Nebuchadnezzar's Seven Times

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Nebuchadnezzar was the first world emperor, and within a short time into his reign, he was shown that the God of Heaven was the one and only true God.  The Bible tells us in Daniel 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

Daniel was able, through the power of the Most High, not only to interpret the complex dream of king Nebuchadnezzar, but also relay to the king what he had dreamt because the king could not remember it.  After this miracle the king proclaimed Daniel 2:47 ...Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 

In this dream God revealed to king Nebuchadnezzar that he was placed on the throne by God Himself, and that this One True God sets up kings and remove kings as He deems fit.

Later on, the king became proud and made an image of himself like the image in his dream.  But instead of it being made of gold, silver, brass and iron; this image was of pure gold signifying the endless kingdom of Babylon.  He built it ninety feet tall and demanded that all his subjects bow down to this image and worship it. 

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream 

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Most people know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace found in Daniel 3.  Those three worthies were delivered from the flames of the blast furnaces used to make the image by none other than Jesus!  Listen to Nebuchadnezzar's own words: Daniel 3:25 ...Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Nebuchadnezzar was familiar enough with Jesus to recognize Him.  Nebuchadnezzar proclaims in Daniel 3:28 ...Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Nebuchadnezzar knew the One True God, he knew that the God in Heaven is the God of gods and Lord of all kings.  He knew that God in Heaven put him on his throne, he knew that God had set up every king and kingdom for eternity and he knew that God wanted to be worshiped and no other god was to be put before the One True God.  So when we read in Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  We know that these words were wilful blasphemy and we know that Nebuchadnezzar knew better by his own admission. 

Let's take a look at Nebuchadnezzar's account of his experience with the 2520:
Daniel 4:10 ... I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of
iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let
seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen...

The Tree

Here we see the seven times we saw in Leviticus 26 and we also see the iron and brass we saw in verse 19 of Leviticus 26. The iron and brass is a major clue; we find it in Deuteronomy 28 as well, which contains the same blessings and curses found in Leviticus 26. Now let's find out the dream's interpretation.

Daniel 4:18 ...Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Here we have an example again of how God in His mercy gives a warning, just like He gave the Israelites in the books of Moses.  He could have just removed Nebuchadnezzar for the sins and iniquities he had committed without any warning.  Even the punishment, though severe, was not permanent.  God's mercy surely does endureth for ever!

Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar was given a warning of the punishment to come should he continue to blaspheme God and remain an unjust ruler.  He was also given the conditions required to keep the punishment from being exacted upon him. Unfortunately, as with other warnings in the Bible, this one was soon forgotten.

Daniel 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

Nebuchadnezzar was scattered from his people, removed from his throne and power. He was humbled to the ground and made to eat with the beasts of the field. We read in Leviticus 26:19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: and this surely was Nebuchadnezzar's experience.

Eating Grass

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Even though his punishment was severe, Nebuchadnezzar was truly blessed for this experience. As you can see by the last few verses in Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar became converted and a true follower of God. At the end of seven years Nebuchadnezzar was "gathered" together, re-established and excellent majesty was added to him.

Nebuchadnezzar's punishment lasted for seven years or 2520 literal days. This was a very important parallel in the discovery of the seven times 2520 prophecy.  Here is a quotation from William Miller’s works volume 2, pg. 261: ""Seven times," in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, was fulfilled in seven years. Nebuchadnezzar, for his pride and arrogancy against God, was driven among the beasts of the field, and was made to eat grass as oxen, until seven times passed over him, and until he learned that the Most High ruled in the kingdoms of men, and gave it to whomsoever he would. This being a matter of history, and as an allegory or sample to the people of God for their pride and arrogancy, in refusing to be reformed by God, and claiming the power and will to do these things themselves,—they, too, like Nebuchadnezzar, must be driven (or scattered) among the beasts of the field, (meaning the kingdoms of the world,) until they learn the sovereignty of God, and that he dispenses his favors to whomsoever he will. That, being a matter of history, and a sample only, was fulfilled in seven years; but this, being a prophecy, will only be fulfilled in seven prophetic times, which will be 7 times 360 years, which will make 2520 years".

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