Again in the book of Daniel, we find that Nebuchadnezzar was given another vision relating to rulership. In the vision, an angel from heaven commands that an immense tree be chopped down. Its stump was then bound with iron and bronze bands and had to stay that way for an appointed time, for a very specific purpose.

 

     "These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

     "In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a mesmessenger, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

     "'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.

     "'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.'" -Daniel 4:10-17

 

     These visions had a direct fulfillment in Nebuchadnezzar himself:

 

     Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

     Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes."

     Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

     "At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever-

 

     "His dominion is an eternal dominion;

     His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

 

     "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.

     He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.

 

     "No one can hold back his hand

     Or say to him: 'What have you done?'

 

     "At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

-Daniel 4:29-37

 

     But there is another meaning beyond Nebuchadnezzar's own experience. The book of Daniel points to the establishment of a universal and eternal Kingdom of God administered through the rulership of the "son of man." Daniel's prophecies are also distinctive for their references to the time of the end. These reveal the limited duration of the appointed times of the nations.

     Nebuchadnezzar went mad for seven years, living like a beast in the fields. After those seven years, he recovered and was returned to power. This world we live in is very much like that mad king. We have become more like beasts than children of God, disinclined to imitate his fine qualities. The day will come when we view our history as a time of madness. Men do not rule other men gently, instead we enslave one another. We make wars against one another. We dominate one another. All of the rises and falls of the world powers, all of our so-called progress, our technological innovations, our philosophies, our psychological understanding and our learning are but delusions, or vanity, as King Solomon would say.

     We live all of our lives in a world where mankind is like a wild beast without true understanding. But that is about to change. What did Nebuchadnezzar learn from his experience? That the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.

     The key to Nebuchadnezzar's vision is the irresistible claim of sovereignty by God over "the kingdoms of men." God allowed the visible expression of his sovereignty to be curtailed by allowing Jerusalem to be overthrown. Ruling authority was then transferred, unhindered, to the nations. But remember, that banded stump of Nebuchadnezzar's vision is due to sprout again. God retains the right to give rulership to whomever he wishes, even the lowliest of men.

     The prophet Daniel identifies that one:

 

     "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." -Daniel 7:13, 14