A Portent of Doom to the King and Guests

A divine Watcher, unrecognized, looked upon the scene, heard the sacrilegious mirth, beheld the idolatry. Soon the uninvited Guest made His presence felt. When the revelry was at its height, a bloodless hand traced on the palace walls characters that gleamed like fire—words which were a portent of doom.SS 273.2

Hushed was the boisterous mirth, while men and women, seized with terror, watched the hand slowly tracing the mysterious characters. Before them passed, as in panoramic view, the deeds of their evil lives. They seemed to be arraigned before the judgment bar of the eternal God whose power they had just defied. Where a few moments before had been hilarity and blasphemous witticism, were pallid faces and cries of fear.SS 273.3

Belshazzar was the most terrified of them all. Conscience was awakened, and “his knees smote one against another.” Now he realized that for his wasted opportunities and defiant attitude he could offer no excuse.SS 273.4

In vain the king tried to read the burning letters. Turning to the wise men for help his wild cry rang out in the assembly: “Whosoever shall read this writing, and show 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.” But heavenly wisdom cannot be bought or sold. “All the king's wise men ... could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.” They were no more able than had been the wise men of a former generation to interpret the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar.SS 273.5

Then the queen mother remembered Daniel. “O king,” she said, “let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 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 ... made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; ... now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”SS 274.1

“Then was Daniel brought in before the king.” Making an effort to regain his composure, Belshazzar said to the prophet: “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.”SS 274.2

Unmoved by the promises of the king, Daniel stood in the quiet dignity of a servant of the Most High. “Give thy rewards to another,” he said, “yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”SS 274.3