The little horn power appears next. We must identify it carefully because God takes more space describing it than the other four kingdoms combined. Why? Because the biblical characteristics identify it as the Antichrist of prophecy and history. There must be no mistake in making this identification. The Bible says Antichrist would persecute Gods people. 7. Are there clear points of identification? Yes, God gives us nine characteristics of Antichrist in Daniel 7 so we can be certain of his identity. And even though some may find these truths from Gods Word painful, we must be honest enough to accept them as His revealed will. Now lets discover what Jesus nine points are: A. The little horn or kingdom came up among themthe 10 horns which were the kingdoms of Western Europe (Daniel 7:8). So it would be a little kingdom somewhere in Western Europe. B. It would have a man at its head who could speak for it (Daniel 7:8). C. It would pluck up or uproot three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8). D. It would be diverse or different from the other 10 kingdoms (Daniel 7:24). E. It would make war with and wear out or persecute the saints (Daniel 7:21, 25). F. It would emerge from the pagan Roman empire, the fourth world kingdom (Daniel 7:7, 8). G. Gods people (the saints) would be given into his hand for a time and times and the dividing of time (Daniel 7:25). H. It would speak great words against or blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25). In Revelation 13:5, the Bible says the same power speaks great things and blasphemies. I. It would think to change times and laws. Daniel 7:25. Dont forget all these identification points come directly from the Bible. They are not some human opinion or speculation. Historians could tell you quickly what power is being described. These points can fit only one power, the papacy. But in order to be certain, let us carefully examine all nine points, one by one. There must be no room left for doubt. The papacy clearly fits all nine identification points. 8. Does the papacy fit these points? Answer: Yes, it fits every point perfectly. See items A through H below. A. It came up among the 10 kingdoms of Western Europe. The geographical location of the papal power was in Rome, Italy the very heart of the territory of Western Europe. B. It would have a man at its head who speaks for it. The papacy meets this identifying mark because it does have one man at the head (the pope) who speaks for it. C. It would pluck up or uproot three kingdoms. The emperors of Western Europe were largely Catholic and supported the papacy in its growth and authority. Three Arian kingdoms, however, did not support the papacy, the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths. So the Catholic emperors decided they must be subdued or destroyed. Here is how Dr. Mervyn Maxwell, a theologian and historian, described the results in volume 1, page 129, of his book God Cares: The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian Heruls in 493. And the Catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the Arian Vandals in 534 and significantly broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths in 538. Thus were Daniels three horns the Heruls, the Vandals, and the Ostrogothsplucked up by the roots. It is not difficult to recognize that the papacy fits this point. D. It would be diverse or different from the other kingdoms. The papacy clearly fits this description, also. It came on the scene as a religious power and was totally different from the secular nature of the other 10 kingdoms. E. It would make war with and persecute the saints. That the church did persecute is a well-known fact. The papacy clearly admits doing so. Much supportive evidence exists. Even conservative historians claim the church probably destroyed at least 50 million people over matters of religious conviction. We will quote here from two sources: 1. That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a competent knowledge of history. 1 2. In The History of the Inquisition of Spain, D. Ivan Antonio Llorente provides these figures from the Spanish Inquisition alone: ■31,912 persons were condemned and perished in the flames. ■241,450 persons were condemned to severe penalties. F. It would emerge from the fourth kingdom of iron - the pagan Roman Empire.. We are quoting two authorities on this point: 1. The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptised ... The very capital of the old Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of the pope. 2 2. Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left ... [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the emperors disappearance. The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation. 3 So, once again, the point fits the papacy.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:12:55 +0000
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