Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin

By John Dyslin

April 14, 2024

“[The Prophet Daniel speaking to King Belshazzar of Babylon:] And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” –Daniel 5:25-28

“Mene mene tekel upharsin.”

These were the words the wicked, self-indulgent king Belshazzar of Babylon saw, but could neither read nor understand, the day his life was demanded of him. He called the old Israelite prophet Daniel out in the middle of the night to read and interpret these words – the ‘writing on the wall.’ We at the end of this Church Age have no need of a living prophet to interpret. We have His Word, His Son, His Holy Spirit, understanding, discernment, right teaching, right preaching, exhortative fellowship, and on and on.

We ought to understand; we ought to know better.

This carcass of a nation received an eclipse – a ‘warning shot’ across the bow of this land – August 21st of 2017. Many threw parties; millions drove to witness the silent, terrifying (if appropriately understood) sign from the heavens.

That eclipse crossed seven US cities named ‘Salem.’ Those cities are not, as some have attested, named for Jerusalem. No; both the root of the name Jerusalem and each of the aforementioned cities are transliterated “shalom,” meaning the Lord Almighty’s perfect, abiding, total peace. Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of Peace.

It’s as if the Lord said, “I’m now (or I will) remove My perfect peace, my Shalom, from this wicked, feral nation, if you do not repent of your despicably wicked ways and turn to me.”

False preachers healing with watered down milk, preaching, “’Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace (Jer. 6:14).” “As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds (Jer. 6:7).” Ancient Jerusalem was playing farm club ball compared to the major league depravity of this Mystery Babylon expanse of rotting filth we’re raising our children in today. Just when I think that things have gotten as bad as I’ve ever seen them, they only get worse.
The Lord promised that,

“*If* my people, which are called by my name, shall
1) humble themselves, and
2) pray, and
3) seek my face, and
4) turn from their wicked ways;
*then* will I
5) hear from heaven, and will
6) forgive their sin, and will
7) heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).”

Yet there is no repentance, in this depraved, sin-wallowing nation, but even more tragic, there is no repentance in His own house, and from His own children.

We know that “Judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17).” And that, if we as believers “are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked (1 Peter 4:18)?” It’s as if our house of standing with God is engulfed in flames; meanwhile we’re enjoying our preferred form of circuses and making sure the outside of our social media cup is well-cleaned – while on the inside it is caked with filth, rotten to the core.

A good, if infrequently engaged, friend of mine, Morgan, died Resurrection Sunday. I found out five days later. He choked to death on a piece of steak in a crowded restaurant full of those watching, striving to help, panicking, and possibly streaming for others’ enjoyment. I, who as a giant am well capable of solving such a dilemma, was nowhere around.

I also to this day don’t know – was Morgan saved!?! Did he know the Lord!?! Had he denied himself, and taken up his cross, and followed Jesus Christ daily!?! Missing the opportunity to know, and potentially to share the Gospel with Morgan in tears, haunts me.

So today, as I write, the 8 April 2024 Ninevah eclipse approaches America. This second warning shot bisects seven Ninevahs. In Jonah’s time, following his warning to the city – as well as the Assyrian Eclipse, also called the Bur-Sagale Eclipse, of 15 June 763 BC – that great capital of the Assyrian Empire, from the king on down to the livestock, repented with three days of fasting from both food and water, desperately and fervently seeking the face, and forgiveness, of God. The Lord had pity on the city, relented of his impending judgment, spared Ninevah, and gave them peace for 120 years, and for many, amazingly, salvation.

In the wicked Babylonian King Belshazzar’s time, when the fateful words “Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin” were written, there was no more time. His life was taken that night, as was his kingdom.

The Lord is sovereign; He will do as He wills. He could, in His sovereign grace, wisdom, and mercy, save this wretched, festering nation, compelling depraved, spirit-riddled men and women to fall on their faces before His righteous, ferocious anger and repent in ashes and sackcloth. But I doubt it.

So it seems to me – and I most certainly could be wrong – that we as a nation are on the precipice of the Lord’s holy, perfect, righteous wrath. And if so, I say, Thy will be done. Yet, although this God-sized batch of afflictions is far beyond my capacity to heal, there are things I can do, in my life, and with those around me, walking in obedience and setting my face like flint to be bold in warning those whom I encounter – close friends, family, and strangers alike, as the Lord provides opportunity – to share the Good News of a Risen Savior, Who died so we *might* live, if we repent and believe on His Name, and all the astounding power – dunemis in the Greek, like ‘dynamite’ – that it contains.

So…

How is your standing with the Lord today!?! Anything to repent of? Should you make a special, fasting effort to seek His face and slough off the glittering fool’s gold of this world?

And, who’s a Morgan in your life? Who’s quietly, ignorantly choking to death, spiritually speaking, at the table next to yours, as you look on? Wouldn’t it be worth it, to push through the fear and discomfort, in agreement with your Savior and as the Holy Spirit leads and equips you, to boldly and compassionately share the message of the Gospel with those dying all around you today!?! for no man is promised tomorrow; neither your choking neighbor, nor you to deliver it.

“You have been weighed; you have been measured; and you have been found wanting.”
Don’t let these words apply to you, or your neighbor.

Today, so long as it is called today, run your race in a manner befitting a King Who left His glory in heaven, to become your brother, and to die the death you deserve, that you might live. You, and your neighbor.

“. . . But they that do know their God shall be strong and do their exploits – Daniel 11:32 (b)

E-Mail John Dyslin: jnd22@johndyslin.com

Website: https://johndyslin.com/