About Janko Expertise I am a qualified minister of Jehovah`s Witnesses and fully capable of answering any or all questions on our faith as well as others too, and the correct understanding of the Bible,which is God`s Word.
Experience My experience with our faith is quite substantial and was introduced to it in the 1960's as a child.
Question Since you call me a false christian, I guess you should be the divine judge janko, separating the sheeps and the goats! In that case you should have no problems answering some biblical questions.
You wrote:
[[[What do we see when we examine the prophetic pattern of Daniel 4:10-17? The giant, heaven-high tree represents divine rulership. The tree was cut down when God’s Kingdom of Judah with its capital in Jerusalem fell in 607 B.C.E. After “seven times” of beastly rule by the nations passed, the two constraining bands of metal were released, and divine rulership was restored when Jesus Christ began to rule as King in God’s heavenly government in 1914.]]]
Q1- The dream in Daniel 4, according to Daniels interpretation verses 20-22 of that same tree you called divine rulership, daniel said it was reffering to the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, so why do you call it divine rulership?
Q2- That same tree (Nebuchadnezzar lost his kingdom) was cut down verse 33, and then his kingdom was reinstated after the seven times(seasons) pass. Verse 36... I was reestablished upon my own kingdom, and greatness extraordinary was added to me. Are you trying to tell me that Christ kingdom was established at the end of this seven times mentioned in Nebuchadnezzar's dream?
R/ Luis
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Wow you are beginning to sound very defensive again. How judgemental are you, calling me a false Christian.. hmmmmmm I don't belong to a religion that has taken the Glorious Sacred coming of Christ in vain. While history proves your forefathers making that mistake many times. Just because they wanted the GLORY to say, I TOLD YOU SO. Well they have that glory and the glory are their FOLLOWERS. Christ is the mediator between GOD and men NOT a governing body who you claim to be chosen by jehovah spirit. What makes you strong is to become judgemental to all others who does not share your belief. What makes you strong is arrogance puts you up on a high pedestal looking down on everyone else. What makes you strong is ignorance, because when you feel pressure you will call it persecution to justify it in biblical terms. Look at your green book about the kingdom of God. It will dedicate only a small paragraph describing the Kingdom in a form of power. Your book never gets to detailed on it. Since you rely to much in your book, you will never come to know in detail, unless you really put your trust only in his word and no other book, including the sets of green book.
So tell me, before you all decided it was 1914, was it a different year if so what year was it first?
And how many times did you all changed the date and the circumstances?
R/Luis
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We all know that the KINGDOM of GOD, ALWAYS is a place in heaven. We all know that the SON's Kingdom will be established in your case it was established in 1914. Only the Father knows not even the Son knew, But somehow after 3 attempts your governing body broke the code and figured out what the Son did not know! THE KINGDOM WITHIN: Mat5:3 "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. Mat 11:12 But from the days of John the baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it. Mat 12:28 But if it is by means of God's spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken you. Mat13:31,32 ... is like a mustard grain (a seed). Mat13:44 ...which a men had found and hid;...
Luke 10:9-11...the kingdom of God has come near to you... Rom 14:17... but means righteousness and peace and joy WITH holy spirit. 1Cor4:20 ... but in POWER.
[[I'm pretty sure you won't get it]] I will tell you this much, I had already proven it to other of your witnesses the meaning of the KINGDOM WITHIN. Something else, you call yourself a minister. STOP calling others a fool just because you disagree with them, minister janko!
R/Luis
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The salvation is not in specific religion nor organizations. The kingdom of GOD is within. And yes I do agree with you. Your organization will only be neighbors with the UN. And should not be taking part of any UN events. I still associate and study with jehovah witnesses regardless of the association. I have a question: If 1935 was consider to be the time when the 144,000 anointed was fullfilled, can there be a possibility of other witnesses who are not over 45yrs of age consider himself as one of the anointed?
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You said: You can't seem to get it through your head that those past errors have nothing to do with our present. And you are right, Charles T russel and his past errors and yet at the present stage you consider him to be one of the 144,000 anointed. So for me to ask a question about charles T russel and his pyramid has nothing to do with the present reason you validate his selection for 144,000? Especially having the pyramid in his tombstone.
Minister janko, I can't seem to get it through my head that those past errors have nothing to do with our present. That in this present stage, considering that the UN is the beast in revelation; http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/ngo-docs.html The Jehovah witnesses as an Associated NGO with the DPI/UN has terminated their membership in Oct 2001, a secret marriage that lasted for 10yrs. And also questionable on why they partook in this blasphemy event: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2001/WHO_BCT_01.03.pdf
PERSECUTION:
When a person ask you questions that you find hard to answer you will call it persecution just to validate your organization as victims in biblical terms. Instead of calling the feeling what it really is; PRESURE! What you feel is pressure not an act of PERSECUTION!
Isreal always been in the threat of elimination because of who they are. They know what persecution is, not you. GOD bless Isreal!
Question: When did the selection of 144,000 anointed came to be fullfilled?
R/Luis
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Do you believe that it is very important to know about the history of your founding fathers?
For instance someone like me who is very interested searching for truth. In the beginning I had no knowledge of what jehovah witnesses believed in. So my first questions for jehovah witnesses were how it was founded, what is the history. The witnesses were not able talk straight about their history. I had no other choice then to do the search on my own. It was very disturbing to find out the history. And yes I must admit many information was extremely exagerated. But regardless of exageration it shock me to a point of scrutinize everything the jehovah witness teaches. Will you blame others who are disturbed by your history? You need to understand why they are so disturbed. Once you do understand then you will be able to know how to talk to them. But I don't see jehovah witnesses able to reach those honest people who are disturbed by your past. Because at the moment of dealing with these honest people the jehovah witnesses becomes defensive and disgusted with the situation the other person reveals. How would you deal with those honest people? You will not be able to talk to them because of their knowledge of your history. You will be able to talk with people who has no knowledge. But then how would you reach out to those who are disturbed without getting defensive? Do not blame those who put you on the spot and scrutinize everything you say.
I asked you about your own founding father. And you lack of that knowledge. Why was Charles T Russel so fascinated with the pyramid to the point that he took it straight to his tombstone? He traveled to see the pyramids, he took measurements because he wanted to prove something biblical. I have to tell you something: I have traveled to eqypt I seen pyramids. And the only feeling I get is false eqyptian gods. And I will not take the pyramid to my tombstone. You believe that it is obsurd to say that Charles T Russel was trying to convince himself that the pyramid was built by God. So then again you don't even have an answer. So why did he take it straight to his grave? The pyramid was built for the eqyptian gods. You need to be familiar with your past and need to be awake nowadays and see what is going on. Keep up to date with everything the governing body does. So when people do ask, you will have the answer. For instance, I know if I ask you this question you will become defensive, Did you know Watchtower had various NonGovernmental Organizations Associated with the DPI/UN for 10yrs, 1991-2001? Remember the WHO health day. I tried to inform you, but you defensively ignore the facts. I am trying to let you know what is going around about Watchtower involvement as an Associated NGO with the DPI/UN. Yes the same UN that you consider to be the beast revealed in revelation. I am not attacking you in any shape or form. I am trying to let you know something that is unknown to you. Once the whistle blower revealed this association. The watch tower requested to terminate their association with the DPI/UN. You cannot ignore this and let this go on. The Watch Tower realized that it was a mistake. They will see the consequences for this action once it becomes more revealed to the world, but nontheless they will continue providing their services to their followers. You have to know all this, so when someone do ask you then you should be able to provide an honest answer.
Other jehovah witnesses already called the governing body about this matter. Trust me I know. I know many jehovah witnesses.
R/ Luis
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Do you know anyone or recommend a book that can provide the reason why he was so intrigued with the pyramid and the history behind why he wanted it on his tombstone?
r/luis
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Did russel actually try to convince himself that the pyramid was built by GOD? And was that the reason why he had a pyramid on his tombstone?
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No that is obsurd,he never portrayed himself like that to give that impression.I don't know what the whole story behind the pryamid.
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The only book I can think of with a lot of information on C.T.Russell is the big green book that you can get from any Jehovah's Witness called"Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom" This is a complete history book of the beginning and the present of Jehovah's Witnesses and it starts with C.T.Russell. Janko
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You can't seem to get it through your head that those past errors have nothing to do with our present.Your reaching for something that isn't going to help in your quest for the truth because you don't want the truth but ony to prove something on your own to satisfy yourselve.We all nearly seven million of us all no our entire history and will still have ouer faith.You can get our publication in a big green bookcalled Jehovah's Witness-Proclaiming God's Kingdom
which gives a entire look at who,what and where about us.You are barking up the wrong tree to find ypour salvation
because you ain't gonna get by persecuting us,we are God's people today and Jesus Christ's true disciples and that is the fact of the matter.If you get a thrill by what you found from our past,so what,what good is to you?We have all moved on and it is time for you to do the same.
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You sound like you have been around those calling themselves the Lords witnesses because these are the things they are talking about and spreading these false accusations
about our organization.Our affiliation with the U.N.has nothing to do with political matters but only as a neighbor
just accross the street.We do consider them as the scarlet colored beast mentioned in Revelation and is a part of Satans political system which will be destroyed soon along with all of false religion.Do you honestly believe that our organization would get mixed up with something they know what they know about them(U.N.)that would be ludicrious on your part and all who think as you do.Please if this is all you are interested in and not about your salvation,then don't bother us with this nonsense.Thank you,Janko
Answer -
The answer is no in regards to anybody 45 years old.There remains just under 8,000 in the world of the remaining remnant here on earth that make up the 144,000 annointed.
There is the possibility that because of some of the chosen ones that stumble will be replaced by others.No the Kingdom of God is not within a persons heart or anywhere else for that matter,but it is a real government that we all pray for in the Lords Prayer"Let you Kingdom come,Let your will be done on the new earth and in the new heavens"Daniel 2:44
explains this kingdom which it was said who will rule in heaven and over the earth,that being Jesus.He went preaching that the kingdom of the heavens is near.This kingdom is made of of the 144,000 co-rulers with Jesus Christ.Whoever the Jehovah's Witnesses you are conversing with should answer all your questions.
Answer -
You are still wrong in everything you are trying to prove because you are not a true Christian and belong to the only true religion on earth today.You need to go to your own false Christian site on here and claim your case to people like yourself and not us.Most of us have come out of the world with the same stupid beliefs you have but have broken away from it because we are reasonable,you are not.You don;t use Jehovah's Most Holy name in your worship or go door to door as Jesus commanded for all his followewrs to do
and you still celebrate all the pagan holidays&birthdays as well as participate in wars and politics and are a part of the world,which on the other hand we are just the opposite and obey all of Jesus commands,mainly the first and greatest commandment all of that Jesus said to do was to love Jehovah your God with all your heart,soul,and mind and then the second most was loving your neighbor as yourself,
and we are the only ones who can hold that claim that no one
else can.You are yout laity will go to war and kill another human being and think that it is God's will,so sad all the blood shed that has been brought about in the name of God by your Christendom.
Answer -
Well it's true you are a false Christian who belongs to Christendom,the weeds,goats,and the many who are off to destruction on that road.Yes there were a few miscalculations as to when Jesus second presence would be but after the light got brighter with knowledge we camre to the correct conclusion based on the prophecies in Daniel. Here is how we arrived at this date of 1914:
1914 a Marked Year—Why?
WHERE were you in the year 1914? Would you answer: ‘I was not born’? But a few million people today can still remember the year 1914.
In 1914 Mary was completing her last year in high school, learning German and anticipating a rewarding career as a schoolteacher. That summer, before going off to college, she was out in the fields of her father’s farm on the northeastern coast of the United States picking worms off the shiny skins of ripening tomatoes when halfway around the world, in Sarajevo, an assassin’s bullet cut short the life of an Austrian archduke. It sparked the explosion of World War I. When news of the war reached Mary, she thought: ‘It has come true! Just what the Bible Students were saying has come true; 1914 is going to be a marked year!’
Mary was not the only one who felt that way about world events. On August 30, 1914, the arresting headline “End of All Kingdoms in 1914” blazed across page 4 of the Sunday magazine section of The World, a leading New York newspaper. “The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy,” stated this feature article. “For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the ‘International Bible Students [Jehovah’s Witnesses],’ best known as ‘Millennial Dawners,’ have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914. ‘Look out for 1914!’ has been the cry of the hundreds of traveling evangelists who, representing this strange creed, have gone up and down the country enunciating the doctrine that ‘the Kingdom of God is at hand.’”
Whether you were alive in that year or not, 1914 should mean more to you than a mere calendar sheet curled and yellowed with age or a headline on a crumbled magazine page. It is a momentous year that touches your life today.
Why Is 1914 a Marked Year?
How did Jehovah’s Witnesses know more than 30 years in advance that 1914 would be an important date for divine rulership? Though the Witnesses at the time did not understand the full implication of events about to take place, the Watch Tower magazine as far back as December of 1879 pointed to 1914 as a marked date in regard to Bible prophecy. And the March 1880 issue of the Watch Tower linked God’s Kingdom rule with the ending of what Jesus Christ referred to as “the appointed times of the nations,” or “the times of the Gentiles.” (Luke 21:24; Authorized Version) That Watch Tower said: “‘The Times of the Gentiles’ extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then.”
What is meant by the expression ‘Gentile Times,’ or “appointed times of the nations”? And how is it connected with God’s Kingdom? To answer these questions, let us take a more detailed look at Jesus’ words. He said: “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations [Gentiles], until the appointed times of the nations [Gentiles] are fulfilled.”—Luke 21:24.
What is meant by “Jerusalem”? It points to God’s Kingdom. How do we know? Ancient Israel was God’s chosen people from 1513 B.C.E. down to the first century of our Common Era. (Exodus 19:6; Matthew 23:37, 38) Jehovah organized them under a typical theocratic government, or God-rule. Jerusalem became the capital city. It was there that the God-anointed line of kings from David sat “upon Jehovah’s throne.” They ruled as kings for Jehovah. (1 Chronicles 29:23; 2 Chronicles 9:8) The Cyclopaedia by M’Clintock and Strong states: “Jerusalem had been made the imperial residence of the king of all Israel; and the Temple, often called ‘the house of Jehovah,’ constituted at the same time the residence of the King of kings, the supreme head of the theocratical state.”
When and how was Jerusalem trampled on by the Gentiles? The trampling began in 607 B.C.E. How? By the abrupt ending of the Davidic dynasty. King Zedekiah was dethroned and the city of Jerusalem destroyed by waves of invading Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. The Bible at Ezekiel 21:26, 27 foretold this breach in the Davidic line of kings by saying: “Lift off the crown . . . it will certainly become no one’s until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him.” God’s rule was under restraint until “the appointed times of the nations” would end. Thus, the Gentile Times were a time period when the nations ruled without Jehovah God’s having a government to represent his rulership in the earth.
When the Gentile Times ended, Jehovah was to give the power to rule to the One “who has the legal right,” Jesus Christ. Therefore, 1914 would mark the time when Christ began to rule as King in God’s heavenly Kingdom, and since his rulership extends down to this day, it touches you.
How was the chronology figured to mark 1914? The June 1880 issue of the Watch Tower magazine explains: “The long period of 2520 years and their bitter experience under the dominion of the beasts, (human governments, Dan. vii.) is clearly represented in Dan. iv., by the ‘seven times’ of Nebuchadnezzar and his bitter experience among the beasts.” So we must return to the baffling dream of the Babylonian king to trace its line of chronology to 1914.
Prophetic Blueprint
Jehovah, by means of his prophets, has always given his people a prophetic blueprint to follow. “For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets,” states Amos 3:7. For example, Noah was God’s special messenger over 4,000 years ago. Jehovah gave Noah a prophetic warning of the watery destruction that was to come upon that wicked world. (Genesis 6:3; 7:4) What occurred then was also a pattern of a future destruction of the ungodly during the invisible “presence of the Son of man,” Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:37-39) So it should not seem unusual that what Daniel traced out for Nebuchadnezzar’s world rulership—his fall and his return to power—was also a small-scale illustration of variations in theocratic world domination by God’s anointed King.
What do we see when we examine the prophetic pattern of Daniel 4:10-17? The giant, heaven-high tree represents divine rulership. The tree was cut down when God’s Kingdom of Judah with its capital in Jerusalem fell in 607 B.C.E. After “seven times” of beastly rule by the nations passed, the two constraining bands of metal were released, and divine rulership was restored when Jesus Christ began to rule as King in God’s heavenly government in 1914.
A Day for a Year
How do we know that the “seven times” are 2,520 years? The calculations are made in a way similar to those made by the Watch Tower Society’s first president, C. T. Russell, in 1877 and recorded in the book he coauthored entitled The Three Worlds. This is how it is done: In Revelation chapter 12, verses 6 and 14, we learn that 1,260 days are equal to “a time [that is, 1 time] and times [that is, 2 times] and half a time,” or a total of 3 1/2 times. So “a time” would be equal to 360 days. “Seven times” would be 360 multiplied by 7, or 2,520 days. Now if we count a day for a year, according to a Bible rule, the “seven times” equal 2,520 years. (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6) Therefore, the duration of the “seven times,” the Gentile Times, is from 607 B.C.E. to 1914 C.E.
What reasons are there for believing that Nebuchadnezzar’s prophetic tree dream stretches into our 20th century and finds fulfillment in God’s Kingdom? One reason is this: Much of the book of Daniel involves prophecies that find fulfillment in world rulership and God’s Kingdom after the lifetime of Daniel. Read, for example, Daniel chapter 2. It depicts a multimetal image representing successive world powers that are pulverized. By what? God’s Kingdom! (Daniel 2:44) Or read Daniel chapter 7 where successive world governments are seen as wild beasts rising out of the sea and finally being replaced by one rulership. Which one? God’s Kingdom! (Daniel 7:14) Or read Daniel chapters 11 and 12. In those chapters a king of the north and a king of the south keep testing each other out in a battle for world supremacy until they meet their defeat at the hand of Prince Michael. (Daniel 12:1) Who is this Michael? Jesus Christ, ruler in God’s Kingdom!
Thus the year 1914 was marked for a very good reason. It signaled the start of the righteous rule toward the earth by God’s Kingdom. It spelled doom for the wicked. It pointed to “the last days” of this ungodly system of things. (2 Timothy 3:1) It signaled a countdown to the start of a Paradise earth.
There are other reasons why 1914 is a marked year that touches you. These will be considered in future issues of The Watchtower.
Answer Ask for a copy of the Daniel Prophecy book and it will tell you the entire future,then you will understand.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Great Tree
JEHOVAH allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to become a world ruler. As Babylon’s monarch, he had great wealth, a sumptuous table, a grand palace—everything he desired in a material way. But suddenly he suffered humiliation. Becoming mentally deranged, Nebuchadnezzar acted like a beast! Driven away from the royal table and the imperial residence, he lived in the fields and ate grass like a bull. What led up to this calamity? And why should it concern us?—Compare Job 12:17-19; Ecclesiastes 6:1, 2.
THE KING MAGNIFIES THE MOST HIGH
2 Shortly after his recovery from that complete mental collapse, Nebuchadnezzar sent throughout his realm a remarkable report of what had occurred. Jehovah inspired the prophet Daniel to preserve an accurate record of these events. It begins with these words: “Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, national groups and languages that are dwelling in all the earth: May your peace grow great. The signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed with me, it has seemed good to me to declare. How grand his signs are, and how mighty his wonders are! His kingdom is a kingdom to time indefinite, and his rulership is for generation after generation.”—Daniel 4:1-3.
3 Nebuchadnezzar’s subjects were “dwelling in all the earth”—his empire embracing most of the world of Bible record. Regarding Daniel’s God, the king said: “His kingdom is a kingdom to time indefinite.” How those words magnified Jehovah throughout the Babylonian Empire! Moreover, this was the second time that Nebuchadnezzar had been shown that the Kingdom of God alone is eternal, standing “to times indefinite.”—Daniel 2:44.
4 What “signs and wonders” did “the Most High God” perform? These began with the king’s personal experience related in these words: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, happened to be at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. There was a dream that I beheld, and it began to make me afraid. And there were mental images upon my bed and visions of my head that began to frighten me.” (Daniel 4:4, 5) What did the Babylonian king do about this disturbing dream?
5 Nebuchadnezzar summoned Babylon’s wise men and told them the dream. But how they failed! They were totally unable to provide an interpretation. The record added: “At last there came in before me Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god and in whom there is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I said what the dream was.” (Daniel 4:6-8) Daniel’s court name was Belteshazzar, and the false deity that the king called “my god” may have been either Bel or Nebo or Marduk. Being polytheistic, Nebuchadnezzar viewed Daniel as one in whom there was “the spirit of the holy gods.” And because of Daniel’s position as prefect over all of Babylon’s wise men, the king referred to him as “the chief of the magic-practicing priests.” (Daniel 2:48; 4:9; compare Daniel 1:20.) Of course, faithful Daniel never abandoned the worship of Jehovah to practice magic.—Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
AN IMMENSE TREE
6 What was the content of the Babylonian king’s frightening dream? “Now the visions of my head upon my bed I happened to be beholding,” said Nebuchadnezzar, “and, look! a tree in the midst of the earth, the height of which was immense. The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. Its foliage was fair, and its fruit was abundant, and there was food for all on it. Under it the beast of the field would seek shade, and on its boughs the birds of the heavens would dwell, and from it all flesh would feed itself.” (Daniel 4:10-12) Reportedly, Nebuchadnezzar was fond of the great cedars of Lebanon, went to see them, and had some brought to Babylon as lumber. But he had never beheld anything like the tree seen in his dream. It occupied a prominent position “in the midst of the earth,” was visible earth wide, and was so fruitful that it provided food for all flesh.
7 There was much more to the dream, for Nebuchadnezzar added: “I continued beholding in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, look! a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens themselves. He was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: ‘Chop the tree down, and cut off its boughs. Shake off its foliage, and scatter its fruitage. Let the beast flee from under it, and the birds from its boughs. However, leave its rootstock itself in the earth, even with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field; and with the dew of the heavens let it be wet, and with the beast let its portion be among the vegetation of the earth.’”—Daniel 4:13-15.
8 The Babylonians had their own religious concept of good and evil spirit creatures. But who was this “watcher,” or sentinel, from heaven? Called “a holy one,” he was a righteous angel representing God. (Compare Psalm 103:20, 21.) Imagine the questions that must have plagued Nebuchadnezzar! Why chop this tree down? What good is the rootstock restrained from growth by bands of iron and of copper? Indeed, what purpose is served by a mere stump?
9 Nebuchadnezzar must have been completely mystified as he heard the watcher’s further words: “Let its heart be changed from that of mankind, and let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it. By the decree of watchers the thing is, and by the saying of holy ones the request is, to the intent that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.” (Daniel 4:16, 17) The rootstock of a tree does not have a human heart beating inside it. For that matter, how can the heart of a beast be given to a tree’s rootstock? What are the “seven times”? And how does all of this relate to rulership in “the kingdom of mankind”? Surely Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know.
BAD NEWS FOR THE KING
10 Upon hearing the dream, Daniel was momentarily astonished, then fearful. Urged by Nebuchadnezzar to explain it, the prophet said: “O my lord, may the dream apply to those hating you, and its interpretation to your adversaries. The tree that you beheld, that grew great and became strong . . . , it is you, O king, because you have grown great and become strong, and your grandeur has grown great and reached to the heavens, and your rulership to the extremity of the earth.” (Daniel 4:18-22) In the Scriptures, trees can symbolize individuals, rulers, and kingdoms. (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7, 8; Ezekiel, chapter 31) Like the immense tree of his dream, Nebuchadnezzar had “grown great and become strong” as the head of a world power. But “rulership to the extremity of the earth,” involving the whole kingdom of mankind, is represented by the great tree. It therefore symbolizes Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, particularly in its relationship to the earth.—Daniel 4:17.
11 A debasing change was in store for Nebuchadnezzar. Pointing to this development, Daniel added: “Because the king beheld a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens, who was also saying: ‘Chop the tree down, and ruin it. However, leave its rootstock itself in the earth, but with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens let it become wet, and with the beasts of the field let its portion be until seven times themselves pass over it,’ this is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High is that which must befall my lord the king.” (Daniel 4:23, 24) Surely courage was needed to give the powerful king that message!
12 What would befall Nebuchadnezzar? Imagine his reaction as Daniel added: “You they will be driving away from men, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will come to be, and the vegetation is what they will give even to you to eat just like bulls; and with the dew of the heavens you yourself will be getting wet, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.” (Daniel 4:25) Apparently even Nebuchadnezzar’s court officials would ‘drive him away from men.’ But would he be cared for by compassionate herdsmen or shepherds? No, for God had decreed that Nebuchadnezzar would dwell with “the beasts of the field,” eating vegetation.
13 Just as the tree was cut down, Nebuchadnezzar would be toppled from world rulership—but only for a time. Daniel explained: “Because they said to leave the rootstock of the tree, your kingdom will be sure to you after you know that the heavens are ruling.” (Daniel 4:26) In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream the rootstock, or stump, of the felled tree was allowed to remain, although it was banded so that it would not grow. Similarly, the “rootstock” of Babylon’s king would remain, though banded from flourishing for “seven times.” His position as world ruler would be like the banded tree stump. It would be kept safe till seven times had passed over it. Jehovah would see to it that during that period nobody would succeed Nebuchadnezzar as Babylon’s sole ruler, although his son named Evil-merodach may have carried on for him as acting ruler.
14 In view of what was foretold concerning Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel courageously urged: “Therefore, O king, may my counsel seem good to you, and remove your own sins by righteousness, and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor ones. Maybe there will occur a lengthening of your prosperity.” (Daniel 4:27) If Nebuchadnezzar would turn away from his sinful course of oppression and pride, perhaps this would change matters for him. After all, some two centuries earlier, Jehovah had determined to destroy the people of Assyria’s capital, Nineveh, but he did not do so because its king and his subjects repented. (Jonah 3:4, 10; Luke 11:32) What about proud Nebuchadnezzar? Would he change his ways?
THE DREAM’S INITIAL FULFILLMENT
15 Nebuchadnezzar remained proud. Walking about on the palace roof 12 months after his tree dream, he boasted: “Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built for the royal house with the strength of my might and for the dignity of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:28-30) Nimrod had founded Babylon (Babel), but Nebuchadnezzar gave it splendor. (Genesis 10:8-10) In one of his cuneiform inscriptions, he brags: “Nebuchadrezzar, King of Babylon, the restorer of Esagila and Ezida, son of Nabopolassar am I. . . . The fortifications of Esagila and Babylon I strengthened and established the name of my reign forever.” (Archaeology and the Bible, by George A. Barton, 1949, pages 478-9) Another inscription refers to about 20 temples that he renovated or rebuilt. “Under Nebuchadnezzar’s rule,” says The World Book Encyclopedia, “Babylon became one of the most magnificent cities of the ancient world. In his own records, he rarely mentioned his military activities, but wrote of his building projects and his attention to the gods of Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar probably built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.”
16 Boast though he did, proud Nebuchadnezzar was about to be humiliated. Says the inspired account: “While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, there was a voice that fell from the heavens: ‘To you it is being said, O Nebuchadnezzar the king, “The kingdom itself has gone away from you, and from mankind they are driving even you away, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will be. Vegetation they will give even to you to eat just like bulls, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.”’”—Daniel 4:31, 32.
17 Nebuchadnezzar promptly lost his reason. Driven away from mankind, he ate vegetation “just like bulls.” Out among the beasts of the field, he certainly was not sitting idly in the grass of a virtual paradise, enjoying refreshing breezes daily. In modern-day Iraq, where Babylon’s ruins are located, temperatures range from a high of 120 degrees Fahrenheit [50°C] in the summer months to well below freezing in wintertime. Unattended and exposed to the elements, Nebuchadnezzar’s long, matted hair looked like eagles’ feathers and his uncut fingernails and toenails became like birds’ claws. (Daniel 4:33) What humiliation for this proud world ruler!
18 In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the great tree was felled and its stump was banded to prevent growth upward for seven times. Similarly, Nebuchadnezzar “was brought down from the throne of his kingdom” when Jehovah struck him with madness. (Daniel 5:20) In effect, this changed the king’s heart from that of a man to that of a bull. Yet, God reserved Nebuchadnezzar’s throne for him until the seven times ended. While Evil-merodach possibly acted as the temporary head of government, Daniel served as “the ruler over all the jurisdictional district of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” His three Hebrew companions continued to share in administering that district’s affairs. (Daniel 1:11-19; 2:48, 49; 3:30) The four exiles awaited Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration to the throne as a sane king who had learned that “the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.”
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S RESTORATION
19 Jehovah restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity at the end of seven times. Then acknowledging the Most High God, the king said: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up to the heavens my eyes, and my own understanding began to return to me; and I blessed the Most High himself, and the One living to time indefinite I praised and glorified, because his rulership is a rulership to time indefinite and his kingdom is for generation after generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’” (Daniel 4:34, 35) Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did come to realize that the Most High is indeed the Sovereign Ruler in the kingdom of mankind.
20 When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his throne, it was as though the metal bands around the dream tree’s rootstock had been removed. Concerning his restoration, he said: “At the same time my understanding itself began to return to me, and for the dignity of my kingdom my majesty and my brightness themselves began to return to me; and for me even my high royal officers and my grandees began eagerly searching, and I was reestablished upon my own kingdom, and greatness extraordinary was added to me.” (Daniel 4:36) If any court officials had despised the deranged king, now they were “eagerly searching” for him in complete subservience.
21 What “signs and wonders” the Most High God had performed! It should not surprise us that the restored Babylonian king said: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, am praising and exalting and glorifying the King of the heavens, because all his works are truth and his ways are justice, and because those who are walking in pride he is able to humiliate.” (Daniel 4:2, 37) Such an acknowledgment, however, did not make Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile worshiper of Jehovah.
IS THERE SECULAR EVIDENCE?
22 Some have identified Nebuchadnezzar’s madness with lycanthropy. Says one medical dictionary: “LYCANTHROPY . . . from [ly´kos], lupus, wolf; [an´thro·pos], homo, man. This name was given to the sickness of people who believe themselves to be changed into an animal, and who imitate the voice or cries, the shapes or manners of that animal. These individuals usually imagine themselves transformed into a wolf, a dog or a cat; sometimes also into a bull, as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar.” (Dictionnaire des sciences médicales, par une société de médicins et de chirurgiens, Paris, 1818, Volume 29, page 246) The symptoms of lycanthropy are similar to those of Nebuchadnezzar’s demented state. Since his mental illness was divinely decreed, however, it cannot specifically be identified with a known disorder.
23 Scholar John E. Goldingay cites several parallels to Nebuchadnezzar’s madness and restoration. For instance, he states: “A fragmentary cuneiform text apparently refers to some mental disorder on Nebuchadnezzar’s part, and perhaps to his neglecting and leaving Babylon.” Goldingay cites a document called “The Babylonian Job” and says that it “testifies to chastisements by God, illness, humiliation, seeking interpretation of a terrifying dream, being thrown over like a tree, being put outside, eating grass, losing understanding, being like an ox, being rained on by Marduk, nails being marred, hair growing, and being fettered, and then to a restoration for which he praises the god.”
SEVEN TIMES THAT AFFECT US
24 As represented by the great tree, Nebuchadnezzar symbolized world rulership. But remember, the tree stands for rulership and sovereignty far grander than that of Babylon’s king. It symbolizes the universal sovereignty of Jehovah, “the King of the heavens,” especially with respect to the earth. Before Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians, the kingdom centered in that city with David and his heirs sitting on “Jehovah’s throne” represented God’s sovereignty with reference to the earth. (1 Chronicles 29:23) God himself had such sovereignty chopped down and banded in 607 B.C.E. when he used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem. Exercise of divine sovereignty toward the earth by a kingdom in the line of David was restrained for seven times. How long were these seven times? When did they begin, and what marked their end?
25 During Nebuchadnezzar’s madness, “his very hair grew long just like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” (Daniel 4:33) This took longer than seven days or seven weeks. Various translations read “seven times,” and alternatives are “appointed (definite) times” or “time periods.” (Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32) A variant of the Old Greek (Septuagint) reads “seven years.” The “seven times” were treated as “seven years” by the first-century Jewish historian Josephus. (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 10, paragraph 6) And certain Hebrew scholars have viewed these “times” as “years.” “Seven years” is the rendering in An American Translation, Today’s English Version, and the translation by James Moffatt.
26 Evidently, Nebuchadnezzar’s “seven times” involved seven years. In prophecy, a year averages 360 days, or 12 months of 30 days each. (Compare Revelation 12:6, 14.) So the king’s “seven times,” or seven years, were 360 days multiplied by 7, or 2,520 days. But what about the major fulfillment of his dream? The prophetic “seven times” lasted much longer than 2,520 days. This was indicated by Jesus’ words: “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) That ‘trampling’ began in 607 B.C.E. when Jerusalem was destroyed and the typical kingdom of God ceased to function in Judah. When would the trampling end? At “the times of restoration of all things,” when divine sovereignty would again be manifested toward the earth through symbolic Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God.—Acts 3:21.
27 If we were to count 2,520 literal days from Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E., that would bring us only to 600 B.C.E., a year having no Scriptural significance. Even in 537 B.C.E., when the liberated Jews were back in Judah, Jehovah’s sovereignty was not manifested on the earth. That was so because Zerubbabel, the heir to David’s throne, was made not king but only governor of the Persian province of Judah.
28 Since the “seven times” are prophetic, we must apply to the 2,520 days the Scriptural rule: “A day for a year.” This rule is set out in a prophecy regarding the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 4:6, 7; compare Numbers 14:34.) The “seven times” of earth’s domination by Gentile powers without interference by God’s Kingdom therefore spanned 2,520 years. They began with the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem in the seventh lunar month (Tishri 15) of 607 B.C.E. (2 Kings 25:8, 9, 25, 26) From that point to 1 B.C.E. is 606 years. The remaining 1,914 years stretch from then to 1914 C.E. Thus, the “seven times,” or 2,520 years, ended by Tishri 15, or October 4/5, 1914 C.E.
29 In that year “the appointed times of the nations” were fulfilled, and God gave rulership to “the lowliest one of mankind”—Jesus Christ—who had been considered so base by his foes that they even had him impaled. (Daniel 4:17) To enthrone the Messianic King, Jehovah loosened the symbolic iron and copper bands around the “rootstock” of his own sovereignty. The Most High God thus allowed a royal “sprout” to grow from it as a manifestation of divine sovereignty toward the earth by means of the heavenly Kingdom in the hands of David’s greatest Heir, Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 11:1, 2; Job 14:7-9; Ezekiel 21:27) How we thank Jehovah for this blessed turn of events and for unraveling the mystery of the great tree!
