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# The Book of Daniel - Number Twenty-Five

Igitabo cya Daniyeli — Umubare wa Makumyabiri n’Itanu

The Unveiling of Babylon’s Decline: A Prophetic Passage from Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar

Ihishurwa ry’Uko Babuloni Yagabanutse: Umurongo w’Ubuhanuzi Uva kuri Nebukadinezari Ugera kuri Belushazari

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

December 20, 2023

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The fall of Belshazzar in chapter five had been typified by Nebuchadnezzar’s fall in chapter four.

Kugwa kwa Belushazari mu gice cya gatanu kwari kwaragereranyijwe mbere n’ukwa Nebukadinezari mu gice cya kane.

> “To the last ruler of Babylon, as in type to its first, had come the sentence of the divine Watcher: ‘O king, . . . to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.’ Daniel 4:31.” Prophets and Kings, 533.

> “Ku mwami wa nyuma wa Babuloni, nk’uko byari bimeze mu kimenyetso ku wa mbere wawo, ni ho hageze iteka ry’Umurinzi w’Imana riti: ‘Wa mwami we, ... ni wowe babwiye; ubwami bukuvuyeho.’ Daniyeli 4:31.” Abahanuzi n’Abami, 533.

Nebuchadnezzar represents the beginning and Belshazzar the end of the kingdom that ruled for seventy years, and thus symbolized the reign of the earth beast of Revelation chapter thirteen (the United States), that was to reign during the time when the whore of Tyre (the papacy), was forgotten.

Nebukadinezari ahagarariye intangiriro, na Belushazari ahagarariye iherezo ry’ubwami bwategetse imyaka mirongo irindwi, bityo bukaba bwarashushanyaga ingoma y’inyamaswa yo ku isi ivugwa mu Byahishuwe igice cya cumi na gatatu (Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika), yagombaga gutegeka mu gihe maraya w’i Tiro (ubupapa) yari yaribagiranye.

> And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Isaiah 23:15.

> Kandi bizasohora muri uwo munsi, Tiro izibagirana imyaka mirongo irindwi, nk’uko iminsi y’umwami umwe ingana; hanyuma, imyaka mirongo irindwi nirangira, Tiro izaririmba nk’indaya. Yesaya 23:15.

Nebuchadnezzar therefore represents the beginning of the United States, and Belshazzar represents the end of the United States. Nebuchadnezzar represents the beginning of the Republican horn and the beginning of the Protestant horn. Belshazzar represents the ending of the Republican and Protestant horn.

Nuko Nebukadinezari ahagarariye intangiriro ya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, kandi Belushazari ahagarariye iherezo rya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika. Nebukadinezari ahagarariye intangiriro y’ihembe rya Repubulikani n’intangiriro y’ihembe rya Porotesitanti. Belushazari ahagarariye iherezo ry’ihembe rya Repubulikani n’irya Porotesitanti.

The judgment brought upon Nebuchadnezzar was “seven times.” The story of Nebuchadnezzar’s living as a beast for twenty-five hundred and twenty days, was employed by William Miller in his application of the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six, though he did not address the twenty-five hundred and twenty, that is symbolized in Belshazzar’s judgment.

Urubanza rwamanuriwe Nebukadinezari rwari “ibihe birindwi.” Inkuru ya Nebukadinezari yo kubaho nk’inyamaswa mu minsi ibihumbi bibiri magana atanu na makumyabiri, yakoreshejwe na William Miller mu ishyirwa mu bikorwa rye ry’“ibihe birindwi” byo mu Balewi makumyabiri na batandatu, nubwo atigeze asuzuma ya minsi ibihumbi bibiri magana atanu na makumyabiri, ari yo ishushanywa mu rubanza rwa Belushazari.

> 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.

> Kandi ibi ni ko inyandiko yari yanditswe ngo: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UFARUSINI. Kandi uku ni ko gusobanura kw’icyo kintu: MENE; Imana ibaze ubwami bwawe, kandi ibusoje. TEKEL; wapimiwe ku bipimo, usangwamo uburemere buke. PERES; ubwami bwawe bugabanijwemo ibice, kandi buhawe Abamedi n’Abaperesi. Daniyeli 5:25–28.

Beyond the interpretation Daniel assigned to the mysterious handwriting on the wall, the words “mene” and “tekel,” represent a measurement of weight, and those words also represent a specific value of coinage (Exodus 30:13, Ezekiel 45:12). A “mene” is fifty shekels, or one thousand gerahs. “Mene, mene” therefore equates to two thousand gerahs. A “tekel” is twenty gerahs. Therefore “mene, mene, tekel” equates to two thousand and twenty gerahs. “Upharsin” means “to divide” and therefore means is one-half of a “mene,” and represents five hundred gerahs. Combined they represent the sum of twenty-five hundred and twenty.

Uretse ubusobanuro Daniyeli yahaye ya nyuguti z’amayobera zanditswe ku rukuta, amagambo “mene” na “tekel” asobanura urugero rw’uburemere, kandi ayo magambo anasobanura agaciro kihariye k’ifaranga (Kuva 30:13, Ezekiyeli 45:12). “Mene” ni shekeli mirongo itanu, cyangwa gerah igihumbi. Bityo rero “mene, mene” bingana na gerah ibihumbi bibiri. “Tekel” ni gerah makumyabiri. Ni cyo gituma “mene, mene, tekel” bingana na gerah ibihumbi bibiri na makumyabiri. “Upharsin” bisobanura “kugabanya,” bityo bikaba bishaka kuvuga kimwe cya kabiri cya “mene,” kandi bikagereranya gerah magana atanu. Bihurijwe hamwe bigatanga igiteranyo cya bibiri n’ibihumbi magana atanu na makumyabiri.

The last reference of Sister White identifies that Belshazzar was typified by Nebuchadnezzar, but more specifically she emphasized their mutual judgment, and both judgments are represented as a symbol of the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. There are a few terms that the Scriptures employ to represent the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. Jeremiah represents it as God’s indignation.

Aho aho Sister White agaragaza ko Belushazari yagereranyijwe na Nebukadinezari, ariko mu buryo bwihariye yashimangiye urubanza rwabo bombi, kandi izo manza zombi zigereranywa nk’ikimenyetso cy’“ibihe birindwi” byo mu Balewi makumyabiri na gatandatu. Hari amagambo make Ibyanditswe byera bikoresha mu kugaragaza “ibihe birindwi” byo mu Balewi makumyabiri na gatandatu. Yeremiya abyerekana nk’umujinya w’Imana.

> How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof. He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about. He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire. The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation. And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as in the day of a solemn feast. The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together. Lamentations 2:1–8.

> Mbega Uwiteka yatwikiriye umukobwa wa Siyoni igicu mu burakari bwe, akajugunya hasi ava mu ijuru ubwiza bwa Isirayeli, ntiyibuke intebe y’ibirenge bye ku munsi w’uburakari bwe! Uwiteka yamize ubuturo bwose bwa Yakobo, ntiyabagirira impuhwe; mu nikuzo rye yahiritse ibihome by’umukobwa wa Yuda; yabikubise hasi ku butaka; yahumanyije ubwami n’abatware babwo. Mu burakari bwe bukaze yatsembye ihembe ryose rya Isirayeli; yakuyeyo ukuboko kwe kw’iburyo imbere y’umwanzi, kandi yaka kuri Yakobo nk’umuriro ugurumana, ukongora impande zose. Yaretse umuheto we nk’umwanzi; yahagaze ukuboko kwe kw’iburyo nk’umurwanya, yica ibyari bishimisha ijisho byose mu ihema ry’umukobwa wa Siyoni; yasutse uburakari bwe nk’umuriro. Uwiteka yabaye nk’umwanzi: yamize Isirayeli, yamize ingoro zayo zose; yarimbuye ibihome byayo, kandi yongereye ku mukobwa wa Yuda icyunamo no kurira. Kandi yanyaze ihema rye n’urugomo, nk’aho ryari iry’ubusitani; yarimbuye ahantu h’iteraniro rye; Uwiteka yatumye iminsi mikuru n’amasabato byibagirana muri Siyoni, kandi asuzugura umwami n’umutambyi mu kurakara kw’uburakari bwe. Uwiteka yanze urutambiro rwe, agaya ahera he, ashyikiriza umwanzi inkuta z’ingoro zaho; bavugirije induru mu nzu y’Uwiteka, nk’iy’umunsi mukuru w’iteraniro. Uwiteka yagambiriye kurimbura urukuta rw’umukobwa wa Siyoni: yarutandukanije umugozi, ntiyakuyeyo ukuboko kwe kurimbura; ni cyo cyatumye urugabano n’urukuta bicura umuborogo; byombi byacitse intege icyarimwe. Amaganya 2:1–8.

The Lord’s anger is represented as the “indignation of his anger,” and his anger was accomplished upon both the northern kingdom and southern kingdom of Israel. This is why the book of Daniel identifies a “first” and a “last” indignation. Jeremiah identifies a “line” that the Lord “hath stretched out,” when he exercised his anger towards his chosen people. That line is also referred to in second Kings.

Umujinya w’Uwiteka ugereranywa no “gukara k’umujinya we,” kandi umujinya we wasohorejwe ku bwami bwombi, ubw’Isirayeli bwo mu majyaruguru n’ubwo mu majyepfo. Ni yo mpamvu igitabo cya Daniyeli kigaragaza “uburakari” bwa “mbere” n’ubwa “nyuma.” Yeremiya agaragaza “umurongo” Uwiteka “yarambuye,” ubwo yakoreraga umujinya we ku bwoko bwe yitoranyirije. Uwo murongo na wo uvugwa mu gitabo cya kabiri cy’Abami.

> And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets, saying, Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies. 2 Kings 21:10–14.

> Nuko Uhoraho avugisha abagaragu be b’abahanuzi, ati: “Kubera ko Manase, umwami w’u Buyuda, yakoze ayo mahano y’ibizira, agacumura arusha ibyo Abamori bakoze byose, abamubanjirije, kandi agatesha n’u Buyuda gukora icyaha akoresheje ibigirwamana bye; ni cyo gitumye Uhoraho Imana ya Isirayeli avuga atya iti: Dore ngiye guteza i Yerusalemu n’u Buyuda ibyago bikomeye bene aka kageni, ku buryo uzabyumva wese amatwi ye yombi azavugiriza. Kandi nzarambura i Yerusalemu umugozi wapimye Samariya, n’urukururizo rwo mu nzu ya Ahabu; kandi nzahanagura Yerusalemu nk’uko umuntu ahanagura isahani, ayihanagura maze akayubika yubitse umutwe hasi. Kandi nzata abanditsi b’umurage wanjye nsigaranye, mbagabize mu maboko y’abanzi babo; na bo bazahinduka iminyago n’icyo kunyagwa n’abanzi babo bose.” 2 Abami 21:10–14.

The “line” of God’s indignation that is Moses’ “seven times,” was first stretched over the northern kingdom (the house of Ahab), and then over Judah. Another biblical term for the “seven times” that is derived from Leviticus twenty-six is the term “scattered”.

“Umurongo” w’uburakari bw’Imana, ari wo “ibihe birindwi” bya Mose, wabanje kuramburwa ku bwami bwo mu majyaruguru (inzu ya Ahabu), hanyuma uramburwa no kuri Yuda. Irindi jambo rya Bibiliya ryerekeza ku “bihe birindwi,” rikomoka mu gitabo cy’Abalewi makumyabiri na gatandatu, ni ijambo “batatanyijwe”.

> Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. Leviticus 26:28–35.

> Nuko nanjye nzabagendaho ndabarwanyije mu burakari; kandi jyewe ubwanjye nzabahana incuro ndwi ku bw’ibyaha byanyu. Muzarya inyama z’abahungu banyu, kandi n’inyama z’abakobwa banyu muzazirya. Kandi nzasenya ahantu hanyu hirengeye, ntemagure amashusho yanyu, njugunye intumbi zanyu ku ntumbi z’ibigirwamana byanyu; kandi umutima wanjye uzabanga. Kandi nzahindura imigi yanyu amatongo, maze ahera hanyu nyahindure amatongo; kandi sinzihumurirwa n’impumuro y’ibitambo byanyu bihumura neza. Kandi igihugu nzakigira umusaka; maze abanzi banyu bagituramo bazagitangarira. Kandi nzabatatanyiriza mu banyamahanga, kandi nzabakurikiranya inkota; maze igihugu cyanyu kizaba umusaka, n’imigi yanyu ibe amatongo. Icyo gihe ni bwo igihugu kizishimira amasabato yacyo, igihe cyose kizaba ari umusaka, namwe mukaba muri mu gihugu cy’abanzi banyu; koko icyo gihe igihugu kizaruhuka, kandi kizishimira amasabato yacyo. Igihe cyose kizaba ari umusaka kizaruhuka; kuko kitigeze kiruhuka mu masabato yanyu igihe mwagituragaho. Abalewi 26:28–35.

The scattering among the heathen was fulfilled for Daniel when he was carried as a slave into Babylon, at the captivity of Jehoiakim. Then, while Daniel was in the “enemies’ land” the land rested and enjoyed “her sabbaths.” Second Chronicles informs us that the period of time was the seventy years of Jeremiah, which Daniel came to recognize in chapter nine.

Gutatanywa mu mahanga y’abapagani kwasohoreye kuri Daniyeli igihe yajyanwaga i Babuloni ari imbata, mu bunyage bwa Yehoyakimu. Hanyuma, ubwo Daniyeli yari ari “mu gihugu cy’abanzi,” igihugu cyaruhutse kandi cyishimira “amasabato yacyo.” Igitabo cya Kabiri cy’Ibyo ku Ngoma kitumenyesha ko icyo gihe cyari imyaka mirongo irindwi ya Yeremiya, ari yo Daniyeli yaje kumenya mu gice cya cyenda.

> And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. 2 Chronicles 36:20–23.

> Nuko abari bacitse ku icumu abajyana i Babuloni; kandi babereye we n’abahungu be abagaragu kugeza ku ngoma y’ubwami bw’u Buperesi; kugira ngo ijambo ry’Uwiteka ryavugiwe mu kanwa ka Yeremiya risohore, kugeza igihe igihugu cyari kimariye kuruhuka amasabato yacyo; kuko igihe cyose cyari gitejejwe abantu cyakomeje kuruhuka isabato, kugira ngo imyaka mirongo irindwi isohore. Nuko mu mwaka wa mbere wa Kuro umwami w’u Buperesi, kugira ngo ijambo ry’Uwiteka ryavuzwe mu kanwa ka Yeremiya risohore, Uwiteka akangura umutima wa Kuro umwami w’u Buperesi, bituma atangaza itegeko mu bwami bwe bwose kandi arandika, ati: “Uku ni ko Kuro umwami w’u Buperesi avuga: Uwiteka Imana yo mu ijuru yampaye ubwami bwose bwo mu isi; kandi yantegetse kumwubakira inzu i Yerusalemu ho mu Buyuda. Ni nde muri mwe wo mu bwoko bwe bwose? Uwiteka Imana ye ibane na we, kandi azamuke.” 2 Ngoma 36:20–23.

The term “scattering” is a symbol of the “seven times.” The judgment of Nebuchadnezzar of “seven times” living as a beast, typified the judgment of Belshazzar, as represented by the mystical words upon the wall, “mene, mene, tekel upharsin.” Belshazzar’s judgment was represented by the handwriting that equated to twenty-five hundred and twenty, the same number of days that Nebuchadnezzar lived like a beast, and the same number of years represented with the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six.

Ijambo “gutatanya” ni ikimenyetso cy’“ibihe birindwi.” Urubanza rwa Nebukadinezari rw’“ibihe birindwi” rwo kubaho nk’inyamaswa, rwashushanyaga urubanza rwa Belushazari, nk’uko rwagaragajwe n’amagambo y’amayobera yari yanditswe ku rukuta ngo: “mene, mene, tekel upharsin.” Urubanza rwa Belushazari rwagaragajwe n’inyandiko y’ukuboko yari ingana na magana abiri na mirongo itanu na makumyabiri, ari na yo mibare y’iminsi Nebukadinezari yamaze abaho nk’inyamaswa, kandi ari na yo mibare y’imyaka ishushanywa n’“ibihe birindwi” byo mu Balewi makumyabiri na gatandatu.

The judgment of Belshazzar, that was typified by the judgment of Nebuchadnezzar, was symbolically represented by the “seven times,” and both of those judgments represented a “fall of Babylon,” which is the symbol of the second angel’s message. The first fall of Babylon was when Nimrod’s tower was brought down.

Urubanza rwa Belushazari, rwashushanyijwe mbere n’urubanza rwa Nebukadinezari, rwagaragajwe mu buryo bw’ikigereranyo n’“ibihe birindwi,” kandi ayo manza yombi yagereranyaga “kugwa kwa Babuloni,” ari na cyo kimenyetso cy’ubutumwa bw’umumarayika wa kabiri. Kugwa kwa mbere kwa Babuloni kwabaye igihe umunara wa Nimurodi warimburwaga.

> And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Genesis 11:1–8.

> Isi yose yari ifite ururimi rumwe n’imvugo imwe. Nuko, igihe bimukaga bava iburasirazuba, babona ikibaya mu gihugu cy’i Shinari; bahatura. Maze baravugana bati: Nimuze, duteke amatafari tuyoke neza rwose. Nuko amatafari ababera amabuye, ibumba ribabera isima. Bongera kuvuga bati: Nimuze, twiyubakire umudugudu n’umunara, impinga yawo izagere mu ijuru; kandi twiheshe izina, kugira ngo tutazatatanyirizwa hirya no hino ku isi yose. Uwiteka aramanuka kugira ngo arebe uwo mudugudu n’uwo munara abana b’abantu bubakaga. Maze Uwiteka aravuga ati: Dore, aba bantu ni umwe, kandi bose bafite ururimi rumwe; kandi ibi ni byo batangiye gukora; noneho nta cyo bazakoma imbere mu byo batekereje gukora. Nimuze, tumanuke tujahagarike ururimi rwabo, kugira ngo batongera kumva imvugo ya bagenzi babo. Nuko Uwiteka abatataniriza aho ku isi yose; maze bareka kubaka uwo mudugudu. Itangiriro 11:1–8.

At the judgment of Babel, which was the judgment of Nimrod, the Lord “scattered” Nimrod’s rebels across the “face of the whole earth.” Nimrod and his cohorts knew their rebellion would cause them to be scattered, for they had said the motivation for building the tower and city was to “make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

Mu rubanza rw’i Babeli, ari na rwo rwari urubanza rwa Nimurodi, Uwiteka “yatatanirije” abigometse ba Nimurodi ku “buso bw’isi yose.” Nimurodi n’abo bari bafatanyije na we bari bazi ko ubugome bwabo bwari gutuma batatanywa, kuko bari baravuze ko impamvu yo kubaka uwo munara n’uwo mudugudu ari “ukwihesha izina, kugira ngo tudatatanywa ku buso bw’isi yose.”

A “name” prophetically is a symbol of character. The character that Nimrod and his cohorts established is represented by their works, for by the fruits you shall know the character. The fruit of Nimrod’s rebellion, and therefore the symbol of his character, was the construction of the tower and the city. A “tower” is a symbol of a church, and a “city” is a symbol of a state. The name of Nimrod’s rebels, which represents their character, was the combination of church and state, which is also symbolically represented as the image of the beast.

Mu buryo bw’ubuhanuzi, “izina” ni ikimenyetso cy’imico. Imico Nimurodi n’abo bari bafatanyije bashyizeho igaragazwa n’imirimo yabo, kuko ari ku mbuto muzamenyera imico. Imbuto y’ubwigomeke bwa Nimurodi, bityo ikimenyetso cy’imico ye, yari ukubaka umunara n’umurwa. “Umunara” ni ikimenyetso cy’itorero, kandi “umurwa” ni ikimenyetso cy’igihugu. Izina ry’abigometse ba Nimurodi, rihagarariye imico yabo, ryari ihuriro ry’itorero n’igihugu, kandi na ryo rikaba rigereranywa mu buryo bw’ikimenyetso nk’ishusho ya ya nyamaswa.

The passage identifying the fall of Babel has the expression “go to” repeated three times. The third is when God brings the judgment of confounding their language, and scattering them abroad. The first “go to” was the preparation for the second “go to,” when they constructed their city and tower. When they had accomplished their work during the history of the second expression of “go to,” God came down to visually consider their rebellion. The third “go to,” was judgment, and the second “go to” was a visual test. The first “go to” represents their first failure, and prophetically the three times “go to” is expressed identifies the three-step testing process of the everlasting gospel. There is much more information in the testimony of Nimrod’s rebellion and fall, but we are simply identifying that the first time Babylon (Babel) fell, the symbol of “seven times,” as represented by the “scattering,” is identified. Nimrod’s judgment was represented by a scattering, Nebuchadnezzar’s by “seven times” and Belshazzar’s by “twenty-five hundred and twenty”.

Umurongo uvuga ku kugwa kwa Babeli urimo imvugo “ngaho” isubirwamo incuro eshatu. Incuro ya gatatu ni igihe Imana izanamo urubanza rwo kubavangira ururimi no kubatatanyiriza hirya no hino. “Ngaho” ya mbere yari ugutegura “ngaho” ya kabiri, igihe bubakaga umugi wabo n’umunara wabo. Bamaze kurangiza umurimo wabo mu mateka y’iyo mvugo ya kabiri ya “ngaho,” Imana yamanutse kugira ngo yirebere n’amaso yayo ubugome bwabo bwo kwigomeka. “Ngaho” ya gatatu yari urubanza, naho “ngaho” ya kabiri yari ikigeragezo kigaragara. “Ngaho” ya mbere ihagarariye kunanirwa kwabo kwa mbere, kandi mu buhanuzi, uko “ngaho” ivugwa incuro eshatu kugaragaza uburyo bw’ibigeragezo by’intambwe eshatu bw’ubutumwa bwiza bw’iteka ryose. Hari andi makuru menshi cyane mu buhamya bw’ubwigomeke bwa Nimurodi no kugwa kwe, ariko icyo turi gukora gusa ni ukwerekana ko ku ncuro ya mbere Babuloni (Babeli) yagwaga, ikimenyetso cya “karindwi,” nk’uko gihagarariwe no “gutatanywa,” kigaragazwa. Urubanza rwa Nimurodi rwahagarariwe no gutatanywa, urwa Nebukadinezari ruhagararirwa na “karindwi,” naho urwa Belushazari ruhagararirwa na “ibihumbi bibiri na magana atanu na makumyabiri”.

The signature of the Alpha and Omega identifies that the line of prophecy represented by chapters four and five, is the latter rain message of the second angel and Midnight Cry. The line begins with the fall of Babylon represented by Nebuchadnezzar, identifying 1798, which is when spiritual Babylon (the papacy) fell the first time. Then at the end of the line, Belshazzar’s Babylon falls, marking the beginning of the progressive fall of spiritual Babylon (the papacy again), beginning at the Sunday law crisis. There are two witnesses of the fall of Babylon at the beginning of the line and two witnesses at the end of the line. Prophetic logic recognizes the signature of the great Beginning and Ending, while seeing the subject of Babylon’s fall testified to by four witnesses in the line represented by Daniel chapters four and five.

Ikimenyetso cy’Uwiteka wa Alufa na Omeganiga kigaragaza ko umurongo w’ubuhanuzi uhagarariwe n’ibice bya kane n’ibya gatanu, ari ubutumwa bw’imvura y’itumba y’inyuma bw’umumarayika wa kabiri n’Ubwoko bwo mu Gicuku. Uwo murongo utangirana no kugwa kwa Babuloni guhagarariwe na Nebukadinezari, ibyo bikagaragaza umwaka wa 1798, ari bwo Babuloni y’umwuka (ubupapa) yaguye ubwa mbere. Hanyuma ku iherezo ry’uwo murongo, Babuloni ya Belushazari iragwa, ibyo bikaba ikimenyetso cy’itangiriro ryo kugwa gukomeza kwa Babuloni y’umwuka (ubupapa na bwo), gutangira mu gihe cy’ihungabana ry’itegeko ry’icyumweru. Hariho abahamya babiri b’ukugwa kwa Babuloni mu ntangiriro z’uwo murongo, kandi hariho abahamya babiri ku iherezo ryawo. Ubwenge bw’ubuhanuzi bumenya ikimenyetso cy’Itangiriro n’Iherezo bikomeye, mu gihe bubona ingingo yo kugwa kwa Babuloni ihamywa n’abahamya bane muri uwo murongo uhagarariwe n’ibice bya kane n’ibya gatanu bya Daniyeli.

In the type and antitype relationship of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, when aligned with the last days, we find the earth beast in its lamblike condition represented by Nebuchadnezzar, and then, when it speaks as a dragon, we see Belshazzar. We see in the prophetic relationship, the Republican horn being led by the Constitution of the United States represented by Nebuchadnezzar, and the overturning of the Constitution represented by Belshazzar. We will also see Nebuchadnezzar as a wise virgin and Belshazzar as a foolish virgin.

Mu isano ry’ishusho n’icyo ushushanya hagati ya Nebukadinezari na Belushazari, iyo rihujwe n’iminsi y’imperuka, tubona ya nyamaswa yo mu isi mu mimerere yayo imeze nk’umwana w’intama ihagarariwe na Nebukadinezari; hanyuma, iyo ivuze nk’ikiyoka, tukabona Belushazari. Tubona muri uwo mubano w’ubuhanuzi ihembe ry’Abarepubulikani riyoborwa n’Itegeko Nshinga rya Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika rihagarariwe na Nebukadinezari, n’ihirikwa ry’Itegeko Nshinga rihagarariwe na Belushazari. Tuzabona kandi Nebukadinezari nk’umwari w’umunyabwenge na Belushazari nk’umwari w’umupfu.

We will continue our consideration of Daniel chapters four and five in the next article.

Mu ngingo ikurikira tuzakomeza gusuzuma Daniyeli igice cya kane n’icya gatanu.

> “Belshazzar had been given many opportunities for knowing and doing the will of God. He had seen his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar banished from the society of men. He had seen the intellect in which the proud monarch gloried taken away by the One who gave it. He had seen the king driven from his kingdom, and made the companion of the beasts of the field. But Belshazzar’s love of amusement and self-glorification effaced the lessons he should never have forgotten; and he committed sins similar to those that brought signal judgments on Nebuchadnezzar. He wasted the opportunities graciously granted him, neglecting to use the opportunities within his reach for becoming acquainted with truth. ‘What must I do to be saved?’ was a question that the great but foolish king passed by indifferently.

> “Belushazari yari yarahawe amahirwe menshi yo kumenya no gukora ibyo Imana ishaka. Yari yarabonye sekuru Nebukadinezari yirukanwa mu mibereho y’abantu. Yari yarabonye ubwenge uwo mwami wibone wiratanaga buvanwaho n’Uwabumuhaye. Yari yarabonye umwami yirukanwa mu bwami bwe, agahindurwa mugenzi w’inyamaswa zo mu ishyamba. Ariko urukundo Belushazari yakundaga imyidagaduro no kwihesha ikuzo rwahanaguye mu mutima we amasomo atagombaga kwigera yibagirwa; kandi yakoze ibyaha bisa n’ibyazanye imanza zikomeye kuri Nebukadinezari. Yasesaguye amahirwe yari yarahawe ku bw’ubuntu, yirengagiza gukoresha amahirwe yari amuri hafi kugira ngo amenyane n’ukuri. “Nkore iki ngo nkizwe?” cyari ikibazo uwo mwami mukuru ariko w’umupfapfa yirengagije atabyitayeho.

> “This is the danger of heedless, reckless youth today. The hand of God will awaken the sinner as it did Belshazzar, but with many it will be too late to repent.

> “Iyi ni yo kaga k’urubyiruko rw’iki gihe rutagira ubushishozi kandi rwihubuka. Ukuboko kw’Imana kuzakangura umunyabyaha nk’uko kwabikoreye Belushazari, ariko kuri benshi bizaba byarakererewe cyane kugira ngo bihane.

> “The ruler of Babylon had riches and honour, and in his haughty self-indulgence he had lifted himself up against the God of heaven and earth. He had trusted in his own arm, not supposing that any would dare to say, ‘Why doest thou this?’ But as the mysterious hand traced letters on the wall of his palace, Belshazzar was awed and silenced. In a moment he was completely shorn of his strength and humbled as a child. He realized that he was at the mercy of One greater than Belshazzar. He had been making sport of sacred things. Now his conscience was awakened. He realized that he had had the privilege of knowing and doing the will of God. The history of his grandfather stood out as vividly before him as the writing on the wall.” Bible Echo, April 25, 1898.

> “Umwami wa Babuloni yari afite ubutunzi n’icyubahiro, kandi mu kwishyira hejuru kwe kuzuyemo ubwibone yari yarishyize hejuru kurwanya Imana yo mu ijuru n’isi. Yari yariringiye ukuboko kwe bwite, adatekereza ko hagira n’umwe watinyuka kuvuga ati: ‘Ibi urimo gukora ni ibiki?’ Ariko ubwo ikiganza cy’amayobera cyandikaga inyuguti ku rukuta rw’ingoro ye, Belushazari yafashwe n’ubwoba araceceka. Mu kanya gato yambuwe rwose imbaraga ze kandi acishwa bugufi nk’umwana. Yamenye ko yari ari mu maboko y’Urisumba Belushazari. Yari amaze igihe akina n’ibintu byera. None umutimanama we urakangutse. Yamenye ko yari yarahawe umugisha wo kumenya no gukora ibyo Imana ishaka. Amateka ya sekuruza we yamubonekeye neza cyane imbere, nk’uko inyandiko yari ku rukuta yari igaragara neza.” Bible Echo, April 25, 1898.

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