Daniel's Vision Interpreted
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. Dan. 7:24
the ten horns... The ten horns symbolize ten kings who will rule ten kingdoms that are yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire.
out of this... If, as many Bible students teach, there will be a revived Roman Empire, we are to expect only one king over one kingdom formed inside the old Roman Empire territory. This is not what is stated here though. It is not one horn on the beast symbolizing one king reigning from Rome over one kingdom, as was true of the old Roman Empire, but ten kings out of this kingdom. This means that there will be a revised Roman Empire, not a revived empire. This further means that there must be another great European, Asiatic, and African war to form ten future kingdoms out of the 24 present states of the old Roman Empire territory (Dan. 7:23-24). That these ten kingdoms are yet future and will exist and reign together inside the old Roman Empire territory is clear here. They will not include all the world—only the then Roman Empire, only a part of southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.
Ten Kings, Not Barbarous Tribes
Some teach that the 10 toes and 10 horns of Dan. 2:1-49 and Dan. 7:1-28 are 10 barbarous tribes which overran the old Roman Empire between 351 and 474 A.D. They interpret the little horn of Dan. 7:1-28 and Dan. 8:1-27 and the beast of Rev. 13-20 to be the papacy, but the following points disprove this:
1. The 10 toes and 10 horns are explained by God to be "ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as KINGS one hour with the beast. These shall make war on the Lamb . . . these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate . . . For God hath put in THEIR HEARTS to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give THEIR KINGDOM unto the beast, UNTIL the words of God shall be fulfilled" (Dan. 2:44; 7:24; Rev. 17:8-17). They are 10 persons who will rule 10 kingdoms for "forty and two months" or the last 1260 literal days at the end of this age, and who will help the beast fight against Christ at Armageddon—not 10 tribes of the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. (Dan. 7:24-27; 8:25; Rev. 13:5; 17:14-17; 19:19-21).
2. The 10 kings will reign over 10 kingdoms that will yet be formed inside the old Roman Empire—not 10 tribes of the past (Dan. 2:44; 7:23-24; 17:12-17; 19:19-21).
3. The God of heaven is to set up a kingdom on earth "in the days of these kings" (Dan. 2:44-45; Rev. 19:11-20:7). He did not set up such a kingdom in A.D. 351-474 and has not yet done so.
4. The 10 kings will all be in existence at the same time and place, do the same things and continue the same length of time (Dan. 2:44; 7:7-8, 7:19-27; Rev. 13:1-3; 17:12-17). They will be in existence and be reigning over the 10 kingdoms before the beast comes (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:19-27). They will make the 7th of the 7 kingdoms that precede the beast who forms the 8th kingdom (Rev. 17:8-11). All this is yet future, so could not be 10 tribes of the past (Rev. 17:12-17; 19:19-21).
5. The little horn of Dan. 7:1-28 and Dan. 8:1-27 is the same as the beast of Rev. 13-20 as can be seen by a comparison of them in these scriptures. Since the little horn of Daniel and the beast of Revelation are the same and are yet future, as proved by their war on Christ at His second coming (Rev. 17:12-17; 19:19-21), and since they both will have the 10 kings under them at that time, the 10 kings could not be 10 tribes of the past.
6. Not one detail of Daniel or Revelation has ever been fulfilled with the papacy or barbarous tribes outside the empire that overran the Roman Empire centuries ago. Tribes could never be 10 personal kings as is required of the prophecies of these books. No 10 tribes ever did exist at the same time and place, making agreement to give the papacy power to rule for 3 1/2 years. God did not set up His kingdom in 351-474 A.D.
7. There were 21 tribes or more which overran the Roman Empire and not 10, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica under the subjects "Lombard's" and "Suevi." Any group of 10 of these could not exist together to fight against Christ at Armageddon, as required in Rev.,17:14; 19:19-21.
8. The papacy did not overthrow 3 of these tribes and force the others to submit, as predicted of the little horn and the beast (Dan. 7:8, 7:19-24; Rev. 17:12-17).
9. No 10 kings have ever come from inside the Roman Empire to fulfill the prophecies, as required in Dan. 7:24. "Out of this kingdom" means from within. The tribes that overran the Roman Empire were from outside that empire.
10. No 10 tribes have ever been of one mind to give their power to the papacy, as foretold in Rev. 17:12-17 of the beast.
11. No papacy has ever come from one of the four divisions of the old Grecian Empire as will be true of the little horn of the future, as seen in Dan. 8:9-14, 8:23.
12. No papacy has made constant war on saints as the little horn will do when he comes "UNTIL" Christ comes (Dan. 7:19-22; Rev. 13:1-7, 13:16-18).
We can, therefore, say without reservation that the theory that the 10 kings are 10 tribes that overran the Roman Empire 351-474 A.D. is unbiblical and unhistorical. The scores of pages in some books devoted to the history of the papacy do not prove anything as far as the fulfillment of Daniel and Revelation are concerned, for these events will be fulfilled "AFTER THE CHURCHES" as proved in Rev. 4:1 we have studied.
Russia Will Be Defeated:
Russia must be defeated before the ten kingdoms can be formed, for she controls Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, which are countries of the old Roman Empire territory. Russia will not give up these states without war.
another shall rise... "Another" refers to an 11th horn, the little horn, symbolizing an 11th king who will come out of one of the 10 kingdoms and use it to overthrow 3 others (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24; 8:20-25; 11:35-45). The other 6 of the 10 will then submit to him, the Antichrist, without further war. God at that time will put it into the hearts of all the 10 to agree and give their power to the beast to fulfill prophecy (Rev. 17:8-17).
The Little Horn
Dan. 7:24 states that, "The ten horns out of this kingdom (the 4th, Rome) are ten kings that shall arise: and ANOTHER shall arise AFTER them; and he shall be diverse from the first (the 10), and he shall subdue three kings (of the 10)." This will give him 4 of the 10 kings. The other 6 of the 10 will agree to give their power to this little horn and he will form the 8th kingdom of Rev. 17:8-17.
It is clear that the little horn arises AFTER the 10 horns and not BEFORE them and that he does not have a thing to do with causing the rise of the 10. He does not revise the Roman Empire and is not on the scene of action until after the 10 kingdoms are fully formed. These facts exclude the possibility of some ruler—the pope, or any man now prominent in world affairs—as being the Antichrist of the future.
Sensational writings declaring that some present or historical man will be the future Antichrist are unscriptural, and cause much confusion. The 10 horns are the last form of the old Roman Empire and are within the same territory. They were first seen on the beast before Daniel saw the little horn come up out of the 10 horns. Daniel said, "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn" (Dan. 7:8). This "little horn" is yet in the future, and is the same as the "beast" in Rev. 13:1-18 as proved by the following:
1. Both are conquerors (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-24; Rev. 6:1-2).
2. Both speak blasphemies (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-26; Rev. 13:5).
3. Both prevail against saints (Dan. 7:21-25; Rev. 13:7).
4. Both control the 10 horns (Dan. 7:20-25; Rev. 13:1; 17:12-14).
5. Both change the times and laws (Dan. 7:11, 7:21-27; Rev. 13:1-7).
6. Both are slain and are given to the burning flame by the same person and at the same time (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-11, 7:18, 7:25-27; Rev. 19:11-21).
7. Both were to reign over the 10 horns "until the Ancient of Days came ... and the saints possessed the kingdom" (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:8-11, 7:18, 7:21-22, 7:25-27; Rev. 17:12-14; 19:11-21).
8. Both are destroyed at the second coming of Christ (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-14; Rev. 19:11-21).
9. Both continue for the same length of time (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 12:14; 13:5; 19:11-21).
10. Immediately following both, the Kingdom of Heaven is set up (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-14, 7:21-27; Luke 1:32-35; Isa. 9:6-7; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-6).
11. Both come out of the 10 kingdoms and subdue 3 others (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; 8:8-9, 8:20-24; Rev. 6:1-2; 13:1-5; 17:12-17).
12. Both rise "after" the 10 horns (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; 8:23; Rev. 13:1-7; 17:12-17).
13. Both are kings of fierce countenance (Dan. 7:8-25; 8:23; Rev. 13:1-18; 17:12-17; 2Th. 2:8-12).
14.Both cause craft to prosper (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-26; 8:25; 2Th. 2:4-12; Rev. 13:1-18).
15. Both exalt themselves (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-26; 8:25; 2Th. 2:4-12; Rev. 13:1-18).
16. Both fight against Christ at His coming (Dan. 7:20-25; 8:25; Rev. 17:12-17; 19:11-21; 2Th. 2:8-12).
17.Both shall be destroyed "without hand" (Dan. 2:44, 2:45; 7:9-11, 7:22-27; 8:25; Rev. 19:11-21; 2Th. 2:8-12).
18. Both do according to their own will for the same length of time (Dan. 7:25; 8:24; 11:36; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:5-7).
19. Both will be alive at the second coming of Christ (Dan. 7:11; 8:22-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 19:19-21).
20. Both will cause the great tribulation (Dan. 7:21-27; 8:23-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:1, 12:7; Mat. 24:15-31; 2Th. 2:1-12; Rev. 7:14; 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 20:4-6).
21. Both will do away with the Jewish sacrifices in Jerusalem (Dan. 7:25; 8:24; 9:27; 11:35-45; 12:7; Mat. 24:15).
22. Both will reign from the Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 8:9-14; 9:27; 11:45; 12:7; 2Th. 2:4; Rev. 11:1-2; 13:1-18).
23. Both will disregard the God of their fathers (Dan. 7:11, 7:19-25; 8:22-25; 9:27; 11:37-39; John 5:43).
24. Both will honor Satan and get their power from him (Dan. 8:24; 11:35-45; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:1-4).
rise after them... "After them"—after the ten kingdoms are formed inside the old Roman Empire territory, the little horn or Antichrist shall arise, and not before them.
Sixteen Antichrist Fallacies
1. That Antichrist will revive the Roman Empire and reign from Rome is false. The Roman Empire will never be revived, nor will Antichrist have a part in the formation of the 10 kingdoms inside the Roman Empire territory. He is to come after them, and not before them (Dan. 7:23-24).
2. That Antichrist will come from Rome and Italy is false. He will come from Babylon and future enlarged Syria. Dan. 8:9-10, 8:20-23; 11:35-45.
3. That Antichrist will be Nimrod, Antiochus Epiphanes, or any Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, or Roman king of the ancient past is false. He is not to be any resurrected man of the past, for he will be slain by Christ at Armageddon which means he will be a mortal man.
4. That Antichrist will be Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, the pope of Rome, or some other man who has recently lived is false. None of these men have come from Syria and some are not from the Roman Empire territory at all as is true of Antichrist (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; 8:9, 8:20-23; 11:36-45). That one of these recent men will be resurrected as the Antichrist is as false as the theory in pt. 3, above.
5. That Antichrist will be Judas Iscariot because both are called son of perdition is false. John 17:12.
6. That Antichrist will be a present magician in Syria is false. Antichrist will not be revealed or come into prominence in any sense until after the 10 kingdoms are formed and until after the rapture of the church.
7. That Antichrist will be any man now prominent in world affairs is false, for the reason given in point 6, above.
8. That Antichrist will be a child of the devil, a direct offspring of Satan, imitating the incarnation of God in the flesh is false. John 6:70; 8:44 and Seven-Headed, Ten-Horned Beast. No such doctrine is found in Scripture.
9. That Antichrist will be an incarnation of Satan is false. Satan is symbolized by the dragon (Rev. 12:9) who will give his power to the beast or Antichrist (Dan. 8:24; 11:36-39; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:1-5; 16:13-16; 19:20; 20:10).
10. That Antichrist will be the opposite of Jesus Christ in birth, sonship, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and power is false. No statement is found in Scripture to prove one of these claims. The word Antichrist simply means "against Christ."
11. That Antichrist will rule America and be a worldwide dictator is false.
12. That Antichrist will kill every person in the world who does not take his mark and worship him is false.
13. That Antichrist will come up from the bottomless pit is false.
14. That Antichrist will come from Russia or Germany is false. These countries were never inside the old Roman Empire out of which Antichrist must come (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24).
15. That Antichrist will bring universal peace and prosperity is false. He will not see peace from the time he comes until he is slain by Christ at Armageddon. In his rise he will overthrow 3 kingdoms (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24), then make war on Israel and overthrow many countries (Dan. 11:40-43). In the last 3 1/2 years of this age he will use the 10 kingdoms to fight against the countries north and east of his Roman Empire territory kingdom (Dan. 11:44). After conquering Russia and other northern and eastern countries he will lead them against Christ to destroy the Jews, and be defeated by Christ at Armageddon (Eze. 38-39; Zec. 14:1-21; Rev. 16:13-16; 19:11-21). No statement is made showing that he will bring universal prosperity. The statement "by peace ... destroy many" (Dan. 8:25) refers to his covenant of peace to Israel (Dan. 9:27). Among the nations he is to go forth "conquering, and to conquer" (Daniel 7-8,23-24; 11:36-45; Rev. 6:1-2).
16. That the head "wounded to death" (Rev. 13:3, 13:12) refers to the assassination of Antichrist and his resurrection from the dead is false. This refers to a kingdom being destroyed and revived as the 8th and last kingdom, not to a man being killed and resurrected.
from the first... Different from the other ten kings.
he shall subdue... If he subdues three kingdoms, then he does not come in peace to obtain a kingdom, as some teach.
Daniel makes it plain that these ten kings will “arise” before the Antichrist makes his own rise to power. Three of them will not like his rapid ascent and will try to resist him, but they will quickly be defeated; Daniel says they will be “plucked out by the roots”, (Dan. 7:8), “fall”, and be “subdued” by the Antichrist.
I believe the ten horns are actually ten nations, which have made an alliance. They altogether make up the Revised Roman Empire. The one is separate from the ten. The one is representing the antichrist that will rise to the zenith of world rule.
It is interesting to note at this time, that the antichrist system is made up of the antichrist, the false prophet, and the beast.
The angel then interpreted the meaning of the 10 horns, stating that they are 10 kings in this kingdom. The fourth empire, in spite of its great power (Dan. 7:7, 7:23), will be characterized by progressive weakness, deterioration, and division (cf. See Dan. 2:41-43 on iron and clay in the fourth part of Nebuchadnezzar’s image). When the hordes from the north conquered the Roman Empire in the fifth century a.d., they did not unite to form another empire. Instead individual nations emerged out of the old Roman Empire. Some of those nations and others stemming from them have continued till the present day. The present Age, then, is the 10-horned era of the fourth beast. (Other pre-millenarians, however, hold that the time of the 10 horns is yet future, that the present Church Age is not seen in this vision, and that 10 kings will coexist over a future revised [or realigned] Roman Empire.)
Sometime after the rise of the 10 horns — and no clue was given Daniel as to how much later — another king (the little horn, Dan. 7:8, 7:20) will arise. In his rise to power he will subdue 3 kings (called 3 horns in Dan. 7:8), that is, he will bring 3 of the 10 nations under his authority in his initial rise to power.
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