Daniel 4 v1 to 9 tells of events leading up to Daniel being given understanding of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar.

The dream is about a tree.

Dan 4:10  These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great.

Dan 4:11  The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.

Dan 4:12  Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.

Daniel’s explanation. The tree is Nebuchadnezzar, and his kingdom, Babylon.

Dan 4:20  “The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,

Dan 4:21  whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—

Dan 4:22  it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

In the dream, the tree is cut down.

Dan 4:13  “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Dan 4:14  He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.

Dan 4:15  Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth.

Dan 4:16  Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.

Verse 17 confirms that God always remains in charge.

Dan 4:17  ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’

There is subtle knowledge in the next verse. The interpretation is to those who hate Nebuchadnezzar. God’s people hate Nebuchadnezzar, who is the end time beast.

Dan 4:19  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

Nebuchadnezzar is with the beasts till seven times pass.

Dan 4:23  “And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’;

The interpretation is from God the Father.

Dan 4:24  this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

Nebuchadnezzar was to live like an animal for seven times [a time is a year.]

Dan 4:25  They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

The kingdom was to be given back to the king after seven years.

Dan 4:26  “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

The dream came true.

Dan 4:30  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?”

Dan 4:31  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!

Dan 4:32  And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like 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.”

Nebuchadnezzar became as a wild beast for seven years, and then his kingdom was restored.

Dan 4:33  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.

Dan 4:34  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.

There is a chilling fulfillment to this prophecy. Seven times is seven years, or 2520 days. Using the biblical principle of a day for a year, this equates to 2520 years.

2520 years from the downfall of ancient Babylon is sometime in the latter part of the 20^th century. Nebuchadnezzar is alive and well at the time of writing, and his end time Babylon will appear at the time that God decrees. Nebuchadnezzar is a devil, and has spent the time between kingdoms in hell.

Nebuchadnezzar comes up, obviously praising God as per verse 34 above. God uses Nebuchadnezzar to punish the Israelite nations, and then the nations around Israel including Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar eventually turns against God, and comes with the Medes to attack Christ at His return.