The Writing on the Wall

Title ideas:How God destroyed Babylon.Babylon’s King received a message from the Lord.

King Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon for many [57] years.Nebuchadnezzar had taken [stolen] golden and silver cups from the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem.Some [20] years after he died, Belshazzar became king over Babylon.

King Belshazzar held a big feast, inviting a thousand [1000] officials [government workers] to come eat and drink.Belshazzar ordered servants to [go and] bring the cups [Nebuchadnezzar had] taken from the Lord’s temple

While drinking wine from the [Lord’s] cups, the king and his officials were praising their [pagan] gods that they honored with idols [that they] made with gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of everyone, and it began writing words on a wall. When Belshazzar saw this, he became terrified.He became so frightened, that his face changed, and his knees [legs] began to shake.

He did not understand the [written] words, so he summoned [sent servants to bring] his sorcerers and wise men [advisors].He said to these men:

“If anyone of you can tell me what these words mean, then he will wear a king’s [purple] robe and golden chain [upon his shoulders / round his neck]. He will become the third ruler in Babylon [after / under my father and me]!”

However, [But] none of the sorcerers or wise men was able to tell the meaning for the words written upon the wall.[Both] King Belshazzar and his officials became even more frightened [afraid].

A servant ran and told the king’s mother [about what was happening]. So she came to Belshazzar and said to him, “There is a man in Babylon who has wisdom and knowledge that the [holy] gods have given to him. His name is Daniel.

“Many years ago, [before he died] King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Daniel to be chief over all the king’s wise men [advisors] in Babylon. If you will summon [send a messenger to bring] Daniel, then he will tell you what these words mean!”

Belshazzar then summoned Daniel and said to him, “I will give to you a king’s robe and a golden chain, and I will make you the third ruler over Babylon, if you can read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning!”

Daniel replied [said] to the king, “You may keep your gifts. I shall tell to you [freely] what these [written] words mean.

“[Years ago,] the [one] Great God made Nebuchadnezzar a great [powerful / strong] king. But Nebuchadnezzar became so proud that [the one Great] God took from him his power to rule.

“Nebuchadnezzar was no longer able to live like a man. He lived like a beast [animal / cattle] [eating grass]. After seven years, he humbled himself and honored the Great God.

“Although you know this, you have not humbled yourself [or honored the Great God]. You have dishonored the Lord who dwells in heaven [the sky]. by drinking wine with cups [taken] from his temple.

“[You did this] to worship your own gods [that dwell] in idols.“[Because] You have honored yourself more than the Great God, [so] God has written these words to you.

“God has written [on the wall] these words: COUNTED, COUNTED, WEIGHED and DIVIDED. God has counted the days of your reign [kingship], and it shall soon end.

“God has weighed you, Belshazzar, and he has found you to be too light [weight] [not to be important for him].“God is soon going to divide your kingdom [Babylon] and give it to a [another] people [tribe / nation] [called ‘Media and Persia].”

Immediately, Belshazzar ordered servants to put a king’s [purple] robe and a golden chain on Daniel, and made him to be a third ruler over Babylon.

That same night, armies [from Media and Persia] attacked Babylon, and they killed Belshazzar. [They did not kill Daniel.] A man from Media named Darius became the new ruler.