The Most Yet High Rules in the Kingdoms of Men
An Elm tree on the White House lawn dating to the time of Andrew Johnson’s presidency was toppled this week by the storms that have displaced thousands along the east coast.
The 140 year old tree is pictured on the back of the $20 bill just to the right of the White House portico. Upon hearing this story I was immediately reminded of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter 4
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
None of the wise men, the astrologers or soothsayers could interpret the dream. Finally Daniel was summoned.
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……., Dan 4:8
Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel his 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. Dan 4:10-12
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an 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: Dan 4:13-15
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. Dan 4:16-17
Daniel interprets the dream
…………Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 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: Dan 4:1-21
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 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; Dan 4:22-23
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 have known that the heavens do rule. Dan 4:24-26
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 tranquillity. Dan 4:27
As we read on we find that rather than repent as Daniel suggested, Nebuchadnezzar continued in his pride and was struck down with some form of madness that caused him to: eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
After seven times (years) had passed over, Nebuchadnezzar regained his senses, repented of his pride and recognized God as the source of his power and kingdom.
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 honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: Dan 4:34
Prophetic implications for today
Is there a nation or kingdom in the earth today that dominates the world as
Isn’t the
I have long felt that the historical figure most applicable to G.W. Bush was Nebuchadnezzar. Like this ancient King of Babylon, the
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun Ec 1:9
Jeremiah prophesied to
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. Jer 25:9
Notice that God refers to Nebuchadnezzar as ‘my servant’. The King of Babylon was God’s servant even though he didn’t truly know God because He works all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). He has made all things, even the wicked, for the day of evil (Prov 16:4). God was using
Jeremiah said that any nation that refused to submit to the King of Babylon would be destroyed by him.
And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. Jer 27:8
But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein. Jer 27:11
Do we see a parallel to this in the earth today? Sounds a little like the “Bush Doctrine” doesn’t it? You’re either for us or for the terrorists. Any nation that co-operates with the
If you read Jeremiah 25-27 you will see the nations (peoples) that God said would come under the yoke of the king of
We are the modern incarnation of
Who is
Jeremiah prophesied that
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is also a parable of the tribulation. Because of pride, Nebuchadnezzar was given the mind of a beast until seven times (7 years) had passed over him. For seven years Nebuchadnezzar ate grass like an ox.
During the 7 years of tribulation, the beast kingdom (end times
When he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Rev 6:5-6
In his dream, and in its fulfillment Nebuchadnezzar was wet with the dew of heaven. Dew is also known as night mist. It falls at night or during the time of darkness. Anything that is uncovered will be wet and covered with dew. During his time of insanity Nebuchadnezzar had no covering. He was exposed to the darkness and so became wet with dew.
During the tribulation, the beast kingdom will also have no heavenly covering or protection. God’s hand of protection will no longer cover this kingdom. It too will be exposed to the darkness and wet with dew.
During the seven years it is said that Nebuchadnezzar’s hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. The eagle is a bird of prey. Flying high above the earth it uses its keen eyesight to select unsuspecting targets in the ground. It then swoops down silently and uses its sharp talons or claws to grab its victim. The claws are then used to rip and tear the flesh of the prey so that the eagle can devour it.
The beast kingdom of the tribulation also will devour much prey. Using the great feathers of an eagle it shall soar above the nations of the earth, swooping down from above and tearing its victim to pieces with its razor sharp claws.
What nation today has the symbol of the great eagle? Is that nation even now using its claws to tear and devour much prey?
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the tree was cut down, the leaves shaken off, the fruit scattered. Only a stump was left. The great kingdom was reduced to a stump, a vestige of its former glory. The reason was pride. The king of
Is not this great
He failed to recognize that it was God who built the house of his kingdom, that it was all for the honor of His majesty, not man’s.
Ultimately, after seven years, Nebuchadnezzar came to see the error of his ways. He repented of his pride and recognized and worshipped the true God of heaven and earth. At that time the kingdom was restored to him.
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness 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 honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Dan 4:36-37
I said earlier that George W. Bush was an end time manifestation of King Nebuchadnezzar. Some would say that Bush has already been given over to the mind a beast. There have been accounts (unverified of course) that Bush has been somewhat “off his rocker” so to speak and has been prone to fits of anger and profanity. Some have speculated that he is on medication. I do not completely dismiss these parallels but there is a much deeper truth hidden in this parable.
O
If
We are truly a prideful and stiff necked people. No one gives God glory today. We claim our greatness is due to our form of government. We are great because of our economic system. Our military is the mightiest of all time and that might has kept us free. Our founders were geniuses who left us a great legacy. We are a nation of laws and this is what makes for our greatness.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4
The elm tree stood on the White House lawn for 140 years (2x 70). It was planted just as the civil war was ending. The nation had been torn apart by God's judgment. But by 1866 the recovery had begun. From that time, the tree grew larger and this nation grew stronger. Both tree and country grew together, waxing great, reaching unto the heavens in the sight of all the earth.
Now the tree has fallen. God has given us a great sign. On the lawn of the people’s house, pointing directly toward the front door of that house, God is speaking.
Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat 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 to whomsoever he will.
To those who have ears to hear, Daniels words still ring true.
…….break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
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Steve Lumbley 2006
http://www.apostasywatch.com/
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