We have already made an argument that Daniel 2, 7, and 8 predicts the four world empires (Babylonia, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome; see our article “Daniel and the End of Human History”). With this as our foundation, we should look again at chapter 7 to identify Daniel’s main character in the fourth empire: Rome. In Daniel 7, we read about a figure called the “little horn”:
7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely 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. 8 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 uttering great boasts… 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire…
The “little horn” is not one of the ten horns; he arises after they come into power and deposes three of them. This person comes from the fourth beast (Rome). He also “boasts” (v.8) against God himself (v.25).
19 Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, 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 uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them
This person attacks and persecutes God’s people.
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 subdue three kings.
The “ten horns” are said to be “ten kings” or kingdoms, as in Daniel 2:44 (“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed”).
25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
What does the expression “time, times, and half a time” mean?
There are a number of reasons for believing that this expression (“time, times, and half a time”) refers to three and a half years. First, Daniel uses a similar expression earlier in his book, which refers to seven years (Dan. 4:16). Second, the book of Revelation states that this is three and a half years, stating this in multiple different ways:
(Rev. 13:5) There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.
(Rev. 11:2) Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
(Rev. 12:14) But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
(Rev. 12:6) Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Third, Daniel states that the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel is broken halfway through the 70th week, which would make three and a half years. For these reasons, Miller writes, “Most scholars interpret ‘for a time, times and half a time’ to mean three and one half-years.”[1]
Is Daniel’s “little horn” the same as John’s “beast”?
Let’s compare these two figures:
Is Daniel’s Little Horn the same as John’s Beast (or anti-Christ)? |
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Little Horn |
Beast (or Anti-Christ) |
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Described in Daniel 7. |
Described in Revelation 13 & 17. |
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The little horn is called a “beast” (Dan. 7:7, 11, 19, 23). |
The figure in Revelation is called the “beast” (Rev. 13:1-2; Rev. 17:3). |
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The little horn persecutes the saints (Dan. 7:25). |
The beast persecutes the saints (Rev. 13:7). |
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The little horn is destroyed by the return of Christ (Dan. 7:26-27). |
The beast is destroyed by the return of Christ (2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:19-20). |
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(Dan. 7:8) “Another horn, a little one, came up among them [the 10 horns]” (c.f. v.20, 24) |
(Rev. 17:12) “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” (c.f. Rev. 13:1; 17:3, 16). |
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(Dan. 7:25) “[Authority] will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.” |
(Rev. 12:6, 14) “There she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days… Where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time.” (Rev. 13:5) “The beast was given… to exercise his authority for forty-two months.” |
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(Dan. 7:21) “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them” |
(Rev. 13:7) “He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.” |
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(Dan. 7:11, 26) “God interrupts his reign to establish his eternal kingdom.” |
(Rev. 19:19-20) “God interrupts his reign to establish his eternal kingdom.” |
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(Dan. 7:8) This horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. |
(Rev. 13:5) “There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies.” |
Because of these striking similarities, we hold that the little horn is the same person as the Antichrist, spoken of throughout the NT.
[1] Miller, Stephen R. Daniel. Vol. 18. Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1994. New American Commentary. See Daniel 7:25-26.