What does Daniel 4:22 mean?
Faithful to his appointment as a prophet (Daniel 1:17; 2:19), Daniel's brief hesitation (Daniel 4:19) quickly fades. He repeats the details of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 4:20–21) and confirms that the tree symbolizes the king, himself. Nebuchadnezzar had become strong and famous throughout the ancient world. This was the good news about the tree's symbolizing King Nebuchadnezzar. But bad news soon follows. The king will suffer humiliation and insanity (Daniel 4:25–27).As a strong ruler of worldwide notoriety, Nebuchadnezzar foreshadows the beast of the end times. The beast is the last Gentile ruler in the "times of the Gentiles." His kingdom, like Nebuchadnezzar's, will spread everywhere like the tree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. He, too, will provide protection and provision for those who bow to his authority, just as animals and birds found safety in the tree. All who submit to the beast's authority will receive a mark on their right hand or forehead that allows them to buy and sell. Without this mark many will starve to death (Revelation 13).