The Greatest Top Tree and 7 Periods
I, King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. -Daniel chapter 4
The Dream of Highest Tree
I made another dream and this dream made me afraid again, this time I remembered the dream but didn’t know the dream’s meaning, so I asked the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in to tell me the dream’s interpretation but they couldn’t. At last Daniel who was named Belteshazzar came. I said,
9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it”.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men’”.
I asked Daniel to “tell me its interpretation, since none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, because a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him’”.
24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom(highest dominion) of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity”.
All this came upon “to me” King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months “I” was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and said “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against “to me”. “I” was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and “my” body was wet with the dew of heaven till “my” hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and “my” nails were like birds’ claws.
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Dream Interpretation
The above is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, it has 2 interpretations, Daniel explained the first fulfillment that applied on the king Nebuchadnezzar. The tree represents Nebuchadnezzar, means he got the “highest dominion” over the whole world at that time. The tree had chopped down and passed over 7 periods, that he would lost the power of highest dominion for 7 years. After that the tree grew again and the king Nebuchadnezzar regained his kingdom, regained the “highest dominion“.
Daniel explained the first fulfillment of this dream above but not explained the second fulfillment. The tree is the representative(God’s kingdom-Jerusalem) of the Most High, Jerusalem holds “highest dominion” and rules the kingdom of men. How do we know that? Let us explain the second fulfillment, it’s about “the tree”, “highest dominion”, “the beast” and “seven periods”…
The Highest Dominion
Nebuchadnezzar explained that God holding the “highest dominion” of the whole world, he said “to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it(highest dominion) to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men“. After the 7 periods will be the End Day, Jehovah God will give the “highest dominion” to the lowliest men(saints) – God’s Kingdom.
Jesus also used the great tree to symbolic “the highest dominion” of heavenly kingdom. Matthew 13:31,32 Jesus said “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches”.
The Tree – Jerusalem
There are 3 stages of the tree : Before the tree chopped down; and then pass over 7 periods; after that the tree will grow again. The tree symbolic the “Jerusalem“.
Before the 7 periods, “Jerusalem” had the temple with priests of Israel with the “highest dominion“, for Jehovah God gave the highest dominion to Jerusalem; After that, the tree(Jerusalem) was chopped down and be portion with the beasts pass over 7 periods, that means the “highest dominion” had left Jerusalem; When the 7 periods passed over, the tree will grow again, the “highest dominion” will give back to “New Jerusalem” ; the temple with priests ; the heavenly Israel ; the kingdom of heaven.
The Tree – Before cropped down
For the Israel nation, Jehovah God made the covenant with them. This covenant is they will be the holy kingdom of priests.
Exodus 19:5,6 Jehovah God says,
“5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to me a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation“”.
God made this covenant with Israel that was called “Old Testament”, the priests served God in the Jerusalem temple. Priests offered sacrifices to Jehovah God and asked forgiving of the whole nation’s sins, let the Israel nation be holy. All other nations could know the only True God YHWH(Jehovah) and his laws through the priests, they would got the food(spiritual food of God’s word) through this tree(Jerusalem). So this covenant is about the holy kingdom of priests(Jerusalem).
The Tree – Cropped down
When did the tree has been chop down?
In 607BCE this tree started to be ‘Chopped down’, only “leave the stump of its roots”. This tree(Israel, temple of Jerusalem) chopped down by Babylonian Empire, since then the ark in the temple of God disappeared, the dominion of Israel ended and no any king of Israel afterward, that means the dominion of Jerusalem was stopped. Although the tree had been chopped down, the “beasts an birds” could also continue eating the remaining fruits of it. Till to 70 AD, Roman Empire “lop off the tree’s branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit”, and Jerusalem and the sanctuary had destroyed totally in 70 AD. This represents the tree has totally destroyed.
And it’s stump bound with a band of “iron” and “bronze“, what does it mean? What does the iron and bronze represent? Daniel chapter 2 tells us the bronze and iron are the material of the third(kingdom) and fourth(kingdom) of the statue, We had discussed this at the previous article “Dream of Statue”. That means the tree was bound by “the third” material(Greek Empire) and “the fourth” material mainly. Actually in our history, the sanctuary had been “trample” by Antiochus IV in BC 167-the King of Greek Empire(bronze) , and AD 70 by Roman(iron).
The Tree – Grow again
But the tree will grow again become a new tree(New Jerusalem), it will be greater than all plants after the 7 periods. At the end of the ministry period(3.5 years) of Jesus, he made a covenant(New Testament) with his apostles.
Luke 22:29.30 “and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”.
Rev. 15:5 says the “temple in heaven was opened”.
Rev. 21:10,22 says “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”
So the new covenant is about the new Holy Kingdom with Priests–the New Jerusalem.
What does it mean of the “Mind“?
What does it mean of the “mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him”?
What does it mean of “Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth”?
What does it mean of the “seven periods”?
The “Mind” – The Highest Dominion
What does it mean of the “mind“? The “mind” means “the highest dominion”, and YHWH God the Most High can change the “highest dominion”(change the mind), “gives it to whom he will”.
What does it mean of the “mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him”?
Change “Mind” – Change “Highest Dominion”
First of all, the tree means the Jerusalem with the “highest dominion”. When the tree was cut down, the “highest dominion” was be driven(Daniel 4:25), “the kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven”(Daniel 4:31,32). It means the “highest dominion” left the tree(Jerusalem). But the “highest dominion” was not disappeared or stopped, it just leave the tree only(driven out). Where did the “highest dominion” go?
Daniel 4:16 “Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him”. So the “Mind“-“highest dominion” was changed from man to the beast. It means the “highest dominion” was changed and given to the beast. How long?
It will last 7 periods. After 7 periods, the “Mind“-“highest dominion” will be given back(return) to the tree(New Jerusalem). Then all livings “may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men”(Daniel 4:17).
The Beast with the Highest Dominion
Then what does the “beast” mean? Actually, Babylon Empire was the first beast who was given the “highest dominion”. When the Israel destroyed(BC 607) by the Babylon, “highest dominion”-the “Mind” was changed and left Jerusalem, given to the beast.
Why we can say this prophecy fulfill this way? Because Daniel 7:3,4 says, “And four great beasts came up out of the sea… 4 The first(Babylon) was like a lion… and the “mind” of a man was given to it“. (Let his “mind” be changed from a man’s)
It matches with Daniel 4:16 “Let his “mind” be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him”, the “highest dominion” was transferred to the beast. So man’s “mind” means the “highest dominion” of goodness, kindness…”, but the beast’s “mind” means the “highest dominion” of cruel, rough…”.
Daniel also proved that the “highest dominion” was given to the first beast Babylon Empire. Daniel 2:37,38 “You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold”.
In the first fulfillment, the tree with the “highest dominion” was Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:22 says, “it(the tree) is you, O king… and your dominion(highest dominion) to the ends of the earth”.
In the second and real fulfillment, the tree symbolic Jerusalem with the “highest dominion”, the highest dominion was come out from Jerusalem and given to Babylon Empire, it was the first beast who had given the “highest dominion”.
Stump – Saints
What does it mean of “Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth”? The destroyed tree(Jerusalem) “leave the stump of its roots in the earth” and “let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth” means the stump(saints of Jerusalem) and the beasts are living together and pass over 7 periods.
Isaiah 6:13
“And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it(Jerusalem) is felled.”
The “holy seed“(saints) is its “stump“.
Tramp the Stump
“The stump stay in the grass of the earth”, what does it mean? Grass is the lowliest and all livings trample on it, that means the stump will be trampled. Luke 21:24 “…and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled”.
What does it mean “Let him be wet with the dew of heaven”? Maybe it means the heaven weeps for him(the destroyed Jerusalem). Luke 19:41 “And when he(Jesus) drew near and saw the city(Jerusalem), he wept over it”.
Seven Periods
What are the “seven periods”?
It means the 7 periods of “the stump and the beasts”.
Seven Periods of Stump
What are the seven periods of the stump? The period of stump is separated half and half, and total 7 periods; 3.5 periods and the “a time, times, and half a time“. From BC607 to AD70 is the 3.5 periods, symbolized by Jesus 3.5 years witness ministry. Jesus is the holy seed of the stump.
From AD70 to the End Day is another “three and half” periods, symbolized by seven churches and two witnesses of Revelation chapter 2,3 and 11, two witnesses means two churches(the two lampstands) witnessing period. They are also the holy seed of the stump(New Jerusalem). Please read <Seven Churches and Seven Stars> and <Two Witnesses>.
Seven Periods of the Beasts
What are the seven periods of the beasts? If we read Daniel chapter 2 and 7, we will know the first beast(the 1st period) is the Empire of Babylon, the second beast(the 2nd period) is the Persians Empire, the third beast(the 3rd period) is the Greek Empire. The fourth beast(the 4th period) is Roman Empire and AD70 is marked as the half of 7 periods(3.5 periods). Please read <Dream of Statue>.
And AD 70 is the beginning of “1260 days” and “a time, times, half a time” of the stump(seven churches period). Roman Empire lasted a long time just like a long leg of Dream of Statue. After the end of Roman Empire, the fifth beast(the 5th period) occurred, it was British Empire.
After that, the 6th beast “rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon”(Revelation 13:11), the 6th beast(the 6th period) is US.
The 7th Period – EU and US
The last beast and the final one is “ten horns“, “And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. (together with the 6th beast-US)”(Revelation 17:12).
So the 7th beast(the 7th period) is “ten horns”, they will receive the royal power at the end time together with the 6th beast(US-the little horn). What is the 7th period of the beast? The 7th beast is “ten kings” the EU(European Union), they will be the last period(one hour). EU are the “ten toes” partly strong and partly brittle, they want to in-marriage(Union) “but will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay”.
41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. – Daniel 2:41-43
At the End of 7 periods of the beasts, Daniel 2:44 says “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms(beasts) and bring them to an end, and it(God’s kingdom) shall stand forever”.
7 the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking.
And as I looked, the beast(ten horns beast) was killed,
and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his(ten horns beast) dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.”. – Daniel 7:10,11,26
Please read <Four Great beasts>, <The Beast 666> and <Ten horns and the Beast>.
The Tree – New Jerusalem
At the end of the 7 periods of the stump, Daniel 4:17 says “The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men“.
Daniel 7:13,14, 27
13 …and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man(Jesus),
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
So God’s kingdom is formed with 2 halves, one half is Jesus(Lamb) and one half is the 144000 saints(the Bride – New Jerusalem).
Revelation 14:1
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Isaiah 6:13
“…it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it(Jerusalem) is felled.”
The “holy seed” is its stump.
Isaiah 11:1
There shall come forth a shoot(New Jerusalem) from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
Daniel 4:12 says this greatest top tree “Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all”. It will grow again and reach to the heaven, it symbolic to the New Jerusalem, and its’ fruit is the food for all.
Revelation 22:2 “through the middle of the street of the city(New Jerusalem); also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations”.
Also Lord Jesus is the king of kings of the New Jerusalem, not only King of kings(King of 144000 kings) but also Lord of lords(Lord of 144000 lords). Amen.
Please read <The Mystery of Kingdom of God>, <144000 and a great multitude>, <Woman and Dragon>, <Judgment has come>, <King of kings>, <Reign a thousand years> and <New Jerusalem>.
How long of seven Periods
There is an interesting question : We know that “7 periods” was started from 607BCE, but how long of the 7 periods? Is that represents 7 x 360(day) = 2520(day)? 7 years? 2520 years? or just is 7 periods? Surely, it won’t be 7 years or 2520 years, it should be 7 periods. Why we can say that?
Matthew 24:36 says “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only”.
Give you a math problem, please calculate : starting date is 607 BCE + “7 periods” = “the End Day”(unknown date). If we cannot know the date of “the End Day”, that means “7 periods” must not be the real 2520(days or years), otherwise you can calculate 607 BCE + 2520(days or years) = the date of “End Day”, and then you will know the answer. But Jesus said no one knows the End Day, so 7 really means 7 periods not 7 years or 2520 years. Let’s see more about the 7 periods what Daniel said…
A hint is from Daniel 12:7 says “…for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished”. When did “a time, times, and half a time” start from? Daniel 12:9 says “from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up(AD 70)…”.
Matthew 24:15,16 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”.
So “a time, times, and half a time” was counted from AD 70, and Revelation chapter 12 says this period is the symbolized “1260 days”. After the “three and half” symbolic times(periods), the great tree will grow again, it means God’s kingdom will arrive. Please read article <Seventy Sevens> about the 1260 days.
So the period started from AD 70 to the End Day(Jerusalem destroyed, the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up), is “a time, times, and half a time”, total three and half times(3.5 periods). Therefore AD 70 backward to 607 BC is another three and half times(3.5 periods), total is 7 periods.
Prayer
Let’s Prayer
Our heavenly Father, may hallowed be your name and may your kingdom come. We are waiting of your kingdom come for a long time, although this great tree Jerusalem has been copped down, but it will grow again after the end of the 7 periods. We need to learn more truth, please lord Jesus send holy spirit to help us and direct us to know the truth of 7 periods, and let all livings know Heavenly Father is the Most High and rules the kingdom of men.
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
worship and glory to you. Amen.
Thank you Heavenly Father Jehovah God Jesus Lord and Holy Spirit to direct us to know the meaning of 7 periods and the beasts period. You opened the sealed mystery of great top tree to us.
Truly, YHWH God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have revealed this mystery to us. We faith in You and your son Jesus Christ, and faith of your words your prophet. For you are the most high, we fell down to honor and worship You. Amen.
Thank you Father and Jesus to save your people and give us real hope and the real food the eternal food. May hallowed be your name, and may your kingdom(New Jerusalem) come. Amen.
How great are God’s signs,
how mighty of your wonders!
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures from generation to generation.
Amen.
Prayer is also in Jesus’s name. Amen.
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