Closer To Heaven
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by Mark Johnson | 24 June 2025 | (Read part 1 of this series here.) In this installment I’m discussing an idea of central importance to Adventists—one that has largely been sidelined. It’s called wholism. Our doctrine of wholism (and for my purposes, the “w” seems essential) has often fallen under the rather dreary heading […] Source: https://atoday.org/i-alone-can-fix-it-part-2-wholism/
24 June 2025 | 2,958 runners, of whom 739 were children, participated in a charity run to support victims of domestic violence. ADRA Romania in collaboration with AMiCUS Romania Student Federation hosted the fourth edition of the charity cross-country race entitled “I’m Running for My Mother.” The charity run occurred simultaneously in 12 cities: Arad, […] Source: https://atoday.org/adra-romania-works-to-raise-awareness-for-domestic-violence/
24 June 2025 | According to multiple reports: The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kenya has ruled that the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Central Rift Valley Conference, must compensate former employee Jescah Gesare over KSh 800,000 [US$ 6,20o] for unfair dismissal. The lawsuit was founded on the church’s suspicion that Gesare was having an […] Source: https://atoday.org/former-employee-wins-court-case-against-central-rift-valley-conference-for-unethical-dismissal/
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?
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”? |
(1)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25b-13-the-drying-of-the-euphrates/
Members of Sleep Hollow Adventist congregation found themselves reflecting deeply on the concept of time this Sabbath, as Pastor Harold Jenkins’ sermon on “The Shortness of Time” stretched well into its third hour, challenging both the endurance and the faith of those in attendance. The sermon, which began with an energetic reading of Romans 13:11 […] Source: https://atoday.org/satire-pastors-sermon-on-shortness-of-time-enters-third-hour/
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22, NIV).
Tag someone in need of prayer, and kindly share your prayer requests here:
https://wkf.ms/3DBuapQ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTh1lgwitcA
Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Shawn Boonstra, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-images-of-the-end-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/
View an in-depth discussion of Images of the End in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-images-of-the-end-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/
“Io vi dico che di ogni parola oziosa che avranno detta, gli uomini renderanno conto nel giorno del giudizio”. 📖 Matteo 12:36 —
💌 Apri la porta del tuo cuore
🗣 Speaker: Liuanna Serra Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADlaoT-GyEQ
Lesson 13: IMAGES OF THE END
13.3 Belshazzar’s Feast
Belshazzar – Knowledge Alone Does Not Prevent the Fall if the Heart Remains Proud………………………………………………………………….
IntroductionBabylon – the magnificent capital of the ancient world, a symbol of wealth, power, and human arrogance. In the midst of this backdrop, a final act unfolds: a king’s feast becomes the stage for God’s judgment.
Daniel 5 is a chapter about boundaries:
the boundary of God’s patience,
the boundary of human pride,
the boundary between light and darkness.
We meet a man who knew everything but did nothing with it. A king whose last night became an eternal warning.
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Bible Study 
Verses 1–4: The Feast – Arrogance against the Holy“King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.” (v.1)
The scene opens with a lavish feast. A thousand guests, wine in abundance – and a provocation against the holy. Belshazzar commands the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple to be brought in. Holy items become the toys of a godless party.
Why did he do this?
Provocation: Amid the siege by the Medes and Persians (who were already at the gates!), Belshazzar declares: We fear nothing – not even Israel’s God.
Contempt: He mocks the God his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar once honored.
Pride: Belshazzar lives as if there is no judgment – only his own power.
Spiritual Principle: Whoever despises the holy inevitably invites judgment.
Verses 5–12: The Handwriting – God’s Response to Mockery“Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote…” (v.5)
In the middle of the feast – and the mockery – God interrupts. A hand appears. Silence. Terror. Panic.
No one understands the words. The wise men fail. Finally, Daniel is summoned – long forgotten by men, but not by God.
Why a finger?
→ In Scripture, the finger of God symbolizes divine power (Exodus 31:18 – “written by the finger of God”).
Here, it represents judgment. No more warnings. Now comes the verdict.
Verses 13–23: Daniel’s Speech – A Reminder of What You Knew“But you, Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.” (v.22)
Daniel reminds Belshazzar of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation – his pride, fall, repentance, and faith in God.
Now the verdict over Belshazzar:
You knew the truth.
You ignored it.
You mocked God’s holiness.
You are without excuse.
Spiritual Principle: The greatest sin is not ignorance – but ignoring the truth you know.
Verses 24–28: The VerdictMene, Mene, Tekel, Uparsin
These four words mark the end of divine patience:
Mene – God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Tekel – You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Peres/Uparsin – Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
This judgment is final, irreversible. No room for repentance.
God had spoken – for long. Now He acts.
Verses 29–31: The End – One Night, One Judgment, One Death“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain.” (v.30)
Perhaps the most tragic words in Scripture. No delay. No miracle. No tomorrow.
Judgment does not strike Babylon first – it strikes the king who knew the light and ignored it.
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Answers to the Questions
Question 1: What important spiritual lessons do we learn?God is patient – but His patience has limits.
Belshazzar knew God’s works, but lived as if God were a myth.
God weighs hearts, not titles.
Holy things are not for play – be it God’s Word, time, or name.
Rebellion against light is more severe than ignorance.
Belshazzar “knew all this” and still hardened his heart.
Question 2: What caused Belshazzar to stumble?Not lack of information – but pride.
A heart that remained hard despite warnings.
Arrogance that mocked God’s grace.
A lifestyle that excluded God.
As Ellen White once wrote:
“No man suddenly falls into deep sin. Apostasy is the result of a gradual, careless attitude toward light.”
(Education, p. 95)
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Spiritual PrinciplesGod speaks before He judges.
Ignoring spiritual light is dangerous.
Our actions are weighed.
A proud heart is blinder than an uninformed one.
Humility is the path to salvation.
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Application for Daily LifeTake God’s Word seriously. It’s not just for Sundays – it’s life.
Treat sacred things with reverence – time, worship, truth.
Live consciously – God’s patience is great, but not endless.
Ask yourself: Am I ready to be weighed?
Learn from the mistakes of others. You don’t have to fall to learn.
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ConclusionBelshazzar’s final night is a message for our time. Many know much – but live as if there were no God.
Yet the judgment is real. The scale exists. God does not weigh fame, money, or influence – He weighs the heart.
Don’t be surprised by judgment. Respond today.
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Thought of the Day“When the hand of God writes, it is too late to argue. It is time to bow.”
Don’t wait for the writing on the wall – listen to His Word now.
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Illustration – “The Glass Office”New York City, 21st Century
The office was high. Too high. 67th floor. The sky was barely above. Only glass, steel, and eternity.
Leon H. Chandler was CEO of NovaCore – a tech giant leading in AI and digital defense. He was brilliant, powerful – and godless.
Religion?
“A relic for the weak,” he’d scoff, “something people invent when they’ve lost control.”
It was New Year’s Eve. Leon was preparing a grand private gala – journalists, politicians, even an astronaut would attend. He was about to unveil his latest project: Nova Eden – a digital paradise without God.
The Invitation
Two days before the event, a handwritten letter arrived. No return address. Just:
“D. Michael – Former security advisor, now pastor.”
Leon vaguely remembered him. A former CIA analyst, once hired by NovaCore. He had left to “serve God.” Leon had laughed at the time.
The letter was calm, yet piercing:
“Leon, you build towers of light and glass, but your foundation is sand.
You know the truth. You’ve seen it in your family. But you’ve chosen to scorn it.
This night will not be ordinary. God’s fingers don’t always write visibly – but they write.
You still have time. But not forever.”
—Daniel
Leon shrugged it off. “Religious nonsense.”
The Feast
December 31. Everything was perfect. Robots served wine. Holograms played music.
At the center: an ancient silver chalice – once from the Jerusalem Temple, now a decoration.
Leon raised it:
“The old gods are dead,” he declared. “We’ve taken over!”
Then – silence.
The Writing
Lights flickered. Music stopped. Screens went black.
Then, words appeared on the glass walls – glowing, untouchable:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPARSIN
Panic erupted. Technicians scrambled. No one could stop it.
Leon stood frozen.
He remembered. The story. His father’s Bible. Daniel. The judgment. The king. The cup.
“You knew,” whispered something deep within. “You always knew.”
The Encounter
That same night, Leon left the tower. No press. No guards. Just a letter in his coat.
At 3 a.m., he knocked on a small door in Brooklyn. Daniel opened – as if expected.
Leon was pale. Quiet. Broken.
“Is it too late?” he asked.
Daniel paused.
“Not yet. But you’ve seen the boundary of God.”
They spoke until dawn.
A New Year
Leon resigned the next day. No press release.
Only one interview, weeks later:
“I was king of a digital empire,” he said. “But I was empty. I knew the truth and mocked it.
But God gave me one last night. His fingers don’t write on glass – they write on hearts.
I saw His handwriting. And I fell. But in that fall, I found grace.”
What this story tells us:
“But you, Belshazzar, did not humble your heart, though you knew all this.” (Daniel 5:22)
Even today, people celebrate their own power – with glass, tech, and pride.
Even today, the holy is mocked.
Even today, God writes – not always visibly, but truly.
Even today, He sends Daniel – messengers of mercy before the verdict comes.
You know it.
What will you do with it?
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