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revelation contained in chapters 11: and 12: are prophetic of "what shall befall thy
people in the latter days" when Persia and Greece again come upon the scene. Finally a
comparison of Dan. 7: with Rev. 13: shows the fourth indescribable beast to be the
great satanic revival of Babel at the time of the end.
Coming back to Dan. 4:, it may be contended that the judgment pronounced fell
upon Nebuchadnezzar, in person, and that it was Nebuchadnezzar in person who was
restored. This, of course, is true, but we have seen that the historic happenings recorded
in Daniel foreshadowed the future, and Nebuchadnezzar's madness sets forth the
character of Gentile dominion as God sees it, first, generally, over the whole course of its
duration, and then, especially, at the intensely awful period covered by the final seven
years.
4. The seven times.--We learn from Dan. 11: 13 that "times" mean "years". "After
certain years" reads, in the margin, "at the end of times, even years". If the vision of
Dan. 4: had referred only to Nebuchadnezzar, having no further significance, there
would have been no reason for saying, "and let seven times pass over him", for the words
"seven years" would have been simpler and sufficient. But if these seven years were, in
their turn, prophetic, then the more cryptic term is justified, stimulating us, as it does, to
close enquiry.
There are some who teach from Lev. 26: 18 that the punishment of Israel will be
"seven times", and computing by the "day for a year" theory we have the 2,520 days
which make up seven years, symbolizing 2,520 years, which are supposed to be the
extent of Israel's punishment and of Gentile dominion. Taking Nebuchadnezzar's reign
as commencing 600B.100:, we arrive at 1917A.D. as the time of the end. We have stated
this view not because we endorse it, but in order that our readers may face it, and also
that it may be manifest that we are aware of it. All such date-making respecting the time
of the end we resolutely avoid as being unscriptural, quite apart from the fact that it
would take a wiser man than Solomon to prove that the date of this present year is
actually 1931A.D., or even to get within a few years of accuracy. We believe God has
purposely confused the calendar. He who gave definite chronology from Adam to Christ
has, of set purpose, given no more--let us abide by that. As the structure partly suggests,
the cryptic seven times of Nebuchadnezzar's madness finds its echo in the final
seven years of Dan. 9:
A superficial reading of the words of the holy watchers in Dan. 4: 17, "He setteth up
over it the basest of men", is likely to lead to a wrong inference. We at first think of
moral baseness, and conceive of the idea that Gentile dominion is rotten to the core. It
may be that it is, but the lesson of Dan. 4: 17 is a happier one. Sh'phal and its Hebrew
equivalent shaphal mean "to humble", and "to be humbled", and comes again in
Dan. 4: 17 where Nebuchadnezzar says, "And they that walk in pride he is able to
abase". To Belshazzar, Daniel used the same word when he recalled Nebuchadnezzar's
pride and fall:--