I truly believe Nebuchadnezzar is in heaven, for it is through REPENTANCE AND FAITH that men are converted to God and promised a home in heaven (see Mark 2:15; Acts 20:20-21; and 1st Peter 1:3-5).  As we shall see, he was gloriously converted to God; he did indeed REPENT of his sin and BELIEVED in the Most High God. This marvelous account of his conversion is in Daniel chapter 4. We will break that chapter down which sums up the story of this PROUD MAN who was HUMBLED BY GOD, resulting in him BLESSING THE GOD OF HEAVEN. Before we do, you can read in chapter 2 of the kingdom God gave to him and in chapter 3 of how he made a golden image and called upon all men to worship the image that represented himself.

In Daniel 4:1-3 we read, “Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has WORKED FOR ME. How great are His signs! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” These words are in stark contrast to what we read of him in chapters 2 and 3, for there we read of him “exalting himself and his kingdom instead of God and His kingdom.” Here he begins his conversion story by “exalting God for His work in his heart and for His everlasting kingdom.”

 In verses 4-28 he speaks of a dream he had and Daniel’s interpretation of it where his kingdom would be taken from him, and he would be made to live like a beast in the field until he acknowledged that “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.”

In verses 29-30 we read, “At the end of twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I HAVE BUILT for a royal dwelling by MY MIGHTY POWER and for the honor of MY MAJESTY.” He admits here that his heart was filled with PRIDE for the kingdom “he had built.”

In verses 31-33 we read, “While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like an oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’ That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” The very moment his “pride was at its highest,” God “brought him low.” The “humbling process had begun!”

In verses 34 & 37 we read, “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I BLESSED THE MOST HIGH and PRAISED AND HONORED HIM who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation….Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, PRAISE and EXTOL and HONOR the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” God’s grace had done its work! The once proud monarch is now humbled and is made to bless, praise and honor the King of heaven! This, dear friend, is the “fruit of salvation,” for all who are converted to God will acknowledge His greatness. Nebuchadnezzar’s mouth, which was formerly filled with “praise for himself” is now filled with “praise for God.” And so it is with everyone who is truly “converted to God” and made “fit for heaven.”  (DO)  (559.1)