4:26Daniel 4:26

The command to leave the stump meant Nebuchadnezzar would be driven from men to live like a beast until seven times passed, yet his kingdom would be held sure for him through that humbling and restored to him once he had learned that the heavens rule.Ms 169, 1904, par. 4–6+4 That the heavens rule means God in heaven governs earthly kingdoms and gives them to whom He will, so no ruler's authority is his own and his security depends on acknowledging the Most High.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17+2 He is able to abase everyone who walks in pride and trusts in self, wisdom, or human strength, and will order matters after His own will for those who place themselves under His rule in lowliness of mind.Lt 73, 1896, par. 58–59+2 This assures that He remains supreme and works all things together for good to them that love Him even when good is interrupted and circumstances cannot be seen or understood.8MR 411.1–3+2 The whole earth will yet know that heaven rules when Babylon's fall is finally fulfilled at the second coming of Christ in power and great glory.Ms 91, 1898, par. 6+1

The promise belongs to Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree reaching to heaven, which stood for his greatness and prosperity, with the nations living under his sovereignty and his kingdom firmly established among loyal subjects.8T 126.3 It was part of Daniel's interpretation of the king's last dream, the second warning given to him.Lt 126, 1910, par. 10–12 That warning came after the king had lost the holy impression made when he saw the Fourth with the Hebrews in the furnace, for though then convinced that their God was the living God he did not continue to walk in the light.13MR 60.1–61.2

Daniel interpreted the dream faithfully and without flattery to the self-exalted king.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16+1 The tree cut down at the Watcher's command, with its stump and roots left bound with iron and brass, meant he would be driven from men to dwell with beasts and eat grass, wet with dew.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16+1 His reason would be taken away so he would acknowledge the living God as able to create and destroy, till seven times, even seven years of living like a beast, passed over him, until he knew that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16+3 With the warning came the counsel to break off sins by righteousness and iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, to lengthen his tranquility.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16

The command to leave the stump of the tree roots meant his kingdom would be preserved and held sure for him through his humbling, not ended permanently.Ms 169, 1904, par. 4–6+4 His loss of power was only temporary.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17 It would be kept and made secure to him again and restored after he had learned that the heavens rule.Ms 169, 1904, par. 4–6+4 The stump and roots left in the ground were the sign that the kingdom would remain his.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17+1

The judgment was delayed for months to give him time to repent.PK 519.2 But he remained proud, lost confidence in the interpretation, and mocked his earlier fears.PK 519.2 He was humbled for exalting and magnifying himself and acting in a spirit of supremacy.Lt 188, 1901, par. 1

The heavens ruling means that God in heaven, the infinite Supreme Ruler over finite men, governs earthly kingdoms and circumstances.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17+4 A ruler's authority is not his own, for God rules over earthly kingdoms and can give them to whom He chooses.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17+2 A ruler's security depends on recognizing the Most High's authority, and Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was preserved through his humbling and then restored and made secure to him after he learned that heaven rules.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17+3 His loss of power was only temporary, for the stump left from the felled tree signifies that his kingdom would remain for him until he acknowledged God's sovereignty.Ms 233, 1902, par. 14–17+1 His resources are unlimited, and His goodness and love are shown in the way He provides for every living thing.Ms 37, 1896, par. 4 This truth that God, not human rulers, governs is to be taught to children steadily, line upon line and precept upon precept.Lt 86, 1899, par. 9

That declaration assures that God remains supreme and still rules even when good meant for others is interrupted and circumstances cannot be seen, understood, or reconciled.8MR 411.1–3+2 He is working in mysterious ways to perform His wonders, to bring light before many who otherwise would never receive it and to diffuse blessings to His scattered people.Lt 49, 1886, par. 3–4+1 He permits sin to develop itself in crimes and cruelties, yet He governs the world and will not leave those who love Him to confusion.8MR 411.1–3+2 Events that cannot be understood do not show that His hand is against His people in trial, so they should keep good courage.Lt 49, 1886, par. 3–4+1 He has power to carry out what His wisdom and love desire, and all things work together for good to them that love Him.8MR 411.1–3+1

Nebuchadnezzar's banishment and miraculous restoration taught that God governs earthly rulers.PK 522.2+1 God took away his wisdom so that he would acknowledge the living God as able to create and destroy, and the promise that his kingdom would be restored after he recognized heaven's rule shows that earthly power is subject to God.PK 522.2+1 That lesson Belshazzar had known but ignored.PK 522.2 Babylon's later fall illustrates the danger of forgetting God and claiming human achievement as the source of prosperity.Ms 39, 1899, par. 9–11 The vision of the great image had already taught that Babylon would fall, other kingdoms would follow, and God's everlasting kingdom would finally replace all earthly powers.PK 514.1

The promise to preserve the kingdom through humbling shows a divine working to change even a heathen king's heart, and it stands as a lesson of vital importance to all connected with the work of God.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16 The Watcher still takes cognizance of the works of all men, and in a special sense of those entrusted with sacred truth.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16 Those so entrusted are far more accountable than the king of Babylon, since his course is laid out before them for them to learn what God desires to teach.Ms 29, 1895, par. 13–16

Every person must learn that the heavens rule and how mighty the wonder-working God is.Lt 73, 1896, par. 58–59+1 God is able to abase everyone who walks in pride and in a self-sufficient estimate of personal capabilities, which warns against trusting in oneself and one's own wisdom or making human strength one's support.Lt 73, 1896, par. 58–59+2 God will control matters after His own order and will for those who place themselves under His rule in lowliness of mind with renewed and cleansed heart, with the proud and self-sufficient heart melted and subdued by the Holy Spirit.Lt 73, 1896, par. 58–59+1 It is a blessing to learn the mercy of Jesus and the truth from Him directly, with weeping over self-sufficiency and with glorifying Him, rather than having to learn the same truth through judgments.Lt 73, 1896, par. 58–59+1 Disregarding the light God gives brings loss and judgment, for God gives lessons to lead people to reform, as Nebuchadnezzar's restored kingdom after his acknowledgment shows.Lt 201, 1899, par. 3–4

In God's providence there will again be opportunity to warn those who stand in high places of the earth, as Daniel plainly warned the self-exalted king that his kingdom would be kept and made sure to him again after he had learned that the heavens rule.Lt 34, 1900, par. 20–23 That truth that heaven rules, that God and not human rulers governs, is to be taught to children steadily, line upon line and precept upon precept.Lt 86, 1899, par. 9 The king was humbled for exalting and magnifying himself and acting in a spirit of supremacy, and his kingdom was made sure to him only after he learned that the heavens rule, which means God does not sustain principles of human wisdom in carrying on His work.Lt 188, 1901, par. 1 He has given no man authority and power over His heritage to require everyone to understand and carry out his mind, to investigate and criticize and condemn sanitariums and medical missionary workers who do not meet his ideas, to discourage those striving to make a beginning in different places, or to make laws and pledges for the future.Lt 188, 1901, par. 1

The whole earth will yet know that heaven rules when the prophecy of Babylon's fall is fulfilled at the second coming of Christ.Ms 91, 1898, par. 6+1 He is coming with power and great glory, with all the holy angels with Him, in His own glory and the glory of the Father.Ms 91, 1898, par. 6+1 While all the world is plunged in darkness, there will be light in every dwelling of the saints as they catch the first light of His second appearing.Ms 91, 1898, par. 6+1 Unsullied light will shine from His splendor, and Christ the Redeemer will be admired by all who have received Him, with all who have served Him catching the undimmed rays of the glory and brightness of the King in His majesty.Ms 91, 1898, par. 6 In that day those counted as lowly will be truly lofty.Ms 91, 1898, par. 6+1