Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - A Night To Remember (Part 1)

November 7, 2025 | 29:0

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - A Night To Remember (Part 1) | November 7, 2025

♪ music ♪
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From the pulpit
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Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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This is pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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And welcome again to pathway to victory.
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In scripture, god clearly defines the consequences
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That await those who reject him.
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Still, millions of individuals in our own nation,
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And around the world openly choose to ignore god's warning.
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Well, today we're going to hear a timely lesson
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From daniel chapter five.
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Those who fail to heed the handwriting
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On the wall will one day suffer for their choice.
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My message is titled, a night to remember
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On today's edition of pathway to victory.
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In a culture that celebrates compromise
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And rejects absolute truth, how can you stand firm
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In your christian faith?
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The prophet daniel faced this same challenge millennia ago,
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And his unwavering courage offers a powerful example
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For believers today.
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In the book, "daniel: courageous living in a pagan world,"
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Dr. robert jeffress shares how you can remain steadfast,
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And immovable in a culture ruled by darkness.
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Request your copy today when you give a generous gift
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To support the ministry of pathway to victory.
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♪ music ♪
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What would it take for god to get your attention?
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The loss of a job, the breakup of an important relationship,
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A bad report from the doctor, the death of a child.
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Last time in daniel four,
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We saw that god will go to any means necessary
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To communicate his message to us, not because he hates us,
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But because he loves us.
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We saw that in the case of nebuchadnezzar,
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That god went to some unusual links
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To humble nebuchadnezzar.
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He inflicted him with the disease of lycanthropy.
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He made him think he was an animal,
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A disease still prevalent today.
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And nebuchadnezzar spent seven years grazing like an animal
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In the palace courtyard.
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And finally, nebuchadnezzar recognized that god
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Was not just the god of israel,
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He was the only true god.
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Now tonight when we come to daniel chapter five,
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We see once again god going to extreme measures
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To communicate with another king with far different results.
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You know, there's a saying that those who don't learn
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From history are condemned to repeat it.
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We're going to see a living illustration of that truth tonight
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In the case of belshazzar and the fall of babylon.
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If you have your bibles, turn to daniel chapter five,
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Daniel chapter five.
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Now remember the first four chapters
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Of daniel deal with daniel and his interaction
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With king nebuchadnezzar, who was the king of babylon.
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In 605 bc, nebuchadnezzar invaded jerusalem
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And he took three groups of captives over a period of years,
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Mainly teenagers that included daniel and they were enlisted
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To be a part of the king's royal service.
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And finally, in 586 bc, nebuchadnezzar finally takes most
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Of the nation captive and they spend 70 years
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In exile in babylon.
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And as i said, daniel was a teenager when that happened,
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And the first four chapters of daniel deal
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With daniel's interaction with nebuchadnezzar.
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However, when chapter four closes and chapter five opens,
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Several significant things have happened
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That i want you to write down.
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First of all, when we come to chapter five,
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About 23 years have elapsed in the white space
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Between the end of chapter four
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And the beginning of chapter five.
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Secondly, nebuchadnezzar has died.
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He was succeeded by a number of sons and in-laws
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And usurpers, none of whom lasted very long.
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Now, history tells us that the last king of babylon
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Before babylon was overtaken by the medo persian empire,
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The last king of babylon
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Was a man named nabonidus. nabonidus.
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He was the last king of babylon history tells us,
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However, this presents an interesting problem
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Because when we come to daniel five,
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We find that a man named belshazzar
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Is the last king of babylon before babylon is overtaken.
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Now for decades, critics of the bible have used this
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As a prime example of why you can't trust the bible,
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And specifically why daniel is a forgery.
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They've said over and over again why history tells us
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That nabonidus was the last king of babylon.
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And here we find that the last king of babylon
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Was this man named belshazzar
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So you can't trust the bible, but guess what happened?
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Archeological discoveries have once again proved
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That the bible can be trusted.
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Archeological discoveries included what is called
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The nabonidus cylinder told an interesting story.
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The story is that nabonidus was indeed the last king
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Of babylon, but he wasn't a king
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Who was interested in politics.
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He liked to travel,
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He liked to go on archeological expeditions.
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Politics bored him.
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And so he spent many years away from babylon,
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He'd spend extended johnson arabia
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On these archeological discoveries,
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And he knew that wouldn't make for good rulership
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Of the monarchy.
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And so nabonidus had a son or a grandson named guess what?
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Belshazzar and belshazzar
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Became the co-region with nabonidus.
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Now we found all this out
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Through extra biblical information, and so nabonidus shared
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The rulership of babylon with his son or we're not sure,
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Grandson named belshazzar.
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This is one more instance where archeology has confirmed
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The historicity and the validity of the bible.
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Now the third thing that has happened here
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Is that babylon is under siege.
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The prophecies of daniel too,
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Remember the prophecies god gave to nebuchadnezzar
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That babylon, the head of gold would not remain forever,
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But it will be overtaken by another empire,
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The medo persian empire.
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Well, when we come to daniel five,
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The (indistinct) and the persians have been besieging
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The city of babylon for two and a half years.
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They have been on the outskirts of the city.
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They have gained territory in babylon,
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And yet the residents inside the city wall,
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Including belshazzar didn't feel threatened at all.
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The fact is they had city walls that were 350 feet high,
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87 feet wide, like a six lane highway.
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They felt like they were invincible
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And not only that, they could grow their own produce
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Inside the city.
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They were self-sufficient.
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They had all the water they needed.
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The euphrates river flowed right in the middle of the city.
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They were invincible or so they thought.
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Now it is against that background.
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The city is under siege.
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The residents of babylon are securely within the city walls.
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It is against that background that we find
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The magnificent feast described in verse one
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Of chapter five.
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"belshazzar, the king held a great feast
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For a thousand of his nobles and he was drinking wine
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In the presence of the thousand."
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Now the setting for chapter five
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Is the palace of babylon, nebuchadnezzar's palace.
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Remember saddam hussein,
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The late saddam hussein said during the gulf war,
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The first gulf war, that he wanted to restore the palace
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To the glory of nebuchadnezzar.
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This is something that has been discovered, this palace.
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Well, the setting is this palace
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And the many of the residents are outside of the city,
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They've been captured.
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But what was the response of belshazzar
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To this coming invasion?
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He decided to throw a party.
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Now, perhaps he was hoping to distract his residents
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From the coming invasion, but i contrast what he did
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With what another king, good king hezekiah did
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When he was under siege.
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Remember in this book of 2 kings, when hezekiah learned
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That sennacherib, the king of assyria was about to invade,
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What did he do?
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He got on his knees and he prayed to almighty god.
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He prayed for deliverance and god, supernaturally intervene.
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But not this king, belshazzar decided to throw a party
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And it was quite a party.
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Now, kings were noted during this time
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For throwing large parties.
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One king in 87 bc threw a party for 70,000 guests.
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So this was just a minor affair here for a thousand noblemen
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And their wives.
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But this wasn't, and we need to understand this,
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This party was not just a buffet, okay.
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This was a full fledged, not only party,
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But probably an orgy.
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The fact that there's constant mention
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To the free flowing wine at this party indicates
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That it was filled with sexual immorality,
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Especially when you understand
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That one of the babylonian god's, bel was the father
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Of sexual immorality, the god of sexual immorality.
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And so you have a party going on here where the wine,
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The alcohol is flowing and sexual immorality is rampant.
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Now, i want to stop here and say a word, a very important word
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About wine and alcohol because i don't want anybody
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To ever be under any delusion about what the bible says
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About wine and alcohol because it plays prominently
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In tonight's story.
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And when you look at the scriptures,
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The bible has three things to say about drinking,
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And i want you all to write it down.
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Whether you're a senior adult, a young adult, a teenager,
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I want you to write these three truths down about alcohol.
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First of all, drunkenness is always wrong.
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Drunkenness is always wrong.
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Ephesians 5:18, "do not get drunk with wine
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For this is dissipation, but be filled with spirit."
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Drunkenness is always wrong.
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Second truth, drinking is sometimes wrong.
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That's what the bible says.
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Drinking is sometimes wrong.
00:10:49.405 --> 00:10:51.307
There is no absolute prohibition in the bible
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About ever allowing alcohol to touch your lips.
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If you're honest about what the bible says,
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There's no prohibition.
00:10:58.481 --> 00:10:59.982
Now, teenagers, if you are living under the authority
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Of your parents and they say it's wrong, it's wrong for you.
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But there is no absolute biblical prohibition
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Against drinking.
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Drinking is sometimes wrong,
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But i'll tell you one time that drinking is wrong,
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That the bible talks about.
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If you're drinking in moderation causes another person
00:11:14.830 --> 00:11:18.634
To stumble christian or non-christian, it's wrong.
00:11:18.634 --> 00:11:21.937
You know, i know very few people that drink by themselves.
00:11:23.072 --> 00:11:26.609
Most people i know are always drinking with somebody else.
00:11:26.609 --> 00:11:30.079
And the fact is, you don't know whether your drinking
00:11:30.079 --> 00:11:32.715
Is going to cause that person to stumble or not.
00:11:32.715 --> 00:11:35.251
Maybe it leads them to do something
00:11:35.251 --> 00:11:36.752
That hurts their conscience and causes a disruption,
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Their relationship with god.
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Maybe it's somebody who is one in seven
00:11:41.290 --> 00:11:44.160
Who will become an alcoholic,
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And you are leading them into an addiction
00:11:45.861 --> 00:11:48.364
That is going to destroy their lives
00:11:48.364 --> 00:11:49.932
Not to mention your own life.
00:11:49.932 --> 00:11:52.434
But romans 14:21, 1 corinthians eight says
00:11:52.434 --> 00:11:56.806
That your freedom to drink,
00:11:56.806 --> 00:11:58.941
Your freedom to do anything stops
00:11:58.941 --> 00:12:01.911
When it hurts another christian brother or sister.
00:12:01.911 --> 00:12:05.648
So the fact is drunkenness is always wrong,
00:12:05.648 --> 00:12:09.018
Drinking is sometimes wrong
00:12:09.018 --> 00:12:10.619
If it causes somebody else to stumble.
00:12:10.619 --> 00:12:12.788
But thirdly, not drinking is always a wise decision.
00:12:12.788 --> 00:12:18.093
It's always a wise decision.
00:12:18.694 --> 00:12:20.095
Now again, i'm not talking about spiritual issues,
00:12:20.095 --> 00:12:22.464
In the sense, i'm not saying you're going to hell
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If you ever allow a drop of alcohol
00:12:24.533 --> 00:12:26.535
To pass through your lips.
00:12:26.535 --> 00:12:27.469
That's not what i'm saying,
00:12:27.469 --> 00:12:28.971
But i'm saying if you want to live a really wise life,
00:12:28.971 --> 00:12:33.275
You'll make the choice not to drink at all.
00:12:33.275 --> 00:12:35.444
Now, i can't make that choice for you.
00:12:35.444 --> 00:12:36.946
Nobody can make that choice for you.
00:12:36.946 --> 00:12:38.581
It's something that you have to come to a conclusion about.
00:12:38.581 --> 00:12:40.649
But proverbs 20:1 says, "wine is a mocker,
00:12:40.649 --> 00:12:44.119
Strong drink a brawler,
00:12:44.119 --> 00:12:45.921
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise."
00:12:45.921 --> 00:12:49.725
As we're going to see tonight, this mighty ruler,
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Belshazzar lost his kingdom because of drunkenness,
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And we'll see how in just a few moments.
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What is interesting is 200 years later in history
00:12:58.901 --> 00:13:03.038
In this very same palace, alexander the great,
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Another ruler lost his kingdom
00:13:06.809 --> 00:13:08.978
And lost his life all because of alcohol,
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The abuse of alcohol.
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Not drinking is always a wise decision.
00:13:13.682 --> 00:13:17.820
What is it about alcohol that is so unwise?
00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:22.358
One thing, and you see it here is it causes us
00:13:22.358 --> 00:13:25.561
To lose our inhibitions about sexual immorality.
00:13:25.561 --> 00:13:29.999
There is a great association between drinking
00:13:29.999 --> 00:13:32.835
And sexual immorality, but alcohol also causes us
00:13:32.835 --> 00:13:36.705
To lose our inhibitions about blasphemy.
00:13:36.705 --> 00:13:39.842
And you see that in verse two,
00:13:39.842 --> 00:13:41.577
"when belshazzar tasted the wine."
00:13:41.577 --> 00:13:44.146
Notice when this happens.
00:13:44.146 --> 00:13:45.414
Now it is when or "after he tasted the wine,
00:13:45.414 --> 00:13:48.817
He gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels,
00:13:48.817 --> 00:13:52.254
Which nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple,
00:13:52.254 --> 00:13:55.124
Which was in jerusalem so that the king and his nobles,
00:13:55.124 --> 00:13:58.127
His wife and his concubines might drink from them," okay.
00:13:58.127 --> 00:14:02.197
Belshazzar's getting tipsy, and he says, i've got an idea.
00:14:03.365 --> 00:14:08.103
Let's bring in all of those vessels.
00:14:08.904 --> 00:14:11.840
Let's bring in all of those artifacts
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.610
From that holy so-called temple in jerusalem
00:14:14.610 --> 00:14:17.680
For the israelites worship their god.
00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:20.149
Let's bring in all of those objects of worship,
00:14:20.149 --> 00:14:23.719
And let's drink from them
00:14:23.719 --> 00:14:25.955
And let's drink out of their vessels
00:14:25.955 --> 00:14:28.924
And toast to the pagan gods of the babylonians.
00:14:28.924 --> 00:14:33.195
And that's what they did.
00:14:33.195 --> 00:14:34.363
In verse four, "they drank the wine
00:14:34.363 --> 00:14:36.999
And they praised the gods of gold and silver and bronze,
00:14:36.999 --> 00:14:40.769
And iron and stone."
00:14:40.769 --> 00:14:43.238
In other words, they purposefully blasphemed
00:14:43.238 --> 00:14:46.942
The name of jehovah god by using the vessels
00:14:46.942 --> 00:14:50.212
That were used to worship the true god,
00:14:50.212 --> 00:14:52.348
And used them to worship the god of baal and marduk
00:14:52.348 --> 00:14:55.451
And the other babylonian gods.
00:14:55.451 --> 00:14:58.053
Have you ever found it curious, strange
00:14:58.053 --> 00:15:01.657
That so-called atheist will go to such great lengths
00:15:01.657 --> 00:15:05.127
To blaspheme the name of a god
00:15:05.127 --> 00:15:06.795
They say they don't believe in?
00:15:06.795 --> 00:15:09.098
I mean, why is that?
00:15:09.098 --> 00:15:11.000
I read last week about a college professor
00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:13.469
Who, middle aged guy right in the middle
00:15:13.469 --> 00:15:16.305
Of his college class stripped down stark naked
00:15:16.305 --> 00:15:20.642
And started yelling out, there is no blanking god.
00:15:20.642 --> 00:15:24.046
There is no blanking god.
00:15:24.046 --> 00:15:28.584
How do you explain that?
00:15:25.948 --> 00:15:30.219
I mean, why wouldn't he say
00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:32.254
There is no blanking easter bunny?
00:15:32.254 --> 00:15:34.923
There is no blanking santa claus.
00:15:34.923 --> 00:15:37.026
By the way, have you ever heard santa claus
00:15:37.026 --> 00:15:38.994
Or easter bunny's name used in a profane way,
00:15:38.994 --> 00:15:42.097
As a curse word?
00:15:42.097 --> 00:15:44.099
I mean, if you don't believe in something,
00:15:44.099 --> 00:15:45.968
Why do you bother to blaspheme it?
00:15:45.968 --> 00:15:49.038
I'll tell you why.
00:15:49.038 --> 00:15:49.972
Unbelievers go to great lengths
00:15:49.972 --> 00:15:51.740
To blaspheme the name of god.
00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.976
They think that if they blaspheme the name of god,
00:15:53.976 --> 00:15:56.879
They think that if they profane the name of god
00:15:57.813 --> 00:16:00.149
That somehow they're going to invalidate the reality of god.
00:16:00.149 --> 00:16:04.053
If they can just make enough fun about god,
00:16:04.987 --> 00:16:07.389
If they can use his name in a profane way long enough,
00:16:07.389 --> 00:16:10.325
Somehow they're going to cause him not to exist.
00:16:10.325 --> 00:16:12.861
How foolish that is.
00:16:12.861 --> 00:16:14.730
That's exactly what these babylonians were trying to do.
00:16:14.730 --> 00:16:18.100
But in the middle of their drunken, blasphemous, orgy,
00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:21.537
Notice what happens in verse five, the mysterious message.
00:16:21.537 --> 00:16:25.207
"suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged
00:16:25.207 --> 00:16:30.546
And began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster
00:16:31.647 --> 00:16:33.849
Of a wall of the king's palace,
00:16:33.849 --> 00:16:35.851
And the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing."
00:16:35.851 --> 00:16:40.122
Now, dr. john walford states
00:16:40.122 --> 00:16:41.890
That in the excavations of babylon,
00:16:41.890 --> 00:16:44.326
Part of the babylonian palace has been found
00:16:44.326 --> 00:16:48.831
Including a room that is known as the king's chamber.
00:16:48.831 --> 00:16:52.835
It was 56 feet wide, a 173 feet long,
00:16:52.835 --> 00:16:58.140
And it was probably in this hall that this orgy took place.
00:16:59.308 --> 00:17:02.344
And in the excavations they discovered
00:17:02.344 --> 00:17:04.346
That midway along the wall opposite the entrance
00:17:04.346 --> 00:17:08.183
To the banquet hall, midway along that wall was a niche,
00:17:08.183 --> 00:17:12.354
A place where the king probably sat,
00:17:12.354 --> 00:17:15.190
And behind him was discovered a wall covered in plaster,
00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:20.462
And this was the wall probably
00:17:21.096 --> 00:17:22.898
Where this mysterious handwriting occurred.
00:17:22.898 --> 00:17:24.900
Now remember, there were no electric lights back then
00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:27.903
Like we have.
00:17:27.903 --> 00:17:29.471
The only way you could light a banquet hall was by torches,
00:17:29.471 --> 00:17:33.108
Spaced sporadically throughout the banquet hall.
00:17:33.108 --> 00:17:35.577
So the banquet hall is basically dark,
00:17:35.577 --> 00:17:38.247
Which makes it conducive for sexual immorality.
00:17:38.247 --> 00:17:41.083
But you have these torches along the way.
00:17:41.083 --> 00:17:44.019
And so here's the king seated at his banquet table.
00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:47.256
There is a torch beside him,
00:17:47.256 --> 00:17:49.925
But between the torch and this plaster wall behind him,
00:17:49.925 --> 00:17:54.196
You see the shadow, the image of a disembodied hand
00:17:54.196 --> 00:17:59.535
That suddenly appears suspended in the air.
00:18:00.469 --> 00:18:02.504
Now, think of thing from the adams family.
00:18:02.504 --> 00:18:05.340
Remember thing, okay, think of this hand.
00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:08.677
This hand that just appears out of nowhere,
00:18:08.677 --> 00:18:11.613
And suddenly starts writing on the wall.
00:18:11.613 --> 00:18:14.816
Can you imagine the reaction of that?
00:18:14.816 --> 00:18:17.586
I love dr. chris wall's description of that night.
00:18:17.586 --> 00:18:22.057
I want you to listen to what he said,
00:18:22.057 --> 00:18:23.926
And only the way he could say it.
00:18:23.926 --> 00:18:26.795
"in the midst of the feast, while belshazzar was drinking
00:18:26.795 --> 00:18:30.265
And praising the heathen gods in profane ways,
00:18:30.265 --> 00:18:33.802
Suddenly the cup dropped from his hand.
00:18:33.802 --> 00:18:36.538
His eyes were fixed in stark terror on the wall.
00:18:36.538 --> 00:18:40.142
The joints of his loins were loose,
00:18:40.142 --> 00:18:42.311
And his knees smoked one another
00:18:42.311 --> 00:18:44.379
As his gaze was frozen on the wall.
00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:47.015
I can see the eyes of all of that vast multitude follow
00:18:47.015 --> 00:18:50.252
The eyes of the king.
00:18:50.252 --> 00:18:52.020
They too see that hand in sizing those characters
00:18:52.020 --> 00:18:55.757
In the stone.
00:18:55.757 --> 00:18:57.159
The vast hall suddenly became as silent as death.
00:18:57.159 --> 00:19:01.096
I can see all of their eyes focus back on the king
00:19:01.096 --> 00:19:04.099
For interpretation, for courage.
00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:06.935
But instead of finding a monarch of great strength,
00:19:06.935 --> 00:19:10.072
They behold a miserably weak coward,
00:19:10.072 --> 00:19:13.141
Literally paralyzed in fear."
00:19:13.141 --> 00:19:16.211
That's what happened at bellshazzar's feast.
00:19:16.211 --> 00:19:18.747
Now look at the miraculous interpretation.
00:19:18.747 --> 00:19:21.016
Finally, belshazzar regained some semblance of composure,
00:19:21.016 --> 00:19:24.786
And he calls out for the wise men of babylon,
00:19:24.786 --> 00:19:27.289
That same old gang to come in and to give an interpretation.
00:19:27.289 --> 00:19:30.759
Remember, they absolutely failed nebuchadnezzar.
00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:33.595
They could never give an incorrect interpretation,
00:19:33.595 --> 00:19:36.098
But this is all that belshazzar needed to know
00:19:36.098 --> 00:19:40.035
While all he could do was to call for the wise men.
00:19:40.035 --> 00:19:42.671
Now, there's been all this speculation.
00:19:42.671 --> 00:19:44.206
Well, why couldn't be belshazzar simply read the handwriting
00:19:44.206 --> 00:19:47.376
On the wall?
00:19:47.376 --> 00:19:48.510
It was probably written in aramaic,
00:19:48.510 --> 00:19:50.412
The language that the king spoke.
00:19:50.412 --> 00:19:52.414
Why couldn't he read the message himself?
00:19:52.414 --> 00:19:54.783
Well, maybe he was in a drunken stupor, some people say,
00:19:54.783 --> 00:19:57.686
That's the reason he couldn't read it.
00:19:57.686 --> 00:19:59.254
Maybe god's handwriting used a different style,
00:19:59.254 --> 00:20:01.890
A different cursive style than he was used to.
00:20:01.890 --> 00:20:04.693
Or maybe what he really needed was not to be able
00:20:04.693 --> 00:20:07.929
To read it, but to interpret it correctly.
00:20:07.929 --> 00:20:10.299
I personally think that's why he called for these wise men
00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:13.535
To come and he says, look at verse eight.
00:20:13.535 --> 00:20:15.604
"then all the king's wise men came in,
00:20:15.604 --> 00:20:18.006
But they could not read the inscription
00:20:18.006 --> 00:20:19.908
Or make known its interpretation of the king."
00:20:19.908 --> 00:20:22.377
In fact, belshazzar had said,
00:20:22.377 --> 00:20:24.112
"anyone who can interpret this,
00:20:24.112 --> 00:20:25.881
I will give a third of my kingdom."
00:20:25.881 --> 00:20:27.716
See, a third of it belonged to his dad, nabonidus.
00:20:27.716 --> 00:20:30.452
He had a third.
00:20:30.452 --> 00:20:31.687
He said, i will give a third to anybody
00:20:31.687 --> 00:20:33.422
Who can interpret this.
00:20:33.422 --> 00:20:35.490
No one could interpret it.
00:20:35.490 --> 00:20:36.825
And so verse nine says, "he was greatly alarmed.
00:20:36.825 --> 00:20:39.895
He began to panic again."
00:20:39.895 --> 00:20:42.464
Why did he panic over this scene?
00:20:42.464 --> 00:20:45.267
You see, i think deep down belshazzar knew
00:20:45.267 --> 00:20:47.703
What every person knows, that there really is a god.
00:20:47.703 --> 00:20:52.941
And all of us have a conscience.
00:20:53.575 --> 00:20:55.577
In belshazzar's conscience, though it had been badly seared
00:20:55.577 --> 00:20:58.647
And it was hardened,
00:20:58.647 --> 00:21:00.048
I think instinctively he knew he had crossed the line
00:21:00.048 --> 00:21:04.152
And that judgment was coming
00:21:04.152 --> 00:21:05.520
Because of this act of blasphemy.
00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:07.756
Look at verse 10, "then the queen entered the banquet hall."
00:21:07.756 --> 00:21:10.959
Now the queen, this was not belshazzar's wife,
00:21:10.959 --> 00:21:13.962
It was probably his mother.
00:21:13.962 --> 00:21:15.731
It was probably the wife of nabonidus, his father,
00:21:15.731 --> 00:21:21.069
This was probably belshazzar's mother entered
00:21:22.037 --> 00:21:23.438
The banquet hall because of the words of the kings
00:21:23.438 --> 00:21:26.007
And his nobles.
00:21:26.007 --> 00:21:27.376
"the queen spoke and said, oh, king, live forever,
00:21:27.376 --> 00:21:29.811
Do not let our thoughts alarm you or your face be pale."
00:21:29.811 --> 00:21:35.117
She was probably in another room when all of this happened.
00:21:36.284 --> 00:21:37.419
She wasn't participating in the orgy.
00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:39.221
When she heard the commotion,
00:21:39.221 --> 00:21:40.355
She came in to see what was wrong.
00:21:40.355 --> 00:21:42.324
And when she saw her son, ashton,
00:21:42.324 --> 00:21:44.960
She said, what is wrong?
00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.094
Do not be alarmed.
00:21:46.094 --> 00:21:48.263
And then when she found out about this mysterious message,
00:21:48.263 --> 00:21:51.833
In verse 11, she said to her son, "during your father's day,
00:21:51.833 --> 00:21:57.105
There used to be a man
00:21:57.606 --> 00:21:58.874
In whom the spirit of the god's dwell.
00:21:58.874 --> 00:22:02.511
He is the one, if you will call on him,
00:22:02.511 --> 00:22:04.913
Who can provide an interpretation to this writing."
00:22:04.913 --> 00:22:08.817
Now understand when daniel came to babylon,
00:22:08.817 --> 00:22:11.520
He was probably 16 or 17 years old,
00:22:11.520 --> 00:22:14.923
And that was in 605 bc.
00:22:14.923 --> 00:22:18.093
We are now at 539 bc,
00:22:18.093 --> 00:22:20.662
So daniel is in his early 80's.
00:22:20.662 --> 00:22:24.099
He's been forgotten for the last 50 years.
00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:27.369
Nobody remembers him except the queen.
00:22:27.369 --> 00:22:30.238
She says, i remember when your dad was alive,
00:22:30.238 --> 00:22:33.141
There was a man who was able to interpret dreams.
00:22:33.141 --> 00:22:35.343
So they call for daniel to come.
00:22:35.343 --> 00:22:37.846
They bring daniel into the palace.
00:22:37.846 --> 00:22:39.448
He's not been in now for 50 years,
00:22:39.448 --> 00:22:42.050
And he stands before belshazzar.
00:22:42.050 --> 00:22:43.618
Look at verse 16, belshazzar says to him,
00:22:43.618 --> 00:22:46.188
"i have personally heard about you
00:22:46.188 --> 00:22:48.557
That you are able to give interpretations
00:22:48.557 --> 00:22:50.459
And solve difficult problems.
00:22:50.459 --> 00:22:52.327
Now, if you are able to read the inscription
00:22:52.327 --> 00:22:54.863
And make the interpretation known to me,
00:22:54.863 --> 00:22:56.798
You'll be clothed with purple
00:22:56.798 --> 00:22:58.300
And wear a necklace of gold around your neck,
00:22:58.300 --> 00:23:00.135
And you'll have authority as a third ruler of the kingdom.
00:23:00.135 --> 00:23:03.805
I'll give a third of my kingdom to you."
00:23:03.805 --> 00:23:06.174
In verse 17, daniel says, "you can take that offer
00:23:06.174 --> 00:23:09.244
And hang it around your beak."
00:23:09.244 --> 00:23:12.214
That's in the hebrew.
00:23:12.714 --> 00:23:13.615
That's what it says here.
00:23:13.615 --> 00:23:15.717
Verse 17, he said, "keep your gifts to yourself."
00:23:15.717 --> 00:23:19.888
♪ music ♪
00:23:20.222 --> 00:23:23.725
Because of time, we have to pause today's study.
00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:27.662
You heard the first few points of my message just now,
00:23:27.662 --> 00:23:31.032
And we'll discover more lessons from daniel chapter five
00:23:31.032 --> 00:23:34.736
On our next broadcast.
00:23:34.736 --> 00:23:36.638
But right now, i want you to know how grateful i am
00:23:36.638 --> 00:23:39.341
For your financial support.
00:23:39.341 --> 00:23:41.610
Your investment in pathway to victory allows us
00:23:41.610 --> 00:23:44.679
To touch lives all around the world through television
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And radio, and the many books and resources we offer.
00:23:47.883 --> 00:23:52.187
God is multiplying your gifts many times over
00:23:52.187 --> 00:23:55.757
As countless men and women hear the truth of the gospel.
00:23:55.757 --> 00:23:59.394
So please keep up the good work.
00:23:59.394 --> 00:24:01.563
Together as partners in ministry, god is using your gifts
00:24:01.563 --> 00:24:06.101
To pierce the darkness with the light of his word.
00:24:06.101 --> 00:24:09.905
Now stay right there,
00:24:09.905 --> 00:24:11.473
I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
00:24:11.473 --> 00:24:14.943
Our world is spinning out of control.
00:24:15.744 --> 00:24:18.179
Speaking up for biblical truth often leads
00:24:18.179 --> 00:24:20.649
To tremendous backlash.
00:24:20.649 --> 00:24:22.050
Nebuchadnezzar, first of all changed daniel
00:24:22.050 --> 00:24:24.586
And his three friends' names.
00:24:24.586 --> 00:24:26.388
Secondly, he changed their culture, their education,
00:24:26.388 --> 00:24:29.558
And finally he asked them to change their diet.
00:24:29.558 --> 00:24:32.360
And this is where daniel drew the line.
00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:34.329
He was not going to disobey god's law.
00:24:34.329 --> 00:24:37.032
In these dark and confusing days,
00:24:37.032 --> 00:24:39.301
Christians need the courage to stand in the gap like daniel.
00:24:39.301 --> 00:24:43.705
In my book, "daniel: courageous living in a pagan world,"
00:24:43.705 --> 00:24:47.909
I'll help you live out your faith
00:24:47.909 --> 00:24:50.045
In an increasingly hostile culture.
00:24:50.045 --> 00:24:52.714
Daniel was a young prophet who spoke boldly for god,
00:24:52.714 --> 00:24:56.384
And i believe his story will fill you with courage,
00:24:56.384 --> 00:24:59.487
Inspire you to be steadfast and empower you
00:24:59.487 --> 00:25:02.624
To live as a light in this present darkness.
00:25:02.624 --> 00:25:06.695
Request your copy of "daniel:
00:25:06.695 --> 00:25:08.496
Courageous living in a pagan world"
00:25:08.496 --> 00:25:10.665
When you give a generous gift to support the ministry
00:25:10.665 --> 00:25:13.268
Of pathway to victory.
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00:25:22.310 --> 00:25:24.846
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00:25:24.846 --> 00:25:26.748
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00:25:26.748 --> 00:25:29.751
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The resources we need to proclaim the gospel
00:25:37.626 --> 00:25:40.328
In these challenging days, and to pierce the darkness
00:25:40.328 --> 00:25:43.598
With the light of god's word.
00:25:43.598 --> 00:25:47.636
We're pausing the story of king belshazzar
00:25:48.503 --> 00:25:51.306
On a cliffhanger.
00:25:51.306 --> 00:25:52.874
But when we pick up next time,
00:25:52.874 --> 00:25:54.676
We'll interpret the mysterious handwriting on the wall
00:25:54.676 --> 00:25:58.346
And talk about its meaning.
00:25:58.346 --> 00:26:00.415
And then we will learn three practical principles
00:26:00.415 --> 00:26:03.151
That you and i can take away from this important passage.
00:26:03.151 --> 00:26:07.188
The message that god communicated to belshazzar
00:26:07.188 --> 00:26:10.392
Is the same point he's making with us today.
00:26:10.392 --> 00:26:14.062
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:26:14.062 --> 00:26:16.998
On pathway to victory.
00:26:16.998 --> 00:26:19.334
In the old testament, there were two kinds of sins.
00:26:20.368 --> 00:26:22.904
There were sins of ignorance,
00:26:22.904 --> 00:26:26.608
Sometimes called unintentional sins,
00:26:26.608 --> 00:26:29.544
And there were sins of defiance.
00:26:29.544 --> 00:26:32.247
For sins of ignorance or sins of weakness,
00:26:32.247 --> 00:26:36.117
Numbers 4:5 gives a prescription
00:26:36.117 --> 00:26:38.520
For how to make a sacrifice for those sins.
00:26:38.520 --> 00:26:41.556
But in the old testament,
00:26:41.556 --> 00:26:42.957
There was absolutely no provision for intentional sins.
00:26:42.957 --> 00:26:48.063
Set your dvr and join us next time
00:26:48.830 --> 00:26:50.231
For part two of the message, a night to remember
00:26:50.231 --> 00:26:53.368
Here on pathway to victory.
00:26:53.368 --> 00:26:56.905
Take a journey through alaska's awe inspiring wilderness
00:26:58.006 --> 00:27:01.242
On the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to alaska
00:27:01.242 --> 00:27:04.412
With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland, america's
00:27:04.412 --> 00:27:06.981
Magnificent konings dam.
00:27:06.981 --> 00:27:08.883
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Robert Jeffress - A Night To Remember (Part 1)

November 7, 2025 | 29:0

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