258    The Bible and the Future of the World 

interpretation disturb you.  Belteshazzar answered and said,  My lord, the 

dream is for those who hate you, and its interpretation may be for your 

enemies. 

{4:17} The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward 

heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world. 

{4:18} And its branches were very beautiful, and its fruit very abundant, and 

in it was food for all. Under it, dwelt the beasts of the field, and in its 

branches, the birds of the air stayed. 

{4:19} It is you, O king, who has been greatly esteemed, and you have 

grown strong. And you have increased your power, and it reaches towards 

heaven, and your rule is to the ends of the whole earth. 

{4:20} Yet the king also saw a watcher and a holy one descend from heaven 

and say:  Cut down the tree and scatter it; however, leave the stump of its 

roots in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass, among the 

surrounding plants, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let 

his feeding be with the wild beasts, until seven periods of time pass over 

him.  

{4:21} This is the interpretation of the judgment of the Most High, which 

has reached my lord, the king. 

{4:22} They will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with 

the beasts and the wild animals, and you will eat hay like an ox, and you 

will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Likewise, seven periods of time 

will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules over the 

kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills. 

{4:23} But, since he commanded that the stump of its roots, that is, of the 

tree, should be left behind, your kingdom will be left for you, after you have 

realized that power is from divinity. 

{4:24} Because of this, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. And 

redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with mercy towards the 

poor. Perhaps he will forgive your offenses.  

The seven periods of time is the same seventy weeks of years spoken of later 

in the Book of Daniel. The tree which has grown great and has filled the 

whole world is the human race. The human race undergoes many severe 

trials, both from their own mistakes and from God. The governments of the 

world will be reduce from ones that think and reason like a man, to ones 

that act as if they were irrational wild animals. The human race will be 

reduced from a great tree that fills and controls the whole world, to a mere 

stump of a tree surrounded  by weeds and wild animals, drenched with the 

dew of heaven, until humanity realizes that One Supreme God rules over 

heaven and earth.