Daniel Chapter 7

THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL CHAPTER 7

The Book of Daniel is written using the repeat and enlarge principle i.e. all visions go over the same ground except in Daniel 8 & 11, the visions commence with the kingdom of Medo-Persia. After Daniel 2 succeeding visions add more detail. Daniel 11 is the most detailed part of the prophecy.

The Vision of Daniel 7 expands on the King's dream in Daniel 2. While Daniel 2 described four kingdoms using metallic inanimate objects, Daniel 7 describes the activities of these four kingdoms in the form of four ferocious beasts and the Little Horn.

Chapter 7 is the start of Daniel's prophetic ministry which takes in chapters 8, 9 and 11 as well. Daniel chapters 2 and 4 were dreams given to the pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, but here in chapter 7 God gives Daniel visions for his people to understand as He guides them through the final stages of this earth's history before the second coming of Christ. In these prophecies, including the book of Revelation, the Lord identifies the enemy of God's people, the timing for the Judgment and His people's final victory over the beast and his image and the Mark of the Beast.

Daniel 7 cannot be studied in isolation. The kingdoms the four beasts represent are not identified in Daniel 7. We must go outside Daniel 7 in the book of Daniel itself in order to identify them. Chapters 2, 5 and 8 come to our aid demonstrating the interconnectedness of Daniel, 2,7,8 & 11 in the AB B'A' pattern of the Book of Daniel - see webpage "Daniel Introduction".

DANIEL 2 & 7

Chapter 7 is the most complete symbolic vision - four beasts.
It parallels the Daniel 2 image of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream - four metals.
Four worldly kingdoms are described in the Daniel 2 dream.
Four beasts symbolic of four kingdoms are described in the Daniel 7 vision - Dan 7:23.
The fourth kingdom of Daniel 2 is made of Iron
The fourth beast of Daniel 7 has iron teeth.
The fourth kingdom of Daniel 2 "breaketh in pieces" - Dan 2:40
The fourth beast of Daniel 7 "brake in pieces" - Dan 7:7
The fourth Kingdom is divided in Daniel 2
The Fourth Kingdom is divided in Daniel 7
Daniel 2 has the image of a Man.
Daniel 7 has the eyes & mouth of a Man
The Daniel 2 image is destroyed after the division
The Daniel 7 beast is destroyed after the division
In Daniel 2 the kingdom of God is set up at the end.
In Daniel 7 the Kingdom of God is set up at the end.
The fourth beast is said to be the fourth kingdom - Dan 7:23
Hence, the fourth beast of Daniel 7 corresponds with the fourth kingdom of Iron of Daniel 2.
Therefore, the 1st beast, the Lion, is the first kingdom of gold - BABYLON - Dan 2:38

DANIEL CHAPTER 7

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

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.

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and

languages, should serve him: his dominion is an

everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

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.

23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

SYMBOLS USED IN PROPHECY FOR KINGDOMS, NATIONS OR POWERS

1. “King” used interchangeably with Kingdom - Dan 2:37-38, Dan 7:17,23

2. “Mountain” symbolic of a kingdom - Dan 2:35, Rev 17:9

3. “Beasts” used interchangeably with “Kings”- Dan 7:17,23

4. “Beasts” are also said to be Kingdoms - Dan 7:23

5. “Horns” represent Kings / Kingdoms - Dan 8:20-22

6. “Heads” are symbolic of kingdoms - Dan 7:6, Dan 2:38

7. “Waters” symbolic of kingdoms, nations, tongues - Rev 17:15

8. “Great City” used interchangeably with kingdom - Rev 14:8, 16:19

9. “Ribs” symbolic of kingdom - Ram conquers in 3 directions. Bear has 3 ribs - Dan 7:7, Dan 8:4

SUMMARY OF DANIEL 7

Verses 1 - 8: Four earthly Kingdoms in the form of four Beasts
Verses 9 - 14: The Judgment scene
Verses 15 - 21: Further details of the 4th beast & Little horn
Verse 22: - Return to the Judgment scene
Verses 23-25: - Return to the 4th Earthly Kingdom
Verses 26-28: - The judgment & dominion given to the saints

THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE OCCURS THREE TIMES IN DANIEL 7

The Little Horn Emerges - v 8, 20, 24
The Judgment sits - v 9, 22, 26
The Judgment given in favour of the Saints - v 18, 22, 27

THE FOUR BEASTS OF DANIEL 7

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Winds represent strife or war - Jeremiah 25:32, 49:36, 3751:1
Seas represent nations, kingdoms - Rev 17:15, Isaiah 57:20
Beasts represent Kingdoms - Dan 7:17, 23
Some believe the great sea represents the Mediterranean Sea where these beasts did battle, however, seas or waters are symbolic of peoples or nations. Here, nations doing battle with each other - rise and fall of these world empires.

"The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom" - Dan 7:23
The third beast must be the 3rd kingdom of Daniel 2.
The second beast, the second kingdom.
The first beast, the lion, the first kingdom.
This first Kingdom of Daniel 2 is BABYLON - Dan 2:38
Hence, the Lion of Daniel 7 represents BABYLON.

1. THE LION IS BABYLON

Eagleʼs wings represent speed of conquest (Eze 17:3, 12; Lam 4:19; Hab 1:6-8).

Wings plucked - no longer swift to conquer and cannot cover a large territory.

Manʼs heart given it is symbolic of loss of lion-like qualities (strength, power) and desperate wickedness. (Jer 17:9). Daniel 2 comes to our aid in identifying the kingdom the lion is symbolic of as noted above. The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom, hence the first beast must be the first kingdom of Daniel 2 - The Lion is Babylon.

Note the characteristics of the Bear:

The bear is raised up on one side
It has three ribs in its mouth
It was strong - it devoured much flesh

Daniel 8 comes to our aid in identifying the kingdom represented by the bear.

2. THE BEAR IS MEDO-PERSIA

THE RAM OF DANIEL CHAPTER 8

1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. - Daniel 8:20

Note the characteristics of the Ram:

It has two horns - one higher than the other
It conquered beasts westward, northward & southward
It was so strong it became great

The three ribs in the Bear's mouth represents the three beasts (kingdoms) like the Ram, it conquers. The Bear of Daniel 7 and the Ram of Daniel 8 both represent the Medo-Persian Kingdom. In addition BABYLON falls to the MEDES & PERSIANS in Daniel chapter 5:28-31

6. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

Note the characteristics of the Leopard:

It has four wings - swift in conquest
It has four heads
Dominion was given it

The Lion had two wings. The Leopard has four wings. It is much faster than the Lion in its conquests.

3. THE LEOPARD IS GRECIA

THE HE-GOAT OF DANIEL CHAPTER 8

5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but

he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

20 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

Note the characteristics of the He-Goat:

It touched not the ground - swift like the leopard
It had four horns
It became very great

HE-GOAT

He-Goat followed the Ram (Medo-Persia)
He-Goat didn't touch the ground - swift
He-Goat had four horns - 4 kingdoms
He-Goat became very great
The He-Goat is Grecia - Dan 8:21

LEOPARD

Leopard followed the Bear (Medo-Persia)
Leopard had four wings - swift in conquest
Leopard had four heads - 4 kingdoms
Leopard had dominion over all
Hence the Leopard is Grecia

Historically the empire which followed Alexander the Great's kingdom of Greece was none other than ROME.

Note the four horns on the he-goat represents the divisions of the Grecian Empire into four kingdoms after the death of Alexander the Great. Similarly the ten horns on the fourth beast represents the division of the fourth beast into

4. THE TERRIBLE BEAST IS ROME

4. WHO IS THE LITTLE HORN?

ten kingdoms in the decline and fall of the Roman Empire to the barbarian hordes. See Daniel chapter 8 study for further details on the identity of the fourth beast of Daniel 7.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 7

It is another horn, another kingdom. Horns represent kings or kingdoms - Dan 8:8,20,22
It arose among the ten horns of the fourth beast, the 4th beast is Rome - Dan 7:8, see Daniel 8 study
It plucked up three of the ten horns in its rise to power - Dan 7:8, 24
It has the eyes and mouth like that of a man - Dan 7:8, 20
It has a mouth speaking great things or blasphemies - Dan 7:8, 11, 25, Rev 13:5
Its look was more stout than its fellow horns, it was much stronger - Dan 7:20
It made war with the saints and prevailed against them - Dan 7:21, 25
It shall think to change times and laws - Dan 7:25
It shall prevail against the saints of God for "a time, and times and the diving of time" - Dan 7:25

THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 7 IS PAPAL ROME

Pagan Rome followed the kingdom of Greece, gradually conquering Greece's territories.
Western Rome was invaded by Germanic tribes carving up its territory into the nations of Europe.
Papal Rome came to power in Europe rising among the ten horns (Europe).
Papal Rome uprooted 3 of the 10 horns - the Heruli, (493AD) Vandals (533AD) & Ostrogoths (538AD)
Papal Rome has a man (Pope) with "eyes" & a "mouth" speaking great words / blasphemies (Rev 13)
Papal Rome is more powerful (stout) than its fellow horns (Europe). It ruled Europe for centuries.
Papal Rome made war with the saints of God, i.e. persecuted & killed Bible believing Christians.
Papal Rome thought to change times & laws - prophetic time & the 7th day Sabbath to Sunday.
Papal Rome persecuted the saints for a time, and times and the dividing of time i.e. for 1260 years.

The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom (Dan 7:23) hence the transition of Pagan Rome, the fourth beast, to Papal Rome, the Little Horn, here in Daniel 7 is consistent with and parallels the transition from Pagan Rome, the legs of Iron, to Papal Rome, the feet of Iron & Clay in Daniel 2 - see Daniel 2 study.

The following are some of the main points which identify the Little Horn of Daniel 7 as Papal Rome.

1. the little horn arose out of the fourth beast (Imperial Rome)

Daniel 7:7,8 "After this ... behold a fourth beast, .... and it had ten horns.

...and, behold, there came up among them another little horn,..."

Imperial Rome was invaded by barbarian Germanic tribes which over time divided Western Rome into ten kingdoms (10 horns) which eventually became the nations of present day Europe. *Note the scripture says it came up among the ten horns, i.e. after the ten horns had arisen from the fourth beast (the Roman Empire).

division of the fourth beast (Imperial Rome) into 10 horns of Europe

The 10 horns

Europe

the little horn arose after the 10 tens. It came up among them

daniel 7:8 - "... there came up among them another little horn, ..."

The Little horn, Papal Rome, came up after and among the divisions of the Roman Empire into the nations of Europe.

Historians recognise this:

“OUT OF the ruins of political ROME, arose the great moral empire in the ‘giant form’ of the ROMAN CHURCH.” A.C. Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church, 1909, p. 150

“The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the ROMAN EMPIRE baptized...The very capital of the old Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of the pope.” A. C. Flick, The Rise of the Medieval Church, p148-149

“Whatever elements the barbarians and Arians left...[came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the empire’s disappearance. The Roman Church in this way privily PUSHED ITSELF into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation.” A. Harnack, What Is Christianity, p 269, 270

“The Popes filled the vacant place of the Emperors of Rome, inheriting their power, prestige, and titles from paganism.” History of the Church, p. 40

2. the little horn uprooted 3 of the 10 horns in its rise to power

daniel 7:8 - "...before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots:"

The Papacy uprooted 3 kingdoms (vs 8, 20, 24). Of the 10 kingdoms which arose from the Roman Empire the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths adopted the Arian faith and refused to acknowledge the supremacy of the Roman Church. Historians record that the Emperor of Constantinople, at the instigation of the Bishop of Rome (Pope), brought about the uprooting of the Heruli in AD493, the Vandals in AD533, and the Ostrogoths in AD538. As 10 kingdoms have already arisen from the territory of the Roman Empire, and as three of those kingdoms have already been “plucked up,” clearly the Little Horn responsible for the ʻpluckingʼ ALREADY EXISTS!

3. the little horn speaks blasphemies against God

john 10:32,33 - "... makest thyself God"

what is blasphemy according to the scriptures?

The Bible describes blasphemy as follows:

Matthew 9:2,3 - "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth."

Mark 2:7 - “Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?”

John 10:32,33 - “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 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.”

The following are some of the great words (blasphemies - Rev 13:5) spoken by the Little Horn (Papal Rome) against God.

"For thou art the shepherd, thou art the physician, thou art the director, thou art the husbandman; finally , thou art another God on earth" Fifth Lateran Council Vol. 32 col 761 Christorpher Marcellus

"Hence the pope is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven and of earth and of the lower regions". Prompta Bibliotheca Vol 6 p. 26

“The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself, hidden under veil of the flesh.” The Catholic National, July, 1895.

"The Pope represents Jesus Christ himself, and therefore is a loving Father" Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto (later Pope Pius X) quoted in Publications of the Catholic Truth Society Volume 29 (Catholic Truth Society: 1896): 11.

“Have no fear when people call me the “Vicar of Christ,” when they say to me “Holy Father,” or “Your Holiness,” or use titles similar to these, which seem even inimical to the Gospel.” -From “Crossing the Threshold of Hope”, by John Paul II, 1994 by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore.

the little horn speaks blasphemies against God

mark 2:7 - "... who can forgive sins but God only"

THE CONFESSIONAL

[Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been six months since my last confession. And these are my sins. I have not been to Sunday mass for six months. I have been swearing and cursing using the "F" word and taking Jesus' name in vain. I had relations with my best friend's husband which she doesn't know about. I have told lies to cover up my faults at work. I stole money from my parents. For these and all my other sins, I am truly sorry.

Priest: I absolve you from all your sins in the name of the Father and of the son and of the holy ghost. For your penance you will say 10 'Hail Marys' and 10 'Our Fathers'.]

With the weight of sin lifted off your shoulders you walk away from the Confessional feeling very good about yourself with a sense of holiness and acceptance engulfing your whole being. You are now ready to receive the Eucharist (the literal body & blood of Christ) at Sunday mass, as this was a Saturday afternoon confession. We were taught you could not receive communion without prior confession at least by Saturday. Hence if you did not go to confession there was a heavy sense of guilt and shame such that you did not feel worthy to receive the Eucharist on Sunday. And you felt bad that you didn't because it was your fault for not attending confession. And what of the people and friends who might have noticed you did not go up to receive communion?

We were taught it.

We believed it.

We practised it without question. .....until we discovered the Bible.

The Doctrine of the Roman Catholic Confessional / Penance, now known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation is ONE of the important identifying marks in Bible prophecy that Papal Rome is the Little Horn power spoken of in Daniel 7 and the first beast of Revelation 13:1-10.

“What only God can do by his omnipotence, the priest can also do...Indeed it is not too much to say that in view of the sublimity of their office the priests are so many Gods.” Dignity and Duties of the Priest, Alphonsus De Liguori, p 35.

“Does the Priest truly remit [forgive] sins, or does he only declare they are remitted? The priest does really and truly remit the sin in virtue of the power given him by Christ.” Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion, p275.

4. the little horn made war with the saints of God

daniel 7:21,25 - "... the same horn made war with the saints ..."

The Little Horn (Papal Rome) made war against Christians.

"The Catholic church has persecuted. Only a tyro [beginner] in church history will deny that...One hundred and fifty years after Constantine the Donatists were persecuted, and sometimes put to death...Protestants were persecuted in France and Spain with the full approval of the church authorities. We have always defended the persecution of the Hugenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. Wherever and whenever there is honest Catholicity, there will be a clear distinction drawn between truth and error, and Catholicity and all forms of heresy. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it." A Roman Catholic publication, The Western Watchman, of St Louis, Dec. 24, 1908.

“That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history.” History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, reprint, W.E.H. Lecky, 1955, Vol. 2, p40.

"in the medieval period. the Roman Catholic Church moved to suppress the Cathar heresy, the Pope having sanctioned a crusade against the Albigensians, during the course of which the massacre of Beziers took place, with between seven and twenty thousand deaths. Over the twenty-year period of this campaign, an estimated 200,00 to 1,000,000 people were killed" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians

"John Huss, a Bohemian preacher of the reformation, was burnt at the stake on 6 July, 1415. Pope Martin V issued a bull on 17 March, 1420 which proclaimed a crusade "for the destruction of the Wycliffes, Hussites and all other heretics in Bohemia".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians

“The Catholic church has persecuted...150 years after Constantine the Donatists were persecuted, and sometimes put to death...Protestants were persecuted in France and Spain with the full approval of the church authorities. We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. Wherever and whenever there is honest Catholicity, there will be a clear distinction drawn between truth and error, and Catholicity and all forms of heresy. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.”

A Roman Catholic publication: The Western Watchman, of St. Louis, Dec. 24, 1908

And so it goes on into the 20th century

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."

5. the little horn was much stronger than its fellow horns

daniel 7:20 - "whose look was more stout than his fellows"

The Little horn, Papal Rome, has the most powerful rulers of any nation in Europe. It came to full power in 538 AD and continues this day. It ruled over kings and queens. It persecuted Bible believing Christians for 1260 years by using the State power to do its biddings, enacting laws which were favourable to the church and its power.

“Besides the emperors at Constantinople and the various German kings, there grew up in Europe a line of rulers far MORE POWERFUL than any of these...the Popes…the longest and mightiest line of rulers that the world has ever seen.”” Mediaeval & Modern Times, Robinson, p. 40-41.

“...meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the vicar of Christ [pope] took up the scepter to which the emperors and kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through many ages.” American Catholic Quarterly Review, April, 1911.

“The Popes filled the vacant place of the Emperors of Rome, inheriting their power, prestige, and titles from paganism.” History of the Church, p. 40

6. the little horn thought to change times & laws of the Most High

daniel 7:25 - "...and think to change times and laws ..."

Papal Rome has changed the Law of God, the ten commandments, in three places.

It removed the second commandment which deals with the worship of idols.
It split the tenth commandment into two, thereby maintaining ten commandments.
It 'changed' the Seventh Day Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week.

It was the Roman Emperor, Constantine, who brought in the first Sunday Law but it was the Papacy that reinforced Sunday worship and claims the change was her own.

Papal Rome thought to change the law of God - verse 25. As the context of the verse speaks of the things of God, an attempted change of Godʼs law is meant. Papal Rome openly claims to have changed the Sabbath Day from the seventh day to the first day of the week without any Scriptural authority. The graphic on the right is from the St Joseph's Baltimore Catechism explained by Rev Bennet Kelly, CP.

As these points are given to help identify this power the imagined change cannot refer to a change in merely human laws because all kingdoms change human law and such a change would not help identify this power.

As the horn's "great words” were against God, and as it persecuted God's saints, we may conclude that the law it thought to change was God's Law.

“The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.” The Catholic Mirror of September 23, 1894

“But since Saturday, not Sunday, is specified in the Bible, isn’t it curious that non-Catholics who profess to take their religion directly from the Bible and not from the Church, observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Yes, of course, it is inconsistency but this change was made about fifteen centuries before Protestantism was

born, and by that time the custom was universally observed. They have continued the custom even though it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text from the Bible. That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away like a boy running away from home but still carrying in his pocket a picture of his mother or a lock of her hair.” The Faith of Millions, p. 473.

7. the little horn persecuted the saints for 1260 years

daniel 7:25 - "...and shall wear out the saints of the most High, ... and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time"

"time, and times and the dividing of time" is "3 1/2 times"
This phrase in Daniel 7 is seen to be 1260 days.
In Revelation 12:6, the woman (the church) flees from the dragon.
She is fed for "1260 days" in a place prepared for her by God.
Revelation 12:14 uses the same "a time, and times, and half a time,."
Hence the "time, and times and the dividing of time = 1260 days
A day in Bible prophecy represents a year - Eze 4:6, Num 14:34
Jesus endorsed the "year for a day" principle in Matt 18:21,22
Jesus was referring to the 70 weeks of Daniel 9. 70X7=490 days
Papal Rome persecuted God's saints during its 1260 years rule.
Papal Rome came to full power in 538AD
Papal Rome received its own deadly wound in 1798 = 1260 years.
Hence the saints were "...given into his hand until; a "time and times and the dividing of time"

Pagan Rome killed an estimated three million Christians, while historians estimate that the Papacy has killed no less than 50

million! This Great Tribulation covered the period called the Dark Ages (Matt 24:21- 22).

The burning of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer March 21, 1556

Augustine laid the foundation for the church to persecute heretics, he wrote:

“Originally my opinion was that no one should be coerced into the unity of Christ, that we must act only by words, fight only by arguments, and prevail by force of reason, lest we should have those whom we knew as avowed heretics feigning themselves to be Catholics. But this opinion of mine was overcome...” St. Augustine, Letter 93 (to Vincentius), chap. 5, sec. 17, trans. in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, first series, Vol. I, p388.

“The Catholic church has persecuted...We have always defended the persecution of the Hugenots, and the Spanish Inquisition... When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.” A Roman Catholic publication, The Western Watchman, of St Louis, Dec. 24, 1908.

“Torture was little used from the 9th to 12th centuries, but with the revival of Roman law the process was re-established in the 12th century...In 1252 [Pope] Innocent IV sanctioned the infliction of torture by the civil authorities upon heretics, and torture came to have a recognized place in the procedures of the inquisitorial courts.” New Catholic Encyclopaedia, art. Torture.

“The civil authorities, therefore, were enjoined by the popes, under pain of excommunication to execute the legal sentences that condemned impenitent heretics to the stake.” Joseph Blotzer, article, ʻInquisitionʼ, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. VIII, p34.

“Cursed be they who assert liberty of consciencen and of worship, and such as maintain the church should not employ force. The State has not the right to leave every man free to embrace whatever religion he shall deem true.” Pope Pius IXʼs Encyclical and Syllabus (Dec. 8, 1864).

THE JUDGMENT

THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE OCCURS THREE TIMES IN DANIEL 7

The Little Horn Emerges - v 8, 20, 24
The Judgment sits - v 9, 22, 26
The Judgment given in favour of the Saints - v 18, 22, 27

DANIEL 7:9,10 "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."

Verses 1-8 was a horizontal earthly view of the prophecy describing earthly kingdoms in the form of four beasts even to the emergence of the Little Horn. Verses 9 & 10 brings to view events taking place in heaven as the vision takes on a vertical dimension to the prophecy after the scenes on earth depicting the emergence of the little horn. "Thrones were cast down" means they were set up or placed in preparation for the judgment. Here is a description of a heavenly court in which the Ancient of Days, God the Father, takes his seat on the throne to preside over events about to transpire in heaven - the Judgment.

There are two scenes of this heavenly court session. Verses 9 & 10 depict the first session of the heavenly court, the beginning of the Judgment. Verses 13 & 14 is the second and final session of the Judgment as one like the Son of Man comes before the Ancient of Days to receive His kingdom.

In verses 9 & 10 we see the description of the Ancient of Days, God the Father.
He has white hair - purity and age (Rev 15:6)
His throne is mobile and like a fiery flame. (Ezekiel 1:16)
The wheels of His throne as a burning fire. (Ezekiel 1:16)
A fiery stream issued from Him.
Fire often depicts the glory of God.
Fire is also associated with Judgment as in verse, 11.
We see the beast with its Little horn judged and given to the burning flame in verse 11.
God is a consuming fire - Deut 4:24, 9:3, Hebrews 12:29
The Little horn will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming - 2Thess 2:8

Thousand, thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. These are the witness to the heavenly court scene. Angels they are, who have been ministering spirits, now stand witness to the judgment scene as the Books are opened. The “books” are heavenly records of all our thoughts and actions. While this is an investigative or Pre-advent judgment which occurs in heaven where menʼs lives are investigated out of the record books. It is more fitting to call it as in the Book of Daniel, a Pre-Kingdom Judgment because at the end of it are those seen fit to be a part of the Kingdom of the Son of Man.

THE BOOKS

We do not know what heavens “books” look like but they are open to the inspection of angels.

The Bible describes three books:

THE BOOK OF LIFE - Rev 13:8; Rev 20:15; Phil 4:3. Contains the register of all whohave at some time accepted Christ (Luke 10:20).

THE BOOK O REMEMBRANCE - Mal 3:16; Ps 56:8 Contains the record of the good deeds of the saints.

THE BOOK OF INIQUITIES - Isa 65:6-7; Jer 2:22; Isa 30:8-9. Contain the record ofeveryone’s sins.

All will be judged out of the “books” in Heaven which record everything.
Professed believers have their names written in the Book of Life, (Phil 4:3; Heb 12:23; Luke 10:20)
God says, “Whosoever sins against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Exo 32:33; Rev 3:5.
The Judgment will finish when every case including the Little Horn's has been examined.
Jesus will then return and deliver those who are still “found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1.

DANIEL 7:11,12 "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time"

We are brought back to earth in verses 11 & 12
The Fourth Beast and the Little horn continue to the end.
In the end-time, the beast with the little horn power are destroyed following the Judgment.
The Beast was Imperial Rome which transitioned to Papal Rome - it is the same power, Rome, but in a different form or phase - first the Rome of the Caesars and then the Rome of the Popes.
The rest of the beasts' dominion or power was taken away.
The beasts continued on under the jurisdiction of the conquering power.
Babylon continued on after being conquered by Medo-Persia even though it lost dominion.
The beasts' politics and culture continued on in their conquerors.
Aspects of Babylonian culture and religion were absorbed by the Medes and Persians, and then by the Greeks and finally the Romans.

The first three beasts (Babylon, Medo Persia, Greece) lost their dominions but they lived on under their conquerors. (The first three beasts are seen “living on” in the beast of Revelation 13:1-10). Not so with the fourth beast which will be totally destroyed.

A season and time means a period with beginning and end points uknown to men e.g. the time between birth and death. “To every [thing there is] a SEASON, AND A TIME to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die...” Ecc 3:1-2.

DANIEL 7:13,14 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

We now return to the heavenly court session in verses 13 & 14
We see Jesus coming before His Father, the Ancient of Days
Jesus is given dominion, glory and a kingdom
Christ's dominion is an everlasting one - it will not be conquered or destroyed
This kingdom is unlike those of the four beasts which had their dominions taken away.

WHEN DOES THE JUDGMENT OCCUR?

The Judgment occurs after the rise of the fourth beast - Imperial Rome
The Judgment occurs after the emergence of the Little horn, Papal Rome.
The saints are persecuted by the Little horn for "a time, & times & the dividing of time" - v 25
The Judgment occurs after the Little Horn's persecuting rule of 1260 years
God's people are persecuted in Daniel 11 in verses 32 to 35, i.e. to "the time of the end"
Papal Rome came to full power in 538AD
Its persecuting rule ended in 1798AD when Napoleon took the Pope prisoner.
1798 marks the start in Bible prophecy of the period known as "the time of the end" - Dan 11:35
Hence the Judgment must occur sometime in the "time of the end", i.e. after 1798
The time frame for the Judgment is the subject of Daniel chapter 8 - 2300 days prophecy
The start of the 2300 days prophecy is the subject of the 70 weeks of Daniel chapter 9:24-27

WHO IS (ARE) THE SUBJECT OF THE JUDGMENT?

THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE OCCURS THREE TIMES IN DANIEL 7

The Little Horn Emerges - v 8, 20, 24
The Judgment sits - v 9, 22, 26
The Judgment given in favour of the Saints - v 18, 22, 27

VERSES 15 - 27 ARE THE EXPLANATION OF THE VISION.

The four beasts are said to be four kings - v 17
The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom - v 23
First mention principle would take us to the four kingdoms of Daniel 2
Hence the four beasts represent the four kingdoms of the Daniel 2 image.
The fourth beast is the fourth Kingdom of Iron of Daniel 2
Hence the first beast, the Lion, must be the first kingdom of GOLD of the image - BABYLON
The second, third and fourth beasts must be the second, third and fourth kingdoms.
The Bear is Medo-Persia, the Leopard is Greece & the Terrible beast is Rome.
Despite these world empires, the saints are said to take & possess the kingdom forever - v 18
Attention is then focused on the fourth beast & the Little Horn - verses 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26
The characteristics of the Little Horn unmistakably point to Papal Rome as this power.
The Little Horn, Papal Rome, looses its dominion which is consumed & destroyed - v 11, 26
The Kingdom & Dominion is given to the saints of the most High - God's people, v 27
So ends the Judgment.

THE FOCUS OF THE VISION IS "THE SON OF MAN"

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