MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 25, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
PROPHET DANIEL MADE PRIME MINISTER IN BABYLON AND MEDO-PERSIA
Based on the book of Daniel.
Daniel was always true to God while loyal to his government. Dan. 6: 16-23. He was a high government official for over 70 years under two successive pagan world empires: Babylon (under Nebuchadnezzar, briefly Belshazzar), on to Medo-Persia (under Darius and Artaxerxes).
We read the following from the KJV Bible:
“Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him RULER over the whole province of Babylon, and CHIEF of the governors over all the wisemen of Babylon.” (Dan. 2:48, read 1-49).
“So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”(Dan. 6: 28; cf. Ezra 1:1-11; 2: 1, 2).
The Babylon herein referred to has its spiritual antitype as a major player at the end stages of the church. In Revelation it is a symbol of opposition against Christ and His followers (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:18). Let’s first consider facts of its secular historical aspect.
Source: SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald Publishing Asso., WA D.C, 1960, art. ‘Babylonia,’ pp. 108-9 (all emphasis provided):
“In the 13th century B.C., the Assyrians. . . invaded Babylonia. . . For 6 centuries Babylonia was more or less an Assyrian dependency. . . Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C. . . made himself king of Babylon under the name of Pul.
“Sargon II also ruled as king of Babylon, but Sennacherib, tired of the constant rebellions, thoroughly destroyed the city of Babylon.
“Esarhaddon rebuilt it.
After which the city experienced its most flourishing period.
“In 626 B.C. Nabopolassar, a Chaldean official subject to the Assyrians, declared himself king of Babylon, as one of his tribal relatives, Marduk-apaladdina (the Biblical Merodach-baladan) had done a century earlier. His bid for independence lasted only 18 years, but the new Kindom became a success, and developed into an EMPIRE that soon succeeded that of the Assyrians.
“After Nabopolassar had fought against the Assyrians for several years with uneven success, he joined the MEDES, and with their help after a siege of 3 months conquered NINEVEH in 612 B.C.
“When the conquerors divided the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian king inherited all of MESOPOTAMIA, SYRIA, and PALESTINE. It was necessary for him to fight remnants of Assyrian resistance in Upper Mesopotamia for a few more years, and also the EGYPTIANS, who had helped the Assyrians and who tried to become the masters of SYRIA and PALESTINE.
“In 605 B.C., NEBUCHADNEZZAR, still crown prince, defeated NECHO OF EGYPT, first at Charchemish and then at Hamath. Late in the summer his father [Nabopolassar] died and he succeeded to the throne.
“Annual campaigns in SYRIA and PALESTINE followed. JERUSALEM was taken several times, and after its THIRD CAPTURE in 586 B.C., the rebellious city was DESTROYED AND ITS POPULATION DEPORTED TO BABYLONIA.
“Nebuchadnezzar was a strong king and a great builder. He practically rebuilt the city of Babylon, and erected many structures in many cities. After a successful rule of more than 40 YEARS, he was followed by several weak rulers under whose inefficient government the empire DETERIORATED rapidly.
“His son Amel-Marduk, the Biblical Evil-merodach, reigned for only 2 years (562-560 B.C.), and was then assassinated and succeeded by his brother-in-law Nergal-shar-usur, who ruled in Babylon for 4 years (560-556 B.C.). He was followed by his son Labashi-Marduk, who was murdered after a reign of less than 2 months. The murderers put one of the conspirators, NABONIDUS, on the throne.
“Nabonidus saw danger from PERSIA [modern-day Iran] and made an alliance against it with EGYPT, LYDIA, and SPARTA. He also campaigned in ARABIA and made Tema in northwestern Arabia his residence for a number of years, while his elder son, BELSHAZZAR, to whom he entrusted the kingship as COREGENT, ruled in Babylon.
“In October, 539 B.C., only 23 YEARS after Nebuchadnezzar’s death, the empire fell to the hands of CYRUS THE PERSIAN, almost without a fight. Cyrus had forced an entrance into the Mesopotamian valley in the BATTLE OF OPIS, and a few days later the capital city fell to the Persians without a battle, and its fall ended the history of Babylon as an independent power.
“The Kindom became a part of the PERSIAN EMPIRE and later was reduced to a province. The territory then fell to ALEXANDER THE GREAT [of Grecia] and belonged successively to the SELEUCIDS, PARTHIANS, SASSANIDS, and others; now it is part of the country of IRAQ.” (End of excerpt).
With this historical background of the “rise and fall” of the said empires, we can better appreciate Daniel’s recorded “true as steel to principle” and uncompromising faithfulness to God, while excelling in serving in the highest government offices of successive pagan kings and their empires!
It only takes one lit candle to dispel the darkness. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ye are the light of the world and salt of the earth.”
Are we?
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.