Wednesday: The Drying of the Euphrates
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 25th of June 2025
One of Babylon’s strengths was the way that the Euphrates River flowed underneath its walls, providing the city with an unlimited supply of water. It also proved to be its weakness. Nitocris, an ancient Babylonian queen, had created earthen works along the river to develop it as a route to the city. In the process, she had diverted the river into a swamp to allow crews to work comfortably. Cyrus realized that he could do the same thing: dry up the Euphrates enough that he could comfortably march his troops under the wall. Once inside the city walls, he found the defensive walls that followed the river through the city unguarded, and the city fell in a single night. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus tells us that “those who lived in the centre of Babylon had no idea that the suburbs had fallen, for it was a time of festival, and all were dancing, and indulging themselves in pleasures.”—Herodotus, The Histories, trans. Tom Holland (New York: Penguin, 2015), p. 94. Can there be any doubt that this is the same feast as portrayed in Daniel 5:1-31?
Read Daniel 5:18-31 and Revelation 16:12-19. What parallels do you find between some of the plagues of Revelation and the story of Babylon’s fall?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
In explaining how to discern the signs of the times, Jesus warned His disciples, “ ‘Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into’ ” (Matthew 24:42-43, NKJV). Just as in the fall of Babylon, the sudden appearance of Christ will catch modern Babylon by surprise. It does not need to be this way, however; we have been given ample evidence of the soon coming of Jesus in a multitude of detailed prophecies.
The world will not be caught by surprise merely because it is ignorant of what God has predicted; it will be surprised because it has chosen not to believe what God has said would happen.
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Read Revelation 16:15. Even amid these end-time warnings, what gospel message is found there? What does it mean to not “walk naked”? |
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Many people live with a false sense of security, distracted by worldly pleasures, possessions, and political but transient power. Much like ancient Babylon people use church buildings and finances for personal reasons. God has a limit to how far He will allow men to go in their sin and ultimately there is a time for judgment. The warning is clear let us be alert, let us stay spiritually awake, and live prepared. Cyrus’s invasion was sudden and decisive, so will the fulfillment of God’s promises be unexpected to those who are not watching, yet right on time according to God's plan.
The story is a strong and powerful historical illustration of how people can become complacent, trusting in their own security, while ignoring the signs around them. As Babylon was a mighty and fortified city, proud and confident in its strength, the people within were caught up in luxury, idolatry, and a false sense of invincibility (Daniel 5). The mighty city of Babylon fell in one night suddenly and without warning. The downfall came swiftly, fulfilling the prophetic warning that judgment would come when they least expected it.
The Bible warns that the world will be caught off guard by the return of the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2–3, it says, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them...” The fall mirrors the surprise of Babylon’s fall that portrays temporal peace on the surface, but heavy and sure destruction just moments away!
Secular records indicate that after Nebuchadnezzar's reign, the Neo-Babylonian empire rapidly descended into an era of political chaos. Nabonidus was a controversial figure who tried to insert the worship of Sin, the moon deity in place of Marduk, the traditional deity. He was unpopular with the priesthood, and ultimately took a 10-year leave of absence to Arabia, leaving the kingdom in the hands of Belshazzar. As the kingdom descended into anarchy, Cyrus and his Achaemenid army was playing havoc with the outer provinces and integrating them into his kingdom. There was a significant battle at Opis where the Neo-Babylonians were defeated. Some of the cities in the area opened their gates and let the Achaemenids in without a fight. The fall of Babylon itself was recorded as happening very quickly and without resistance. While the story of diverting the Euphrates is regarded as a historical fact, there is also a consensus that a large part of the Babylonian populace welcomed the Achaemenid army.
In a sense, the demise of Babylon was less of a surprise and more like the inevitable conclusion of a kingdom that had lost its power and glory.
What do we Christians learn from all of this? We see a world around us that has lost its sense of trust. Every day, we receive mixed messages about science, politics, religion, and social mores. The advent of unfiltered social media has led to every person setting their own standard for what is trustworthy and believable. Amid this confusion, Christianity tries to project a sense of trust and belief, but is often drowned out by the cacophony of voices, including some of our own making.
Many of us are convinced that we have the "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" message for the world. The question we should ask ourselves is: Are we providing a meaningful interpretation of the message?
"By this shall all men know ..."
I appreciate your veiled (and not so veiled) warnings on our corporate and individual navel-gazing. We are positioned in the centre of a global drama feeling like the gift of prophecy in God's remnant church has set us up as spiritual narrators. How exactly do you narrate a warning?
The mighty Euphrates that had been Babylon's strength (water source) became its weakness. Once diverted by Cyrus, it became a highway into the undefended city.
Often, it is our strengths we need to watch and pray about since our weakness keeps us on our knees. May we see our peril, as we read the prophecies. In Revelation 3, the final church Laodicea sees her strengths, Jesus called them weaknesses.
May we see ourselves as we are, how God sees us- miserable, poor, blind and naked. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!
Thanks Maurice now my question is answered. Because I was asking my self when did Belshazzar became a king. Now i get it. Thanks so much
The shifting of power from Babylon to Medo-Persia was exactly foretold in Daniel 2, the vision of the statue and in Daniel 7, the vision of beasts. This was once again demonstrated the fact that God controls history and all human events. "The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will." (Daniel 4:17). However, this change of power was predicted to come to pass, the most dramatic event is that Belshazzar’s kingdom (Babylon) fell in one night. Once again this reminds us of the sovereignty of God. "Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12). Let us be equally be warned that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night ( (Matt. 24:42-43). While it is still called today let us live vigilantly knowing that the day of reckoning will come suddenly.
The Bible says that human life is fleeting. It is like vapour, and nobody knows when the “final night” is (James 4:13–14). Let us live in humility and in total surrender to who holds the future.
As we saw yesterday so we can affirm. Knowledge is not power. Accepting that knowledge into our hearts and putting it into practice is power. Pharaoh (Exodus 1:8), Belshazzar (Daniel 5:22), the gentiles (Roamns 1:19) and our generation (2 Peter 3:5) have one thing in common; we have the knowledge but decidedly forget.
It's time we woke up, listen and act before the support system that makes us feel contentment without God is withdrawn.
Nowadays, we can dress accordingly, not only because we can feel the immediate temperature but also because there are weather forecast services. Thus, as we look around the world and see what's going on, plus what is said in the Bible by God's prophets and by Jesus Himself when He came for the first time, there is no excuse to be unprepared (or not accordingly dressed) for the critical event that is about to happen: Jesus' second coming!
Revelation 16:15. What does it mean to not go about naked? I used the ESV, which is a little different than the NKJV, which says walk naked, same meaning though. I 1st look back what does it mean to stay awake and keep your garments on. Ephesians 6:14-18. How can we do this other than by relying on the One for power to keep us in all His ways? Isaiah 42:6.
I must share this with you because I believe we stay clothed spiritually if we take hold of the Strong for strength, for correct thinking, teaching and preaching. Preaching is a form of teaching, James 3:1-2.
Ok, now a apropos message from Ellen White's writings. Page 668.4, from The Desire of Ages.
"As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength. But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ—the "all things" to supply the need of fallen men—was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And "whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." 1 John 3:22."
No God, no peace...so few believe in God these days, or even that the Bible is fact, not fiction. Getting the Good News out to folks is a lot more difficult.
My prayer is to live for Him, that others may know
Know God, know peace...
Today's lesson brought out an important point: In the last days, as prophesied in Scripture, many will be confronted with clear truth. But the deciding factor won't be whether they understand it intellectually—it will be whether they love the truth. As 2 Thessalonians 2:10 warns, those who perish do so “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
A love of the truth leads to humility, surrender, and transformation. It invites the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who not only guides into truth but also writes it on the heart. Without that love, truth becomes a fact to debate or dismiss—not a Person (Jesus) to follow.
Thus, in the final crisis, the dividing line will not be mere knowledge, but the heart’s posture toward God’s revealed will. Belshazzar’s fate is a warning: truth rejected hardens the heart. But truth loved sanctifies and saves.
Beverly - Thanks for summing up this truth that the 'love of the Truth residing in our heart' is superior to the knowledge about God's Truth. Yes - 'God's Truth, when loved, sanctifies and saves!