[033] A Message From A Poem – Belshazzar’s Time Had Ended

[033] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BELSHAZZAR’S TIME HAD ENDED

The purpose of this poem is to retell the story from Daniel in poem form. There is not much to say about it for it follows the biblical narrative, but it is the last stanza that is important in defining biblical principles.

God’s word will always be fulfilled and the outstanding prophecies especially regarding the last days and Israel will have their timely fulfillment. The judgement of God in His wrath against sin is coming very soon on a sinful, reprobate world and those not saved must urgently repent and be converted. {{1 Thessalonians 1:10 “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”}}

We say this is the age of grace while the Church is here and God’s hand of judgement is not openly declared, but all that changes when the Church is removed, so if this is read by a non-Christian, do not be foolish and reject God’s mercy.

Here is the core of the account Daniel writes that formed the basis for the poem – {{Daniel 5:24-30 “Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out. Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’ This is the interpretation of the message: MENE - God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. TEKEL - you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. PERES - your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom. That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.”}}

I find that account very ironic. Daniel had just proclaimed to the king that he was wanting, and he was to lose his kingdom, but what the king does is to reward Daniel for his message! Being made third ruler in the kingdom was one of the shortest tenures ever. In an hour or so, Belshazzar was dead.

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BELSHAZZAR’S TIME HAD ENDED

Belshazzar’s drunken feast raged on, in gross debauchery.

Court officials, to their shame, feasted in this revelry.

The palace women were arrayed with all their finery.

Not once a thought was spared for their eternal destiny.

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Suddenly their carnal cries of riot, were arrested.

God’s announcement in the words, was that they had been tested.

The balance had weighed the king - his sins God had detested.

And from Belshazzar, the kingdom that night would be wrested.

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Thus God’s hand wrote that selfsame night on Babel’s palace wall.

It promised Babel’s king that night, his empire was to fall.

The message through the palace raced, and entered every hall.

By Persian sword the judgement fell; a dreadful, death-filled pall.

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Daniel was by God enabled, to read the writing bold:

“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin,” from God, the Lord of old;

Heaven’s judgment on king and country, they were sternly told.

The Persians slayed the king, and took Babylon’s treasured gold.

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God’s written word will be fulfilled, and will not be delayed.

A time is coming for this world for those who are not saved.

Against sin then, His judgment falls; His hand will not be stayed.

So trust the Lord and be redeemed while mercy’s still displayed.

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12 th & 13 th August, 1997 R E Ferguson 14-14-14-14