Daniel 7.20-Daniel Seeks the Interpretation of the Ten Horns and the Little Horn of the Fourth Beast
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday June 5, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 7:20-Daniel Seeks the Interpretation of the Ten Horns and Little Horn of the Fourth Beast
Lesson # 219
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 7:1.
Daniel 7:1 During Belshazzar’s, Babylon’s king, first year, Daniel saw a dream specifically visions in his mind on his bed. Then, he wrote down the dream. He declares the beginning of the account. 2 Daniel began to speak and said, “I was in a trance like state, staring because of my vision during the night as behold the heaven’s four winds were blowing violently against the great sea. 3 Then, four great beasts, one different from the other, came up out from the sea. 4 The first beast was like a lion with eagle’s wings attached to it. I was in a trance like state staring when its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground for the purpose of it standing on two feet like a human being. A human mind was also given to it. 5 Next, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear with it raised up to one side with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. Then, they issued orders to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ 6 After this, I was staring in a trance like state as behold, another one, was like a leopard with it having four bird’s wings on its back. Also, the beast had four heads. Indeed, governmental dominion was given to it. 7 After this, I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these night visions as behold, a fourth beast, intimidating, yes even terrifying as well as extremely powerful, possessing two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet. Indeed, it was characterized as different from all the beasts which were before it in the sense of possessing ten horns. 8 I was contemplating in a trance like state because of these horns as behold, another little horn emerged out from among them. Then, the first three originating from the horns was torn out by being in the presence of it. In fact, behold, on this horn, were eyes like a human being’s eyes as well as a mouth speaking boastfully. 9 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when thrones were set up. Then, the One Ancient in Days sat. His clothing was white like snow. Also, the hair of His head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were a blazing fire. 10 A river composed of fire was flowing, yes issuing forth from His presence. A thousand times a thousand were continually rendering worshipful service to Him. In fact, ten thousand times ten thousand were continually standing in His presence. The court convened resulting in scrolls being opened. 11 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state at that time because of the sound coming from the boastful words which the horn was making a habit of speaking. I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when the beast was killed. In fact, its body was destroyed. Specifically, it was given over to the consuming fire. 12 On the other hand, the rest of the beasts, their governmental dominion was taken away, though for their benefit an extension of life was granted for a period of time, yes an appointed period of time. 13 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these visions as behold One like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the One Ancient in Days in the sense that He approached His presence. 14 Then, governmental dominion was given to Him as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. His governmental dominion is an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my soul was distressed in the midst of my body. Specifically, the visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. 16 I went up to one from those standing nearby in order to request from him the truth regarding all this. Consequently, he spoke to me in order to make known to me the interpretation of these events. 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number are four kings who will arise from the earth’s inhabitants. 18 However, the saints belonging to the Most High will receive the kingdom. Indeed, they will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages.’ 19 Then, I desired to know the meaning concerning the fourth beast which was different from all the others, extraordinarily intimidating, its two rows of teeth composed of iron as well as its claws composed of bronze. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet.” (My translation)
Daniel 7:20 “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.” (NASB95)
“Before which three of them fell” is composed of the third person masculine plural peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb nep̄ǎl (נְפַל) (nef-al´), “fell” which is followed by the preposition min (מִן) (min) which is followed by the preposition qǒḏām (קֳדָם) (kod-awm´), “before” and its object is the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix hî(ʾ) (הִיא) (he), “it” which is followed by the feminine singular cardinal number telāṯ (תְּלָת) (tel-ath´), “three.”
The cardinal number telāṯ means “three” referring to three of the ten horns on the head of the fourth beast.
The third person feminine singular pronominal suffix hî(ʾ) means “it” referring to the little horn and is the object of the prepositions min and qǒḏām.
The former is a marker of agency indicating the agent who causes the action of a passive construction.
This indicates that the first three horns of the fourth beast were destroyed “by” the little horn in that he was the causative agent in the destruction of the three horns which refers to three kings and their kingdoms according to the interpretation later on in the chapter.
The preposition qǒḏām on the other hand indicates that the first three horns of the fourth beast were destroyed by being “in the presence of” of the little horn.
The verb nep̄ǎl means “to fall” in the sense of being killed or destroyed by physical violence and specifically it refers to suffering defeat militarily resulting in destruction indicating that three horns suffered defeat militarily resulting in their destruction by being in the presence of the little horn.
This interpretation is indicated by Daniel 7:8 which records Daniel telling the reader that the first three of the ten horns of the fourth beast were torn out by being in the presence of the little horn, which speaks of the three horns being destroyed by the little horn.
Therefore, this verb does not mean that these three horns prostrated themselves before the little horn.
“And which was larger in appearance than its associates” is advancing upon and intensifying the previous descriptions of the little horn in that it destroyed three of the ten horns of the fourth beast and it possessed a mouth habitually speaking arrogantly.
“Larger in appearance” is composed of the masculine singular construct form of the noun ḥězû (חֱזוּ) (khay´-zev), “in appearance” which is modified by the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix hî(ʾ)(הִיא) (he), which is not translated and followed by the masculine singular form of the adjective rǎḇ (רַב) (rab), “larger.”
The noun ḥězû means “an appearance” of something which distinguishes it from other objects.
Here it is used of the appearance of the little horn which based upon Daniel’s description in Daniel 7:8 and 20 served to distinguish it from the other ten horns.
The adjective rǎḇ means “more distinguished” and is making the assertion that the appearance of the little horn was “more distinguished” than the other ten horns because it possessed eyes like a human being and a mouth like a human being speaking arrogantly.
It does not describe the appearance of the little horn as being “larger” than the other ten horns since there is nothing in the context which indicates that this little horn became larger than the other ten horns.
However, the context does support the interpretation that the little horn’s appearance was more distinguished since it possessed human attributes unlike the other ten horns.
Daniel 7:20 “Also, I desired to know the meaning concerning the ten horns which were on its head as well as the one which emerged and in addition three fell by being in the presence of it. Specifically, that horn possessing eyes as well as a mouth making it a habit of speaking boastfully. Indeed, its appearance was more distinguished than its contemporaries.” (My translation)
Daniel describes this fourth beast as having ten horns, which makes this beast different from the previous three.
These ten horns refer to ten kings according to Daniel 7:24.
These ten horns correspond to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel chapter two that referred to the Revived Roman Empire that will consist of a ten nation confederation during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
The ten horns do not represent a fifth kingdom but rather they grow out of the head of the fourth beast and are the last development of the fourth beast, which corresponds to the ten toes on the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two.
Daniel 2:40 records this fourth kingdom is compared to iron because it would crush and shatter other kingdoms just as iron shatters and crushes all things.
This comparison indicates that this fourth kingdom will be more powerful and destructive than the previous three empires which were represented on the statue by the gold head, the silver arms and chest and bronze belly and thighs, which history records as Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece respectively.
This verse also says that this fourth kingdom, which history records as the Roman Empire will crush as well as break in pieces every kingdom it confronts in war just like iron breaks into pieces gold, silver and bronze.
The feet of the statue in Daniel chapter two and the ten horns of the fourth beast in Daniel chapter seven represent an empire, which has not yet appeared on the pages of history.
The Scriptures indicate that it will be an empire, which is connected to the Roman Empire but inferior in character of authority in rulership as well as power or strength.
In fact, the Scriptures teach that it will be a Revived Form of the Roman Empire, which will be composed of a ten-nation confederacy which can be described as a United States of Europe, which is indicated by several factors.
First of all, the feet of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw were composed of a mixture of iron and clay.
The iron in the feet indicates that the empire represented by the feet is related to the lower legs of the statue, which we noted were composed of iron, which represented the Roman Empire.
Also, Daniel does not say that the feet represent a fifth empire, which further indicates that the feet represent an empire which is connected to the Roman Empire.
The ten horns mentioned in Daniel 7:24 correspond to the toes in Daniel 2:42 and were ten kingdoms, out of which one horn will arise who will destroy three of the other kingdoms and lead the other seven and persecute believers in Jesus Christ.
Daniel 7:26 says that this one horn called the “little horn” will be destroyed by God.
Daniel 2:44-45 teaches that this ten nation confederation depicted as ten toes of the feet of the statue will be destroyed by the Second Advent of Christ, which is depicted as a stone cut of the mountain without hands.
The ten toes of the image indicated that the final stage of the Roman Empire will consist of a ten-division federation.
Daniel 7:23-24 signifies that eventually the Roman Empire will consist of a federation of ten divisions with ten equal rulers (See Revelation 17:12).
Since the Roman Empire has never in its history consisted of a ten-division federation with ten equal rulers, we can conclude that this stage of the Empire’s existence will take place in the future during the Tribulation period.
Also, Daniel 2:45 records that “in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom,” i.e. the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, which has never taken place in history but is yet future.
Therefore, sometime in the future, after the rapture of the church, a revived form of the Roman Empire will be established.
The iron of the feet of the statue in Daniel chapter two denotes the strength of this stage of this Revived Form of the Roman Empire during Daniel’s Seventieth Week and the clay denotes its fragility.
The mixing of iron with clay represents the attempt to join the two distinct and separate materials into one combined whole as in vain.
This weakness extends to both feet of the image; and, correspondingly, the division and fragility.
The divided stage of the fourth kingdom will include diverse elements such as race, politics and other interests, which will prevent this stage of the fourth kingdom from achieving true unity, thus, Daniel describes this divided stage of the fourth kingdom as fragile.
The iron describes this divided and final stage of the fourth kingdom as possessing some of the character of authority in rulership of the Roman Empire, depicted by the lower legs on the statue.
Also, the iron describes this divided and final stage of the fourth kingdom as possessing some of the power or strength of the fourth kingdom, which represents Rome.
The description of the little horn and its relationship to the other ten horns of the fourth beast here in Daniel 7:19 is slightly different than the description of it in Daniel 7:8.
The description of this little horn in Daniel 7:8 and 20 makes clear that it is symbolic of a human being who is a ruler of a kingdom.
The little horn refers to the Antichrist since it is identified with the Revived Roman Empire and in Daniel 7:19-26, he is described as waging war against God’s people up to the time of the Second Advent of Christ, which corresponds to the depiction of the Antichrist in Revelation (Daniel 7:11, 20-26; 8:25; Revelation 13:1-10; 19:20).
The description of the little horn in Daniel 7:8 and 20 indicates that the Antichrist will start off as an insignificant world ruler among ten other rulers of kingdoms but will defeat three of these ten kingdoms and emerge as a world ruler.
The eyes of the little horn speak of the faculty of careful observation implying that the Antichrist will be extremely intelligent.
The boastful speaking indicates that the Antichrist will be a great speaker who in the judgment of God is arrogant in his words.
In Daniel 7:25, the interpreter tells Daniel that the little horn will speak out against God Himself so when Daniel says that the little horn was speaking boastfully in Daniel 7:8 and 20, it is in relation to God.