Standing up under persecution.
The three friends of Daniel were facing a bow or die situation.
How were they able to resist what probably a lot of other Jewish captives did? Just pretend -- you don't have to actually pray to this image. Just don't stand there making yourself conspicuous.


Even when not facing a serious result, why do we often hide our religious convictions for fear of ridicule?

The lesson begins with Jonah showing that God is working with the nations.
Even nations, which to all appearances are very anti-goodness and truth.
Nineveh's time of probation was extended because one generation of Ninevites turned in repentance to God. Our Savior reaches out to people of every nation, kindred and tongue.

The lesson then turns back to Babylon.
We know God worked mightily to reach the Babylonian and turn them from their self centered cruel ways to Himself. The proud king Nebuchadnezzar did acknowledge that the God of heaven was above all.
After Nebuchadnezzar's death, there was some unrest in the empire and then Nabonidus became the king (the last king) of Babylon. Belshazzar was Nabonidus' son. Nabonidus did not stay in Babylon but left his son Belshazzar to take care of things.

Belshazzar knew the history of Nebuchadnezzar. But he had not learnt from the experience of his grandfather, nor heeded the warnings that were so important to himself. The opportunity of knowing and obeying the true God had been given him, but had not been taken to heart, and he was about to reap the consequence of his rebellion.

1. He did not believe the prophecy that Media Persia would take over the kingdom Babylon. Even though the armies of Media Persia were at that very time approaching the city of Babylon, and Belshazzar knew they were approaching, he put his full trust in the walls around the city, and threw a big licentious party.

2. Belshazzar openly defied the God of heaven, he allowed the love of pleasure and self-glorification to efface the lessons that he should never have forgotten. He wasted the opportunities graciously granted him. " With reason dethroned through shameless intoxication" he thought he would prove that nothing was too sacred for his hands to handle. He ordered the sacred dishes from Jerusalem's temple to be brought to the party hall and used for drinking and rivalry, all the while praising idol gods as if they were more powerful than the God of life and truth.

THERE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT

We see it all through the Bible that God has an investigative judgment that takes place before judgment is executed. A heavenly Witness had marked the course of Belshazzar and his government. His life experience was recounted, the opportunities given and reject were all told him before the sentence was read. The things he knew and should have taken seriously. It was all laid out before Belshazzar. His sentence was told in bold letters written by a supernatural hand -- "you are weighed and found wanting", you have been investigated, all your decisions and motives have been weighed and it has been found that you don't measure up, you have rejected the weight of eternal righteousness.

THIS STORY is heavy with meaning for the last days.

The end is approaching, it's so close, and what are we doing?
And yes, heavenly beings are watching marking the course we take. Are we like Belshazzar drowning out conviction with parties, wine, and self exaltation. Or maybe with lessor more innocent diversions that still take are minds into worldly channels and away from God. The end will come suddenly, unexpectedly.

Or are we making our relationship with Christ the most important thing in our lives.
Without Christ we will all be found "wanting", it is only as we are anchored in Him that we need not fear. God can deliver us, as He did Daniel who was there as Babylon fell, but did not suffer destruction. Why, not because of his intelligence, though he was a very intelligent man, it was because his life was totally dedicated to God.

Cyrus won that battle not by breaking down the walls, but because of the carelessness of the gatekeepers. The river Euphrates flowed through Babylon. There were gates that kept unwanted people from entering the city by the river. But when Cyrus managed to divert the river, the path was wide open for them to enter -- those gates were not locked.

"There are so few who believe with heart and soul that we have a heaven to win and a hell to shun; but these few show their faith by their works. The signs of Christ's coming are fast fulfilling. Satan sees that he has but a short time in which to work, and he has set his satanic agencies at work to stir the elements of the world, in order that men may be deceived, deluded, and kept occupied and entranced until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door be forever shut. {FE 354.2}

"The kingdoms of this world have not yet become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Do not deceive yourselves; be wide awake, and move rapidly, for the night cometh, in which no man can work

"Go work today in My vineyard." Now, just now, is the time to work. Do you believe that the Lord is coming, and that the last great crisis is about to break upon the world? {FE 356.1}

"There will soon be a sudden change in God's dealings. The world in its perversity is being visited by casualties,--by floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power; yet He will not at all acquit the wicked. "The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet." O that men might understand the patience and longsuffering of God! He is putting under restraint His own attributes. His omnipotent power is under the control of Omnipotence. O that men would understand that God refuses to be wearied out with the world's perversity, and still holds out the hope of forgiveness even to the most undeserving! But His forbearance will not always continue. Who is prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God's dealing with sinful men? Who will be prepared to escape the punishment that will certainly fall upon transgressors?" {FE 356.2}

Christ is coming with power and great glory. He is coming with His own glory and with the glory of the Father. He is coming with all the holy angels with Him. While all the world is plunged in darkness, there will be light in every dwelling of the saints. They will catch the first light of His second appearing. The unsullied light will shine from His splendor, and Christ the Redeemer will be admired by all who have served Him. While the wicked flee from His presence, Christ's followers will rejoice. COL 421.