Page 86 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

It was not long before nepotism and malfeasance in all departments of the
government began to become apparent. Those in authority strove to maintain their
popularity by giving lavish official functions, all of which were orgies of drunkenness

and licentiousness. The public revenues thus squandered in official debauchery, the
burden of taxation rested more and more heavily upon the people, until their groans of
anguish began to burst forth in angry denunciations of the ruling authorities. This
rebellious temper Belgar tried to quell by intimidation. He honey-combed the land

with spies who reported those who spoke against him, and after mock trials, hustled
them to execution, until mass beheadings were held every few days.

The army began to decay, and the nations that had been conquered by

Nebuchadnezzar saw the decline and began to become bolder in refusing to pay
tribute.

After Belgar and his crowd had been in power four years, the people were sighing

for the good days of the violent old autocrat, Nebuchadnezzar, and by the end of
another year of governmental wickedness they were about at the breaking point. But
the “seven times” that Jehovah had determined as the duration of Nebuchadnezzar’s
madness, were fulfilled and the Sovereign God was ready to move in upon a situation

from which He had apparently withdrawn His hand.