The Mysterious Case of Nebuchadnezzar

By Charissa Toeller

Have you ever thought about the possibility of meeting a biblical anti-hero in heaven one day? What if someone who did awful things ended up repenting by the end of his or her life, but we never see it on the page?

For the past several weeks, I've been going through the book of Daniel with the High School Sunday School class. Nebuchadnezzar is what I would call "the Bowser to Daniel's Mario". (That's a Nintendo reference if anyone missed it.) Scripture doesn't give us a clear answer, but I found myself wondering: is it possible that we might meet this biblical supervillain in heaven?

Nebuchadnezzar had a fascinating character arc in Daniel 1-4. Starting off in the first two chapters, we learn that he besieged Jerusalem and enslaved many Jews, he stole from God's temple, and he placed the articles in his own god's treasure house. Nebuchadnezzar was feared by his own people for good reason--example number one is the time he set up an unwinnable scenario to test his advisers, threatened a gruesome death, and then began carrying out their executions when they didn't pass.

Are you excited about the possibility of meeting him in heaven yet? No? Well, let's see if he turns things around as the story unfolds:

After Daniel passes the unwinnable scenario and saves all the king's advisors from execution--by giving Nebuchadnezzar the worst possible news about the interpretation of his dream, by the way--he doesn't react like we'd expect. By the end of chapter 2, he's falling before Daniel, acknowledging God's sovereignty, rewarding Daniel, and going so far as to promote Daniel's friends! (Bad news is better than no news, I guess.) It's quite the pivot. But if we're expecting Nebuchadnezzar to turn over a new leaf, we'd better keep reading.

Chapters 2 and 3 have something interesting in common: statues. The bad news Daniel provided was about statue number one--a dream statue--which according to Daniel symbolized the grand power of the kingdoms of this world being utterly destroyed by something "not made by human hands" (2:45).

A wise king would take note of this, I'd think; forging statues...maybe not the best idea. Worshipping them...VERY bad idea.

Nebuchadnezzar was either 1) not connecting the dots, 2) very forgetful, or 3) just THAT arrogant.

In chapter 3 we read that he's made a huge monument (statue number two) to his own greatness and commanded his entire kingdom to bow down and worship it!!! I won't go into the rest of this story, because most of us are familiar with the story of the fiery furnace.

I have to pause here for a minute to just think about the long-suffering patience of our God. If it were up to me, I'd have been tempted to send the rock "not made of human hands" to smash the statue right then and there. Instead, God reveals his sovereignty to Nebuchadnezzar a second time through a miraculous save. Nebuchadnezzar's response is one of admiration and praise toward God. Oh, and he threatens extreme violence against anyone (in the world, mind you) that would dare speak against God.

I don't know about you, but at this point in the story, I'm feeling a little less confident about the idea that we might see Nebuchadnezzar in heaven. Yes, he's acknowledging God's power. But does he REALLY mean it?

Then comes chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar has another dream. Daniel is fetched to interpret the dream when no one else can. The news was bad. Here's part of Daniel's interpretation and advice:

"You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.  The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue” (Daniel 4:25-27).

Come on, Nebuchadnezzar! You've seen and acknowledged the sovereignty of God before! You've witnessed His power in person! Daniel is offering you a chance, buddy!

Twelve months later, the text says: "as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,  he said, 'Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?' (4:29-30)

As you'd probably expect (and desire at this point, am I right?), Nebuchadnezzar's consequence was immediate. He endured everything that Daniel predicted for him. At the end of it all, he finally acknowledged God's sovereignty.

So is this repentance truly Nebuchadnezzar's choice or is he telling God what God wants to hear?

Here's something to consider: the entirety of chapter 4 is narrated by Nebuchadnezzar. Let that sink in. It reads like a nationwide memo. Instead of being a character in the story, he's now its author. How'd it end up in Daniel's book? I don't know, but I picture it being pasted into Daniel's Babylon years scrapbook so that no matter what else happens, Daniel can pull out this reminder of God's greatness.

For your consideration, I give you Nebuchadnezzar's final line in the entirety of scripture:

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble" (Daniel 4:37).

A repentant heart? Scripture leaves the possibility open. Ultimately, only God has the ability and right to determine the answer, but passages like this invite us to think carefully about repentance, humility, and the mercy of God.

If we do meet Nebuchadnezzar in heaven, I imagine his testimony might sound something like this:

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

He will not always accuse us,

nor harbor His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins

or repaid us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

(Psalm 103:8-12)