Two Little Horns in Daniel rise with different circumstances, can these apply to the same person?
6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 “I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little (02192 זְעֵיר ze`eyr Aramaic ) one (07162 קֶרֶן qeren Aramaic ), coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. (Dan. 7:6-8 NKJ)8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came a little (04704 מִצְּעִירָה mitstse`iyrah Hebrew) horn (07161 קֶרֶן qeren Hebrew) which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. (Dan. 8:8-9 NKJ)
Some deny Antiochus appears in the book of Daniel at all. (See WHY ANTIOCHUS IS NOT MENTIONED IN DANIEL – SAMUEL WHITEFIELD) Whitefield’s argument is unsound, circular. It assumes what he hopes to prove, that the same “little horn” symbol in Daniel 7:8; 8:9 must refer to same person. He ignored the different circumstances surrounding the appearance of both. He makes no effort to show how Daniel 11:21-35, which most believe precisely fulfilled by Antiochus, can only apply to the Antichrist.
BUT perhaps most importantly, “little horn” is spelled different in these texts. Two different languages are used. Its Aramaic in Daniel 7:8 (befitting its global application), and Hebrew in Daniel 8:9, which may imply a regional aspect not in Dan. 7:8.
While Whitefield is right, the Seleucid horn was never little compared to contemporaries, he ignored Antiochus usurped the throne, therefore was insignificant when he began. Using bribes and flattery, he stole it from the rightful heir Seleucus IV, his nephew.
But what really convinced me Whitefield is wrong, the ships of Kittim in Daniel 11:30 would not oppose the Antichrist, because he becomes the big mouth ruler of the Grecian Roman Empire (Dan. 7:19-27; Rev. 13:1-5). Therefore, the ships of Kittim (Rome, Cyprus, “from the west”) would be in his fleet supporting him. But the text says they opposed the little horn, which is precisely what history says happened to Antiochus, when the Roman emissary Popillius Laenas used them to stop Antiochus’ invasion of Egypt. Therefore, Whitefield’s argument must be incorrect.
But that does not make those who only see Antiochus in Daniel 8:9-27 correct. True his rise “toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land” and Daniel 11:21-35 fits Antiochus well, Daniel 8:10-27; 11:36-45; 12:1-12 do not.
I suggest a third option, a synthesis where Antiochus is referred to, but a dual fulfillment where some aspects are in both but others telescopes to the Antichrist.
The “time stamp” given by the Angel Gabriel puts the “little horn” at the time of the end, not in Antiochus’ time:
15 While I, Daniel, was seeing the vision, and trying to understand it, there appeared before me one who looked like a man.
16 I heard a human voice from the middle of Ulai calling out, “Gabriel, make that man understand the vision.”
17 He came near to where I was standing, and as he came I was terrified, and fell prostrate. He said to me, “Understand, O man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”
18 When he spoke with me, I was overcome by a deep sleep as I lay prostrate on the ground. Then he touched me and made me stand up,
19 and said, “I am going to inform you of what will happen when wrath is at an end, for it refers to the time appointed for the end.
20 “The two-horned ram that you saw signifies the kings of Media and Persia;
21 and the buck, the he-goat — the king of Greece; and the large horn on his forehead, that is the first king.
22 One was broken and four came in its stead — that means: four kingdoms will arise out of a nation, but without its power.
23 When their kingdoms are at an end, when the measure of transgression has been filled, then a king will arise, impudent and versed in intrigue. (Dan. 8:15-23 Tanakh 1985 Jewish Publication Society )
God’s wrath is completed only in the End Time (Rev. 15:1). The four kingdoms “are at an end” only when all earthly kingdoms are, in the End Time (Dan. 2:44). The full “measure of transgression” will be filled only in the End Time Apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3-4)
This should be obvious to all, Daniel would easily understand the vision (Dan. 1:17; 5:12, 14; 6:3) if it concerned the Jewish Temple and its people in the days of Antiochus. Therefore, it is elementary his total confusion (Dan. 8:27) arose because these words are sealed until events in the End Time “unseal them” (Dan. 12:9).
The revelation of the Antichrist is in stages. First he appears as “the man of sin”, then at “mid-week”, he becomes the big mouth Emperor Beast of the Grecian Roman Empire that rises in the End time, from the sea of spiritism. The Elohim Designers (fallen angels Rev. 12:7-12) insist on the creation of a world government for them to deliver world peace (1 Thess. 5:3).
Therefore, the different stages are symbolized by the different circumstances of the “little horns”. Daniel 7:8 focused on what the Antichrist does when Satan makes him the mouth of the End Time beast that rises from the sea. He humiliates three “kings” on his way up the ladder. Daniel 8:9 is focused on his rise from insignificance, before he was a king. That would be at the start of the End Time 7 year period, not at “mid-week”. He first appears as the “man of sin”. He is not insignificant 3.5 years later, when he morphs into the “Son of Perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3-4) as seen in Daniel 7:8.
The most likely reason God chose dual reference symbolism, Antiochus reveals much about the end time Antichrist. I deduce the Assyrian Antichrist Adonikam will also have an insignificant beginning like Antiochus. That he rises in the remnant of the Seleucid Empire, in the region of modern Antakya, Turkey near the ancient city of Antioch. It was once the capital of Seleucid Empire.
Insignificant ruler of a sign and wonder ministry, but spiritism energizes great signs and wonders that teach the lie Adonikam is the Christ (2 Thess. 2:9-12; Matt. 7:22-23; 1 John 2:18-24; 1 Tim. 4:1). From such humble beginnings he rises into political power to become the 666 Emperor of the Beast that rises from the sea of spiritism in Rev. 13:1-5.
So, Daniel 8:9 begins with Antiochus, but Daniel 8:10-27; 11:36-12:12) refers to the Antichrist greater fulfillment. Antiochus doesn’t reappear until Daniel 11:21-35. The telescoping to Antichrist in Daniel 11:35-36 is therefore organic and not an artificial contrivance of Bible Believers. In Daniel 8:9 the little horn referring to both Antiochus and Antichrist immediately flashes forward to events only the Antichrist can fulfill (Dan. 9:10-27). Therefore, the prophecy begins with a telescoping, so when it flashes backward and forward its “organic” to the context. Therefore, the telescoping in Daniel 11:35-36 is predictable, expected and not being superimposed. The wording “until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time” can be understood as marking where the telescoping mandated by Daniel 11:40, occurred.
To recap. Daniel 8:9 applies to both Antiochus and the Antichrist rising from insignificant beginnings and expanding their political sway. [1] The prophecy telescopes to Antichrist and his cosmic warfare against Christ and God’s people in Daniel 8:10ff. Daniel 7:8 begins referencing Antichrist’s “little” beginnings but its focus is on his deeds as the “Son of Perdition”. At “mid-week” Satan makes him the “mouth” of the Grecian Roman Empire Monster that rises up in Daniel 7:8 (Rev. 13:1-5), humiliating three horns kings and speaking pompous things. He claims to be above all things called God on the earth and he ordains all sacrifice and offering to them cease (Dan. 9:27). He has now morphed from the “man of lawlessness” to the “Son of Perdition” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
I will treat Daniel 8:10-27 in the next post.
END NOTES
[1]As readers may have noticed, I make no apologies current events often contradict what I believe Scripture predicts. Although Islamic Extremism is on the rise in Turkey, that won’t prevent what scripture predicts for the rise of the Antichrist. Christianity will likely be permitted some freedom to operate there in that time.
The Little Horn in Daniel with the Big Mouth
Antichrist will sit in the Temple of God: Third Temple or the Church?
The Seventy Weeks in Daniel 9 Explained
The Daily Sacrifice shall be taken away: Daniel 12:11
The Antichrist: His Names Titles and Descriptions
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
Do Ancient Aliens Appear in the Bible?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed