Daniel 5:21-23; 26-28 NLT
[Nebuchadnezzar] learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them. “You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven…
This is what these words mean:
Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end.
Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up.
Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
If you were wondering, this is the attribute of God that the 21st-century Evangelical church has removed. God is this Judge, and He has a day of reckoning for every person. His verdict is final. No one escapes.
Daniel begins by reading the charges brought against Belshazzar by God. First, “You knew! You knew God is the King and Ruler of all things, yet you still did not humble yourself?” And second, “You proudly defied the Lord of heaven.”
It’s important to clarify that all anti-God, anti-Bible, anti-truth, anti-Church, and anti-Christ lifestyles and rhetoric are defying the Lordship of God.
Every government official, media pundit, movie star, or late-night TV host who proudly assaults the truths of God are setting themselves up for a showdown with God Himself. God will keep a record.
Daniel continues. “The days of you having the freedom to rule your life and kingdom end today. I’ve weighed your life, and it doesn’t add up. You know Me and still blatantly rebel? That doesn’t add up. My judgment will begin now. I’m removing the kingdom I provided to you and giving it to another. You now have nothing!” Within hours of Daniel speaking these words, Babylon had fallen, and Belshazzar was dead. The judgment was both immediate and final. Kairos.
Every believer will give an account of his life to God. This stirs a healthy reverence for God in each of us. But also, every non-believer will be judged. We do them no favors by failing to tell them of this grave encounter. The great revivals of old were driven by the message of final judgment and the urgency to repent and receive mercy. People get saved when they can see the writing on the wall.
“’As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’ Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” (Romans 14:11-12 NLT).
Prayer
Father God, we ask You to awaken our hearts again to Your eternal judgment. Anoint us to preach and share it. Give us love for people that goes beyond our fear of rejection. Give us the Spirit of the Rescuer to rescue every lost soul awaiting eternity in hell. Awaken Your church. Awaken us. Awaken me, in Jesus’ name!