THE FALL OF BABYLON

Even while Belshazzar and his courtiers were drinking to their gods and ridiculing Jehovah, a great drama was unfolding in the darkness outside the palace.  Prophecy that had been spoken  through Isaiah nearly two centuries earlier, was undergoing fulfillment.  Concerning Babylon, Jehovah had foretold:  "All sighing due to her I have caused to cease." Yes, all of that wicked city's oppression of God's chosen people was to come to an end.  By what means?  The same prophecy said: "Go up, O Elam!  Lay siege, O Media! " Elam became part of Persia after the prophet Isaiah's day.  By the time of Belshazzar's feast, which had also been foretold in the same prophecy by Isaiah, Persia and Media had indeed joined forces to "go up" and "lay siege" against Babylon. -Isaiah 21:1, 2, 5, 6. 

In fact, the very name of the leader of these forces had been foretold, as had the main points of his battle strategy.  Some 200 years in advance, Isaiah had prophesied that Jehovah would anoint one named Cyrus to come against Babylon.  In the course of his onslaught, all obstacles  would be smoothed out before him. Babylon's waters would "dry up," and her mighty doors would be left open.  (Isaiah 44:27-45:3. And so it was.  The armies of Cyrus diverted the Euphrates River, lowering the water level so that they could move through the riverbed.  Doors in Babylon's wall had been left open by careless  guards. As secular  historians agree, the city was invaded while its inhabitants reveled.  Babylon was taken with hardly any opposition.  (Jeremiah 51:30)  There was, though, at least one notable death.  Daniel reported:  "In that very night Belshazzar the Chaledan king was killed and Darius the Mede himself received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old." -Daniel 5:30, 31. 

Next time: LEARNING FROM THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

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