BY PROSPER TINGINI The book of Daniel contains many mysteries of dreams and visions. Daniel was one of the captives after the fall of Jerusalem and subsequent capture of King Joakim of the then Jewish Kingdom of Judah, at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzer. Daniel rose through the ranks to become a provincial leader appointed by the King because of his blessed gift from God to interpret the King’s complicated dreams (Daniel 1,2,3).
Daniel himself had some dreams and visions of his own which had a hidden meaning, but all pointing to some events either taking place then or which were to happen later in the future. Some of his visions were too mysterious even for him to comprehend. He sometimes could not explain their meanings. It is then left to the religious intellectuals with gifts of interpretations to try to unravel their meanings. One of those visions was of a little horn which sprung from one of four dreadful beasts which he saw in a particular vision. The fourth beast had 10 horns and a little horn came up from among the 10 horns of fourth beast (Daniel 7:8). It reads: “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” We thus have God intentionally placing some important characteristics of the little horn so that those with the gift of interpretation could then deduce some answers from these tips.
The little horn came up among the 10 horns of the fourth beast, hence this characteristic gives us the worldly geographical location of the area. Some wise religious gurus have concluded that the 10 horns represented 10 divided nations that rose after the fall of a united Roman Empire (4th beast), plus three other world empires in accordance with their periods. History reveals that the Roman Empire reigned from 168 BC to 476 AD. However, by 476 AD the empire had disintegrated into various independent nations. In fulfillment of Daniel’s vision, history also records that ten nations sprung up after the collapse of the Roman Empire.
The little horn represents the rise of a seemingly small but powerful other entity after it had plucked up three of the ten horns of the fourth beast by their roots. Plucking something by the roots means to totally annihilate or to destroy it completely and bring it out of existence. History also records that three out of the ten nations that sprung up from the collapse of the Roman Empire were totally destroyed by a particular power.
Moreover, Daniel 7:8 says that this little horn had the eyes of a man. What this meant was that this outwardly small looking power was endowed with great human intelligence which was effectively put to devastating use. We have already read that this little horn had a mouth that spoke very great things and also great words against the Almighty God. This same scenario is also revealed in the book of Revelation 13:5 which reads: “And there was given unto him (beast) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies…”
Daniel 7:24 tells us that the little horn was different from the other ten horns. The ten kings that sprung up from the collapse of the Roman Empire were all of political power. The little horn was therefore not just a political power but we can also deduce that it had some religious power which was very strong. We could call this a religio-political power. Daniel 7:25 goes on to mention that the little horn, with its immense powers, sought to change God’s times and laws. it is important to note that whatever the motive behind it, no human can change what the Lord our God has set. God’s commandments are as everlasting as the Lord Himself.
In terms of changing God’s laws, even His son Jesus Christ remarked; “Think not that I have come to destroy the law, nor the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For surely I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, not one bit or any little shall in no way pass form the law, till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-19).
Daniel 7:21, 25 tells us of another characteristic of the little horn. It made war with the Saints of God, and prevailed against them. It had persecuting powers directed at the saints of God, and sought to destroy them. We are also told the saints were given into the hands of the little horn for a period of time, times and the dividing of time. At that time and during other times in the history of our world, the true children of God were labeled as heretics for basing their faith on the Word of God alone. They were persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and slain by this little horn power. Jesus Christ and his disciples were examples of victims of this same little horn power.
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At the end of these trying times, Daniel 4:21-22 gives us some hope that there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. It reads: “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. That was until the Ancient of days came, and judgement was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom.”
We are currently in the extended period under the grip of this little horn which seeks to change God’s statutes. Some powerful nations rooted to the former Roman Empire with its pagan religions are passing legislations that promote homosexuality, same-sex marriages and many other constitutions that go against the Lord our God’s will. Cry for our beloved world, cry.
- Prosper Tingini is the Scribe of the Children of God Missionary Assembly — God’s messengers. Contact details: Mobile and whatsapp: 0771 260 195. Email address: ptingini@gmail.com
