Bible Prophecy Series: The Little Horn of Daniel 7 and 8

Introduction

• Topic: The Little Horn of Daniel 7 and 8
• Context: Discussing Daniel, Revelation, Matthew to piece together prophecy
• Presenters: Elder Lance Wilbur, Pastor Ivor Myers

Opening Prayer

• Prayer for Holy Spirit, wisdom, efficiency, and power

Key Points

1. Understanding the Little Horn

   • Little Horn in Daniel 7 and 8 crucial for understanding prophecy
   • Importance of understanding the sanctuary in Daniel 8 and identifying the defiling power
   • Error in understanding these leads to misunderstanding of the book of Daniel
   • Principle of repeat and enlarge in the book of Daniel (Dan 2, 7, 8, 9, 11)

2. Daniel's Visions and Kingdoms

   • Daniel 2: Vision of the statue (gold, silver, bronze, iron, iron/clay) representing successive kingdoms: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, divided Rome
   • Daniel 7: Four beasts paralleling the statue (lion, bear, leopard, dreadful beast with iron teeth, ten horns)
   • Little Horn rises after the fall of the Roman Empire (post-476 AD)
   • Daniel 8: Ram (Medo-Persia) defeated by Goat (Greece), followed by Little Horn
   • Defiling power: Little Horn attacks the heavenly sanctuary, not just an earthly one

3. Sanctuary and Judgment

   • Misinterpretation of ‘daily sacrifice’ (original text does not specifically refer to sacrifice, but to continuous service)
   • Sanctuary in Daniel 8 must be a heavenly one, post-Jesus' death and resurrection
   • Connection to Judgment: Little Horn's attack ties to the heavenly judgment depicted in Daniel 7

4. Prophetic Spread and Historical Validation

   • Revelation: Builds on Daniel's prophecies, illustrating end-time conflict involving heaven and earth
   • Historical context supports biblical records: Babylon conquered by Medo-Persia, then by Greece, then by Rome
   • Revelation's Vision: Indicates cosmic war, Satan's attack through earthly powers, counterfeit Christianity
   • Thematic Cohesion: Patterns of repeating and enlarging (seven trumpets, seven seals, seven churches)

5. Revelation 13 and Little Horn

   • Revelation 13's beast (composite of Daniel 7’s beasts) receives power from the dragon (Satan)
   • Global deception and persecution involving a counterfeit religious system
   • Revelation chapter analysis: Cosmic war (Rev 12), identifying marks and judgments (Rev 13), God's response (Rev 14)

6. Conclusion and Implications

   • Iron-Clay Mingling: Represents mingling of state and professed Christian power (church-state union)
   • Little Horn and contemporary relevance: Modern issues of church-state dynamics and persecution
   • Encouragement to readers: Recognize patterns and systems in Bible study to avoid isolated misinterpretations

Closing Remarks and Q&A

• Questions on contextual and thematic biblical interpretation
• Clarification on the ‘daily’, iron and clay, historical progression of kingdoms
• Direct application for modern believers: discernment in a church-state context, role of truth in last-day events

Final Thought

• Emphasis on the system of truth in the Bible: coherent patterns and extensive cross-references confirming prophecies

Prayer to End Session

• Thanks and request for continued guidance and understanding