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The ‘Little Horn’ of Daniel – Part 1

Little Horn

“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast… and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which rose up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, who appeared greater than the others.”   Daniel 7:19-20

Special focus is given to the ‘little horn’ of Daniel’s visions, which is no trivial matter, seen as how ‘the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailing against them until the Ancient of Days came.’   Daniel 7:21

When analyzing the prophetic visions of Daniel, it becomes clear that God intends for His people to know the meaning of these, and understand this antichrist element that dominates the age we live in, which persecutes the saints- until the return of Christ.

It’s clear God wants His people to understand because, on several occasions, God imparts, not only the prophesies, but the interpretations thereof, to make known the meaning. The same vision is gone over three times in chapter 7. Furthermore, Jesus refers to the visions of Daniel and says, whoever reads, let him understand Matthew 24:15

Yet few actually understand these pertinent truths which have direct impact upon the times we live in.  Lets see why that is…

One of the biggest errors in postmodern Christian thinking and teaching of Eschatology, is the idea that the Antichrist is a ‘single person’ who rises up only at the very end of the age. This is a quite new idea which has gone mainstream, an error caused by the barrage of mass spiritual deception as well as biblical illiteracy and failure to understand ‘prophetic history’ as well as ‘prophesy language’. So before we correct the error of thinking relating to the antichrist power, we must first be grounded with the biblical definitions of ‘key words’ used in prophesy language:

BEAST = KINGDOM (Daniel 7:17)

HORN = KING or THRONE (Daniel 7:24, 8:20-23, Psalm 132:17, 89:24, Jer 48:25)

ROCK = JESUS (1 Cor. 10:4, Ephesians 2:20, Matt 21:42, 3:10-14, Gen. 49:24, Deut. 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:47, Is. 28:16, 26:4)

WOMEN-BRIDE = CHURCH or ISRAEL (Eph. 5:22-24, 2 Cor 11:2, Is. 54:5-6, Hos. 2:19-20, John 3:29)

WOMAN-HARLOT or PROSTITUTE = APOSTATE CHURCH or IDOLATRY  (Rev. 17:7, James 4:4, Hos. 2:1-2, Is. 50:1, Ez 16:26-36, Judg. 2:17)

WATERS or  SEA = NATIONS (Rev. 17:15)

WHITE LINEN = RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rev 19:8, Is. 61:10)

ANCIENT OF DAYS = GOD ALMIGHTY (Is. 43:13, Dan. 7:9,13 & 22)

DRAGON = SATAN (Rev. 12:7-9)

DAY = YEAR   (Ezekiel 4:6 & Numbers 14:34)

WEEK = 7 YEARS (Daniel 9:24, Ezekiel 4:6 & Numbers 14:34)

TIME, TIMES and HALF = 3 ½ YEARS or 1260 PROPHETIC DAYS, or 1260 LITERAL YEARS
According to the lunar calendar:
TIME = 1 year or 360 days
TIMES = 2 years or 720 days
HALF A TIME = ½ a year or 180 days
Total these days to get 1260 ‘prophetic days’, which is 1260 literal years, according to  Ezekiel 4:6 & Numbers 14:34

Referring to the biblical definitions of these key words enables a correct interpretation of  prophetic language for proper understanding. So let us consider the main elements of Daniel’s vision in chapter 7– as this vision provides a template for John’s vision of The Revelation of Jesus Christ:

(It’s important to note that the elements of this vision have not been left to our own interpretation, but has been interpreted by the angel of God, as recorded in verses 23-27 of Daniel chapter 7, which is corroborated by history. So there is little room for conjecture or diverse ideas if kept within scriptural parameters. The following is just an analysis and biblical interpretation of the revelation with historical confirmation)

~ So here are the basic elements of Daniel’s vision:

– FOUR BEASTS (Four Kingdoms):

  •  the Winged Lion – Babylon
  • the Bear Devouring Three Ribs – Medo-Persia
  • the Four-Headed Winged Leopard – Greece
  •  the Dreadful and Exceedingly Strong Beast with Huge Iron Teeth and Ten Horns – Rome

(History, archeology and other visions of Daniel shed light on the identity of these kingdoms)

-THE TEN HORNS (10 kingdoms of the 4th beast)

  • ALAMANNI ~ Gemans
  • BURGUNDIANS ~ the Swiss
  • FRANKS ~ the French
  • LOMBARDS ~the Italians
  • ANGLO SAXONS ~ the English
  • SUEVE ~ the Portuguese
  • VISOGOTHS ~ the Spanish


  • HERULI ~ extinct
  • VANDALS ~ extinct
  • OSTROGOTHS ~ extinct

(there are minor variations of the exact kingdoms among scholars, but the general consensus views the ’10 horns’ as the major European nations of the  Roman Empire at the time when the power of the little horn rose to a dominant status.)

-THE LITTLE HORN (King or Throne) which rose from among the ten horns listed above and destroyed the three

Before going any further, lets make sure we know what is meant by the word ‘horn’. There are several biblical uses of the word ‘ horn’ which signifies ‘strength’ – and has so often been applied to royal strength – denoting to a ‘throne’, or dynasty ( Psalm 132:17, 89:24, 92:10, Jer 48:25). 

Most of the applications of the word ‘horn’ are used to refer to the throne of David, which is succeeded by the Messiah. So by the time Daniel recorded this vision of the ‘little horn’, it would have already been natural to regard the word ‘horn’ as a throne. And since most of the previous uses of the word ‘horn’ were referring to the throne of Christ, the same word could naturally be applied to the throne of the antichrist.

Also, we need to understand  the prophetic use of the word ‘king’ is not limited to a single monarch, but usually refers to a broader meaning of the word ‘king’- to denote  a kingdom, or supreme form of government, dynasty or mode of administration governing the kingdom. Note how the angel of God interchanges between ‘king’ and ‘kingdoms’ when describing the four beasts- –first– as four kings (malchin) in Daniel 7:17, –then– as kingdom (malchu) in 7:23.

The four beasts obviously do not represent single monarchs, but entire kingdoms; Likewise, the word ‘horn’ does not necessarily denote a single king, but a succession of kings, or supreme form of government, dynasty, or mode of administration governing the kingdom.  The symbolic words ‘beast’ and ‘horn’ serve to differentiate between the ‘kingdom’ and the ‘supreme ruling power’ governing the kingdom.

Now remember the ‘little horn’ is still of the Fourth Beast (Fourth Kingdom- Rome) and this particular ‘little horn’ rises up to make war against the saints, and prevails against them until the Ancient of Days came (until the return of Christ) -verses 21-22

~ So some of the things revealed in Daniel’s vision are:

  • The fourth beast is Rome
  • The throne of the Roman Pontiff is succeeded by a new and different rule
  • This new power continues the Roman Kingdom (throughout the Church era) – until the return of Christ
  • This peculiar power speaks pompous words against the Most High
  • This power makes war against the saints and prevails against them until the return of Christ
  • This ‘Horn’ changes times and law

~ So what power inherited the revived Roman Empire by the end of the 8th century

~ What dynasty succeeded the throne of Caesar?

~ What position today still uses the same title as the Roman Emperors- “Pontifex Maximus” ?

~ What other force:

  • waged war against the saints (with persecutions, massacres,  wars, crusades and inquisitions – claiming well over a billion lives throughout the centuries),
  • spoke pompous words against the Most High (“God on Earth”, power to forgive sins, infallibility, standing in Christ’s intermediary position, usurping God’s authority- among endless other blasphemies),
  • changes times and law (changed: to a calendar dedicated to the festivals of pagan gods, the time of Passover/Lord’s Supper,  removed the 2nd commandment, etc, etc)

~ What other figure is called the “Papal Caesar” ?

~ Is this a single person or an era of a certain ruling power?

~ And is it only a political power, or is it also a religious power?

The next detail the angel speaks of in regards to the kingdom of this antichrist power is the time duration of this rule:

“Time, times and half a time”

According to the lunisolar calendar:
TIME  = 1 year or 360 days
TIMES = 2 years or 720 days
HALF A TIME = ½ a year or 180 days
– Total these days to get 1260 ‘prophetic days’,
which is 1260 literal years according to Ezekiel 4:6 & Numbers 14:34.

(The exact duration of this time-frame, as listed above, can be certain when kept within scriptural parameters;  however its exact placement in history is more difficult, so there has not been exact consensus regarding the placement of this time frame, but some propositions are given as well as a more detailed expository of this duration of time in this link).

The ‘Little Horn’ of Daniel, being that supreme ruling power which continues the Roman Kingdom, is the most fundamental qualification for the antichrist; It reveals a truth that mainline Christianity of today does not dare teach. When realizing what the ‘Little Horn’ actually is and the magnitude of power it wields, it is understandable why so many have either shrinked back from calling a spade a spade, or are just overtaken by the onslaught of its mass deception.

The same theme of the ‘Little Horn’ is continued with a different application in Daniel chapter 8: See – The ‘Little Horn’ of Daniel – Part 2

And the same theme of the  horned beasts are continued and expounded upon in John’s vision of The Two Beasts of Revelation 13

 


 

Related Articles
Discerning The Threads of Eschatology
An Exposition on the Revelation of Jesus Christ
The Abomination of Desolation – Standing in the Holy Place
Time, Times and Half a Time | Time of the Antichrist
Daniel’s Dream ~ What Does it Mean?
The Eucharist Strikes the Gospel
The Rapture

 

Sources
-Word & Spirit of God, Who Was and Is and Is to come
-Theodor Griesinger- historian, author ‘The Jesuits: Their Complete History
-John Clark Ridpath- historian, author ‘Ridpath’s Universal History
-E H Broadbent- historian, missionary & author of The Pilgrim Church
-Samuel F. B. Morse- father of Morse Code, author of ‘Foreign Conspiracy
-Avro Manhattan- authority on Roman Catholicism in politics ‘The Vatican Holocaust
-Emanuel M. Josephson, ‘The “Federal” Reserve Conspiracy and Rockefellers
-Albert Barnes- theologian, “Barnes’ Notes on the Entire Bible
-E. Boyd Barrett- Ex-Jesuit, author of ‘The Jesuit Enigma
-Eric Jon Phelps- historian, Jesuit expert & author of ‘Vatican Assassins
-Peter DeRosa- Catholic Priest, author ‘Vicars of Christ: ‘The Dark Side of The Papacy
-Martin Luther- Protestant Reformer, theologian, author & translator
-Charles Spurgeon Archive- 19th century theologian and author
-Adam Clark- theologian bible scholar, “Clark’s Commentary on the Bible
-Richard Bennet- Christian historian & former Catholic Priest
-William Tyndale- Protestant Reformer, theologian & translator
-Alberto Rivera- high ranking Jesuit Priest converted to true Christianity
-John Wycliffe- pre-Protestant Reformer, theologian & translator
-Ian Paisley- politician and church leader – ‘The Pope is the Antichrist
-Augustus Toplady- 18th century theologian & author of ‘The Road To Rome
-John Foxe- historian & author of ‘Foxes Book of Martyrs’
-Bill Mencarow- theologian & historian
-John Calvin- Protestant Reformer, theologian & apologist
-John Gill-  bible scholar “Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
-Kenneth Scott Latourette- historian, author of ‘A History of Christianity’
-Henry Fliedner- author of ‘The Martyrdom of a People’ or ‘The Vaudois of Piedmont and Their History
-Michael de Semly- historian

 

Web Sources
Fox’s Book of Maryrs – John Fox
Historicist.com
Institutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin
The Vatican Holocaust- Avro Manhattan
www.biblebelievers.org/blackpope
Speaking Great Words and Blasphemy
http://biblehub.com/
worldtruth.tv/the-vatican-and-the-jesuits-5/
www.watchmanbiblestudy.com/JesuitInfiltration
The Real Conspiracy- Jesuit Infiltration of Christianity
www.ianpaisley.org/antichrist.asp

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Written by Scott Yonker