The Fall of Babylon: Prophecies Fulfilled in Daniel 5

Daniel 5

1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

8 Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonished.

10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed:

11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

12 For as much as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.

13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, which are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you.

15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing:

16 And I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, you shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

18 O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:

19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will.

22 And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this;

23 But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, have you not glorified:

24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.

27 TEKEL; You are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.

28 PERES; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about three score and two years old.

La caída de Babilonia descrita en Daniel 5 representa uno de los ejemplos más asombrosos de profecía cumplida con exactitud histórica y espiritualSBBS 132.4+1. Este capítulo detalla la transición del imperio de oro al de plata, marcando el fin de la existencia de una nación en una sola noche Daniel 5:30-31DAR 94.2+1.

El Banquete Sacrílego de Baltasar 🍷

Baltasar, nieto de Nabucodonosor, ignoró las lecciones de humildad que Dios le había dado a su abuelo y organizó un gran festín para mil de sus señores Daniel 5:1-2SITI August 27, 1885, page 516.21+1. En medio de su embriaguez, cometió el acto de impiedad suprema al ordenar que se trajeran los vasos sagrados del templo de Jerusalén para beber vino en ellos mientras alababa a dioses de oro, plata, bronce, hierro, madera y piedra Daniel 5:2-4SDP 68.1+1. Esta profanación de las cosas santas fue observada por un Vigilante celestial invisible que registró cada palabra y acción1888 961.2+2.

La Escritura en la Pared y su Interpretación ✍️

En el momento culminante de la juerga, apareció una mano incorpórea que trazó caracteres misteriosos en la pared del palacio, provocando que el rey palideciera y temblara violentamente Daniel 5:5-6TM 435.2+1. Daniel, quien había sido olvidado por la corte pero fue recordado por la reina madre, fue llamado para interpretar el mensaje divino Daniel 5:10-13DAR1909 104.2+1. Las palabras escritas eran MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN, y Daniel reveló su terrible significado:

• MENE: Dios ha numerado el reino y le ha puesto fin Daniel 5:26YI November 9, 1893, par. 6+1.

• TEKEL: El rey ha sido pesado en balanza y hallado falto Daniel 5:27TM 435.2+1.

• PERES (o Upharsin): El reino ha sido dividido y entregado a los medos y los persas Daniel 5:28SDP 74.3+1.

Cumplimiento Histórico Exacto ⚔️

La caída de Babilonia ocurrió exactamente como se predijo y fue corroborada por la historia y la arqueologíaSITI September 10, 1885, page 548.6+1:

• La toma de la ciudad: Mientras los babilonios celebraban el festival de Tammuz en un descuido total, Ciro el Persa desvió las aguas del río Éufrates de su cauce, permitiendo que sus soldados entraran al corazón de la ciudad sin lucharGEP 36+2.

• La muerte del rey: Esa misma noche, Baltasar fue muerto y el imperio babilónico dejó de existir Daniel 5:30DAR1909 108.2+1.

• El sucesor: Darío el Medo tomó el reino a la edad de sesenta y dos años, cumpliendo la transición al segundo imperio mundial profetizado Daniel 5:31HBS 30.3+1.

• La posición de Daniel: Baltasar nombró a Daniel como el "tercer soberano" debido a que Baltasar era corregente con su padre Nabonido, lo que demuestra la precisión técnica del relato bíblico Daniel 5:29ARSH May 9, 1882, page 289.6+1.

Lecciones para el Tiempo del Fin 🔔

Estos eventos fueron escritos para nuestra amonestación en los últimos días 1 Corinthians 10:11TM 101.2+1. El mismo espíritu de festín, desprecio por lo sagrado y falta de reconocimiento a Dios se manifiesta en el mundo actual justo antes del juicio final13MR 394.1+1. La profecía de Daniel asegura que, tal como Babilonia cayó, todos los reinos terrenales serán finalmente desmenuzados por el reino eterno que Dios establecerá Daniel 2:44MON 24.1+1.