My goal when attempting to translate or interpret Scripture is to at least try to use existing Scripture to interpret the passage I am looking at. In the case of Daniel 7 we get an inspired interpretation immediately after the vision/dream is given to Daniel in the chapter itself. I will first outline how Scripture delivers the vision and then gives the Scriptural interpretation. Immediately thereafter I will launch into a rather comprehensive summary of my exegesis based in extra-biblical sources and commentaries or scholars of differing backgrounds (and there are quite a few). Due to the plethora of differing opinions, my intent is to remain focused in conservative theological sources. The overarching theme therefore will be the person and ministry of the “Little Horn” that arises from the fourth beast in Daniel 7:7-8 and chapter 7 in general. Over the course of the next three posts, I will pick the ideas through a selective synopsis of those interpretations best appeal to my sensibilities and seem the most appropriate through my hermeneutical grid. This will then help me to interpret and construct a picture of the person and ministry of the Little Horn. I will conclude by offering a theological observation of the Little Horn (and therefore Satan’s) parasitic ministry or existence in relation to “the saints” and the Most High God.
We must also take into account the Biblical historicity of the events surrounding the Little Horn. It must always be kept in the periphery of our minds that whenever Scripture does not delineate a specific chronological sequence of events, none should be assumed. That being said is appears that in Daniel 7 the events at least appear to unfold in sequential matter as outlined in Scripture but in reality specific timeframes are not mentioned although the end times are alluded to. Some of the things we can ascertain with a modicum of certainty is that these visions were written down by a Jewish Babylonian Exile in approximately the 6th century B.C. As such it is influenced by both Jewish thought and to a lesser extent by the surrounding Babylonian culture as its original intended audience would’ve been acculturated by having lived in Babylon/Persia for the better part of a century.
As there is never absolute certainty as to the identity of individuals in prophetic Scripture unless specifically noted in Scripture so I will not allow myself to be manipulated by the desire to pinpoint the exact identity of the Little Horn. That will not be the purpose of this series of posts. I will let others speculate, I merely wish to paint as biblical an outline as possible from Daniel 7 as to the nature of Little Horn’s person and actions outlined therein.
It must be noted also that from a conservative viewpoint the episodes that unfold in Daniel 7 appear to serve an eschatological function or they appear to reveal, through divine vision, what can be expected just previous to Christ’s second coming as opposed to Daniel 8 which speaks to more immediate tribulations that will be unleashed by a prototypical Antichrist named Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 2nd century B.C. (McLaughlin 4C). This will also be noted later in a selective synopsis of J. Walvoord.
The Fourth Beast & the Little Horn (Scripture Overview & Interpretation)
"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7:7-8 (ESV)
After a short aside and discourse on the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man calmly preparing judgment on this monstrosity, the prophecy about the Little Horn continues…
“Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) Daniel 7:11-12 (ESV)
Scripture then does us the service of immediately interpreting this episode from Daniel’s cultural milieu and his historical standpoint (Sitz en Liben/setting in life) in the following verses.
‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ Daniel 7:17-18 (ESV)
The four beasts were kings/kingdoms but in the end the Kingdom of God will trump them all (Walton et al 742). The last beast is the most troubling for Daniel as it is further elaborated on, specifically the Little Horn that arises from the ten horns before it. The Little Horn is so clearly an affront to God and His holy people that God Himself passes judgment on it/him (more on this later).
“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. Daniel 7:17-22 (ESV)
The Little Horn clearly arises from the fourth beast (7:7) which has no name as there appears to be nothing in God’s current (or later) Creation to compare it to, there will be no antecedent (Hill 136). The fourth beast was more terrifying and powerful than the previous three beasts, which were all fierce and devastating. The empire this beast represented crushed and warred its way to integrating into itself the three previous empires (Pentecost 1350-1354). What are of particular note are the 10 horns this ugly thing has. According to verse 24 these too represented 10 king/kingdoms. From these ten will arise one: The Little Horn. In the process of rising to power the Little Horn will be resisted by three and those will be subjugated. This Little Horn will then turn his ire against God and His people. God’s people will be delivered into his hand for a time but then God will intervene and the Little Horn will be destroyed violently even by Old Testament Biblical standards (Pentecost 1350-1354).
“He gave me this explanation: ‘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. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. “But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ Daniel 7:23-28 (ESV)
The Little Horn (J.D. Pentecost)
Now let’s try and restate all of that in plain modern English with a bit of a contemporized edge, shall we? It is generally agreed that the fourth beast is either the Roman Empire or some version of it whether it be the original or a re-manifestation of it in a more contemporized form (McLaughlin 4C). After this small “wee” bit of consensus many exegetes and scholars take many different paths on how the Fourth Beast is understood. More specifically how the Little Horn needs to be understood in terms of his person and "ministry". The word "ministry" being a twisted synonym for the hell-on-earth he will unleash. These different viewpoints have often led to confusion, and at times conflict. I would like to clear the water by offering a few of them and then picking the one that makes the most biblical sense to me.
The Little Horn starts small among the ten existing horns and in its growth it uproots, subdues or trumps three of the existing ten kings. The implication is that they need to be subdued so it appears they will resist Little Horn. The Little Horn has the “eyes of a man” (ESV) which most scholars view as a symbol of intelligence (McLaughlin 4C, Pentecost 1350-1354). This is also alluded to in our my text also (Lucas 185). This is ironic to me because it’s hard to believe anything that is allegedly so “intelligent” would blaspheme against God which is exactly what this thing does. If we skip over the passage about the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man for clarity’s sake which is primarily them preparing for the time of judgment because they have sovereignty over all, we arrive at the slaying of the fourth beast and its consignment to the flame. Here we see the fourth beast stripped of its power by divine judgment whereas the previous three beasts had been by military conquest. God intervene directly in this case.
The rest of Daniel 7 more or less revolves around the identity and meaning behind the Little Horn. In verse 21-22 we are told he will persecute the saints of the Most High. The personal pronoun indicates a person or a masculine gender distinction (וְה֤וּא/and he). In verse 24 he is said to be a king (leader). The saints of the Most High are enigmatic to say the least. This view brought out or put forth by the likes of Pentecost in The Bible Knowledge Commentary advocate that the saints refer to the nation of Israel and the persecution will take place during the Tribulation. The Little Horn will overcome the nation of Israel and bring them under his control (Rev. 12:13-17; 17:7). He will then be judged by God and Israel (Pentecost 1350-1351, 1353-1354).
Andy’s Note: I’m not so sure about this Dispensational view. My issue with this view has been and remains this: Who are the saints and who is Israel? I believe there is confusion here either on the part of Dispensationalists or me. Perhaps this is why I have foreshortened this portion as I tend to have and proclivity against it (i.e.: theological allergic reaction to it). The idea that we argue for modern terminological groupings and then divide people into said camps makes me crazy. It is clear that these passages in Daniel (and Revelation) refer to the faithfulness of God and reward for those that remain faithful. To me, in the context of New Testament Christian theology, this is the person(s) that believes in Jesus Christ through faith and remains faithful until the end…no matter when that may be. Not Israel as a geopolitical entity but rather a spiritual Israel (Romans 9:6). Not the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and those within it that adhere to a religion of works but rather those in the RCC that believe that Christ died for the sins and is by faith alone that they do this (Ephesians 2:8)….and so on and so on.
We must never forget the overarching point of Daniel, Revelation and the Bible as a whole: The most important theme and aim of all of this is to trace the divine movement of history toward the goal of universal recognition of God and His work to bring Him all the glory. This purpose of God...especially as it relates and revolves around the Gospel and therefore is based in His Son Jesus Christ....the Lord of all. If we miss this in a reckless pursuit of chasing shadows trying to predict the future, we have totally the missed the intent of the message given to us and abused the privileged gift of grace given to us also.
[See Part III for Bibliography]
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