Europe and the Church, Part 5: The Identity of the Little Horn
Who is the little horn of Daniel 7:8, the horn with "eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words"?
Since this article is the fifth in a series that began in the May 2008 issue,
readers should be aware that some of the content builds on information explained
in previous installments.
by Melvin Rhodes
The prophet Daniel, receiving a vision from God, was "considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, 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" (Daniel 7:8).
The "fourth beast" of Daniel 7:7 is described as a great military power that was to be "dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong...[with] huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet." As explained in part 2 of this series (June 2008), this prophecy is fulfilled in the Roman Empire. Many students of prophecy recognize that the historic world-ruling kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome were pictured by the great beasts in this vision. In contrast now we read of another "horn," again symbolizing royal power and authority, whose strength is not in military might, but in its "mouth speaking pompous words."
Later in this chapter we read more detail of this horn.
"Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them" (verses 19-21).
