THE FALL OF BABYLON: BELSHAZZAR

(Message by Tanny Keng)


1. The Fall Of Babylon

a) Jeremiah had predicted seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 25:11-12, Jeremiah 29:10). Both Jeremiah and Isaiah foretold the destruction of Babylon to end the captivity (Jeremiah 50 and 51, Isaiah 13 and 14). After Nebuchadnezzar's reign in Babylon, five kings reigned in succession over about 23 years. The last was Belshazzar son of Nebuchadnezzar.

2. Belshazzar, Son Of Nebuchadnezzar

a) The Bible here is using the term "son" as it often does, to mean "descendant". Balshazzar was actually the son of Nebudchadnezzar's daughter. His immediate father was king Nabonidus. Balshazzar ruled under him — hence Balshazzar could promote Daniel no higher than "third ruler" of the kingdom, since Balshazzar himself was on the second rung from the top of the ladder.

b) It was at one of Balshazzar's feasts that the handwriting appeared on the wall. That same night, he was slain and his kingdom was taken over by Darius the Mede and Cyrus king of Persia. Cyrus decreed the return of the exiles to Jerusalem to rebuild it (Isaiah 44:28; 45:13) and Cyrus later destroyed Babylon. 


The End ...

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