The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice spoke from out of heaven: “Here is my verdict concerning you, King Nebuchadnezzar: I have now taken your kingdom from you!
“God said to him, ‘What a fool you are to trust in your riches and not in me! This very night the messengers of death will demand to take your life. Then who will get all the wealth you have stored up for yourself?’
For while some are saying, “Finally we have peace and security,” sudden destruction will arrive at their doorstep, like labor pains seizing a pregnant woman—and with no chance of escape!
So, Father, bring glory to your name!” Then suddenly a booming voice was heard from the sky, “I have glorified my name! And I will glorify it through you again!”
“When the appointed time had come, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. And I blessed the Most High, praising and glorifying him who lives forever: “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from one generation to the next.
“And the watcher’s order, ‘Leave the stump with its roots in the ground,’ means this: God will restore your kingdom to you once you come to your senses and understand that Heaven rules over all.
the king began to boast: “Look at you! Is not this Babylon the great? By my brilliant wisdom, I built all this as my royal residence to display the glory of my majesty.”
You will be driven far from human society for seven years. You will make your home with the wild beasts, and you will eat grass like cattle until you have learned that I, the Most High, am sovereign over the kingdoms of men and can give them to whomever I please.”
But when his heart was inflated with pride and his spirit hardened into stubbornness, God deposed him from his royal throne and stripped him of his glory.
You are the Lord who reigns over your never-ending kingdom through all the ages of time and eternity! You are faithful to fulfill every promise you’ve made. You manifest yourself as kindness in all you do.
He is a mighty savior and deliverer. He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth, He alone has rescued Daniel from the claws of the lions.”
I heard the man answer who was dressed in linen, hovering above the river. He raised his hands to heaven and swore by him who lives forever, “A time, and two times, and half a time. All this persecution will not end until the opposition of God’s holy people is completely crushed.”