The Handwriting On a Sluggard's Wall

Practical Application, Not Prophetical Assumptions
from the Book of Daniel

So many preachers / pastors have their two cents on Daniel and Revelation; and I suppose some are closer to the truth than others and there are those who are further from the truth than others, as well.

It does bring in the crowds though, no doubt!  As Modern Christianity takes over true Christianity, we see folks becoming more and more interested in prophecy than being aware of obvious and practical truth.

It seems that most people are concerned about TOMORROW
than they are with TODAY!


PREFACE TO "PROPHECY"

Practical Paul
We see in the NT Scriptures that Paul Preaches Personal Practicality!   He tries to get us to walk and fellowship closer with Jesus Christ because of our Love for Him, not just 'because of Him!'   Paul doesn't do any scripture wrestling to make things look exciting enough for the 'lost' to come to church - or try to convince the so-called 'seekers' to seek their particular church because of some 'interesting' and 'exciting' new way of 'doing church!'

Revelation Rip-Off
For example, around here, the 7th Day DisAdventists seem to spend almost ALL their witnessing & money on the stuff in Revelation so they can continue to sucker people to listen because people just want to know about tomorrow.  People know today is a mess - they are aware that the world is a disaster waiting to happen.

Selfish Desire
Unfortunately, for most of those folks, their true desire is a selfish desire - they don't want to see Christ in a true Biblical fashion today, they want to know what's in the future for them as they are scared with what they see going on!  So - the prophecy folks make their big bucks - you should see the list of preachers & teachers who consider them to be prophetic people.  Just look at all the new books in the book stores every month - even in secular bookracks now, too!

Jack van Wimpe does the same thing... Everybody is getting into the act - Tim Lahaye is another one - these folks are great LIARS!


If folks would just spend time fellowshipping with Christ as He asks for - Revelation 3:20, He would tell them what He would want them to know NOW from the Scriptures - Scriptures that most of these prophetical poachers have destroyed in the lives and homes of all their readers and followers!

The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10) - not some false Christ, not 'another christ' as Paul warns people about - not some woman telling folks what she knows is coming - not some man to whom God spoke, etc.


Correctors Need to be Rejected!
That is one of the biggest reasons, by the way, to ignore, reject and rebuke today's authors and preachers on prophecy - if they do not publically stand on the King James Bible (and most do NOT!), then they have corrupted the word of God and are considered to be proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: we are to from such withdraw thyself. I Timothy 6:3-5  and that means to...

...not buy nor read their books,
not to listen to their sermons,
not heed their wisdom,
not listen to them on the radio,
not buy their tapes,
not go to their church,
and not fellowship with them that do!

That's what the Book says - that is what God says!

They use flattering & vain words - they deceive the simple and flash their personalities around women who flock to them so they can drag their wimpy husbands and their checkbooks with them!


Can't folks get a grip on that stuff, or what?  From such withdraw thyself, from such turn away is all based on where a person stands on the Word of God.  Is it the King James Bible?  The Greek?  The modern versions? - your heart? - your feelings?  Your pastor?  the church?  etc.

We are to stay away from the many, which corrupt the word of God! II Corinthians 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Those ones with the KJB ...
We can not eat of a plate full of poison trying to find a healthy morsel - even from the trusted KJB preachers.  Most Christians have horrible discernment capabilities today anyway and they just fall for a prophecy sermon of any kind...

Old Prophets are Lying!
...and along with more and more 'old prophets' lying to the young men in their Bible institutes and colleges, it would be best if they would just obey the scriptures and turn away from these prophetical assumptions and teachings.


It's been "the end" for a long time!
Let me show you one 'headsup' verse in Daniel to prove my point:  12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  We will see in our series that God has no intention of showing us everything until the time of the end - is this the time of the end?  Well, it has been the time of the end since I got saved many many years ago.  All I heard then was prophetical preaching to plant a church - I needed practical stuff on being a father, a husband, a leader, a reader, a preacher, a teacher, a man!  I needed stuff for my family - and the end times haven't arrived ...YET!

And yes, the end is still coming it really is - we ARE Closer to it then we were yesterday...
and so you will hear about it still in this series, believe me, you will.


I know... Strange Paulson Preachings
Now, I figure there will be those who won't give this series the time of day because they still haven't gotten over my preaching on: Oh, and me being a pastor who would carry a loaded .357 in his Bible cover these days...  (ha, that is EXACTLY why we should carry a .357...)

But yes, I am going to do some preaching on the Book of Daniel for a few weeks or as God leads.

Remember, we are NOT going into the detail of the entire Book of Daniel and how it relates to the Book of Revelation.  I am not going to add my name to the list of prophetic preachers who will tell you when the rapture is coming and when the Tribulation begins and all that.  Not at all - but you may still be surprised at the material I will be bringing up from this great book!


INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL

Ok - let's do a little setting up with Daniel...
(our Kids' Club kids should recognize some of this stuff, amen!)

The Book of Daniel is to the Old Testament what the Book of Revelation is to the New Testament - in fact, it is said that we can't understand one without the other.
Prophetically, Daniel deals with the "times of the Gentiles" - a period of time that began in 606 BC with the captivity and will end when Christ returns to earth to judge the Gentile nations and establish His kingdom.

Dr. Jim Modlish states:  Daniel stands out as one of the greatest men of Old Testament history.  He was a teenager in the year 605 BC when Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and began his conquest of Judah. There were several "deportations" of Jews to Babylon and Daniel was in the first group because he was of the princely line (2 Chronicles 36). It was the practice of Babylon to deport the "cream of the crop" and train them for service in their own palaces.

Daniel was still active in 539 BC when the kingdom was taken by Cyrus; so he lived and ministered in Babylon for over 60 years. In fact, he lived through the reigns of four rulers (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus) and three different kingdoms (Babylon, Media, and Persia). His name means "God is my Judge".

He held several important positions and was promoted greatly because of his character and wisdom, and because the blessing of God was upon him. Nebuchadnezzar named him chief of the wise men and a ruler of the land (2:28), a position similar to a modern Prime Minister. Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar, called Daniel out of retirement and because he explained the handwriting on the wall, made Daniel third ruler in the land (5:29). Darius named him leader over the whole realm (6:1-3). Certainly Daniel was God's faithful witness in a wicked and idolatrous kingdom for at least 75 years.

In the various dreams and visions in Daniel, we see Gentile history from the arrival of Babylon through the conquests of the Medes, Persians, Greeks, and to the rule of the Anti-Christ just before the return of Jesus Christ.

The phrase "the end" appears all through the book because Daniel is a book that deals with "the end times!"

Note that Daniel and his friends are tried 10 days (1:12) and are found 10 times better (1:20).  Then there is the figure in Daniel 2 with 10 toes.  We should know that the number 10 is the number of the Gentiles, etc.  So, the book of Daniel deals with the subject of Gentile rule and power in the world.

HOWEVER - that's deep enough for now...


I am going to just put some practical application here for US - YOU and ME - for TODAY - for NOW!
MAIN SERMON

The title is based on chapter 5 - Belshazzar's experience watching a hand come out of nowhere and write something on a wall.  Well, that would shake me up, too, amen?

So, let's start with chapter 5...  a strange way to start, eh?

The World Parties!
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.  He mocked his upbringing...
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.    He even mocked God!
4: They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.  ah, the gods of America!  Our gods before we were saved, amen?  hmmm, after???

The witness from the King James Bible today!  From God, His words - His writings!  From the preacher, a tract, a witness - the Holy Spirit!!!
5: In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

The reaction to a solid witness!
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.  Ah, the fear of God, eh!

The world can not figure out what that Book says!  The King FIRST goes to the world to get his understanding!
7: The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers.  And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew 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.  Always willing to 'pay off' anyone who can give an acceptable explanation...
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. Nope, they can't! They are all blind to the truth - to the words of God - to the Book - to the preacher, etc.  The god of this world has blinded their eyes!!!

Ah - deep conviction - still troubled by the Lord's words, eh!
9: Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

The mom, the wife, knew who you should turn to...  That is often true today!  Turn to the KJB Preacher - turn to the Holy Spirit, etc.
10: Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
11: There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12: Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing 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 shew the interpretation.

We finally are willing to consider the Book - the sermon - the preacher, etc.  It ought to have a good testimony, even it was mocked...  They will turn to it eventually...  The past comes back as a testimony!
13: Then was Daniel brought in before the king.  And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14: I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

Realizes the philosophy, the education, science and religion don't have the answer or the understanding of what that Book says...
15: And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:

Always trying to buy the answers!
16: And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Good response, Daniel - ya tell folks not for the money, etc. but for the purpose of telling the truth! This king is in trouble!  He is about to die - to meet his judgment!
17: Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Here goes - the hard sermon begins!
18: O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
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 appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22: And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
23: But hast lifted up thyself against the LORD of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast 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 thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou 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 hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27: TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28: PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Numbered - Weighed - Divided!  His days were numbered and time was up!  He had been weighed in God's scales and found wanting - now his kingdom would be taken from him and divided by the Medes and Persians.  Darius was at the gate at that very hour!

The wisdom of the world wouldn't and couldn't tell the king the truth - but Daniel did!

The king kept his promise for Daniel but there is no record of repentance or concern from the King over the message from Daniel!
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.

His time came - the Book was right - the preacher was right!
30: In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31: And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

The fall of Babylon in 539 B.C. is a picture of the future fall of Babylon (the devil's world system) as given in (Rev. 17-18). And Bible-believing Christians can see "the handwriting on the wall"  but blind world rulers continue in their pride and pleasure, little realizing that the Lord is coming, yes, He is even at the doors (Jas. 5:9)!


CONCLUSION

But have Bible Believing Christians quit reading the handwriting on the wall?
Have they forgotten what the Book says?
Are they beginning to enjoy the pride and pleasure of the worlds ways - in order to get more folks to 'come to their church?'

Are we all just enjoying these days too much - are we all getting caught back up to
the gods of  gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone?

What happened to preaching the word?
What happened to preaching the walk?
What happened to listening the handwriting on the wall for today - not for tomorrow?

Proverbs 13:4  The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
How much of your 'inheritance' do you think you have lost living in these Laodicean days?

Proverbs 20:4  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Have we quit plowing because today's apostasy had made the truth COLD in these Laodicean days?
Are we afraid to put the plow into the hard frozen dirt of today?

Proverbs 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Are we so conceited in our modern christian walk that we think we have it together?
 

More Practical Daniel next week...


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