.
It appears that a drunken party was probably in full swing. Only God knows all of the actual events of that evening, but during this time Belshazzar crossed the line in showing no respect for God’s possessions; i.e. those items from the temple in Jerusalem. In addition, they worshipped their false gods with God’s possessions in hand.
We as a nation have come to the same crossroads with God. We started out right, but what happened? We are nothing like our forefathers who feared and worshipped God. Our original mothers and fathers of this country were not perfect, but they knew right from wrong. They gave credit to God. As a whole, they worshiped the one and only true God of the Holy Bible.
Today we party with Belshazzar. We have no respect for God or anything He represents. We are drunk on drugs and alcohol. We are murderers and thieves. We are spoiled, as I’m sure Belshazzar was. We have no shame. We curse the name of God and praise our gods of lust, power, greed, selfishness, pride and perversion. From the top down, our leaders, as a whole, are corrupt to the core and do not fear God. Our populace, generally speaking, has become spoiled and lazy with the attitude that everyone else owes them a living. We have become so spiritually rotten today; we would probably make Belshazzar blush.
If that weren’t enough, God’s churches across our country have been turned into a den of thieves, perversion and happy hour. Those who say they represent God are leading millions away from Him.
If that isn’t enough, we murder the most precious gift God has given us, the gift of human life; i.e. unborn babies. Our bloody hands toss this precious gift from God in the garbage and think nothing of it.
If that still isn’t enough, we corrupt the souls of our youth by teaching them that sexual perversion is the norm, just another form of love.
If that isn’t enough, we have turned our backs on the apple of God’s eye, Israel. We are no longer her friend, but her enemy. Our so-called leader gives lip service to God, if that much, but bows before and kisses the hand of our enemy.
In my opinion, even Rome didn’t become as decadent as the United States of America in the 21st century.
Here is the tragedy. The true Church, as a whole, stands silent. Because of that, the attacks on true Christianity, in this “used to be” Christian nation, are increasing and will continue to worsen.
It is evident to many of us, that we as a nation have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Unless we repent, now, there is no hope for us.
Will we be conquered by another country? I don’t know, but it’s possible. One thing is for sure, we are quickly decreasing in importance on the world’s playing field. We may just fade by the wayside as England. I don’t know. However, do we really think God will merely wink at our rebellion? Belshazzar wasn’t exempted, so why should we be exempt? Even Israel, the nation God loves with all His heart, has been punished many times for its rebellion, and is still out back at the woodshed.
When judgment comes to this country, I feel it will be greater than that received by other nations that have felt His rod. Why? We have been more blessed than any nation in history. Therefore, our judgment will be severe.
“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)
As it stands today, there is no way we can deny that if God were to address this subject with us today, we have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.
Grant Phillips
Email grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
