Commentary - In-Depth

Whoever considers the extremity to which any evil leads can readily estimate the danger and the responsibility attached to it. The abuse of strong drink leads to delirium tremens, insanity, and death. The knowledge of that fact doubtless saves many from an injudicious use of it. The final outcome of a deeper evil - the love of pre-eminence - is laid bare in a startling light in this story. Not everyone can see it. In our lives, not nearly so much attention is directed to the indulgence of the spirit of self-will and its evil consequences as is given to the indulgence of intemperate habits and their consequences, although the ultimate result of the former is far more serious than that of the latter.

"‘Babylon' profanes all things of heaven and of the church." (Summary Exposition of the Prophets and Psalms on Dan. 5:1-4) Acts prompted by a spirit of self-will, love of pre-eminence, or love of ruling, if not checked will profane and destroy everything heavenly in the soul. Everyone is capable of seeing from the Lord that this is true, even as Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall and trembled. That writing, which was "from heaven" (Apocalypse Explained 373), discloses the inner nature of the feast - what it means. Yet the king cannot tell what the words signify. He sees the words but can neither read nor understand them. Likewise the magi see them but can neither read nor interpret. Those steeped in evil possess rationality but cannot understand the truth from themselves. They have conscience and can be made conscious of the sad plight in which they are and even moved greatly by the fear of consequences. But it is impossible for them to discern the real outcome of evil - its fatal effects upon themselves -

without enlightenment from the Lord. A Daniel is needed to read and interpret the message from heaven.

Daniel prefaces his interpretation by a short address to the king. God gave Nebuchadnezzar his father a kingdom, and glory and honor. But when he became filled with pride, his kingdom was taken from him, and he suffered until he learned that God alone rules over humanity. "And thou, his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this, but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven," and profaned His holy name. Self-confidence in pursuing an evil course in life always deadens the conscience. History and experience may be interesting to read, but they have no word of warning or advice for self. History proves that no one learns anything from history. The writing on the wall is seen but not comprehended either in its letter or spirit. The Divine Word is likewise often read, and yet no more is seen than the literal expressions, because seen in natural light "which in itself is dead, and not in spiritual light, which in itself is living." The Divine Word with its message of life, however, is opened to people by the Lord Himself as they will to do the Divine Will. (Divine Providence 134) Through this enlightenment, "it is confirmed by those who are in the truths of the church, that it is contrary to the Word for them to exalt themselves above the Lord, for thus things holy are profaned." (Summary Exposition of the Prophets and Psalms verses 10-24) The ultimate issue of pride proceeding from the love of rule is that it utterly destroys religion. (Summary Exposition of the Prophets and Psalms verses 25-28; Apocalypse Explained 370; Doctrine of Life 1) "God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." To number signifies to determine the quality of the life. "Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting." "Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

HISTORICAL STUDY

Daniel was taken captive to Babylon in the third year of Jehoiakim, about the year 606 or 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar was not then king of Babylon, but co-regent with his father Nabopolassar, and simply called king by anticipation. He assumed the full authority of the throne in 604 B.C. and reigned in Babylon till 561 B.C. He was succeeded by Evilmerodach, 561-559; Neriglassar, 558-555; Laborosoarchod (9 months), 555; and Nabunahid, 555-538, the year in which Cyrus took Babylon. The first four chapters in Daniel belong to the rein of Nebuchadnezzar. The fifth refers to Belshazzar as the king of Babylon and the son of Nebuchadnezzar. (Dan. 5:2, 11, 18) There is no mention in the monuments, or tablets, or clay cylinders, of Belshazzar as a king of Babylon. There are, however, several contract-tablets that establish the fact that Belshazzar (Bel-sara-usur "Bel protect the king") was the son of Nabonidus or Nabu-nahid. "As regards his [Belshazzar's] relationship to Nebuchadnezzar, it is possible that Nabu-nahid may have sought to strengthen his position by marrying a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, in which case the latter might be spoken of as Belshazzar's father (‘grandfather,' by Hebrew usage)."

The Babylonian Chronicle respecting this period gives us to understand that Nabonidus was not in Babylon when Cyrus was preparing to advance upon it. He appears to have been with the forces at Sippar or Sepharvaim. And it is recorded that when Cyrus overcame the enemy in battle at Opis, he had "some conflicts with the men of Akkad, and took Sippar on the 14th day of January without fighting. Nabonidus fled" (Chronicle). It may thus have been that while Nabonidus was in Akkad, Belshazzar was in Babylon and was there declared king by the people. In any case, Cyrus' leader, Ugbaru or Gobryas, took Babylon without resistance, according to all the chronologists on the night of the 11th of Marcheswan 538. According to Daniel, Belshazzar was king at least three years. (Dan. 8:1) This contradicts the generally accepted list of kings above given. It is only fair to state that no record has yet been found that establishes the kingship of Belshazzar, and the contract-tablets bearing dates continuously throughout the reign of Nabonidus to the conquest by Cyrus make no reference to any other king than Nabonidus.

This chapter then brings us down to the very close of the Babylonian empire. And what a terrible end! Drinking, feasting, and revelry, and the profanation of the holy vessels belonging to the temple of the Lord. A very few simple words are employed to describe this closing scene. Yet each stroke of the pen speaks volumes. Therein lies its power to appeal to so many different classes of minds and leave a definite impression. The feast, the handwriting on the wall, the terror-stricken king, the perplexed magi, the interpretation by Daniel, and the death of the king that night, furnish the never dying outlines of this picture.

2. That religion is a way of life, and that its life is the doing of good, is something everyone sees who reads the Word and on reading it acknowledges it.

We find in the Word the following declarations:

Whoever...breaks...the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ...I say to you, ...unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19-20)

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:19-20)

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord, ” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name..., and in Your name done many wonders?” But then I will declare to them, “I do not know you; depart from Me, you workers of iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23)

...everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, I will liken to a prudent man who built his house upon the rock.... But everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. (Matthew 7:24, 26)

(Jesus said:) “...a sower went out to sow. ...some seed fell on the hard road; ...some...on stony places...; some...among thorns...; and some...on good ground....

“He who received seed on the good ground, that is, who hears the Word and pays attention, (is) someone who therefore bears and produces fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

(When Jesus said this, He cried out, saying, ) “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:3-9, 23, 43)

[2] ...the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father..., and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)

...the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. (Matthew 21:43)

When the Son of Man comes in His glory..., then He will sit on the throne of His glory.... (And He) will say to (the sheep) on His right hand, “Come, you blessed...(and) inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

Then the righteous will answer..., saying, “...when did we see You (so)...?

(But) the King will answer and say..., “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of...My brethren, you did it to Me.”

(And the King will say the like to the goats on the left hand; and because they did not do these things He will say, ) “Go ye from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his messengers. (Matthew 25:31-46)

[3] ...produce fruits worthy of repentance.... Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Luke 3:8-9)

(Jesus said, ) “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord, ’ and do not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, ...is like a man who built a house (and) laid the foundation on rock.... But he who hears and does not do is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation....” (Luke 6:46-49)

(Jesus said, ) “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21)

(Then) you will begin to stand...and knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open for us.” (But) He will answer and say to you, “I do not know you, where you are from.... Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:25-27)

[4] This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, (but) men loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. ...everyone who does evil hates the light..., lest his deeds be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, (since) they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21)

...and they shall come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:29)

We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. (John 9:31)

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:17)

If you love Me, keep My commandments.... He who has My commandments and does them, it is he who loves Me..., and I will love him and manifest Myself to him..., and (I) will come to him and make (My) abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words. (John 14:15, 21-24)

(Jesus said, ) I am the...vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; but every branch that produces fruit He prunes, that it may produce more fruit. (John 15:1-2)

In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. (John 15:8)

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.... ...I chose you...that you should...bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.... (John 15:14, 16)

[5] (The Lord said to John, ) “ To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘...I know your works.... ...I have this against you, that you have left your first charity. ...repent and do the first works, or else...I will...remove your lampstand from its place....’ ” (Revelation 2:1-2, 4-5)

“...to the angel of the church of the people of Smyrna write, ‘...I know your works...’ ” (Revelation 2:8-9)

“...to the angel of the church in Pergamum write, ‘...I know your works.... Repent....’ ” (Revelation 2:12-13, 16)

“...to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘...I know your works and charity..., and (your) last (works) more than the first.’ ” (Revelation 2:18-19)

“...to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘...I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, when you are dead. ...I have not found your works perfect before God.... ...repent.’ ” (Revelation 3:1-3)

“...to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘...I know your works.’ ” (Revelation 3:7-8)

“...to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘...I know your works.... ...repent....’ ” (Revelation 3:14-15, 19)

...I heard a voice from heaven saying..., “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” ...says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; their works follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

...a book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged...in accordance with the things which were written in their books..., all according to their works. (Revelation 20:12-13)

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

[6] So, too, in the Old Testament:

...repay them according to their work and according to the doing of their hands. (Jeremiah 25:14)

(Jehovah, whose) eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his works. (Jeremiah 32:19)

I will punish him according to his ways, and repay him his works. (Hosea 4:9)

...Jehovah... according to our ways, according to our deeds, has dealt with us. (Zechariah 1:6) And in many other places [we are told] that the people were to obey the statutes, commandments and laws. As for example:

You shall keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does them, he shall live through them. (Leviticus 18:5)

You shall observe all My statutes and... My judgments, in order to obey them. (Leviticus 19:37, cf. 20:8, 22:31) The blessings [enumerated] if they obeyed the commandments, and the curses if they did not (Leviticus 26:4-46).

The children of Israel were commanded “to make a fringe on the edges of their garments,” so as to “remember all the commandments of Jehovah and obey them” (Numbers 15:38-39).

And so on in a thousand other places.

[7] That works are what make a person a person of the church, and that he is saved in accordance with them, is something the Lord also taught in His parables, many of which involve the idea that people who do good are accepted, and that those who do evil are rejected. See, for example, the parable of the husbandmen in the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-44; of the fig tree that did not produce fruit in Luke 13:6-9; of the talents and minas which were to be used in trade in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:13-25; of the Samaritan who bound up the wounds of the man injured by thieves in Luke 10:30-37; of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31; and of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-12.