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the king: "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." (Vs. 22) This reference to the tree's reaching "unto heaven" shows that the words could apply only to the unfaithful Lucifer when he was made overlord, and who is now Satan, and that Nebuchadnezzar was the visible representative of Satan on the earth. The tree as a whole could not refer to the human race, but pictures particularly the overlordship of Satan and those under him forming his organization. This is exactly in harmony with the great image described in Daniel 2:37,38. Bear in mind that it was after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, in 606 B.C., that Satan became the god of this world and Nebuchadnezzar, as then head of the world power, was Satan's representative on earth in his organization.

¹³ At Eden God had foretold the destruction of Satan. (Gen. 3:15) Now the judicial decree recorded in Daniel's prophecy foretells the destruction of Satan and his organization: "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." (Vs. 23) Although the decree was made and entered of record immediately following the rebellion, Satan's overlordship of man was not at that time taken away, but Jehovah suffered Satan to continue in that office until his own due time, that is, until the coming of him "whose right it is" to take the overlordship. This period of time is the same mentioned in Exodus 9:16, during which Jehovah permits Satan to remain in order that He might demonstrate his own great power and in order that his witnesses might proclaim this fact throughout the earth before Satan’s destruction.

¹⁴ Daniel then tells the king that the decree is from the Most High and that part of it would come upon Nebuchadnezzar: "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." (Vss. 24,25) Nebuchadnezzar refused to serve the Most High, was proud and boastful, and became insane, all due to Devil religion, and therefore he was driven from his palace, his power being taken away from him. Likewise mankind was cut off from the princedom of the earth and was put out of God’s organization, lost his true manhood, and became brutish, which qualities have been specifically exhibited by the rulers of earth. (Gen. 3:23,24) Also the overlord, Lucifer, was cut off from Jehovah's organization and became as a serpent and dragon and wild beast, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Pet. 5:8) The execution of the sentence or divine decree against Satan and his organization was suspended until 1914, the end of which time is definitely marked by the "seven times". During the suspension of the execution of the judgment Satan continued to have contact with "the sons of God". (Job 1:6-12;2:1-7) As Nebuchadnezzar was made to eat grass as the oxen, so in general mankind has fed upon what the beastly rulers and Satan’s priests have served up to them. Only those who have diligently sought the Lord God through Christ Jesus have been permitted to feed upon the precious promises of God's Word. The prophecy adds: "Till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." These words of the prophecy show that at the end of the "seven times" Jehovah would send forth and did send forth his beloved Son to compel all opposers and all others to know that Jehovah is the Most High, and that the rulership of the world has been placed in the hands of the One who vindicates Jehovah’s name. This corroborative proof further shows that Jehovah’s witnesses, in order to maintain their integrity towards Jehovah, must now amidst much opposition and suffering make known to the peoples that Jehovah is the Most High and that the time for his kingdom is here, and that the King has come and is upon his throne. Jehovah now makes known the meaning of his prophecies, including this one, to the faithful remnant, his witnesses, and this gives them a full assurance that they are on the side of Jehovah God; and thus they have comfort and are strong in hope that they shall fully realize all that God has promised to those that love and serve him.

KINGDOM SURE

¹⁵ "The watchers," that is to say, Jehovah and his Logos, commanded that the stump of the tree should remain, and the manifest reason is for the vindication of Jehovah's name. "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.”(Vs. 26) The original stump pictured the human part of the organization, of which Lucifer was made the overlord. It remains under the restraint, pictured by the bands of copper and iron, and in God's due time out from the roots of that stump come some who reach out for the lifegiving waters of truth, take their stand on Jehovah's side, and maintain their integrity toward Jehovah God, and this constitutes a vindication of Jehovah's name and a proof that Satan is a liar. This is in harmony with the decree of Jehovah uttered at Eden that 'the seed shall bruise thy head'. (Gen. 3:15) The leaving of the stump was a guarantee that mankind and his home on the earth would not be finally