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The Book of Daniel – Dan 4:1-18  Let seven times pass over him

[Study Aired March 7, 2024[

Dan 4:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan 4:2  I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me
Dan 4:3  How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. 
Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 
Dan 4:6  Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 
Dan 4:7  Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 4:8  But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:11  The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 
Dan 4:12  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.
Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 
Dan 4:14  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: 
Dan 4:15  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: 
Dan 4:16  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. 
Dan 4:17  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. 
Dan 4:18  This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. 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.

In this study we will look at how the ‘dream-is-one’ principle is brought to life in God’s word with this particular section of Daniel, which speaks of a tree in the midst of the earth that is paralleled with the other dream that Nebuchadnezzar had of the statue in chapter 3 (Dan 4:10, Dan 3:1).

Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

Dan 3:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Both the statue and the great tree of height represent Nebuchadnezzar and his influence on mankind, which influence has come from Satan, the god of this world (2Co 4:4, Rev 13:4), who has ruled in the hearts and minds of mankind since Adam and Eve. Nebuchadnezzar’s father is Satan, and like Christ and God, they are of one mind, and so what speaks to Nebuchadnezzar and his evil dealings on this earth is a reflection of the deeds of his father, the devil (Joh 8:41), who God has given to be the head of all the powers and principalities of this life against which we wrestle until this day, and can only overcome through Christ within us who is far above all those powers and principalities (Eph 6:12, Eph 2:3, Eph 1:21).

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

The progression being shown now in chapter 4 is that Nebuchadnezzar, or Satan, is going to be bound for a season, and this binding is represented by the “band of iron and brass” that will be put around the stump of the tree that was felled (Dan 4:23).

Dan 4:23  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; 

That period of the tree being bound with iron and copper represents the time during the thousand-year reign of the saints when Satan is bound (Rev 20:7), and is no longer able to destroy or deceive humanity at this point. Without the adversary’s influence on humanity and the spirit of God within anyone, there can be no spiritual growth taking place throughout the reign of the saints. The “stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces” is just the start of the rule of God’s kingdom over the kingdoms of this world, and those kingdoms will be ruled over with a rod of iron, a rulership symbolized by the band of iron around the stump of the fallen tree of great height. The copper band signifies that the world will produce the best that the flesh can produce but nothing beyond copper, no spiritual growth (Dan 2:34, Rev 11:15  iswasandwillbe.com/metals_copper-part-2/). 

This stone that hits the feet of the statue represents Christ and His Christ who will be given to be the rulers of the kingdoms of this earth (Rev 11:15). So the iron and copper band represents the unconverted hearts of mankind that cannot overcome during this stage and yet are producing many wonderful works in the earth, and yes, learning of His righteousness, but keeping it in hearts that are yet carnal (Isa 26:9). The iron ring being bound around the stump and the copper ring also represent the inability of Satan at this time to sift any of humanity or destroy their many wonderful works of copper until he is loosed for a season. The physical destruction of all flesh that is brought about by Gog and Magog typifies the spiritual destruction of the man of sin that will occur in the lake of fire where all of humanity and all the angelic realm will be judged, again the natural preceding the spiritual as it always does (Rev 20:7). 

The lion will in fact lie down with the lamb during the thousand-year reign of the saints under Christ, and that lion represents Satan at this time in history who has not yet been released from the bottomless pit, the abussos within all of mankind (Isa 11:6, Rev 20:3). Satan, like Christ, never went anywhere. Christ went into the clouds when he was ascending to heaven which represents His ascending into the hearts and minds of His people, the great cloud of witness (Heb 12:1), and Satan was bound in the bottomless pit, or the abussos of humanity, until the time that he was predestined to rise up out of the pit to accomplish the destruction of all flesh. This same scenario was carried out with Judas who, at a predestined time, betrayed Christ, as all the disciples did on that night. Judas was in their midst and betrayed Christ at the precise time it was ordained to happen (Joh 13:27).

All of these different variations of a normally ferocious beast lying down with normally tame beasts found in Judges 14:4 tells us the same point. Satan will be stayed at this point in his ability to affect humanity, and humanity will be in no danger of his spiritual influence on their hearts and minds. It will be a very productive time in the earth and a fattening of fatlings, as God has ordained this all to seek an occasion against humanity that will come at the end of this dispensation which is void of grace (Jdg 14:4).

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 

Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

Nebuchadnezzar will have “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” (Dan 4:32). These ‘seven times passing over’ typify the complete setting of the stage for both the devil and all of humanity to be judged in the lake of fire, where the eighth will be of the seven (Rev 17:11), meaning they will go into perdition, which is their time of judgment in the lake of fire resulting in their being purified and given salvation. 

The judgment of  Nebuchadnezzar’s life, or the seven times passing over, is not just symbolized by this one event with his being driven away and having his portion with the beasts of the field, nor was it accomplished by his seeing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego delivered from the fiery furnace, or by seeing Daniel delivered from the lions’ den later in chapter 6 of Daniel. This rod of iron, like judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar, is not changing his heart, but nevertheless it is progressively happening, as it does in the spiritual realm for God’s elect via the seals, trumpets and vials. Judgment does not preclude that there will be conversion, which can only happen through the stone falling on us (Mat 21:44), or the lake of fire event, that will occur to all of humanity at the end of the thousand-year reign (1000 represents that process of judgment on flesh 10x10x10=1000 [2Pe 3:8]). 

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day [the judgment that is symbolized as 1000 years (Rev 20:7) during that time is as one day, because it is typical of the one day of the Lord in the lake of fire. This concept of 1ooo as 1 and 1 as 1000 is another way of saying what Christ said in John 3:5)].

This judgment of Nebuchadnezzar symbolizes the judgment in the earth during the thousand years with a rod of iron that does not change the heart of mankind. The theme in Nebuchadnezzar’s life is like that of Pharaoh of Moses’ time, who God repeatedly softened and hardened his heart for our sakes, to show us that we are the clay in the Master Potter’s hand, Who does what He wants and as many times as He has ordained (Rom 9:17). He will harden and soften anyone of our hearts as He sees fit (Isa 63:17). Ultimately, Nebuchadnezzar never truly repented despite all these miracles that were being done right before his eyes, and this typifies how Satan and all the world will not change, regardless of all the miracles that occur during the rule of the saints on this earth, most notably the fact that they are seeing the resurrected body of Christ right in front of them (Luk 16:31, Isa 30:20).

Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 

Luk 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Isa 30:20  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 

God will fill the earth to its completeness [7] (Hab 2:14) during the reign of the saints with His word, that is the complete “seven times shall pass over thee”, washing of the word, being baptized with water and then being baptized with fire in the great white throne judgment (1Co 15:46, Joh 3:5, Rev 20:14-15). 

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is later, after this natural judgment of the earth, that the seven last fiery spiritual plagues will be poured out upon humanity in the lake of fire and upon Satan (Rev 19:20, Rev 20:10, Rev 20:14-15). Chapter 3 typified the judgment of the elect via, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Christ’s judgment in this life, whereas Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment represents the judgment of the rest of humanity that is progressive and concludes in the lake of fire. The dream is one in that all men will be judged but each man’s judgment, and angels’ judgment is in the order God has ordained (Heb 9:27-28, 1Co 15:23-25).

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 
Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 
1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Dan 4:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Dan 4:2  I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 
Dan 4:3  How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. 

Nebuchadnezzar declares the great works which God did toward him to “all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you” and typifies the initial peace that the rule of the saints will bring when God’s government is established. In reality his saying “Peace be multiplied unto you” is the same as saying  “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” seeing the lasting peace that passes all understanding can only come through Christ  (Jer 8:11, Php 4:7).

Jer 8:11  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Nebuchadnezzar is driven out to live with the beasts of the field and loses his mind to ultimately be given a healthy mind. Initially, we read, “The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.” This event is also analogous of Satan’s kingdom being taken from him during the thousand years (Rev 11:15).

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

Nebuchadnezzar expresses his desire to let these things be known regarding what God has shown him via the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and he wants everyone to know, “I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.” Those works were wrought toward him, but they did not change who he was inwardly, which parallels with the unchanged heart of mankind during the thousand-year reign of the saints, who will see many miracles being performed by the saints, but their hearts will not be changed by those events. Nebuchadnezzar can see “How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation” as he acknowledges God’s miracles and greatness like Nicodemus did in the night, but was yet unconverted (Joh 3:2).

Joh 3:2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to be judged and put through fiery trials as types of the elect whose words were being tried by fire (1Pe 1:7), actions which God accomplished according to His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). The judgment of the Hebrew children typifies the elect being judged first today (1Pe 4:17), and the judgment of Nebuchadnezzar typifies the judgment of the rest of the world being judged later during the reign of the saints and then in the lake of fire. These verses demonstrate that God was judging Nebuchadnezzar in his dreams (Job 33:15-19).

Job 33:15  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 
Job 33:16  Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 
Job 33:17  That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
Job 33:18  He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 
Job 33:19  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, “everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation” because He alone can declare the end from the beginning, from “generation to generation“, from age to age, in each book He has written that will be part of that everlasting kingdom (Psa 139:16). The generations of old, prior to Pentecost, typify for us what was accomplished through others for our sakes so we could understand how we are given dominion over sin today through Christ (1Pe 1:12). God’s elect are the generation today with Christ abiding in us who understand that we are guilty of all the blood of the prophet’s from Abel to Zacharias. Each generation accomplishes exactly what God has determined according to the counsel of His own will (Luk 11:51, Eph 1:11).

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 
Dan 4:6  Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 
Dan 4:7  Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 4:8  But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 

The dream is one, the great statue of chapter 3 is Nebuchadnezzar, and the tree of great height in chapter 4 is him as well. We know that the statue represents all the empires of the world, so this tree of great height should likewise represent all men of the earth who have been influenced throughout the ages by Satan who is typified by Nebuchadnezzar (Mar 8:24).

Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

This is the second time Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, or as he puts it “thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.” In both instances he initially seeks to “bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream“, which demonstrates his leaning unto his own flesh even after already having been clearly shown God’s power and gift to interpret the dream in the first instance with Daniel. Even when he finally does call upon Daniel, he refers to him from his mindset saying, “in whom is the spirit of the holy gods“, and “because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee“, thinking of the God of heaven and earth as being connected with “the spirit of the holy gods” (Isa 45:5).

Isa 45:5  I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me; 

Nebuchadnezzar makes a decree to bring in this group prior to calling on Daniel, “Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.” This group represents Babylon who cannot discern the spiritual matters of God because they are spiritually discerned. Nebuchadnezzar is blind and deaf and not discerning the voice of the true shepherd, and yet does finally call on Daniel after all other avenues are exhausted (1Co 2:14), “ whose name was Belteshazzar [secret treasure gatherer (PNB);  lord of the straitened’s treasure (BDB)], according to the name of my god.

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Nebuchadnezzar’s going to “the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers” first to find an answer to the dream he had (Dan 4:7) typifies our going into Babylon first to try to find the answer to the dreams and visions we’ve been given of God, but it takes the church, represented by Daniel, in order for that manifest knowledge to be made known to the king, (Eph 3:10). “O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.“

Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:11  The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
Dan 4:12  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. 

These first three verses define what Satan’s kingdom looks like. It is appealing like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and spoken of in desirable terms seeing this is what this tree represents in the midst of the earth (Gen 3:6, Gen 2:9). It is in the night that God gives this vision to Nebuchadnezzar while he is asleep, telling us that he won’t be able to understand the vision, being spiritually blind represented by his sleep upon his bed.

Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Gen 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 

Verses 11 and 12 are a reiteration of the dream of the statue that also represents what filled the whole earth with its empires. “The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth” (Dan 4:11). The tree grew like the nations of the world have grown. The tree was strong like the many strong empires represented in the statue. The height of the tree reached unto heaven, which symbolizes the high-mindedness of the first man Adam controlled by powers and principalities in the heavens. All this is just as the case was with the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The tree’s influence is able to be observed throughout all the earth, again just as the statue that had the same influence over all the various empires that Satan, who is the god of this world, rules over.

The fruit of the tree is then described in verse 12, which, as mentioned, was desirous and representing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3:6) that has been the sole source of provision for the kingdoms of this world which have had the whole stay of bread and water taken away from them (Isa 3:1). That water and bread reside only on the tree of life that is presently being guarded by a flaming sword which turns every way, “to keep the way of the tree of life” (Gen 3:24). Of this tree that represents the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we read, “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.“

Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 
Dan 4:14  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:

The “watcher and an holy one” that came down from heaven in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream makes a loud cry, “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” and typifies the heralding of the angel of the Lord and the great voices in heaven spoken of in Revelation 11:15 who represent the elect of God (Isa 40:9, Oba 1:21). 

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Isa 40:9  O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God!

They are told to cut down the tree, which represents Babylon falling (Rev 14:8), and the branches represent the many harlot churches of the great whore that must fall, along with the leaves and the fruit that represent the millions of false doctrines which have brought no healing to the nations that God’s elect are going to be used to judge and destroy and replace with the undefiled word of God that will heal the nations in time (Rev 22:2). The beasts, meaning mankind, are told to get “away from under it“, which is another way of saying “come out of her my people.” “The fowls from his branches” having to get away typifies the need to come out from under the snare of the fowler who is the devil (Pro 6:5) who has twisted God’s words and blinded the world into believing in another Jesus (Mat 16:18-19, Luk 13:32).

Pro 6:5  Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Dan 4:15  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: 
Dan 4:16  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.

The timeline of this tree being felled is symbolically at the start of the thousand-year reign of the saints (Rev 20:4), and a greater judgment is to come at the end of the thousand years that will do away with “the stump of his roots in the earth” (Rev 20:7-8, Rev 20:14-15, Mal 4:1). In the meantime, they remain along “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.“

The band of iron and copper represent the current condition of man’s heart without the influence of Satan at this time in the earth. He is being withheld at this stage from humanity, as described in these verses, (2Th 2:3-8), until he is revealed, which is when all the world will be judged along with the devil, and then that man of perdition will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming [lake of fire judgment] (2Th 2:3-8). The world is not spiritually mature here, symbolized by this tree stump being “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.” Tender grass is for the spiritually young, as is the dew from heaven which is not rivers of living water that proceed from those who have God’s spirit within them in this age. The beasts in the grass of the earth are again telling us that the world cannot go on to spiritual maturity without God’s spirit within (Rom 8:9), which makes it possible for us to digest the stronger meat of the word (Heb 5:14).

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Dan 4:17  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. 
Dan 4:18  This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. 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.

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones” represents the authority that is given to the body of Christ during this time of rulership, and the Lord has put the weak of the world in charge “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.” It’s true that Nebuchadnezzar represents the basest of men for our sakes, representing and typifying the ‘not many noble, weak of the world, chief of sinners’ elect who identify with these words now, “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.” That kingdom of God is within the elect now who understand that all things are ours and that God does not need the wise of the world to establish His kingdom on this earth (1Co 1:26-29, Eph 4:4, 2Pe 1:10).

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 

The Lord will ultimately have the world turn to the elect for the answers to all of their spiritual questions and concerns, as typified by this situation where Nebuchadnezzar went to Daniel to understand the interpretation of his dream. “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.” The timeline of the world being given the true undefiled words of God have a yet unconverted world expressing their gratitude in the typical manner that Nebuchadnezzar did, who acknowledges in his own words that Christ is in us by saying, “for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.” Nebuchadnezzar does not know Daniel’s ‘new name’ and calls him “Belteshazzar” which brings to mind these verses that speak of Christ and his Christ (Mar 6:3-4, Rev 2:17). 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 
Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Next week we will look at the second half of this chapter where Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is interpreted by Daniel in the rest of chapter 4 (Dan 4:19-37).