Page:Hope-of-a-tree-1934.djvu/6

33

The WATCHTOWER

BROOKLYN, N.Y.

King of Eternity, and the One who shall rule the earth and make it a place of righteousness; and this fact the great Prophet and King, Christ Jesus, will make known to the peoples of earth. Satan and his wicked organization must go, and Jehovah God by his righteous King ‘‘shall reign for ever and ever’’. (Rev. 11:15) Let the proclamation be sounded throughout all the earth, that Jehovah's Vindicator will not back down but will march on to victory, continuing to exhibit the mighty works of the Most High God. The first three verses of the fourth chapter of Daniel's prophecy are therefore a fitting tribute to Jehovah before the announcing of the dream. Since Nebuchadnezzar himself was a servant of Satan, this is further proof that the words of adoration and praise to the Most High God in the opening of the proclamation are prophetic and are in truth and in fact the words of Christ Jesus

REGAL POWER

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Nebuchadnezzar was not a type of Christ Jesus, but he wag an illustration of regal power in the abstract. Now speaking of himself and his dream the king of ancient Babylon said: "I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace." (Vs. 4) Here he is merely the human Nebuchadnezzar of the history of 2,500 years ago, clothed with power by the permission of Jehovah God to rule over the world and to enforce Jehovah’s decree of punishment against the unfaithful Israelites. In such a capacity he is used by Jehovah as an illustration of regal power in the abstract or impersonally. He is a symbol of power to rule. The time of his dream was approximately eight years before the date of the issuing of the proclamation with which the chapter opens. Doubtless Nebuchadnezzar was at that time in the king’s palace of the kingdom of Babylon", as indicated by

verse twenty-nine. This background of the picture is appropriate and fitting to show that Nebuchadnezzar was used to illustrate or to picture regal power.

PLACE OF THE DREAM

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At the time of his proclamation Nebuchadnezzar relates again the dream which he had eight years previous, and after its miniature fulfilment. "I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me." (Vs.5) Clearly that dream was caused and recorded by the power of Jehovah God and was a prophetic expression of his dealing with regal power as exercised both by his adversary and by his servant. Nebuchadnezzar at the time was the earthly head of Satan’s organization; and the dream that troubled Nebuchadnezzar, as he states, illustrates Jehovah’s duly serving notice upon Satan and his organization, which now disturbs their easy complacency and self-assurance. King Nebuchadnezzar at this point, therefore, pictures regal or ruling power as exercised by

the rulers of this earth who are a part of Satan’s organization. "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." (Vs.6) The earthly rulers under Satan now consult spirit mediums in their efforts to determine what course they should take; but as the magicians failed to give the answer to Nebuchadnezzar, even so the fallen angels cannot now give good advice to earthly rulers.

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All the members and operators of the world organization, not being for God and his kingdom under Christ, are therefore against the kingdom; and this is true regardless of whether they are sincere in their efforts to do good or not. (Matt. 12:30) "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.’’ (Vs.7) The magicians, astrologers, enchanters and soothsayers here picture the pope, the cardinals, the clergy, the philosophers and other professed wise men of the world who attempt to give counsel and advice to earthly political rulers, As the magicians, enchanters and astrologers were representatives of Satan, so the present worldly wise men above mentioned are the servants of Satan. These servants of Satan and so-called "wise men" of the world can- not unravel Jehovah’s purpose, even after he sets the same down in his Word. They shun the Word of God and follow the lead of foolish men and wicked angels. They are unrighteous, and for that reason they cannot understand; as it is written: "His secret is with the righteous." (Prov, 3:32) Therefore the "wiseacres" of the world now throw up their hands and give up the job in despair. Of them Jehovah’s prophet wrote; "The vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed." —Isa. 29:11.

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All the heathen "wise men" having failed to interpret the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Daniel. "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." (Vs.8) The name given to Daniel by Nebuchadnezzar was Belteshazzar, that is, "Bel's prince," that is to say, "Confounder’s prince," or, "one whom Bel favors"; and this corresponds somewhat with the meaning of the name of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar had named Daniel "according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods", thus showing the heathen way of saying that Daniel was favored by the supreme God and moved upon by God's power through "the mighty God", that is, the Logos, now Christ Jesus. Daniel never confessed that he spoke in the name of Bel, even though he was called by that name. In the ac-