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5 On a former occasion Daniel, at the request of Nebuchadnezzar, told him of his peculiar dream and gave him the interpretation thereof. Nebuchadnezzar for that reason had confidence that Daniel was the servant of the Holy One. (Dan. 2:1-45) Again Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, and again the magicians of Babylon had been called and had failed to interpret the dream of the king, and again the king caused Daniel to be brought before him. Then Nebuchadnezzar told Daniel his dream concerning 'a great tree' in these words: "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 ranched 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 o the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one cam down from heaven. He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, snake 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 [copper], 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." --Daniel 4:10-16.
6 That dream of Nebuchadnezzar, and which was recorded in the book of Daniel, being a prophecy, must some day have its fulfillment. Since the Scriptures declare that whatsoever things were written aforetime where so written that God's faithful people might in patience and comfort have hope, and that this grater enlightenment would come to those at the end of the world, we may be sure that the Lord God, sometime while the remnant is on earth, would give to them an understanding of that prophecy and that such understanding would be had before the day of Armageddon. (Rom. 15:4) Jehovah God brings about the events that fulfil these prophetic visions, and they cannot be understood until his due time to have them understood. It now seems to be Jehovah's due time to permit his people on earth to have an understanding of the prophetic dream concerning the "tree in the midst of the earth", as recorded in the fourth chapter of Daniel's prophecy. The understanding of this has come only at God's appointed time and gives consolation to those who love him.
PROCLAMATION
7 The fourth chapter of Daniel's prophecy opens with a proclamation which appears to be made by the king of Babylon. That proclamation was made and published after Nebuchadnezzar had gone through the humiliating experience of the "seven times", as stated in the prophecy, and after the king had been fully restored to his right mind and was again upon his throne. That proclamation foretold and foreshadowed another far more important proclamation to be mad and issued by earth's rightful King. The vision or dream fulfilled makes known that the 'seven times of the Gentiles' had ended and that no longer will Satan be permitted to exercise unhindered the over-lordship of man. It discloses the further and more important fact that Jehovah's kingdom has come and that he has placed his beloved Son upon his holy hill in Zion, that the Son is sent forth to rule in the midst of his enemies, and that the time has come for the vindication of Jehovah's name. The proclamation opens thus: "Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you." (Dan. 4:1) Nebuchadnezzar here pictures Christ Jesus enthroned in 1914, which is the end of the Gentiles times, and his works that follows, particularly from the time of his coming to the temple of Jehovah. The name Nebuchadnezzar means "Nebo (that is, The Prophet) is the protector against misfortune". The name properly applies to Christ Jesus, Jehovah's great Prophet, and the on who is the protector of God's people against their foes. It is to Jehovah's faithful remnant that the Lord has committed "the testimony of Jesus Christ", and for this reason Satan goes forth making war against them; and Satan would succeed in this warfare were it not for the fact that the Greater Nebo, Christ Jesus, shields and protects them. The time has come for the vindication of Jehovah's name, and those who will have a part with Christ Jesus in that blessed work must suffer at the hands of Satan and his agents; but, now being with Christ in the temple, they have an assurance of his protection and complete deliverance from the enemy's assaults.
8 The proclamation says (R.V.), "Unto all the peoples, nations, and languages," and corresponds exactly to the command of Christ Jesus upon coming to God's temple, to wit: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14) "And the gospel must first be published among all nations." (Mark 13:10) It is the time when the peoples of the earth must be told that Jehovah is the Almighty God and that the time has come for his judgment to be executed by his mighty right Arm, and that all who would live must worship him who is the Giver of life. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven , and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." --Rev. 14:6,7.
