King Belshazzar of Babylon
died the same night that a human hand appeared and wrote “Mene Mene Tekel Parsin” on a plaster wall in his royal palace. That is when Darius the Mede took over and began the process of dividing the Kingdom! Of course, to human eyes it didn’t seem that Darius was in the process of dividing - in fact, it looked just the opposite! It appeared he had added a whole kingdom to the sum of the Median Empire which today is known as the region of Iran and Turkey. I wonder... why don’t biblical scholars recognize the Median Empire as the chest of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue? Oh...I guess they do - but through the combination of the Medo-Persian Empire. In my limited mind, this doesn't quite make sense. I mean... Darius the Mede ruled before Cyrus the Great - at least this is what the Book of Daniel says. Apparently, there is minimal historical evidence about Darius the Mede, or the Median Empire. But obviously, this time period is significant to the Kingdom of God. There were 120 regions to rule over, once Darius the Mede took over. And he appointed 120 high officers to rule over each one of them. Then he assigned three men to supervise over the 120 of them. Guess what, Daniel was one of the three who proved himself more capable than the rest! Darius the Mede was ready to elevate Daniel to be like a king. Scripture says, “he made plans to place Daniel over the entire empire.” But then, the other administrators and the high officers began searching to find ways to condemn him. “They attempted to find Daniel at fault with government affairs, but they could not find anything to criticize or condemn” - so they went after his religion. They began colluding, and came up with a plan to trick the king into signing a ridiculous order into law - a law that would surely pull Daniel down. Hmmm... this sounds much like the Law of Moses, but in an opposite kind of way. God's law was given so that people could see how sinful they were - unlike the men in this story who created their own kind of law that went against worshipping the Most High God! The Law of Moses was created by God to show the human race how sinful we really are! As people sin more and more, they become aware of God's wonderful grace because they know that in their own flesh they are incapable of following it! The law the men created, in Daniel 6, was this, “For the next 30 days any person who prays to anyone - divine or human except to Darius the king, will be thrown into the den of lions.” I know... the order had a short time-frame, much like the Median Empire, before the Persians came along - but it was long enough to carry out the will of God. When Daniel heard the law had been signed, he went home and prayed. He prayed the same way, he had always done. In his upstairs room, with its window open towards Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, always giving thanks to God. It was then, in the middle of prayer, that Satan rushed into the room. Just like he would do again, in the Garden of Gethsemane through Judas Iscariot’s betrayal kiss. Actually, it was the jealous men who pushed through the door of Daniel’s home to catch him red-handed in the act of worshipping God. When they Daniel worshipping his One True God, they immediately ran to the palace to tell the king what he had done. Darius was deeply troubled. He had an affection for Daniel. He was one of his best men, and he wondered how he could get him out of this mess? But the men of the government continued to press on the king, they would not let him have an inch to let Daniel breath. They reminded Darius that laws signed into action by the king of their nation, which at that time, consisted of both the Medes and the Persians, could not be changed. So Darius despairingly had Daniel arrested and brought straight to him to be thrown into the den of lions. King Darius said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” And just like the tomb of Jesus, a stone was closed over the mouth of the den of death. “And the king sealed the stone with his own royal seal, and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.” Can you see the analogy? The seal of the king was used in place of the seal of God, the Supreme Ruler of the universe! The next morning the king got up early, and hurried to the den of lions. And once again, we see the foreshadowing of what is written in Luke 24, “Very early on Sunday morning the woman went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. And as they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. Then the man asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Daniel was only a man, but God was able to save him! Just as He has done for us. The king asked, “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lion’s den? Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me. I have been found innocent in his sight, and I have not wronged you, your majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him for he had trusted in his God. King Darius gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and had them thrown into the lions den, along with their wives and children. It’s hard to think that God will do the same with people who choose not to accept Jesus as their risen Savior. Some may decide this is why they don’t need him. I’ve heard it said that if God is full of wrath, then they do not want anything to do with him. I’ve also heard it said that a God who can allow hurt to come, is not a god that they choose to serve. And it is true, I’ve heard this too - that God is so good that He will not allow anyone to perish. A person can be bad to the bone, they can even die and go to hell, but God will not allow anyone to be harmed - he will swoop right down at the last minute, and save them from an eternal death. But sadly I tell you this, none of this is said in scripture - the inspired Word of God written through Holy Spirit wisdom. You see the lions leapt on the evil men, and their wives and children - the accusers of the brethren, and every branch that extended from them! The lions tore them apart, before they even hit the floor. The pit of hell, devoured them whole, until every last piece was totally gone. This is the promise of our God, the Creator of both Heaven and Earth. He is the Author of the Book that tells the story of Him and of us. And it is all written, perfectly - with no falsehood or contradiction. Everything is woven, perfectly - through the Old and the New Testament. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and when our eyes are set on Him, so is our heart. The more you pay attention, and the more you spend time with Him, you're faith becomes less wavering and the Word starts to make more sense. I promise you this, Scripture says that God is fully love, and fully wrath! And He has set a final judgement day when all of the books will be opened. He knows the beginning to the end because He is the Alpha and Omega! He has authored several books, which are all part of the same series, "The Story of Us and God." And when He decides to unroll the scrolls, the Book of Life will be opened. And we will see, what is foretold to John, in Revelation 20, “During the time of final judgement day when all of the dead, both great and small, will stand before God‘s throne, the books will be opened and the dead will be judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” “The sea will give up it’s dead and death and the grave will give up their dead. All will be judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave will be thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name is not found recorded in the Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 The good news is this, just like God sent an angel to Daniel, He sent Jesus to us! And Jesus saves everyone who believes, first the Jew then the Gentile. The blood of Christ washes us clean, and makes us right, in God's sight. And this is accomplished, from start to finish, by faith. As the scripture says, "it is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1:16-17 So hold on, Children of God! You do not belong to the Tree of Satan! You have been cut and grafted, into the Tree of the King of Righteousness. The Lord has seen your heart! He sees you from the inside out! There is nothing that can be hidden from the Eyes of God. Take his yoke. Trust and believe. The yoke of Christ is simple, it’s easy - and all it takes is to have a mustard seed of faith to believe that your story has already been written! I, like King Darius, not a king, but a humble servant, send this message into all the world - to the people of every race and every nation, Peace and prosperity to you! I believe that everyone throughout the world, on earth and in Heaven, should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel for He is the living God and he will endure forever! His Kingdom will never be destroyed and His rule will never end! He rescues and sees his people He performs miraculous signs, and wonders, in the heavens and on earth! He rescued Daniel from the power of the lions, and He has rescued us from the second death!
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Daniel 5 described
the Word of God coming alive through the fingers of a human hand. Mene Mene Tekel Parsin means our days are numbered, our choices are weighed, and all are measured against the plumb-line of God. Faith is the answer to our eternity. We either follow Christ faithfully, or we do not. Christ is the Advocate who stands in the courtroom of Heaven; at the right hand of God, and He makes intercession for elected - those who are written into the Book of Life. Opposing Him is our Prosecutor, Satan who has been assigned by God to point out the people who are hard-hearted - those godless and wicked "that did not see it fit to acknowledge God - so God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not be done." Romans 1:28 Satan will bring up every single sin a person committed when they were tempted by him - both sins that were known, and sins that were not! And if we stand before the Judge, without the covering of Yeshua's blood, then God will see every blemish and every stain that contaminates us, and will be but filthy rags to Him; completely an abomination - because He is pure and we are not! Yeshua will testify and bear witness to our faith. He will declare, “He knows Me, and I know him." "He is a faithful witnesses to a broken world, and he believed in all that I told." Jesus will say, “Look at his light, and see how it shines. He has been justified by faith, and sanctified - set apart for My work!” And He will say, “Look at His feet! He is not a divided man with one foot in iron and one in baked clay! No! His feet have been washed clean, and redeemed by the blood of Me!” Can’t you see, the finger in Daniel 5 is quite significant - it reminds us that God is alive and can appear at anytime! He is still writing on the wall of our hearts. He is still transforming and renewing our minds. The wall of that time was made of plaster, a pasty composition that dries when hardened. It represents the substance of our hearts. Do we let God in, or have we become hardened to Him? God's Word never returns void! Every Word that He writes surely comes to pass! And we can be assured, with a confident hope that what is written, by the lampstand, where everything hidden can be seen, will surely happen. This WORD is true, and trustworthy! “For there is nothing hidden, that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that, will not be made known - and brought to light.” Luke 8:17 I believe
the meaning behind Mene Mene Tekel Parsin that was written by human fingers in Daniel 5 is for every human to understand and gain wisdom. Mene Mene Tekel Parsin was written by the lampstand, over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. Daniel 5:5 It was written for the king to see, and for the rest of his friends and his family. You see, "King Belshazzar was drinking his wine, and he gave orders to bring in the gold and the silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone." Daniel 5:2-4 "Suddenly, fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking." Daniel 5:5-6 It does not surprise me - not one bit, that the Lord showed himself through writing on a wall. I mean... He is the WORD, after all! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5 Do you remember, what Jesus said to Satan, when he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness? "It is written, Man is not to live on bread only. Man is to live by every word that God speaks.” Mark 4:4 Jesus also said, “It is written "You must not tempt the Lord your God” when the devil said, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. It is written, He has told His angels to look after You. In their hands they will hold You up. Then Your foot will not hit against a stone.” Mark 4:6-7 Everything created was done through the Word, some of it was said, and some of it was written. In fact, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16 The psalmist said, "Let this be written for the generation to come, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD." Psalm 102:18 And Paul said, "For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." Romans 15:4 So today, while I write down this poem, I am inspired by the written Word of God. The same Holy Spirit that spoke to the prophets, is the same Holy Spirit that lives inside you and me. What He told Habakkuk was not only for that time, Holy Spirit is real - and He is alive! "Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2 You see, it is also written that we are to be Ambassadors for Christ - "All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete, our Advocate who gives us strength. He is the same Spirit who picked Ezekiel up and He is the same Spirit who strengthened his prophets. God’s Spirit divided the light from the dark, and He is the One who separated heaven and earth. He is the Spirit who gave man his life, and Holy Spirit is the One who takes away breath. Holy Spirit watches over us and He decides when His servants prophecy. Holy Spirit is the Sword of God who extends from a man’s tongue when he has been called to defend the faith. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 Holy Spirit resurrects the dead, and Holy Spirit gives us revelation and wisdom. Holy Spirit teaches us the Word, and helps us to understand the Holy Scripture. Holy Spirit can make fingers appear, apparently, out of nowhere. Holy Spirit brings reverential fear to those who are proud; and Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. Holy Spirit thinks, creates, speaks, and evaluates every thought that He has; He decides what is good and what is bad, and He chooses what is kept, what is replaced or what is erased. The Paraclete is our Comforter, but even more than that He is our Advocate who gives us gracious strength. He lives in the hearts and minds of men, who have been justified by Yeshua's blood. I don't believe that Mene Mene Tekel Parsin was just written for Daniel’s time. I believe this Word is still very much alive! And I don't believe it was written just for a king who was sinning through pride and idolatry. I believe Daniel's prophecy can be equally understood today - for we appear to be living in the end of the age. Mene Mene Tekel Parsin is meant for every man to see; it's a Word that can teach us great humility. It's a Word that must be displayed in the light! It's a Word that can not be understood in the dark. For all that have eyes to see, look closely to the meaning - each man has numbered days, and each man will take a final breath; each man will stand and be judged, and each man will want an Advocate! Each man will give an account for the choices they have made, in the courtroom of God. And Satan will be there to point his finger and accuse you of your sin - He will be waiting to take you down with him. But for those who chose Jesus, He will be your Advocate ready to testify to His blood that covers you. He is the plumb-line that will is used for measurement; He will be looking for a witness who has faith to believe in Him. He acquits every man that He defends, for He sits at the right hand of our father, God. "Everyone will have to give an account on the day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken." Matthew 12:36 We will either stand whole again, through the royal bloodline of Christ, and enter in to the Kingdom of Heaven; or we will be a divided man who is not justified through the blood of Christ. And in this case, we will experience a second death through the lake of fire. "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:12-15 |
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