> [!question] MANKIND NEEDS BETTER RULERSHIP (4 min.) > Is it time? > - To Eat? For Bed? To Leave? > - Time for Change? > - What kind of change? Why do we need change? > > > [!question] *Why do human governments fail to meet the needs of their subjects? ([Pr 29:2](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=20029002&wtlocale=E))* > > > [!help] Lets take a quick look a the state of the world. > > > - Covid-19 : 7.1 million confirmed deaths > > > - As of April 2026, 30 countries are experiencing active armed conflicts. > > > - According to the inflation calculator, cost of living has risen ~38% over the past ten years > > > --- > > > Why? Mankind often looks to their leaders, the governments to fix these things, but often finds these same governments are the ones contributing to, or even causing these problems. > > > > > > So, what gives? Why do human governments fail to meet the needs of their subjects? > > > > > > > > [!question] *Man has neither the right nor the ability to govern himself successfully* > > > This same issue has been plaguing mankind for the past 6000 years > > > > > > Read ([Jer 10:23](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=24010023&wtlocale=E)) > > > - It does not belong to man to direct his own step, nonetheless others steps, nonetheless an entire countries worth of people's steps. > > > > > > His efforts to do so have led to much injustice and suffering ([Ec 8:9,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=21008009&wtlocale=E) [11](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=21008011&wtlocale=E)) > > > > > > So, what then? Is that the end of it? Are we doomed to a future of repeating failure? > > > [!question] *The Bible foretells that God’s Kingdom will soon replace human rule ([Da 2:44;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27002044&wtlocale=E) [7:13, 14](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27007013-27007014&wtlocale=E))* > > Read [Daniel 2:44](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27002044&wtlocale=E) > > > > Focusing on this scripture for a second, what comes to mind when you hear the word "Kingdom?" -> King/Queen/Castle/Peasants -> Form of government. > > > > Contrast God's Government with Mankinds Governments > > - God can direct man's step > > - Got has the power to solve the worlds problems > > - Will not be destroyed, will crush all other governments > > - On every point, God's Government will be better then man's attempts at government > > > > When will God’s Kingdom begin ruling? Has it already started ruling? When will it take full control? > [!question] [**DANIEL CHAPTER 4**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004001-27004037&wtlocale=E)​**—A PROPHETIC DREAM ABOUT RULERSHIP** (5 min.) > To answer these questions, we're going to look at a prophecy in Daniel. We're going to study Daniel chapter 4 in depth, and see what information it holds that pertains to the questions we just asked. > > [!question] Jehovah caused King Nebuchadnezzar to have a dream about rulership ([Da 4:10-17](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004010-27004017&wtlocale=E)) > > - Read Daniel 4:4,5 - Sets the stage > > - Next few verses he calls in the wise men of Babylon to interpret the dream, but nobody can. Nobody except for Daniel, a known servant of Jehovah. > > - Read Daniel 4:10-17 - The dream > > > > Right away we know the dream is not literal. A tree of such size can not exist. Also in verse 16 it states that the heart of the tree will change from a human to a beasts. > > > > So, what's it mean? > > > > > [!question] **God inspired Daniel to interpret the dream** > > > Read key portions of [**Daniel 4:20-27**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004020-27004027&wtlocale=E) > > > - Vs 22 - Tree is King Nebuchadnezzar > > > - Vs 24,25 - King will driven from men, and become cow > > > - Vs 26,27 - King will return > > > - Vs 28 - All of this came to pass > > > --- > > > We right away learn two things: > > > 1. Daniel accurately interpreted and foretold these events, which confirms this dream was from Jehovah, and thus its fulfilment to be taken note of > > > 2. The dream emphasizes that Jehovah God has the right to determine who will rule mankind > > > --- > > > Ok, great, we have a weird dream, we have a crazy fulfillment, why are we discussing this after we just mentioned God's Kingdom? > [!question] **THE DREAM FORETELLS THE RULE OF GOD’S KINGDOM** (16 min.) > > > This dream is a prophecy that has a larger fulfillment in connection with the establishment of God’s Kingdom ([_it_-1 132-135](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-1200000316&lang=E)) > > > [!question] What reason is there to suggest that the dream is more than just an interesting story about the humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar? > > > 1. The dream was given at the _time_ when God had just allowed his earthly kingdom to be overthrown > > > - Context First: Read 1 Chronicles 29:23 > > > - Jehovah had an Earthly Kingdom already set up in Jerusalem > > > - The time this dream was delivered was 607 BCE, right after Jehovah used Babylon to overthrow Jerusalem, his earthly kingdom. > > > - Gods kingdom was "cut down" for a time. There was no kingdom that directly represented Jehovah at this point in time > > > 1. The _person_ to whom the dream was given was the very one used by God to cut off rulership in Jerusalem > > > - Nebuchadnezzar was directly involved in the temporary "cutting down" of Jehovah's rulership > > > 1. The _theme_ of the dream is God’s right to rule over the entire “kingdom of mankind” ([Da 4:17,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004017&wtlocale=E) [25,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004025&wtlocale=E) [32](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004032&wtlocale=E)) > > > - Daniel 4:17 stated "So that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind+ and that he gives it to whomever he wants" > > > 4. The dream’s _context,_ the book of Daniel, repeatedly points forward to the rule of God’s Kingdom > > > - Not only the theme of this dream, but the entire book of Daniel is pointing forward to God's Kingdom > > > 5. Daniel’s prophecies would not be fully understood until _“the time of the end”_ ([Da 12:4,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27012004&wtlocale=E) [8, 9](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27012008-27012009&wtlocale=E)) > > > - Read Daniel 12:4,8,9 > > > - Focus on "Time of the end". > > > - Thats the time we're in right now. > > > --- > > > This dream will have multiple fulfillments. > > > In the first fulfillment, the large tree was King Nebuchadnezzar himself > > > In the larger fulfillment, the tree represents Jehovah’s rulership. How can we say that? > > > > > > > > [!help] For a period of time, Jehovah’s rulership had been represented by the Israelite kings who ruled in Jerusalem ([1Ch 29:23](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=13029023&wtlocale=E)) > > > - Jehovah promised David that one of his descendants would rule forever ([2Sa 7:16](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=10007016&wtlocale=E)) > > > - Just to quote: "[16](https://www.jw.org/open?bible=10007016&wtlocale=E)  Your house and your kingdom will be secure forever before you; your throne will be firmly established forever.”" > > > - Ezekiel foretold that the earthly representation of God’s rulership would be cut off and that God would later appoint a new Ruler **[Read** [**Ezekiel 21:26, 27**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=26021026-26021027&wtlocale=E)**]** > > > - In 607 B.C.E., Jehovah used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem; > > > - Reference Daniel 4:16, talking about the "Seven Times" > > > - this marked the beginning of the “seven times” during which God’s rulership would be interrupted ([Da 4:16](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004016&wtlocale=E)) > > > - How long would this period last? > > > - Daniel does not say, but there are other parts of the bible that do tell us > > > [!help] ** Jesus said that Jerusalem, representing God’s rulership, would “be trampled on . . . until the appointed times of the nations” were fulfilled ([_w06_ 7/15 6 ¶1-4](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2006521&lang=E&par=16-19))** > > [Read [**Luke 21:24**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=42021024&wtlocale=E)] > > - “The appointed times of the nations” are the same period as the “seven times” of [Daniel chapter 4](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004001-27004037&wtlocale=E) > > - Jesus indicated that “the appointed times of the nations” were still ongoing during his earthly ministry, so the “seven times” could not be seven literal years counted from 607 B.C.E. > > - Read [Revelation 12:6,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=66012006&wtlocale=E) [14](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=66012014&wtlocale=E). As we read, focus on where it talks about timing > > - 1,260 Days = 3.5 times. 3.5times x 2 = 7 times. 7 times = 2,520 days // About 7 years. > > - “Seven times,” or seven Biblical years, are equal to 2,520 days ([_w06_ 7/15 7 ¶1-2](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2006521&lang=E&par=20-21)) > > - Adding 2,520 days // About 7 years to 607 BCE doesn't really get us anywhere, and we know its wrong from Jesus words earlier in Luke > > - Applying the rule of “a day for a year” and counting 2,520 years from 607 B.C.E. brings us to 1914 C.E. ([Nu 14:34;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=4014034&wtlocale=E) [Eze 4:6](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=26004006&wtlocale=E)) > > - In 1914, Jesus began ruling in heaven as the appointed King of God’s Kingdom > > - Why Jesus? > > - As a descendant of King David, Jesus is “the one who has the legal right” to rule ([Eze 21:27;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=26021027&wtlocale=E) [Lu 1:32, 33](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=42001032-42001033&wtlocale=E)) > [!help] **GOD’S KINGDOM WILL SOON TAKE FULL CONTROL** (5 min.) > - Does reality match up with this claim? > - Events since 1914 confirm that God’s Kingdom has been established ([Mt 24:3,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=40024003&wtlocale=E) [7-14](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=40024007-40024014&wtlocale=E); [_w15_ 6/15 22-24 ¶12-14](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2015446&lang=E&par=21-23)) > - Jesus disciples asked Jesus what the sign of his presence would be, and in Matt 24:7-14, Jesus gives many things to look out for. > - Wars, Food Shortages, Earthquakes, Tribulation, a shift in mankind's attitude > - History documents that these things have been increasing since 1914, with the start of World War I. > - World events confirm that Jesus is now ruling over God's Kingdom. > - What comes next? > - Jesus is now ruling “in the midst of [his] enemies,” and he will soon “complete his conquest” ([Ps 110:2;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=19110002&wtlocale=E) [Re 6:2](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=66006002&wtlocale=E)) > - Read Rev 6:2 > - We know this white rider as Jesus Christ himself > - Notice "he went out conquering and to complete his conquest." > - Rule by God’s Kingdom will bring blessings to obedient mankind ([_w14_ 10/1 5-7](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2014723&lang=E&par=9-34)) > - That subject alone is an entire talk in itself, just to mention a few points: > - No more health problems > - No more death > - No more Homelessness or Unemployment > - No more War, Food Shortages, or Poverty. > - Humans will enjoy eternal life, in a paradise earth, enjoying life > - Is it time for change? Yes. > - Until then, now is the time to take your stand in support of God’s Kingdom > - Imitate Jesus by telling all we can, and sharing the Good news of the kingdom, and help everyone to eagerly await its arrival.