It is plausible that ch. 7 was originally composed as an eschatological complement to the cycle of Daniel narratives in chs. 1–6, perhaps as early as the late fourth or early third century B.C.E., as a response to the violent wars of Alexander the Great’s successors, the Diadochi. Newsom, Carol A.. Daniel: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library) (p. 216). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
The basic issue with which this chapter is concerned, as with the dream in ch. 2, is God’s decision to delegate universal sovereignty to Gentile empires for a period of time and then to take back that sovereignty. Newsom, Carol A.. Daniel: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library) (p. 219). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
The little horn has been defined in a few different ways. Historicists see the little horn as the papacy, or Roman Catholicism, as a system (the "horn" that arose after the fall of Rome and persecuted saints for “1260 years”).
Those that hold to the historical/Maccabean view see the little horn as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who is the ultimate foreshadow of the coming Antichrist. However, they see the description of Daniel as already ultimately fulfilled. How they can claim this passage has already been fulfilled is beyond me... did they not read to the end of the chapter?
Notice that all four beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth:
[Dan 7:17-18 LSB] ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. [18] ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
The fourth king is what this blog will focus on. Again, kings and kingdoms go hand in hand (Dan 7:23).
[Dan 7:7 LSB] “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, fearsome and terrifying and extraordinarily strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
It is said to trample the remains with its feet, leading a number of interpreters to speculate that the much-feared Seleucid war elephants are the inspiration for this creature (Staub; Bauer 151–53; Goldingay 163). If so, then the (dual) “great teeth” may refer to the two tusks. Newsom, Carol A.. Daniel: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library) (p. 225). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
"... and it had ten horns"
Horns are a common Biblical figure of royal power (e.g., Ezek 29:21; Zech 1:18 [2:1]; Ps 132:17).
In fact, The early Seleucid kings were particularly fond of the motif, and on their coins, both Seleucus I and Antiochus I, depicted themselves as wearing bulls’ horns. Several Seleucid kings literally wore bull horns as part of their royal diadem (the cloth headband worn by Hellenistic monarchs). The bull horns were a deliberate claim to divine power and a direct continuation of Alexander the Great’s own iconography.
We'll get to the ten horns below.
[Dan 7:8 LSB] While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great boasts.
Here, at our introduction to the "little horn" we notice that it is described as little. Later, in verse 20, it becomes larger "in appearance than its associates".
There have been all sorts of contested interpretations as to the "three of the first horns" but no consensus has been confirmed. They were pulled out "before it" (the little horn). The answer that seems to make the most sense to me is the three horns that were uprooted in order to make way for Antiochus IV are probably to be identified with Seleucus IV and his two sons who were deemed the rightful heirs to the throne that Antiochus seized.
For the future Antichrist, I would think that whatever the uprooting of the three means, it should be obviously evident, for those watching, when it happens.
"this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great boasts."
In Israelite wisdom tradition, body parts, including the mouth and the eyes, are used as indicators of character and elements that must be properly directed and controlled. The mouth of the wicked or of the fool is often associated with duplicity, conflict, violence, and destruction (Prov 10:6, 11, 32; 11:11; 15:28; 18:6; 19:28; cf. Obad 12). ... haughty eyes are a figure of arrogance (Prov 6:17; 21:4; Isa 2:11; 5:15). Newsom, Carol A.. Daniel: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library) (p. 226). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
Another "Antichrist Prototype", Sennacherib, was also noted similarly:
[Isa 37:23 LSB] Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you heightened your voice And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!
Antiochus was also noted as boastful:
[1Ma 1:24 KJVA] And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.
[Dan 7:11 LSB] Then I kept looking because of the sound of the great boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.
It's not only his violent nature that get him killed but also his "boastful words".
[Rev 19:20 LSB] And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who did the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
The most surprising thing is the differentiation between the judgment of the fourth beast and the first three:
[Dan 7:12 LSB] As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was given to them for an appointed season of time.
It's here that I'm picking up on a pretty significant difference between these kings and those of Nebuchadnezzar's statue. The statue is struck and all kingdoms are smashed to chaff and blown away with the wind.
Here, these three kings were given an extension of life with their dominion taken away. For me, this draws out the explicit distinction with the fourth over the remainder. It is the fourth that should be drawn into focus - it is different and it is exceedingly violent in nature.
The lion, the bear, and the leopard nations will be spared. We already know from our other studies that nations will be spared during the Millennial Reign. For example:
[Zec 14:16-17 LSB] Then it will be that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. [17] And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, there will be no rain on them.
[Dan 7:19-20 LSB] Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, extraordinarily fearsome, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, [20] and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth speaking great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates.
Notice above that we're given an additional detail of the fourth beast:
"... with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze"
Daniel is pushing for more details from the angel.
[Dan 7:21 LSB] “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overcoming them
We're instantly reminded of Revelation:
[Rev 11:7 LSB] And when they have finished their witness, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them.
[Rev 13:7 LSB] And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
The beast was overcoming the saints, until...
[Dan 7:22 LSB] until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the season arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
[Rev 5:10 LSB] And You made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.
Then we get to the explanation of the fourth beast:
[Dan 7:23 LSB] Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.
Here, we're told that the fourth beast will be fourth kingdom, different from all the others. It will devour the whole earth, tread it down, and crush it.
Alexander the Great certainly made a go of it... as will the future Antichrist.
...between the beginning of his campaign in 334 and his death in 323 B.C.E., Alexander’s armies conquered Asia Minor, Syria-Palestine, Egypt, Babylon, and Persia, with military campaigns also into what is now Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Newsom, Carol A.. Daniel: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library) (p. 240). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
The subsequent actions of Antiochus IV solidified the notion that the actions of the Hellenistic kingdoms exceeded the bounds of YHWH’s mandate to Gentile sovereigns. Newsom, Carol A.. Daniel: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library) (p. 240). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
[Dan 7:24] ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will make low three kings.
The "another" who will arise is speaking of Antiochus here in Daniel. Notice the similarities with the beast of Revelation below.
[Rev 13:1 LSB] And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.
[Rev 17:12 LSB] And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
Below, we find some new details. He intends to make changes to seasons [time? feasts?] and in law [Sharia law?]. Antiochus was successful in changing Jewish observances, sacrifices, etc.
[Dan 7:25] ‘He will speak words against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make changes in seasons and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Perhaps the coming Antichrist intends to change time as in his appointed time... meaning, his appointment with Yeshua. He clearly sees himself as a god, has blasphemed the Most High Himself, and perhaps he's feeling that he actually has the power to determine who shall exercise sovereignty.
[Rev 13:5-6 LSB] And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. [6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
We'll see below, that he is sorely mistaken:
[Dan 7:26-27 LSB] ‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. [27] ‘Then the reign, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’
I see the little horn as both a past historically fulfilled pattern of the final future Antichrist - a future world ruler who will arise in the end times, make a covenant, break it, persecute believers, and be cast into the Lake of Fire at Christ’s return.
Summary:
The little horn arises among ten horns on the fourth beast (a future empire). At first, he's noted as small, or little. Later he becomes greater than his companions. Eventually, the little horn uproots, or subdues, three of the ten horns/kings. The little horn has eyes like the eyes of a man (intelligent, calculating) and a mouth speaking great things and boastfully blaspheming against the Most High. He will wear out and persecute the saints and attempt to change law (sharia law?) and the times. The saints are given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (3.5 years). His dominion is taken away and he is cast into the Lake of Fire when the Ancient of Days comes and gives the kingdom to the Son of Man and the saints.
[2Th 2:3-10 LSB] Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, [4] who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God. [5] Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? [6] And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. [7] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. [8] And then that lawless one will be revealed—whom the Lord Jesus WILL SLAY WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming— [9] whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, [10] and with all the deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
[Rev 13:1-10 LSB] And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. [2] And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. [3] And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain fatally, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled and followed after the beast. [4] And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” [5] And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. [6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. [7] And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. [8] And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. [9] If anyone has an ear, let him hear. [10] If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.
[Rev 17:9-14 LSB] “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, [10] and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. [11] And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. [12] And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. [13] These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. [14] These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and elect and faithful.”
