Mene Mene Tekal Upharsin

“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” (Daniel 5:25) is deeply symbolic, not just for the ancient kingdom of Babylon, but also for a future Babylonian system that is prophesied in the Bible.

First “MENE” – Judgment on Ancient Babylon

In Daniel 5, the Babylonian King Belshazzar sees a mysterious hand writing on the wall during a great feast.

Daniel interprets the writing:

MENE (twice): “God has numbered your kingdom and finished it.”

TEKEL: “You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.”

UPHARSIN: “Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

That very night, Babylon fell to Persia (539 BC). The kingdom collapsed due to its corruption, arrogance, and misuse of wealth.

The reason MENE was written twice was one judgement for Babylon of the ancient day, and one judgement sealed against future Babylon.

The reason MENE was written twice was one judgement for Babylon of the ancient day, and one judgement sealed against future Babylon.

The reason MENE was written twice was one judgement for Babylon of the ancient day, and one judgement sealed against future Babylon.

Here’s more key prophetic characteristics concerning future enemy of God known as “spiritual” Babylon:

Babylon used wealth and trade to control nations (Revelation 18:3).

It exploited people through economic oppression (Jeremiah 51:7).

Merchants mourned when Babylon’s financial system collapsed (Revelation 18:11-13).

Its economy was built on corruption, greed, and idolatry (Habakkuk 2:6).

God judged Babylon for its financial sins and economic injustice (Daniel 5:25-28).

1. Babylon’s Wealth and Economic Power (Isaiah 13:19)
“And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”
Babylon was known as a rich and powerful city, but its economic system was built on corruption and oppression.

2. Babylon’s Economic Oppression (Jeremiah 51:7)
“Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, making all the earth drunk; the nations drank of her wine; therefore, the nations went mad.”

This verse suggests that Babylon’s wealth and economic influence led other nations into corruption.

3. Babylon’s Merchants and Trade (Revelation 18:3)
“For all the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

This shows how Babylon’s economic system was tied to greed, excess, and moral corruption.

4. The Fall of Babylon and the Loss of Trade (Revelation 18:11-13)
“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore—cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble.”

Babylon’s downfall causes a collapse in trade, showing its dependence on material wealth.

5. Babylon’s Currency Deception (Daniel 5:25-28)
“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN… You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.”

King Belshazzar of Babylon saw these words written on the wall before the city fell.

The phrase “weighed on the scales and found wanting” has economic overtones, suggesting corrupt financial practices and a rigged system.

6. Babylon’s Idolatry and Money Worship (Habakkuk 2:6)
“Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, ‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!’”
This could be seen as a critique of Babylon’s financial exploitation and debt-based economy.

7. Babylon’s Coins and Idols (Jeremiah 50:38)
“A drought is against her waters, and they will dry up. For it is the land of carved images, and they are insane with their idols.”
Babylon was obsessed with wealth and false gods, leading to its economic downfall.

8. Babylon as a Financial Empire (Revelation 17:4-5)
“The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.’”

This passage ties Babylon’s financial system to corruption, exploitation, and luxury.