LEARNING FROM THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

The inspired account in Daniel chapter 5 is rich in meaning for us.  As a center of false religious practices, ancient Babylon is a fitting symbol of the world empire of false religion. Pictured in Revelation as a bloodthirsty harlot, this global conglomerate of deceit is called "Babylon the Great." (Revelation  17:5)  Heedless of all warnings about her God-dishonoring false doctrines and practices, she has persecuted those preaching the truth of God's Word.  Like inhabitants of ancient Jerusalem and Judah, the faithful remnant of anointed Christians were effectively exiled in "Babylon the Great" when clergy inspired  persecution virtually closed down the Kingdom preaching work in 1918. 

Suddenly, though, "Babylon the Great" fell!  Oh, it was practically a noiseless fall-just as ancient Babylon fell almost noiselessly, in 539 B.C.E. But this figurative fall was devastating nonetheless.  It occurred in 1919 C.E. when Jehovah's people were freed from Babylonish captivity and were blessed with divine approval.  This ended the power of "Babylon the Great" over God's people and marked the beginning of her public exposure as an unreliable fraud.  That fall has proved to be irreversible, and her final destruction is imminent.  Jehovah's servants have thus been echoing the warning:  "Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins."  (Revelation 18:4) Have you heeded that warning?  Do you share it with others?  

So the handwriting is on the wall today-but not for "Babylon the Great" alone. Remember a vital truth central to Daniel's book: Jehovah is the Universal Sovereign. He, and he alone, has the right to set up a ruler over mankind. (Daniel 417, 25; 5:21)  Anything standing in opposition to Jehovah's purposes  will be removed.  It is only a matter of time before Jehovah acts.  (Habakkuk 2:3) For Daniel, such a time finally came in the tenth decade of his life. He then saw Jehovah remove a world power-one that had been oppressing God's people since Daniel's boyhood.  

There is undeniable proof that Jehovah God has established upon a heavenly throne a Ruler for mankind.  that the world has ignored this King and has opposed his rulership is pure evidence  that Jehovah will soon wipe  out all opposers of Kingdom rule.  (Psalm 2::1-11; 2 Peter 3:3-7) Are you acting upon the urgency of our times and placing your confidence in God's Kingdom?  If so, you have  really learned from the handwriting on the wall!

Next time: RESCUED FROM THE JAWS OF LION! CHAPTER  EIGHT

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999