02.05- Chapter 4. The Tree Dream

Daniel 4:1-37. The Tree Dream THE PROCLAMATION “Nebuchadnezzar the king unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth;

PEACE BE MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU.

“I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the HIGH GOD hath WROUGHT TOWARD ME. 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.” Daniel 4:1-3. This chapter is a “Babylonian State Document.” It is a “Proclamation” of King Nebuchadnezzar to the whole world. It was issued in B. C. 562, the year he recovered from his insanity, and a year before his death. It was intended as a confession of his sin of Pride, and an explanation of the cause of his insanity, and of his conversion to the service of the Most High. The tone of it is in marked contrast with his previous utterances. And the salutation, “Peace be multiplied unto you,” are the words of a Christian, and sound strange coming from the lips of a heathen king whose life had been spent in warfare for the purpose of building up a world-wide Empire. But his Dreams and experience had taught him that his Kingdom was not to last forever, and that the “Stone Kingdom” of the “Most High God” was to be an “EVERLASTING KINGDOM,” whose dominion would last from generation to generation. The main part of the Proclamation is taken up with an account of a “Dream” which the King had, and its interpretation and fulfillment in his own experience. A TROUBLED KING

“I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a ’Dream’ which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 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.’ 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.” Daniel 4:4-7. The Proclamation begins with the significant words—”I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.” Like the rich man in the Parable, he was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day, and cared little for the misery of others, for his thoughts were self-centered, and taken up with his own greatness. He was at “rest” because he had conquered all his enemies. He was familiar with all the perils of the battlefield, and had faced them without fear. And now in the quiet and rest of his Palace, with no enemy to fear, he is troubled by a “Dream.” If the “Dream” had to do with his Empire, he probably would not have cared so much, but he realized that it in some way had to do with himself. He was anxious therefore to have it interpreted. So he sent for the “Wise Men” of Babylon, and while he this time had not forgotten his “Dream,” and repeated it to them, they failed him as before. Then Daniel appeared upon the scene. Where he had been, or why he had not been called in the first place, we are not told.

“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, 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.” Daniel 4:8-9. THE DREAM

“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. The TREE grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 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.” Daniel 4:10-12.

While Nebuchadnezzar was wondering what the “Vision of the Tree” meant, he saw descend from Heaven a “WATCHER,” or “HOLY ONE.” From Da.n 4:17 we learn that there is in Heaven a “Court,” known as the “COURT OF THE WATCHERS” Or “HOLY ONES,” and that it was by a “DECREE” of that Court, to which the case of Nebuchadnezzar had been referred, that he was condemned to live as a “Beast” for a period of seven years. The purpose of the “Decree” was that the inhabitants of the earth might know that the “Most High” ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomsoever He will. The Book of Daniel reveals the close connection between the earth and the “Spirit World.” In Daniel 9:10 we read of the visit of the angel Gabriel to Daniel, and in Daniel 10:4-12 of other heavenly beings. In Ephesians 6:11-12 we are told to put on the whole “Armor of God,” for, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood (earthly beings), but against ’Principalities,’ against ’Powers,’ against the ’Rulers of the Darkness of this World,’ against ’Spiritual Wickedness’ in high (heavenly) places.” There are three heavens spoken of in the Scriptures. The first is the atmosphere of our earth, the third is the Heaven where God dwells, and the second is an intermediate heaven where the “Principalities and Powers of Evil,” comprising the “Kingdom of Satan” dwell. Satan is the “PRINCE” of the “Powers of the Air,” and he has many subordinate Princes who are delegated to do his obstructive work. Two of them are mentioned by Daniel, the “PRINCE OF PERSIA” and the “PRINCE OF GRECIA.” Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:20. From this it would look as if Satan had a delegated Prince for every nation to superintend his work there. So great and powerful are these Princes that it takes the power and strength of “MICHAEL” the Archangel, the Commanderin- Chief of the “Armies of Heaven,” to overcome them. Daniel 10:13; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7-9. That the “Powers of Evil” in the Heavenlies, as well as the conduct of earthly powers, may be properly controlled, and officially passed upon, there is a “Judicial Court” in Heaven before which their cases are tried, that the Book of Daniel calls the “COURT OF THE WATCHERS,” and whose decrees, as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar, are executed on the earth.

What troubled Nebuchadnezzar was not the “Vision of the Tree,” but the PERSONIFICATION of it by the “Watcher” or “Holy One,” who changed the word “it” to the personal pronoun “HIS.”

“I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a ’WATCHER’ and a ’HOLY ONE’ came down from Heaven; 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: 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: 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. 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. 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.” Daniel 4:13-18. When Daniel heard the Dream he was greatly troubled, and for one hour was too astonished to speak. Not that he did not know the meaning of the Dream, but he dreaded to tell the King the unpleasant news. When however the King, who seemed to realize the personal character of the Dream, assured him that he need not fear to tell him, then Daniel, to prepare the King for the judgment that was to come upon him, said—”My lord, the Dream be to them that hate thee, and the Interpretation thereof to thine enemies.” That is, I wish that the calamity that is to fall on you might fall on your enemies. It was a wise answer, and paved the way for THE INTERPRETATION.

“The TREE that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 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: 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. And whereas the King saw a ’WATCHER’ and a ’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; this is the Interpretation, O King, and this is the DECREE of the Most High, which is come upon my Lord the King: 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. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots: thy Kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt know THAT THE HEAVENS DO RULE.” Daniel 4:20-26. From the Interpretation the King could not mistake the meaning of his Dream. Then Daniel, like the faithful prophet that he was, took advantage of the opportunity and counselled the King to forsake his sinful ways.

“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 tranquility.” Daniel 4:27. THE DREAM FULFILLED But the King did not take Daniel’s advice, and later had to make the humiliating confession that all that had been foretold about him had come to pass. But it did not come at once God gave him a year’s grace. Because the sentence was not executed at once Nebuchadnezzar may have thought that Daniel was mistaken, or that God had forgotten. But at the end of twelve months, as the King was walking in his palace, and beheld the great city of Babylon as it spread out before him from his Palace window, he exclaimed in his pride—

“Is not this GREAT BABYLON, that I have built for the ’House of the Kingdom’ by the might of MY POWER, and for the honor of MY MAJESTY?” Daniel 4:30 That was the fatal moment. The time of probation was up. “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. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to cat 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 (probably the Babylonian Kingdom) to whomsoever he will.” Daniel 4:31-32. The sentence was immediately executed. Not another moment of grace was given the King.

“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 eagle’s feathers, and his nails like bird’s claws.” Daniel 4:33. The type of insanity that befell Nebuchadnezzar is a disease called “lycanthropy,” in which the patient imagines that he is some sort of a beast. Nebuchadnezzar imagined he was an ox. He was not confined but was allowed to roam in the fields, probably the grounds of the Palace, for we are told that he did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, and to complete the delusion he probably went about on all fours.

Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity lasted for seven years, for that is what the “Seven Times” mean. The period is not without its prophetical significance. It does not signify the length of the “Times of the Gentiles,” for a “Time” is not a period of 360 years, but only of one year. See comments on chapter nine ( The “Seven Times” foreshadow the “SEVEN YEARS” of the rule of Antichrist, or the “Seventieth Week” of Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks,” when the “One” that hindereth—THE HOLY SPIRIT, shall have left the earth, having gone back with the Church, and when men in their madness and bestiality will act like beasts, and give their service and worship to Antichrist, that John in the Apocalypse calls—”THE BEAST.” At the end of the “Seven Times” (years), Nebuchadnezzar’s reason was restored to him. THE KING’S RECOVERY

“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 honored Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His Kingdom is from generation to generation: 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?” Daniel 4:34-35. At the end of the “Seven Years” Nebuchadnezzar lifted up his eyes to Heaven. A beast does not do that. It, particularly an ox, looks downward. What Nebuchadnezzar meant was that he looked upward in prayer to God, and acknowledged His supremacy. In the doing of that his reason was restored, and he was fit to resume his kingly duties.

“At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my Kingdom, mine honor and brightness (glory) 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. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” Daniel 4:36-37.

Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration to his kingly rights was in fulfilment of the promise that his insanity should only last seven years, and that his Kingdom should then be made “sure,” or restored to him. Daniel 4:26. During his insanity, his son, Evil-Merodach, is said to have reigned as Regent in his stead. The fact that he was graciously received back by his counsellors and lords is an indication that they looked upon his insanity as only temporary, and yet, if that be true, it seems strange that they did not confine him to the palace, instead of “driving” (Daniel 4:25) him out into the fields away from the haunts of men. This is the last we read in the Scriptures of Nebuchadnezzar. He lived only about a year after his restoration to his throne, but it was a year during which great honors were heaped upon him, and in which he glorified God. He died after a brief illness in B. C. 561, and was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach. The Fall of Babylon THE CITY OF BABYLON The founder of Babylon was Nimrod, the great-grandson of Noah, over 2000 years before Christ.

“And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was BABEL (margin Babylon), and Erech and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” Genesis 10:8-10.

Nimrod was a Hamite. Nineveh was founded by Asshur, a son of Shem. Genesis 10:11; Genesis 10:22. Nineveh became the capital of Assyria. About B. C. 1270, the Assyrian kings became masters of Chaldea, or Babylonia, of which Babylon was the capital. For several centuries the history of Babylon was overshadowed by that of Nineveh. In the time of Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, Nabonassar ascended the throne of Babylon in B. C. 747. About B. C. 720 Berodach-baladan became king of Babylon, and sent ambassadors to Hezekiah, king of Judah. 2 Kings 20:12-18; Isaiah 39:1-7. A few years later Sargon, king of Assyria, defeated and dethroned Berodach-baladan. Sennacherib completed the subjection of Babylon, which he annexed to the Assyrian Empire about B. C. 690. The conquest of Nineveh and the overthrow of the Assyrian Empire, which was effected about B. C. 625, by Cyaxeres the Mede, and his ally Nabopolassar, the rebellious governor of Babylon, enabled the latter to found the Babylonian Empire. He reigned from B. C. 625 to B. C. 605. He was succeeded by his more famous son Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest king of ancient times, who rebuilt and beautified the city of Babylon until it was the most magnificent city the world has ever seen. The city of Babylon was built in an exact square of 15 miles on a side, or 60 miles around. It was surrounded by a brick wall 87 feet thick, which, according to Herodotus, was 350 feet high. On the walls were 250 towers, and the top of the wall was wide enough to permit six chariots to drive abreast. Outside this wall was a vast ditch or moat surrounding the city, kept filled with water from the river Euphrates, and crossed by draw-bridges in front of the gates. Inside the wall, and not far from it, was another wall, not much inferior, but narrower, extending around the city. Twenty-five magnificent avenues, 150 feet wide, ran across the city from north to south, and the same number crossed them at right angles from east to west, making 676 great squares, each nearly three-fifths of a mile on a side. A wide avenue also ran around the city inside the walls, and close to them, into which the cross avenues emptied. At the ends of these cross avenues magnificently burnished two-leafed gates of brass were built in the city walls, that shone, as they were opened or closed, in the rising or setting sun, like leaves of flame. The city was divided into two equal parts by the river Euphrates, that flowed diagonally across it, and its banks were walled and pierced with brazen gates at the main avenues. Outside these river walls, and between them and the river, splendid wharves lined the river on each side within the city. Ferry boats crossed the river at each of the main avenues, and at the central avenue a magnificent bridge spanned the river, at each end of which was a beautiful Palace. These Palaces were connected by a subterranean passageway, or “tube,” underneath the bed of the river, in which, at different points, were located sumptuous banqueting rooms constructed entirely of brass. Near one of these Palaces stood the

TOWER OF BEL, consisting of eight towers, each 75 feet high, rising one upon the other, with an outside winding stairway to its summit, which towers, with the Chapel on the top, made a height of 660 feet. This Chapel contained the most expensive furniture of any place of worship in the world. One “Golden Image” alone, 45 feet high, was valued at $17,500,000, and the whole of the sacred utensils used in worship were reckoned to be worth $200,000,000. Babylon also contained one of the “Seven Wonders” of the world, the famous “HANGING GARDENS.” These “Gardens” were 400 feet square, and were raised in terraces one above the other, to the height of 350 feet, and were reached by stairways ten feet wide. The top of each terrace was covered with large stone slabs on which were laid a bed of rushes, then a thick layer of asphalt, next two courses of brick, cemented together, and finally plates of lead to prevent leakage; the whole was then covered with earth and planted with shrubbery and large trees. The whole had the appearance from a distance of a forest-covered mountain, which would be a remarkable sight in the level plain of the Euphrates. These “Gardens” were built by Nebuchadnezzar simply to please his wife, who was Amyitis, daughter of Cyaxares, king of the mountainous country of Media, and who was thus made more contented with her surroundings. The rest of the city was, in its glory and magnificence, in keeping with these palaces, towers, and “ Hanging Gardens .” It contained many beautiful parks, and there was much unoccupied land that could be tilled, and help support the over 1,000,000 population. The character of its inhabitants, and of its official life at the zenith of its history, is seen in the description of “Belshazzar’s Feast.” Never before or since has this earth seen its equal. The Prophet Isaiah speaks of it as—Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ Excellency.” Isaiah 13:19.