Daniel 4: The Seven Times II- The Fall of Man

In the chapter of Daniel 4, we are introduced to a prophecy related by the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. While Daniel gave the personal application of the vision, but there were various prophetic applications of the seven times judgment which came from the law of God, as written in Leviticus 26. If these applications are understood properly, they will yield more light and understanding to the study of the book of Daniel, and to the Bible overall by revealing a wonderful internal consistency, both historically and prophetically, that no man-made narrative could accomplish.

Every single one of these “seven times” is accompanied with parallel events. Doubtless, many more parallels can be drawn from the inspired prophetic picture, but the most relevant ones are the ones we desire to draw upon. These primarily we want to draw upon from Daniel 4, as mentioned in the previous article:

1) The flourishing of a righteous dominion that fulfills God’s purposes on earth is likened to a tree.
2) The tree was cut down because of pride and rebellion against the light of heaven.
3) The tree had a band of iron and brass around the stump, not being destroyed, but spared in part.
4) Seven times was the duration of the judgment.
5) When it began, it was classified as the king being “driven out”; and likened with a beast.
6) When the first dominion was restored, the king was lowly in heart.

THE FALL AND RESTORATION OF THE FIRST DOMINION

The first “seven times” we will examine with the above points. It began with the righteous dominion that was first given to Adam. God made Adam in His image. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) God gave Adam the “dominion”, and it was righteous, being in His image.

And he flourished: “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” The righteous tree was established with the dominion of Adam. Abiding in the manner the heavenly King established him, he would fulfill the purposes he was designed for. Adam and Eve were to have dominion over the beasts; the beasts were not to have dominion over them.

Driven Out by Reason of Transgression

God and Christ had dominion over them only, so long as they honored His Word. But Adam and Eve transgressed. Eve failed to obey the Word of God, and instead obeyed the words of a serpent, a beast under her dominion. Adam then fell to Eve, who had fallen to the beast. Thus, the image of God was destroyed in man,  “And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:23)

It was after this, that Satan became “the god of this world”. It was Satan’s pride that caused him to enter Eden, and use the serpent beast as a medium to cause man to transgress. He wanted the kingdom for himself like the king of Babylon’s pride when Babylon fell (Isaiah 14:1-4,12-14). So “He drove out the man…” (Gen. 3:24) as Nebuchadnezzar was driven out to the beasts of the field; heaven’s companionship and the righteous dominion was no longer man’s portion.

Seven Times A Millenia

Since that time, we’ve been on the earth six thousand years as God allows pride and iniquity to have an end, and to impress His own image and likeness upon man once more. One thousand years is allotted for the great millennium of Sabbath rest, when the land shall lie desolate according to the law of God. The Scriptures liken a thousand years to a day, beginning from the first coming of the Messiah.

“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” (Hosea 6:1-2) It will be for the “third day” (the final thousandth year of the seven times), the millennium, that we shall live in His sight.

After the seven times of thousand year periods, a new heavens and a new earth shall be created: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13) The earth was not immediately destroyed. The stump remained. Man was allowed to pass over seven thousand years as a consequence of sin.

The kingdoms of iron and brass have impressed their hard image upon the earth, and this will continue until sin is destroyed forever after the final time of a thousand years. Then shall righteousness dwell in the earth again, “And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:8)

Millennium Reign

In those days after the millennium, Christ shall reign over all the earth, and rebellion shall not be found forever; the righteous and flourishing dominion given to Adam has been restored. Thus we see a righteous dominion in the beginning. Being changed into the image of a beast and driven out because of transgression.

The seven times is past over the earth. The dominion is fully restored. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride was a type of Satan whose dominion will be cut down forever for his sins. And his humility as a type of Christ when He reigns in His glory on the throne of David in the earth made new.

The fact that this initial application is in the very beginning of the Bible, speaks of four strong points that should not go unnoticed.
(1) The judgment as given in the law of Moses was applicable for transgression even at this tme.
(2) The judgment occurs in violation of the covenant between God and man. Therefore the covenant Adam was in that he transgressed was the everlasting covenant.
(3) The manner of redemption in the everlasting covenant when it is violated is still the same at the end as it was in the beginning.
(4) The promises of the everlasting covenant are promises of restoration of the blessing of how it was in the beginning had man not sinned.

To see the next prophetic application (or to review the previous), click on the links below:
I: The Prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar
II: The Fall of Man
III: The Northern Kingdom
IV: The Southern Kingdom
V: The Beasts of Prophecy