LESSON 6
THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 7
You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible Study Programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.
In this edition, we continue with our series on The Final Events of Bible Prophecy. The topic for this study is: The Little horn of Daniel 7.
1. There are several viewpoints that are going around today in regard to who or what power represents the antichrist. I'm not interested in just adding my voice to the debate. However, I want us to go to the Bible and discover for ourselves what the Bible has to say on this important topic.
2. Thankfully, the Bible does not leave us in doubt concerning the identity of this power. In fact, the Bible gives us more than enough identifying characteristics to be able to tell plainly what power or system represents the antichrist in our time today.
3. However, for us to get the full picture of the antichrist power in Scripture, we will have to consider all the passages that God has intentionally put in His Word to help us to do that. Four important passages of Scripture that will enable us to unmask this power are found in: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Daniel 7:8-28; Daniel 8:9-12; Revelation 13:1-10 and Revelation 17:1-18.
4. We have already considered the characteristics of the antichrist as found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 in one of our previous studies. Now, I want us to consider the important characteristics of the antichrist power as found in Daniel 7:8-28. In our subsequent studies, we will consider the characteristics of this same power as found in Daniel 8:9-12, Revelation 13:1-10 and Revelation 17:1-18. After we have been able to go through all these passages, we will then summarize the various identifying characteristics and try to find out without any biases, the power which actually fits all the characteristics as pointed out from the Bible.
5. In our previous study, we ended with the fourth beast in Daniel's vision as recorded in Daniel 7:7. We discovered from Scripture that this fourth beast was dreadful and terrible; and strong exceedingly. Moreover, the beast also had ten horns. We studied clearly that this terrible fourth beast represented the pagan Roman Empire; and that the ten horns that were in the head of the beast represented the ten divisions of the empire.
6. As Daniel considered this terrible fourth beast, his attention was drawn to its ten horns. We read the following from Daniel 7 verse 8: "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things."
7. Beloved, from Daniel 7:8-28, we obtain some important identifying characteristics of the little horn power. It is very vital to note that these characteristics of the little horn relate to its past reign and deeds. However, God has intentionally placed these signposts in Scripture so that we can basically look into the records of history and tell who or what power represents the antichrist. Beloved, this power that reigned in the past, will also rule the whole world in the soon coming future (Revelation 13:3, 8). And I know for sure that it is not by chance that you are being exposed to these things. I believe God is leading you to have adequate knowledge on these issues, so that in the coming future, you can make an informed choice, as to whether you will worship Him (God) or Satan, who works through this antichrist power (Revelation 13:3).
8. Friends, within the verses of Daniel 7:8-28, God gives us eleven important identifying characteristics of the antichrist, as expressed through the nature, reign and deeds of the little horn power. These identifying characteristics are as follows:
a. The little horn power arose from the Pagan Roman Empire. From our previous studies in Daniel Chapters 2 and 7, we encountered four ancient world empires. There was nothing like a fifth world empire that we discovered from Scripture or history in any of these previous studies. But after describing the terrible fourth beast (Pagan Roman Empire), the prophet Daniel gives us additional information in relation to another power (in the form of a little horn) that comes up from among the ten horns of the fourth beast (Daniel 7:8). The fourth beast is of course Pagan Rome. Hence, from Daniel 7:8, the prophet tells us clearly that the little horn power will arise from the Pagan Roman Empire.
b. The little horn came up among the ten horns of the fourth beast (Daniel 7:8). This characteristic gives us the geographical location of the little horn power. Now, since the ten divided nations of the ancient Roman empire (which represents the ten horns of the fourth beast) are located in Western Europe, we should expect to find the antichrist power to have risen somewhere in Western Europe.
c. The little horn power came up after the ten horns (Daniel 7:24). This characteristic basically means that we should expect the rise of the antichrist power after the Roman Empire had collapsed, and disintegrated into various independent nations. As we have studied earlier, the Roman Empire ruled from 168 B. C. to 476 A. D. By 476 A. D., the empire had disintegrated into various independent nations. Hence, from Daniel's prophecy, we should expect the antichrist power to rise somewhere after 476 A. D.
d. Even though the antichrist power came up as a little horn, it soon grew stout than all the other horns (Daniel 7:20). This point means that even though the antichrist power will begin as a minor power, but it will actually grow to dominate the divided nations that sprung up from the collapse of the Roman Empire.
e. This little horn power, we are told, also plucked up three of the ten horns by the roots (Daniel 7:8, 20, 24). Plucking something, for instance a tree by the root, is to actually destroy it out of existence. And so in poetic language, we are told that the antichrist power will actually destroy or annihilate three of the ten horns that came before it. History records that three out of the ten nations that sprung up from the collapse of the Roman Empire were actually destroyed or annihilated by a particular power. We should expect the antichrist power to fulfil this important characteristic.
f. Moreover, the little horn had eyes like the eyes of a man (Daniel 7:8). This characteristic basically means that this power will possess great human intelligence.
g. We also read from Daniel 7 that the little horn had a mouth that spoke very great things or great words against the most high (Daniel 7:8, 20, 25). The apostle John describes this same antichrist power in Revelation 13:1-10. In Revelation 13:5 we read the following: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies;..."
But friends, what does the Bible mean, when it says; the little horn power spoke great things and blasphemies against the most high? Beloved, you may have your own definition as to what is meant by great words and blasphemy. However, I want us to consider the Bible's interpretation. We will quickly look at two key texts that give us ample insights into the meaning the word blasphemy:
The first is found in John 10:30-33. The text there reads: "30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for BLASPHEMY; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God" (Capital Emphasis Added).Beloved, we learn clearly from the text above, a very important definition of blasphemy. And that is; if a man claims to be God. Of course, Christ did not commit this sin of blasphemy because He was God in human flesh (John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 9:6). He is actually part of the Godhead. However, if any human being makes himself as God, then such a person will be committing blasphemy according to the Bible. Friends, from what we have studied so far on blasphemy, we should expect the antichrist power to fulfil this peculiar characteristic, by making himself as God.
The second key text that brings out the meaning of blasphemy from Scripture is found in Mark 2:5-7. The text there reads: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak BLASPHEMIES? who can forgive sins but God only?" (Capital Emphasis Added).Friends, from the context of the text, it is clear that God alone has the authority to forgive, and cleanse us of our sins. However, what the Jews did not realize was that Christ was God in the flesh, and that He could pronounce forgiveness on whomsoever he wished. However, if a mere human being or human institution should claim this prerogative of God, then that will amount to committing blasphemy. From what we have studied so far, we can deduce that since the antichrist power spoke great words and blasphemy against God, we should expect this power to make the pompous claims to be able to forgive sins.
h. We also learn from Daniel 7 that the little horn is diverse from the other ten horns (Daniel 7:24). It is important to note that the ten kings that sprung up from the collapse of the Roman Empire were all political powers. However, the little horn, we are told will be diverse from the other ten horns. Friends, as we can glean from our previous point, the little horn is not just a political power, but a seriously religious entity. In fact, a correct term for this power will be to call it a religio-political power.
i. We also read from Daniel 7 that the little horn thought to change God's times and laws (Daniel 7:25). Beloved, it is important to observe from the text in Daniel 7:25 that the little horn did not actually change God's times and laws, but thought to change them. No human being or institution can change the precepts of God. God's Ten Commandments are a reflection of His character, and are actually immutable and eternal as Himself (Psalm 111:7-8). Christ said this concerning these laws of the Almighty: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17-19).Beloved, it is important to note that it wasn't Christ or His apostles that actually thought to change God's law, but rather the antichrist power as Daniel 7:25 reveals. We will discover in our subsequent studies, some of the clear statements from this power, accepting the fact that she actually changed the precepts of God.
j. Another characteristic we learn about the little horn in Daniel 7 is that it made war with the saints of God, and prevailed against them (Daniel 7:21, 25). Friends, the little horn power is a persecuting power. It persecutes the saints of God and everyone who do not kowtow to her dogmas. Thus, the antichrist power we want to identify should fulfill this important characteristic of having persecuted and destroyed the saints of God.
k. Friends from Daniel 7:25 we also learn that the saints were given into the hands of the little horn power for a period of time, times and the dividing of time. In other words, we are given in this text, an important time period regarding the past reign or rule of the antichrist power.
Beloved, the word ‘times’ is used in the KJV and other Bible translations to generally refer to years. For instance, in Daniel 4:23, we read the following: "And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till SEVEN TIMES pass over him" (Capital Emphasis Added). In this dream, God warned king Nebuchadnezzar that if he continued in his pride, He was going to humble him to the state of a beast, until seven TIMES or YEARS passed over him.
Friends, as I have mentioned earlier, the word ‘times’ in Scripture is generally used as a synonym for years. However, the Bible uses key expressions of this word to denote specific time periods. For instance, in Daniel 7:25, the Scripture uses time to denote 1 year, times to denote 2 years and the dividing of time to denote half a year. Thus, by simple calculation, the antichrist power was to reign for a period of 3 and half years. But this time period of 3 and half years is not to be taken literally. This is because the Bible reckons time prophecy using the day - year principle as recorded in Ezekiel 4:6 and Numbers 14:34. The key words in these 2 texts basically state: "each day for a year." As a result of this time principle, we must convert the 3 and half literal years to a prophetic time period. This is simply done by multiplying 3 and half by 360; as a biblical year is actually 360 days (extract this fact from the account of the flood in Genesis 7 and 8). Thus mathematically: 3 1/2×360=1260 days. At this point, we have to convert the 1260 days to 1260 years as we are utilizing the day for a year Bible principle of reckoning time prophecies.
The explanation I have given above synchronizes with what we read from the book of Revelation in relation to this same power. From Revelation 12, we also learn about how the antichrist power persecuted the people of God. In this chapter, we come across two texts that prove clearly that the phrase ‘time, times and the dividing of time’ actually total a period of 1260. The prove texts from Revelation 12 are as follows:
i) "Then the woman (God’s church; see Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-8) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS" (Revelation 12:6, NKJV; Capital Emphasis Added).
ii) "But the woman (God’s church; see Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-8) was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for A TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME, from the presence of the serpent" (Revelation 12:14, NKJV; Capital Emphasis Added).
It is interesting to note that the time period ‘one thousand two hundred and sixty days’ is used interchangeably with the time phrase ‘a time and times and half a time’ in the same chapter of Revelation 12. This fact clearly shows that the two time expressions refer to the same period of time. Moreover, from Revelation 13, we also come across another time expression about the past reign of the antichrist which actually synchronises with the understanding we have obtained above. From Revelation 13:5, we read the following: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies (compare with Daniel 7:25); and power was given unto him to continue FORTY AND TWO MONTHS" (Capital Emphasis Added). Friends, forty and two months can be converted to literal days. If we use a biblical month of 30 days in a month to do this conversion, we will obtain: 42 ×30=1260 days. Now, with our understanding of the day - year principle in reckoning time prophecies, 1260 literal days will give us 1260 literal years. Now, we can conclude by emphasizing that, the antichrist power we seek to unravel from Scripture should actually have reigned in the past for a time period of 1260 years.
9. Beloved, Daniel 7 makes it clear that the saints were given into the hand of the little horn for a period of 1260 years. At this time in the history of our world, the true children of the Most High God were branded as heretics for basing their faith on the Word of God alone. They were persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, and slain by this antichrist power. However, this grim picture of the saints is not the end of the story. In Daniel 7:21-22, we learn the following: "21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."Exhortaton: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
Our next Bible study is captioned: The Ram and He Goat of Daniel 8. The Bible study reference for this study is Daniel 8:1-27. Please do well to go through this passage before the next study is released.
Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.
Maranatha!
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