In Daniel 7, the prophet sees a vision of four kingdoms. The fourth kingdom has ten horns, and among them is a single “little horn” makes itself prominent and “speaks blasphemously.” (Daniel 7:8) This little horn is given more details. It has eyes and a mouth, perhaps to indicate this is a person rather than a kingdom. Eyes are often associated with pride (Isaiah 2:11, 5:15). It speaks boastfully and uproots three of the other horns. In the judgment scene which follows the other horns are not specifically judged along with the little horn.
Who this arrogant “little horn”? There are at least three possibilities. First, the majority of scholarship accepts a Maccabean origin of the book of Daniel, so this arrogant horn is an obvious reference to Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In fact, this identification seems clear in Daniel 8:23-26. The vision in Daniel 7 is therefore not prophecy, but a retelling of Judea’s relationship with Babylon, Persia, Alexander’s Greece and the Seleucid king Antiochus IV.
Second, for the minority of scholars who argue the fourth and final beast is Rome, the little horn is a Roman emperor, usually Nero or Domitian, but the first century has plenty of candidates for blasphemous kings! Revelation 13 and 17 seems to take up the imagery of beasts and arrogant horns from Daniel 7 and apply it to the Roman Empire.
Third, it is also possible to argue this arrogant little horn is a future enemy since the final kingdom is destroyed by the kingdom of God (the rock not cut by human hands in Daniel 2 or the son of man in the next paragraph). If the prophecy extends to the time of the messiah then the little horn is plausibly explained as the antichrist, the leader of the rebellion against God in the last days. I would suggest that is how Revelation read Daniel 7.
While it might sound like dodging the question, perhaps the prophecy applies to Antiochus, Rome and the end times all at once. From the perspective of the Jewish people, there will be waves of anti-Jewish kings and governments throughout history. Prophecy often functions in this way in the Hebrew Bible. Isaiah 7:14 predicts a child being born to a young woman who will be called Emmanuel. A child was born at that time, and by the time that child can eat solid food, King Ahaz’s political rivals will be gone. Yet Matthew picks up that prediction and applies it to another virgin and another child, the ultimate “God with us,” Jesus.
One reason I am favor this combination view is the problem of failed prophecy. If Daniel was written in the mid-second century BC and the little horn refers only to Antiochus IV, then the spectacular defeat and apocalyptic judgment of Antiochus never really happened. Something like a son of man does not end the power of the arrogant king, nor does the Ancient of Days establish a kingdom that is sovereign over the whole world which will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:21-22 cannot refer to the fall of Antiochus since the Ancient of Days did not come and judge in favor of the holy people.
Unless Daniel 7:21-22 is over-the-top propaganda for the Hasmonean Dynasty (and many scholars think it is), then the prediction of a king and kingdom more glorious than Babylon never happened. Readers of Daniel living in the first century AD would have certainly not agreed that Daniel 7:21-22 was fulfilled in Judas Maccabees or the Hasmonean dynasty. Apocalyptic at the end of the first century (Revelation, 4 Ezra, 2 Baruch) certainly did not think the arrogant little horn was Antiochus; by that time in history they had bigger and better arrogantly little horns, the Romans who had destroyed Jerusalem!
I know some readers will want a more precise identification of the arrogant little horn as some current political leader. But this game of “naming the antichrist” is not very productive, usually resulting in embarrassing predictions which have to be abandoned when history proves the prediction wrong. Trying to name the antichrist also misses the point of Daniel 7: God will defeat the kingdoms of man and replace it with the kingdom of God. Read from the perspective Jews enduring the oppressive policies of Antiochus IV, Rome, or Christian empires up to the present time, there is some comfort knowing God will ultimately be victorious and he will establish his rule in the future.
Saladin who started one of the ten dynasties of Islam.
Yeah, I think it is difficult and counterproductive to try and always figure out and decipher what these prophecies are talking about. It can also be dangerous and embarrassing as stated to try and accurately assign beasts or the little horn to a certain ruler or person. Ultimately, we really don’t know what these prophecies are talking about to the point where we can specifically name them, but we can infer using context and our brains as to a general idea of some possibilities. I believe that’s as far as we will be able to narrow it down to. I think we would be missing the point of the book of Daniel if we focused so much on the details of the prophecy rather than pulling out what we as 21st century readers can use to learn from the word of God. God will win, period. Lots of powers will come against him, but he will win.
Although it is difficult to definitively say who or what the “arrogant little horn” mentioned in Daniel 7 is, there are some important words in the passage that can give us possible clues. It is more likely that it was a person or individual rather than an entire kingdom for several different reasons. Firstly, Daniel mentions that it was a “little” horn. Speaking from a purely speculative manner, little would seem to indicate a single individual, as opposed to say, a “large” horn (a kingdom). Another important point is the fact that the little horn is described as having “eyes and a mouth”. Again, this would seem to indicate a person rather than a faceless entity, such as a dynasty or kingdom. We are told from God’s word the horn spoke “arrogantly”. Once again, it is more difficult for an entire kingdom to be “arrogant”, since arrogance is a trait most commonly personified in individuals. From this type of generalized description, as well as taking into account the location, setting, and time period of when this took place in Daniel, the mostly likely person the “little horn” is referring to would be that of Antichus IV Epiphanes, who ruled from 175-164 B.C. (ESV, footnote 8:9-10, p. 1603). In the relatively short time span of his reign, the wicked and evil ruler Antichus murdered thousands of Jews, including the high priest Onias III (ESV, footnote 8:9-10, p. 1603).
Daniel had a vision that something helped him interpret it and in one of them, there was a little horn that was very powerful for being so little. It grew out of the unknown beast and took out three other horns. This little horn could also speak and was talking against God. “there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:8). We are not sure what the little horn represents because there are ten other horns in the vision too. There is a possibility it is Antiochus, Rome or the end times and they all seem to have a connection with it. It is hard to know who it could be, but it is a very important part of the vision. In the end though, the vision is focusing on how all the empires will be destroyed and the last kingdom will be God’s kingdom and it will reign forever. “His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Daniel 7:27).
I do think this is another example of a description in the Bible that we don’t need to spend tons of time guessing what the true meaning is and who the “little horn” refers to. Just as we will never be able to know when the rapture will happen, we also won’t have a perfect 100% answer to this question until it actually happens. Attempts to guess or place the blame on whoever the current public enemy of the day is simply distracts from being able to pursue active work to further the Kingdom while we are here. Just as this prediction of judgement was comforting to the Jews of Daniel’s time, we can also be comforted to know that even though we do not fully understand, God has complete understanding and will bring judgement upon those that reject Him and work against Him. Even in the multiple instances in the book of Daniel where we see an angel bringing Daniel an interpretation of his visions, those descriptions are never detailed enough to actually give dates or name names. We are not meant to know these specific details they are only for God to know. Who knows if even the angel Gabriel knew, or if he only got the same description Daniel got? Either way, we have confidence that all will be made right in God’s timing, and He is and will always be on the throne.
I talked about this previously in the last blog and it serves as the little horn is an important prophecy in the book of Daniel. I believe that Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the little horn that is described in Daniel 7:8 as it is the “retelling of Judea’s relationship with Babylon, Persia, Alexander’s Greece and the Seleucid king Antiochus IV” (Long Blog). There is room to argue it being the Antichrist however though. Jesus talks about the Antichrist in Matthew 24 with the abomination of desolation in which the Anti-Christ will step foot in the temple and claim to be God. We all remember those who have made claims that George Bush or Barack Obama or Donald Trump are the Antichrist and they make YouTube videos to “prove it”. Sure there can be a benefit in trying to make connections between history and scripture, however using our modern day 21st century brains to make connections that clearly aren’t there is dangerous. I agree with Morgan’s blog in that the most important thing that we can take from this is that these earthly empires and kingdoms won’t stand and well be destroyed and the Kingdom of God will reign forever.
During the book of Daniel, in Daniels dream of the four beast that rise out of the sea along with another horn and it was described as the “little horn”. In Daniels interpretation of the dream it does not exactly determine who or what the little horn represents in his dream. There are many different thoughts of who it could be. Most individuals believe it to be Antiochus IV but it is not clearly stated in the book of Daniel. The little horn could have been a lot of different people who resisted and went against God. With all of the kingdoms that are fighting for power and taking over the other kingdoms. But God will always overpower these man-made kingdoms and in the end God will replace all of the evil and corrupt kingdoms with the kingdom of God. We do not know when that time will come, but we do know that it will happen some day.
Who is the “Little Horn” in Daniel 7:8
It seems that it is pretty obvious that the horn is someone who will be in leadership and will be speaking arrogantly in some way. But like the end of the blog post said, this ends up being a competition about who can guess who this is. It could even be the antichrist who hasn’t come yet. If it is the antichrist, there have been many accusations that have become just plainly a meme.
While reading the blog, PLong mentioned that there are three possibilities. That Daniel was written after the fact and is just a retelling of history. Second, some scholars believe that the fourth empire is Rome and the little horn is one of the emperors. The third idea is that the little horn will be the antichrist, but with this path, you will get a lot of false accusations.
The first possibility scared me. I had to go back and read it. I thought that PLong was saying that “In fact, this identification seems clear in Daniel 8:23-26. The vision in Daniel 7 is therefore not PLong doesn’t believe in the prophecy of Daniel. I then reread the paragraph and became clear that these were possibilities.
I have such a hard time with visions and prophecies because the way they were written so long ago can be so hard to accurately interpret them. Then trying to see how this prophecy lines up with our history. It just seems like there is too much of a possibility that in our imperfect humanistic ways that we could mess it all up. I just hope that we are doing the best we can through God to interpret the scriptures.
The Little horn will be United Kingdom.
The Little Horn is the Papacy. Look into it please and see that it all fits perfectly.
We need to understand that the little horn is not individual but a governance, from history tells who this little is and still strong top this days. I therefore conclude this is Rome the Papacy.
british empire
Go to UTube and watch: From Babylon to America Prophecy. It is extremely interesting regarding the little horn.
The bible says the little horn will sign a seven year peace treaty with Israel and sudden destruction breaks out.
Trump signed a seven year peace treaty with Israel in late 2019 and within a few short weeks this entire world went on lock down, nearly over night. Then the Mark of the beast is mentioned, The word Mark in its original language means to mark the skin as with a needle, and the word hand, that word means from the tips of the fingers to the shoulder, as there wasn’t a different word for hand in its original language back when that was written, It also mentions the forehead, and those covid tests run up inside a persons forehead. Not to mention they have strange things on those swabs that move around and appear to be alive under a microscope. America has to be Mystery Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots. Because no other nation in this history of the world fits that bill like America.
Ancient Babylon doesn’t have a seaport, and has not influenced the entire world with their music. Only America has ever done that. God says that he’s going to destroy Mystery Babylon in one hour with a mighty earth quake. That’s coming soon. Yellowstone has been seeing over 250 earth quakes every day, some as high as a 3.8 and when that goes off, scientist have stated that it could cause a catastrophic earth quake. in the early 1800’s there was an earth quake so large in America that it was felt clear across the country and even rang the church bells in NY. Believe me when I say, America’s days are truly numbered. And no man will ever be able in inhabit America after God destroys it. He has said so. So you can believe it. Time to get right and spread this message. Time is truly short. His return is near and he’s not happy.
Has anyone considered present day? Consider Trump is an abbreviated version of Trumpet.
He is certainly boastful and has shown a penchant for lying. He seems to have become the champion of chaos. His family history comes from an old papal state according to some researchers (that does not mean he’s Catholic.
Please Test & Consider what the Spirit says to me :-
Daniel 7 & 8 little horn are one & the same in Binyamin Netanyahu who when he came to 1st office as 11th king & 8th head ;5 were fallen[dead], one is -Shamir d.2014., one to come & did as caretaker king on the fatal wound of the 7th head-Rabin ,then as Pres .Perez. …also like leopard -native born Palestine ,different to ALL before..feet like bear -parents from Lithuania one of the ribs torn out of bear, speaks like lion – arrogantly bellows Hebrew & English- lion languages.
N.B **** These are the seven’ mountains’ on which the Harlot sits; Zion,Moriah, Ophel,Bezetha, Gareb, Acre & sacred bloodied Golgotha………..He [antiChrist]]-supplanter] will magnify himself equal to the ‘Commander of the Host’ – Jesus Christ- Who is Matthew 27;37- ‘king of the Jews’. So is there one man of sin who has made himself a modern 11th king[Prime Minister]. & 8th head [ male; of Government 7th head fatally wounded-Rabin]. ….The answer is YES ! Does he fulfill ALL Prophecy ….YES ! …Sadly you do not understand as you have only some Prophetical Insight !…..please read on as HE has given me much….
Daniel 2; The feet & ten toes the divided kingdom under Rome from which the stone -Jesus Christ- is cut is Judah to the South & Israel to the North -both scattered in the Diaspora 70a.d -135a.d. It had ten toe foundation as only 10 of old Israel’s sons took up land in the Promised Land. Joseph died on the journey his family settled with Benjamin’s & Levi took none settling with ALL as Rabbis. They were part Rome & Jewish -St Paul the example…Jesus was not cut from the divided Roman kingdom as it did not exist…. The modern king/ horn / man of sin also magnified himself by changing his surname to make himself WHAT Jesus Is by name definition ; ‘the right hand son ‘-Hebrew.: Binyamin & ‘God’s Gift’ -Heb. Netanyahu .[was Mielekowsky -from out of the sky?-Deuteronomy fallen angel. This new name adds to 666 in old Hebrew Gemtria ……
If I have peaked your interest please read more of what the LORD’s spirit says:-
I write because’ those that mislead many’ will pay a heavy price -so BEWARE.
A little more you SHOULD know; Daniel 7- picture talk explained- in 1947 the Jews, mainly from USSR, approached the new United Nations to annex Palestine for the nation state of Israel. The Lion [United Kingdom] with eagles wings [USA] as one after their WW2 alliance were torn off when the USA sided with the Bear[USSR- with three ribs torn out-Estonia,Lithuania,Latvia]] who wanted to get rid of their troublesome Jews against the Lion- UK’s wishes to talk the [Arabic] Leopards four wings; Lebanon,Jordan Syria &Egypt into this Motion which when put before the U N was passed with one dissenting vote , the Lion;UK who was then made to walk on it’s own two feet as policeman until nationhood 1948 being repeatedly bombed by the Stern gang forerunners of Mid -East Terrorism. So travelling in S.E direction out of the nations[Lithuania-USSR] the BEAST that comes out of the [Mediterranean] Sea was born treading down ALL around it – i.e. the 4 Leopards wings.
1948-1996 Ten kings/horns[P.Ms- male sons] that are 7 heads[of Govt] :- Gurion [x2 office], Sharett, Eshkol, Shamir[x2], Begin, Perez, Rabin [x2 killed in 2nd office by rumoured minor MOSSAD agent who would only operate under instruction by Head- Binyamin Netanyahu new incoming king- 12th P.M -one queen -Golda].
Why would I say my family Judah[now calling itself the lie of Israel -united] is the BEAST country…..Simple ;we murdered God’s Messiah Son sent to Redeem us![Matt27;25] of the murders of the Prophets whose blood was mostly shed in the Great City Harlot Babylon where also is the place where Jesus Last Two will be murdered outside satan’s[BIBI’s] ABYSS[Rev11;7-8] Synagogue [Ezekiel8] under the Dome of the Rock.-JERUSALEM .where also the first Saint Phillip was murdered setting the pattern for the evil false Prophet Popes….the Bible says even the elect [Christians] will be fooled & worship the BEAST & the Harlot….. which many do now!
WE are currently in the DELAY of the Last Week[Rev10;6] I believe……
You might think me anti-semetic for what I say but I tell you this unless they repent & recognise our Messiah Jesus they will not survive what will shortly come to pass- that is my aim to have them realise for a large Remnant !
Your prayers for my family would be appreciated by me & more especially my LORD Yeshu ha Moshiach…..
HE Lives…HE Speaks …the servant listens…in Christ ..old Messianic Jew..Shalom…just a very ordinary old man …..with a mission to save!. I have been cursed threatened & hated for HIS[Jesus] views….Blessings.
P.S Bibi’s 3rd? act of Parliament 1996 was to try to [but failed] ban the teaching of Christianity in Israel & for the last 2 years Bibi has tried to pass into LAW[but failed] marking ALL the children of Israel on the r/hand with his Teva Biotec r/hand micro-chip system as he already India & China where you can not trade without it.
Something else you may or may not consider but I hope you do :-Daniel 9;27 took place in the Great Synagogue Rome January 2016 between the false Prophet Pope Francis & the man of sin Netanyahu & the agreement made that day was broken 3.5yrs later when Bibi opened in June 2019 his false satan’s ABYSS[Rev11;7,8] Sacrifices started April 16th 2016… Synagogue [Ezekiel8] under the Dome of theRock [where I believe will be placed the Abomination weapon he brought back from the USA as special Ambassador early1980’s] consecrated with Pure Red Heifer sacrifice Mt of Olives September 2019-I’m sure you missed it!….also….. Concealed until the Time of the END -NOW[Dan12;9-ALL other old values false! i.e 42mnths, 1260day, 3.5yrs Totals….’.Time [‘the time of trial’-Jesus & HIS 2 Prophets Ministry- last half of the Final Week =3.5yrs] Times [x3.5yrs] & a half a Time[+1.75yrs] ‘=14years TOTAL. Dn7;25- ‘they [Israel] will be given into his [antiChrist’s] hand’ – BIBI’s reign WAS 1996 ..WAS NOT 1999 [subdues 3 kings per Dan 11].. WAS AGAIN 2009 until April 2019 election fail -powerless caretaker king until May2020 Gantz coalition until election fail March 2021 & removal June = 14years TOTAL -Prophecy fulfilled- now watch for Daniel 7;26 ‘court will called to judgement’ so he will never be able to return legally. to the modern throne .How ? Daniel 11 king of the north -antiChrist [Israel -Dan2] against ‘king of the south’ [ Judah-Dn2]- military ‘coup d’ etat’???….Baruch Hashem……called Israel ….nothing is hidden except the Time of the Return …Shalom…. who controls the World’s Money &Trade -my family Judah [modern Israel]. …Shalom….old Messianic Jew..servant of Jacob
I think that was a real good example of manipulating current events to fit a personal agenda. I rarely speak up when people go to such lengths to satisfy their own personal agenda, however I made an exception in your case.
I could cherry pick a bunch of things too and create a story line that fit some preconceived ideology, but that in my opinion would constitute a manipulation of the scriptures which the bible strictly condemns. Consider for a moment the mental and scriptural gymnastics in your post. Your all over the map.
But that is just my opinion
From comments from above it seems Daniel was predicting in Chronos time. Your readers indicate Little Horn in each generation. In the Chronos epoch, recent references seems to suggest that the Land Beast is EU. The Isles of the Gentiles the abode of the Babylonian Queen is the UK and the Sea Beast is the US. Russia it is suggested to be Megog. The Little Horn in 2021-22 seems to suggest the best candidate fit is the Jewish Ukrainian President who wants to start a Nuclear War and now has a campaign to destroy the Orthodox Christian Church in Europe. One comment above indicates BiBi tried and is trying to suppress/ban the Christian church in Israel.
Jhonny Come Lately (South Africa)
No mark does not imply a tiny needle mark, it says the mark is either his name or 666 whatever language it will be in. Stop mishandling God’s word!
No Pam no considered it might be Trump, only you because you’re a genius. Ugh.
Ive thought about for many years. The western world today has been established out of the influence of Rome. The 10 horns perhaps represent those countries or world kingdoms that have since dominated world trade and political power. Of all of these 3 countries claimed tertitory of the America’s. All expansionists world powers in their own rights. Britian, France and Spain. All claimed the continent as part of their sovereignty at differing times but also during concurrent period of history.
All for various reasons relinquished their claims of their territories. Eventually the USA was fully established and since then becoming the dominant political and economic power nation of the world.
In contrast, the of the 3 of the worlds modern superpowers have become minor players on the worlds stage.
The litte horn is likely to be the USA. The mouth piece being the incumbent president at the time when the full events of the Book of Revalation are fulfilled.
For what its worth in the discussion.
Cheers,
Ted
Thank you for receiving my comment in this forum.
To be clear, from my previous comment above, the little horn gains prominence by “subduing” and growing out of 3 of the 10 existing horns. This little horn grows in power out of the losses of the 3 horns and sounded the death nell of their individual and previous colonial based empire status. Interestingly, all three countries were co-controlled and powerfully influenced politically and religiously by the Roman Catholic Church that remained a central seat of power for centuries after the Roman empire itself collapsed.
If we are able to establish a framework of this reasoning as to the identity of the “little horn” then the other aspects of the prophetic description begin to find better clarity. This is particularly so given the political, military, economic, and religious influence and relationships the US currently has with Israel in particular but also with Europe.
Thanks for your comments.
I agree the US is an arrogant and aggressive country, but I have trouble taking the horns as modern political entities. Daniel is talking about his own “current events” leading up to the Maccabean Revolt, and (because it is prophecy too) the general events of the end times. There will be another arrogant leader like Antiochus IV Epiphanies (or Nero, Domtion, etc.) who persecute God’s people prior to the coming of the son of man to rule the nations. But I am not sure we can point tpo this empire or that one for the identity of beasts and horns.
To a large extent, we both are working within some theological assumptions and our own ideas about how prophecy works.
The little horn with the eyes like a man is King Charles the III, (the imagery is on his ‘heraldry’ or Coat of Arms. There is a red dragon on there but also a Unicorn with human-like eyes.
Watch this https://youtu.be/GJul0igzPtQ
The UK and Israel just signed a 7 year ‘peace and security’ deal against the threat of Iranian aggression, (signed 22 March 2023). “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
https://www.bicom.org.uk/news/uk-israel-sign-new-7-year-agreement/?fbclid=IwAR37IlYDkhc5hSNcgVjiN-gYDo4hIlXol61FukhmYZKOw62moUn2Emd8bng
Also, King Charles who is rapidly advancing the WEF agenda and pushing for global governance meets all the biblical criteria to be the Anti-Christ;
Watch this – Antichrist Identified! He’s NOT Who You Think… https://youtu.be/GJul0igzPtQ
According to Dani the horns are kings. Because kings lead nations or countries there is by association we are dealing with the social and political power. This appears to be the way things will be influenced by the antichrist who amasses huge armies and forces economic control over the nations peoples using the mark. Its difficult to speculate who this antichrist will be but appears he is the little horn and coming out of the of the 10 mentioned. It is therefore a fair deduction that if we map through the history of the past 2 millenia we will find the likely significant models of where 3 kingdoms or empires have given way or have been otherwise subsumed by that which has become powerful at their expense. Apart from the tooing and froing of the many conflicts within the European collective there are few that meet the model the little horn assention.
However, apart from the speculation of prophetic interpretation as time moves on things will become clearer yet the clearest word the Lord provides us, is to be ready. We will discern the seasons but the Bridegroom comes when we may not expect.
Thanks Phillip, your article above provides some useful clarity and insight to this part of prophesy.
Cheers,
Ted
I liked your analysis here, however I am of the opinion that these prophesies seem ambiguous only because the nature of prophecy is both present and future so much of the time. That is there will be a present immediate fulfillment and a larger future fulfillment. Consider this, that in God’s perspective is eternal he speaks not just of what is but that which is to come. So that one prophetic vision can encapsulate the realities of three specific future events. A individual in the near future Antichus IV Epiphanes (The prototypical anti-Christ), and a future ruler similar to the first, driven by the same spirit after the same power, who is the actual Anti-Christ, his demise usher in the eternal kingdom.
And that day will be upon us like a thief in the night. We won’t realize what has happened until after. This often makes me ponder whether we’ve been so busy debating all these prophecies that the end times began and we’ve already missed some of the key events. It can be difficult not to point to Trump as a bragging little horn, or even perhaps an Antichrist. Though I do wonder if we’ll see a King of the North invade Israel under the guise of bringing peace and security to the region, considering what appears to be a major shift in global opinion over Israel currently. Could that be a Russian Chinese alliance? They seem to fit the Antichrist energy and may halt the temple sacrifices.
And how about this new beast forming called BRICS?