Prophecy 2 – The Little Horn Power

ByLarry W. Wilson

The Little Horn Power – Daniel 7:1-12

Beginning Point in Time: About 605 B.C.
Ending Point in Time: Second Coming of Jesus

Summary:
The essence of this prophecy can be summarized in four sentences. God has linked events in Heaven with events on Earth so that we can determine our chronological position within His expansive plans. Therefore, the fall of the papacy on Earth (1798) is synchronized with the exaltation of Jesus in Heaven. After Jesus receives sovereign power, He will open the books of record (1844) and judge the dead. Afterwards, the papacy will recover and speak boastfully until it is destroyed with fire.

Introduction:
This vision covers the same time span as the vision in Prophecy 1. This vision amplifies Daniel 2 using a technique called “repetition and enlargement.” When this prophecy is properly aligned with Daniel 2, Daniel 8, and Luke 3, it is easy to demonstrate from Scripture that the four beasts in this vision represent the chronological empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. Secular history also affirms the chronological progression of these empires. Because the Bible and secular history are in harmony and because Prophecy 1 and Prophecy 2 are in harmony, we have a prophetic foundation that is “rock solid.” Some people have trouble with the claim that this prophecy represents four world empires because they believe the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome were not world empires. For example, the empire of Babylon did not rule over China or India or Africa in its day. Therefore, they maintain that Babylon was not a true global empire. The problem with this viewpoint is that the book of Daniel deals with the world as it pertains to the advancement of God’s truth and His people. The book of Daniel does not include the whole world until the whole world becomes involved with God’s truth and His people! If you study maps of these ancient empires you will discover that Babylon was swallowed by a larger empire, and Medo-Persia was swallowed by a larger empire, and Rome was also swallowed by yet a larger empire (the feet of the metal man represents Europe). This geographically expanding progression of kingdoms continues until the entire world is involved. The kingdom represented by the toes in Daniel 2 is the first kingdom in this prophecy that geographically includes the whole world.

Prophecy 2 adds several new elements to the information provided in Prophecy 1. For example, this prophecy inserts a period of 1,260 years into the kingdom represented by the feet of the metal man. This huge block of time is important to the final generation because it forces this prophecy out of antiquity in one giant step. This prophecy teaches that 1798 is a very important year, both in Heaven and on Earth. Further, this prophecy proves that God’s lengthy plan to destroy the metal man and establish His kingdom on Earth is still on track. Think about this: Even though this prophecy spans more than 2,600 years, it contains an end time nugget of information that will prove to be indispensable when the final generation arrives.

The Sequence:

Daniel 7:1-3

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. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

{1} In the first year of Belshazzar (the last king of Babylon) I was about eighty-five years of age. I received a vision one night and this is the substance of my dream:
{2} In my vision I looked, and I saw the four winds of Heaven churning up the Mediterranean Sea.
{3} As I watched, four enormous beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

Daniel 7:4

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.
{4} The first beast (Babylon) looked like a lion, but it had powerful wings like an eagle which allowed it to swiftly catch and devour its prey. As I watched, the lion’s wings were torn off and it could no longer fly and conquer its neighbors. The lion then focused on fortifying his kingdom. He paid no attention to warnings about arrogance and self-sufficiency. Over time, the lion became pompous and disgusting in God’s sight even though Nebuchadnezzar finally recognized the sovereign authority of the Most High God.[1]

Daniel 7:5

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.
{5} Then, I saw a second beast which looked like a bear. As I watched, I noticed that one shoulder was higher than the other.

This feature indicates that one side of this kingdom (the Persians) would ascend higher than the other (the Medes) and “shoulder” greater responsibility.[2]

When the bear came up out of the sea, it had three ribs between its teeth.

These ribs represented the carcasses of Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon – three nations which resisted the bear’s quest for dominion.

The Most High God told the bear, “Rise up, eat your fill of flesh, and rule the world” and it did. For awhile, the bear could not be stopped.

Daniel 7:6

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.
{6} After this, I saw a beast that looked something like a leopard, but it had four great wings like a bird. Because it had four wings, it could travel farther and faster than the lion. It was given power over the bear and it subdued its enemy very quickly. This beast (Greece) also had four heads. I later learned this empire would be divided into four sectors and each sector would have its own king.

Daniel 7:7

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.
{7} After seeing the lion, bear, and leopard, a fourth beast stood before me. This beast was unusual, terrifying, and very powerful. This beast did not resemble any animal I had seen before. It had large iron teeth that crushed and devoured its victims. It utterly destroyed its enemies as it subdued them, so that nothing remained. This monster was ruthless in its conquest and it had ten horns protruding from its head.

Daniel 7:8

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.
{8} While I was thinking about the ten horns, a little horn began to grow out of the monster’s head. The little horn grew up among the ten horns and as the little horn grew in size, it uprooted three of the original ten horns. The little horn continued to grow in strength. It received power and authority to rule over the seven remaining horns. The little horn (actually, the eighth horn) had eyes and a mouth like a man. The eyes indicated that it could see (comprehend) things the other horns could not understand and its mouth spoke boastfully. The eighth horn was filled with arrogance and self-exaltation.[3] It claimed to speak for God and the other horns acquiesced to its authority.

Daniel 7:9

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.
{9} Then, I looked up. I saw an enormous courtroom in Heaven. In the middle of the courtroom was a great white throne and twenty-four lesser thrones[4] were arranged in a circle around it. As I watched, I saw a being enveloped in brilliant light enter the courtroom and the Ancient of Days, God the Father, took His seat. His clothing was so bright that I could not make out the details. His presence was as white as snow and the hair of His head was gloriously bright – like fluffy wool. His throne sparkled with lights, it looked like it was on fire. Glorious angels surrounded the thrones in concentric rings that looked like rings of fire.

Daniel 7:10

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.
{10} A huge procession of radiant angels filed into the courtroom. The procession looked like molten gold; a flowing river of fire. Thousands upon thousands of heavenly beings attended the Father and ten thousand times ten thousand angels stood reverently before Him. After this huge assembly stopped moving, the court was seated and the proceedings began. Immediately, the Ancient of Days issued a restraining order on behalf of His saints. At that moment, God broke the power of the eighth horn so that it could not persecute God’s saints any longer. Then, Jesus came before the Father and after a special investigation occurred,[5] Jesus was found worthy to receive The Book of Life which was sealed with seven seals. A short time after this, when the third seal was broken, the books of record were opened and Jesus began to examine the recorded life of each person who had died. At the end of His thorough review, Jesus made a decision about each person.[6] Jesus determined who would receive eternal life and who would not.

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. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
{11} Then my gaze was redirected to Earth. I saw the eighth horn speaking boastful words against the Most High God a second time.[7] I kept watching this horn and its host, the monster beast, until they were destroyed. They were thrown into a lake of fire at the Second Coming.[8]
{12} I should also mention that when the governments represented by the lion, the bear, and the leopard were stripped of their authority, the people who made up these empires were not destroyed. Their descendants after them continued to live until the Second Coming.

Discussion

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. 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.
{13} After this sequence of events ended, I saw another scene that related to the proceedings that took place in Heaven’s courtroom. I saw a glorious man who did not look like an angel. Instead, He looked like me, a son of man. Many angels accompanied Him. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
{14} After a thorough investigation, He was found worthy to receive divine authority, glory, and sovereign power.[9] A time will come when His sovereignty fills Earth, and all peoples, nations, and men of every language will worship Him.[10] His dominion will be an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 7:15

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
{15} After watching these glorious scenes, I was deeply troubled. I wondered how this vision related to my people who were languishing as slaves in Babylon. I wanted to know how the scenes I had seen related to the promise that God would return my people to Jerusalem after seventy years.

Daniel 7:16

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.

{16} So, I approached an angel who was standing in the heavenly courtroom and asked him to explain the true meaning of this vision. He gave me this explanation:

Daniel 7:17

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
{17} “The four great beasts you saw are four empires that will appear on Earth. Starting with the lion, these empires will rise out of a sea of humanity.”

In other words, each empire will rise out of existing nations, languages, and peoples.[11] Each empire will rule over an increasingly larger portion of Earth than the one before it. The four winds (mentioned in verse 2) represent God’s four judgments.[12]  When each empire becomes hopelessly decadent, God will use His four judgments to eliminate the current kingdom and establish another.

Daniel 7:18

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
{18} “At the appointed time, the Most High God will purify Earth and give the whole world over to His saints and they will possess it forever – yes, forever and ever.”

Daniel 7:19-20

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;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.
{19} I was full of questions. I especially wanted to know the meaning of the monster beast, the fourth beast, which was different from all the others – having unbreakable iron teeth and indestructible bronze claws – the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled whatever was left under its feet.
{20} I also wanted to know about the ten horns that were on the head of this beast and the little horn that uprooted three of the ten horns. I wanted to know the truth about the eighth horn because it had eyes like a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully, insulting God’s authority.

Daniel 7:21-22

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 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.
{21} During my vision, I saw the eighth horn making war against the saints for a long period of time and it kept on defeating them
{22} until the Ancient of Days took His seat and issued a restraining order. After He issued the restraining order, the eighth horn lost its ability to hurt the saints of God. Over time, it became clear that the restraining order was temporary. The eighth horn regained its power and resumed its persecution of God’s saints. As it regains power, it will continue to speak boastfully and insult God’s sovereign authority again. I learned that the eighth horn will not cease its opposition against God, His truth, and His saints until fire destroys it at the Second Coming. There will be no rest for God’s saints until false religion is destroyed and Jesus establishes His kingdom. Then, and only then, will the meek have peace on Earth.

Daniel 7:23

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.

{23} The angel told me that the monster beast will be the fourth empire to appear on Earth. This kingdom will be called Rome. Rome’s governance will be different from the previous kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia. Rome will hire mercenary soldiers and even though it will not have a monarch, its ruler will exercise power over life and death. Rome will become renowned for its use of iron weapons and this kingdom will control a larger territory than any empire before it. God will give Rome the power to devour its enemies, crushing any tribe or nation that defies its authority. When the Roman Empire fills up its cup of sin, God will remove Rome’s power – even as empires before it were removed from power.

Daniel 7:24

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.
{24} The angel continued, “The ten horns on the monster beast represent ten ethnic kings who will rise up from within the Roman Empire. These kings will hate the ruling government at Rome. Over time, these kings will break the Roman Empire apart, piece by piece, and they will terminate Rome’s authority by A.D. 476. These tribal nations will be called: Goths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Burgundians, Franks, Lombards, Alameni, Suevi, Anglo-Saxons, and Heruli. After Rome’s power is broken into fragments, a different type of king, represented by the little horn, will rise. Unlike the tribal kings represented by the ten horns, the eighth horn will be a religious king whose throne will endure for more than twelve centuries.

“Shortly after the sixth century A.D. begins, Emperor Justinian will endeavor to reunify the old Roman Empire by creating the Holy Roman Empire. To purify and unify the empire, Justinian will give special authority to the pope in A.D. 533. This authority will give the pope (and his appointed prelates) power to determine who is an orthodox Christian and who is a heretic, but three of the original ten kings will hate the church because of religious differences. The Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Vandals will show no respect for Justinian or church authorities in Rome. These tribal nations will be uprooted by A.D. 538 and the pope will begin to exercise civil authority in A.D. 538. This process explains how the eighth horn will dominate the other seven for 1,260 years. (See Additional Note at the end of this chapter.)

Daniel 7:25

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.
{25} “The eighth horn rising out of the fourth beast represents the Roman Catholic Church. Its leaders will falsely think that they can usurp God’s sovereign authority. The church will insult the Most High God by creating and imposing false doctrines on its subjects. The special authority Justinian granted to the church will establish a church/state precedent which the church will use to persecute those who refuse to obey its doctrines. Wielding absolute authority over Christians in Europe, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church will think that it has the authority to change the day of worship which the Most High God has plainly declared to be the seventh day of the week.[13] The Catholic Church will also decide to eliminate the second commandment from the Ten Commandments. By dividing the tenth commandment into two parts, the Catholic Catechism will give the illusion that it contains ten commandments.[14] The Ancient of Days will permit the Roman Catholic Church to persecute His saints for a time, times, and half a time – 1,260 years (according to Rule Four[15] ). Be assured that God will look after His saints while they are in the wilderness. He has prepared a place for them.

You may wonder why God allows the eighth horn to have power over the saints for 1,260 years. Strange as this may sound, persecution keeps the faithful – faith-full. Persecution separates nominal Christians from thoughtful and prayerful Christians. Persecution makes the Word of God come “alive” and for the honest in heart, truth becomes more important than the traditions of men. Persecution purifies the heart and soul and the Comforter brings great peace to the faithful.

Daniel 7:26

But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
{26} “The 1,260 years will end when the court is seated and the power of the Roman Catholic Church is temporarily terminated.

Naturally, human beings cannot see what is taking place in Heaven, so God has linked events in Heaven with events on Earth. I like to call this linkage the “Heaven-Earth Linkage Law.” When prophetic events transpire on Earth, “linked events” occur in Heaven. For example, when the 1,260 years allotted to the eighth horn comes to an end, the courtroom scene described in verses 9 and 10 will occur in Heaven. We know this because the Father will issue a restraining order against the eighth horn. As a result, the power of the Roman Catholic Church will abruptly end. The church will lose control over the nations of Europe. The pope will be captured and exiled to France in February 1798. This event on Earth is linked to the restraining order the Father issued in Heaven.

The little horn will later recover from the deadly wound it received in 1798.[16] A treaty (actually the Lateran Pacts of 1929) will be ratified in June 1929 and Vatican City will be returned to the papacy. Over time, the Roman Catholic Church will regain world respect and recognition. By the twenty-first century, the church will have diplomatic ties with more than 178 nations. This international prominence will play an important role during the Great Tribulation.

During the devastating judgments described as the first four trumpets of Revelation 8, the religions of the world will come together in an effort to appease God so that His wrath will cease. World leaders will select the pope to be the leader of a new government. Because the world will be in an extreme crisis, Babylon (the new government) will achieve world control without firing a single bullet. Babylon will create laws mandating moral behavior and the worship of God. Some of Babylon’s laws will be contrary to the Ten Commandments, specifically, the fourth commandment. Babylon, under the leadership of the pope, will persecute those who refuse to obey its laws for forty-two months.[17] Even though the saints will be persecuted and millions will die as martyrs for their faith,[18] Babylon will come to a horrible end. Jesus will annihilate His enemies at the Second Coming.

Daniel 7:27

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.
{27} “Ultimately, the powers of darkness will prevail until the end, but do not be discouraged. Jesus will destroy them and create a new Heaven and a new Earth. Then, the world will be handed over to the saints. God’s children will love, worship, and willingly obey their King forever.”

We know that the courtroom scene in Heaven occurred in 1798 because there is a “linked” event on Earth. The power of the papacy was broken that year. A few years later (1844), Jesus opened the books of record (this date will be discussed in Prophecy 3) and began to judge the dead.

Daniel 7:28

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.
{28} This is the end of the matter. I was deeply troubled because I had never heard anything like this. This vision was so different from what I expected about the future that my face turned pale. I kept these things to myself, for I did not want my closest friends to think I had lost my mind.

The Exaltation of Jesus

A few words about the exaltation of Jesus are necessary. Many people do not appreciate the importance of Daniel 7:13,14 because they do not understand the process that Jesus voluntarily endured to redeem mankind. A book could be written on this amazing topic, but the essence of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation is this: When Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus went to the Father and offered to die in their place. Remember, Adam and Eve were to be executed on the day that they sinned.[19] Even before the creation of life, the Father foreknew that sin would occur.[20] Therefore, He had a plan of redemption that could be implemented when necessary.[21] The Father would have implemented the plan of redemption for the rebellious angels had they been willing to repent, but they defiantly refused. Lucifer and the angels who followed him committed the unpardonable sin, making redemption impossible. (See Prophecy 12.)

God’s plan to redeem mankind is intricate because He resolves several issues at the same time. It takes some effort to sort out these issues and understand their purposes. For example, God does not want sin to occur again, so God is resolving the current problem of sin in such a way that no one will ever want to sin again! God has allowed sin to mature because He wants everyone to see how the malignant curse imposes increasing decadence and degeneracy on each succeeding generation. God wants the universe to see what sinners will become and do; when sin is given enough time. God also wants the universe to understand that He is a God of love and His laws and actions always spring from love for His children. God wants the universe to understand that He will not use His foreknowledge to manipulate any outcome that is favorable to Himself. He also wants everyone to know that His subjects really do have
the power of choice.

When Jesus went to the Father and offered to pay the price for their sin, the Father revealed the huge price that redemption required. I am sure that Jesus listened thoughtfully, and after hearing the terms required for man’s redemption, He submitted to three conditions. Whatever the Father wanted Jesus to become, He would become. Jesus agreed to become a man. Whatever the Father wanted Jesus to do, He would do. Jesus would live as an inferior among sinners (poor and having no human father), resist every temptation, die a horrible death, and cease to exist. Finally, whatever the Father wanted Jesus to say, He would say – no matter the consequences. Jesus agreed to speak the Father’s words – no matter what.[22] When Jesus accepted these terms and conditions, the Father made a covenant with Jesus.[23] If Jesus perfectly carried out the Father’s plan, the Father would (a) resurrect Jesus from the second death,[24] (b) give Jesus authority over His church,[25] (c) give the saints and the world to Jesus,[26] and (d) show the universe that Jesus is His equal – that Jesus is Almighty God just as the Father is Almighty God.[27] Incidentally, this last item explains why the last book in the Bible is called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The price for the redemption of sinners is unbelievably high. Jesus had to forfeit His eternal life for sinners and cease to exist. Jesus humbled Himself on the day that sin began by becoming a subject (a son) of the Father.[28] This is why Jesus is called, “The Son (subject) of God.” Four thousand years after Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus took a deeper step into humility. Jesus not only became a man, He became the object of endless ridicule. Later, Jesus stooped even lower. He died on the cross as a criminal. Jesus could give nothing more. He gave up everything He had, even His eternal life for our redemption. On the basis of Jesus’ sinless life and perfect conformity to His will, the Father “righteously” resurrected Jesus and took Him to Heaven. The Father coronated Jesus as man’s high priest.[29] For the past 2,000 years, Jesus has presided over His church in much the same way that Melchizedek
presided over his subjects.[30]

The humiliation and exaltation of Jesus is important to understand. When the power of the little horn was broken (1798), Jesus went before the Father and after being found worthy, He was promoted to the throne of God. Instead of sitting at the right hand of the Father as a prince and High Priest, Daniel 7:13,14 indicates that Jesus was coronated as a co-regent king with the Father and given sovereign power! In Prophecy 6, we will learn that Jesus was also found worthy to receive the book sealed with seven seals (The Book of Life) when He was given the seven attributes of sovereign power.[31] Think about this. Sovereign power can only be bestowed once. Once a person has sovereign authority, how can he be given greater power?

The Father gave Jesus sovereign power in 1798 because Jesus began a new phase of work in Heaven that requires sovereign power. The Father needed someone to (a) resolve the sin problem on Earth, (b) exonerate the character and government of God, and (c) judge each sinner compassionately. The worthiness of Jesus for this task is beyond question. He is the only person in the universe who can perfectly complete all three tasks. Jesus began exercising sovereign power in 1798. He has to accomplish several objectives which the Father requires Him to do. For example, as sovereign king, Jesus is free to fulfill the requirements of each of the seven seals according to His own wisdom and authority. Jesus is free to glorify the Father according to His own wisdom and He is free to resolve many questions about God’s government that could not be answered otherwise. Jesus can pass eternal judgment on human beings as He desires. He is free to conduct Heaven’s business in whatever way He deems appropriate as long as He produces the objectives which the plan of redemption requires. At the end of the 1,000 years,[32] Jesus will complete His special work. He will fully exonerate the character and ways of God and in turn, the Father will glorify Jesus before the universe as a co-eternal God. Jesus went into the depths of humiliation to save sinners from the second death and in the end, the Father will exalt Him as an equal!

At the end of the 1,000 years, Paul’s prediction will be fulfilled: “Then the end will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he [Jesus] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he [the Father] ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he [Jesus has destroyed the works of sin] has done this, then the Son himself will [surrender His sovereign power and] be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God [the Father] may be all in all [the greatest of all].”[33]

The Rules of Interpretation

Please consider how the Rules of Interpretation (discussed in the Introduction) are observed in this prophecy:

Rule One says an apocalyptic prophecy has a beginning point and ending point in time and the events within the prophecy occur in the order given. This prophecy begins with a lion (Babylon) rising from the sea and it ends with the beasts being burned in the fire (Second Coming). The events in this vision occur in chronological order:

  1. Lion rises from the sea
  2. Bear rises from the sea
  3. Leopard rises from the sea
  4. Monster beast with ten horns rises from the sea
  5. A little horn appears and uproots three horns
  6. Eighth horn speaks boastfully and persecutes the saints for 1,260 years
  7. Thrones are arranged in Heaven and the Ancient of Days takes His seat
  8. Books opened
  9. Little horn returns to power, speaks boastfully
  10. Beasts burned in the fire

This vision covers the same time span as the vision of Daniel 2 (Prophecy 1), but this vision adds several important details to the time period represented by the feet of iron and clay.

Rule Two says a fulfillment only occurs when all of the specifications are met, and this includes the order stated in the prophecy. This vision has not been fulfilled. It is still underway. The four beasts have come and are almost gone, the power of the eighth horn was broken in 1798, and Jesus has been exalted, but we are waiting for the eighth horn to return to power and speak boastfully! When the religious and political powers of this world are destroyed at the Second Coming, this vision will be fulfilled.

Rule Three says apocalyptic language can be literal, analogous, or symbolic. There are symbolic elements in this prophecy because relevant Scripture defines the symbols. The angel told Daniel, “The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.”[34] Notice the clarity when God defines a symbol: “The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on Earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.”[35] History leaves no doubt concerning the identity of the fourth beast or the little horn that uprooted three horns. When God creates a symbol, He clearly defines the meaning of that symbol. This simple process eliminates personal bias, confusion, and theological putty. The Bible will speak plainly and clearly; if it is permitted to do so.

Rule Four says the presence or absence of the Jubilee Calendar determines how God measures time. “He [the little horn] will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.”[36] A short presentation on God’s Jubilee Calendar is offered in Appendix A. For now, please consider this: The ancients believed planet Earth stood still and the Sun orbited around the Earth. One complete cycle of the Sun (a solar year) was called a year or “a time.” The Hebrew word used in Daniel 7:25 for “a time” is ‘hiddan’ and it means a defined period of time – such as a solar year. For purposes of calculation, the Jews divided a year into 360 degrees of arc. This technique was most likely derived from observing the number of “sun widths” in a solar year. Each day, when the Sun rises, it appears to move through the twelve constellations by approximately one “sun width.” Thus, a solar year consists of four seasons and each season is counted as 90 “Sun widths.” For planting purposes, a solar calendar is very useful and even today, many people plant crops according to a solar calendar. Furthermore, a solar calendar was useful to Israel because God’s year can be anywhere from 355 to 384 days in length depending on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, the Jews regarded a calculated year or solar year to be 360 days because the Sun appears to move about 1 degree of arc per day. This forces the absolute distance between two Spring Equinoxes to be 360 degrees. Comparing Revelation 12:6 with 12:14 we find that 1,260 days equals a time, times, and half a time. The math becomes easy to understand because 360 degrees + 720 degrees + 180 degrees equals 1,260 degrees/days.

Rule Four requires all time periods to be translated according to a day for a year if God’s Jubilee Calendar is in operation. (1437 B.C. to 1994) Therefore, the time, times, and half a time in Daniel 7:25 equals 1,260 days which must be translated as a day for a year. History easily confirms the validity of this calculation.

Additional Note

When Justinian I (A.D. 483-565) became the ruler of what remained of the Roman Empire in A.D. 527, he aspired to rebuild and restore the empire to its former glory. At the time, Europe and northern Africa had splintered into tribal nations and the city of Rome had been pillaged and burned just fifty years earlier. Western civilization had been fragmented by religion, ethnicity, culture, and language. Justinian knew that he could not directly impose Roman authority on the tribal nations that had pulled the empire apart. He did not have the military might to force them into submission. However, Justinian believed there was an indirect way to unify and rebuild the Roman Empire. About A.D. 533, he created this law: Everyone under the jurisdiction of the empire is required to be a Christian.

Justinian thought that Christianity would help unify the Roman Empire. As religions go, Christianity was a good thing. Christianity exalted honesty and integrity, and it had one Supreme God (unlike the polytheistic religion of the Romans). When Justinian imposed his demand that everyone under the jurisdiction of the empire must be a Christian, he gave authority to the head of the Christian Church at Rome (the pope) to determine who was a Christian and who was not. (This was a political solution that would later prove disastrous for more than twelve centuries.) The pope could not implement Justinian’s law in A.D. 533 because three tribal nations (the Ostrogoths, Heruli, and Vandals) were waging war against his authority. (These tribal nations were opposed to certain religious views which the pope had endorsed and they wanted to kill the pope for corrupting the Christian faith.) To make matters worse, Justinian’s law and his deference to the pope made them furious.

A series of deadly battles occurred between 534 and 537 and eventually, the Heruli and the Vandals were subdued. In A.D. 537, the Ostrogoths set siege to the city of Rome hoping they could starve the city and capture the pope (who was inside), but Justinian’s general, Belesarius, arrived at Rome and broke the siege. Pope Silverius escaped without harm. After the rescue, Belesarius discovered some correspondence indicating that Pope Silverius had been secretly negotiating with the Ostrogoths to end the siege and Belesarius was outraged. Belesairus removed Silverius from his position as pope and demoted him to the position of monk. This happened in March, A.D. 537.

After he removed Silverius from office, Belesarius appointed Vigilius to be the next pope. About a year later, in A.D. 538, Pope Vigilius began to exercise authority that previous popes did not have. As you might understand, this enormous power was abused and over time, the Roman Catholic Church dominated all of Europe! Justinian created a law that had unintended consequences for 1,260 years! The devil made a hand puppet out of the Church. He took control of the Church and through it, found a way to persecute God’s people. “When the dragon [the devil] saw that he had been hurled to the Earth [cast out of Heaven on Resurrection Sunday], he pursued the woman [the people of God] who had given birth to the male child [in 4 B.C.]. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might [escape] fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, [1,260 years] out of the serpent’s reach.”[37]

The 1,260 years ended when General Berthier, obeying orders from Napoleon, entered Vatican City and arrested the pope on February 20, 1798 on the grounds that the pope refused to renounce temporal (civil) authority over Europe. On March 7, 1798, Napoleon’s Army entered Rome and established the Roman Republic. The civil power of the papacy over Europe was finally broken. So, calculating 1,260 years backward from 1798, we can see that Lucifer begin chasing God’s people in A.D. 538. Using the Church as a hand puppet, John saw the devil chase the woman into the wilderness for 1,260 years and history affirms that “the persecuted” eventually became “the persecutors” of the woman.

References:

  1. Daniel 4 Return
  2. Daniel 8:3,20 Return
  3. For an end time parallel, see Revelation 13:5,6. Return
  4. Revelation 4:4; 5:11 Return
  5. Revelation 5 Return
  6. Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10 Return
  7. Revelation 13:5 Return
  8. Revelation 19:20; 20:10 Return
  9. Ephesians 1:7-10,22 Return
  10. Isaiah 45:22-24 Return
  11. Revelation 17:15 Return
  12. Ezekiel 14:12-21; Revelation 6:8 Return
  13. Exodus 20:8-11 Return
  14. Compare the current Second Edition English Translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church with Exodus 20:3-17. Return
  15. Leviticus 25, 26; Revelation 12:6,14; Ezekiel 4:5,6; Numbers 14:34 Return
  16. Revelation 13:3 Return
  17. Revelation 13:4,5 Return
  18. Revelation 6:9 Return
  19. Genesis 2:17 Return
  20. See Prophecy 6 for a discussion on God’s foreknowledge. See also pages 29-37 in my book, A Study on the Seven Seals and the 144,000. Return
  21. Revelation 13:8 Return
  22. John 14:10,24; 17:8 Return
  23. Psalm 2:7-12 Return
  24. John 10:17,18; Acts 2:32; 1 Corinthians 6:14 Return
  25. Ephesians 1:22; Matthew 28:18 Return
  26. John 17:6 Return
  27. John 5:22; Revelation 14:7; 11:17; Philippians 2:6-11 Return
  28. Psalm 2:7-12; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5 62 Jesus’ Final Victory Prophecy 2 – The Little Horn Power Return
  29. Hebrews 8:1 Return
  30. Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:12-17 Note: When writing to the Hebrews, Paul used Melchizedek, to emphasize a few key points about Jesus. The Jews understood that “father Abraham” regarded Melchizedek as a servant of the Most High God because Abraham gave his tithe to him. Abraham’s action demonstrated two things. First, Abraham regarded Melchizedek as a priest of the same God that he worshiped. Second, Abraham realized that the Most High God had placed someone on Earth in a higher position (as priest and king) than himself. Paul also pointed out that there is no record of Melchizedek’s birth or death. To the Jewish mind, this was a huge puzzle because lineage separated the Jews from the Gentiles, the clean from the unclean! Paul used these facts to demonstrate that Jesus is to the Jews what Melchizedek was to Abraham – that is, in matters pertaining to God, superior. Melchizedek and Jesus were divinely appointed. Melchizedek was not a descendant of Abraham and Jesus was not a descendant of Levi. Finally, Melchizedek died and nothing else is known about him. This is unlike Jesus who died, but God raised Him from the dead and took Him to Heaven where He serves as High Priest on the basis of His perfect sacrifice and indestructible life! Return
  31. See Revelation 5:12,13 and 11:17 Note: For a detailed discussion on the linkage between Daniel 7:9,10 and Revelation 5, please see pages 66-72 in my book, Daniel: Unlocked For the Final Generation and pages 56-65 in my book, A Study on the Seven Seals and the 144,000. Return
  32. Revelation 20 Return
  33. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, insertions mine Return
  34. Daniel 7:17 Return
  35. Daniel 7:23,24 Return
  36. Daniel 7:25 Return
  37. Revelation 12:13,14, insertions mine Return

 

Larry W. Wilson

Larry W. Wilson

Larry Wilson, founder of WUAS, became a born-again Christian in 1972. His interest in the gospel led him on a 40+ year quest to learn more about what God has revealed to Earth’s final generation. The results of his research have been shared throughout the world in books, television & radio broadcasts, media interviews, and seminars that are publicly available on all different types of media (see our Christian Bookstore).

What is Wake Up America Seminars (WUAS)?
Wake Up America Seminars, Inc. is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization with a focus on the study of End-Time Prophecy. WUAS is not a church, nor does it endorse any denomination. Our focus is singular: We are dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and His imminent return. We are delighted that people of all faiths are diligently using the Bible study materials produced by WUAS. All study materials are based solely on the Bible alone.

Larry W. Wilson

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3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Jesus' Final Victory! Book

  2. The humiliation and exaltation of Jesus is important to understand. When the power of the little horn was broken (1798), Jesus went before the Father and after being found worthy, He was promoted to the throne of God.

    Daniel 7:13,14 indicates that Jesus was coronated as a co-regent king with the Father

    Jesus went into the depths of humiliation to save sinners from the second death and in the end, the Father will exalt Him as an equal!

    The first two quotes say that Jesus has been exalted, the last that He will be exalted. Just a bit confusing. I suppose what is meant is that that fact will be revealed.

    Also that Jesus has been exalted to be co-regent with the Father is made plain in Rev 3:21 :
    To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

  3. Hello Lepsie:

    I’m sorry for the confusion. As I understand the matter, Jesus was exalted to the Father’s throne in 1798. Ephesians 1:9,10 was fulfilled at that time:

    Ephesians 1:9,10 “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”

    At the end of sin’s drama, after the 1,000 years have been completed and the Holy City is sitting on Earth, the seventh and final seal on the Lamb’s Book of Life will be opened. This event will be attended by everyone who ever lived on Earth. The saints will be inside the Holy City and the wicked from all ages past will be resurrected to behold the city and to meet with their Creator, Jesus.

    There will be silence for a half hour when Jesus breaks open the last seal on the Book of Life and several things will be revealed, one of which will be the deity of Jesus as an Almighty God, an equal of the Father in every way. Billions of people died without knowing this fact, so it is made clear at the end of sin’s drama.

    I’ve written about this profound event if you wish to look further into it. Please go here: https://www.wake-up.org/book-of-life-who-is-jesus/the-seventh-seal-in-revelation.html

    Because the exaltation of Jesus is a large topic, you can download my book,”The Lamb’s Book of Life” for free if you wish:

    https://www.wake-up.org/Alpha/Book_of_Life_Web.pdf

    Best regards

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