“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; AND IT HAD TEN HORNS (capitals mine). I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another 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.”
Daniel 7:7-8
When Daniel wrote the Book of Daniel in the sixth century B.C. the world had already witnessed two preceding world “empires”, the Egyptian and the Assyrian. At the time of his writing he was a young captive Jew advising Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Babylonian Empire which was at that time the most powerful empire in the world. What is so amazing is Daniel rose to prominence in Nebuchadnezzar’s court because he was able to interpret a dream the king had that no one else could decipher. Of course this dream was regarding the statue with the head of gold, the chest plate of silver, the waist band of brass, the legs of iron and the ten toes of iron and clay. Daniel correctly interpreted this dream to prophecy about the coming world empires. Biblical scholars have long positioned Babylon as the head of gold because that is what Daniel clearly told Nebuchadnezzar. Following Babylon, Daniel accurately prophesied the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire and then the Roman Empire. Of course if you add these up they only come to four, not the five prophesied in the Book of Revelation. That is because the fourth empire, the Roman Empire, was never defeated. Rather it simply “disintegrated” from within but would be eventually “reborn” in the Last Days.
When John wrote the Book of Revelation approximately 700 years later, the world by that time had seen the defeat of the Babylonian Empire by the Medo-Persian Empire; the defeat of the Medo-Persian Empire by the Greek Empire; and, the defeat of the Greek Empire by the Roman Empire. When John wrote the Book of Revelation he was living during the heyday of the Roman Empire BUT he prophesied there would be ONE more world empire.
“And there are seven kings (empires): five are fallen (Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Mede-Persia, Greek), and one is (Roman), and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space (3 1/2 years – Revelation 13:5, 3). And the beast (anti-christ) that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven (Rome), and goeth into perdition.”
Revelation 17:10-11
Now you might ask, “Hey, I thought you said there were seven empires but the Scripture above says there are eight. What’s this all about?” Well, remember the anti-christ will rise up out of the seventh kingdom, the reborn Roman Empire creating his own “new” world empire: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads, and ten horns (kingdoms), and upon his horn ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”(Revelation 13:1). How do we know the Roman Empire will be “reborn” in the Last Days? An angel of God not only tells us but he also tells us all those with a wise brain will know where the kingdom will be located!
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman (false prophet) sitteth.”
Revelation 17:9
Ask anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the world “What city sits on seven hills/mountains?” and I am sure the unanimous response will be Rome! Not long ago I saw a description of the countries that were part of the Roman Empire at the time of John. Interestingly, their ancient names correspond to today’s familiar names of the countries we today associate with Europe, like Spain, France, Italy, etc. Those countries are listed below:
- Visiogoths – Spain
- Anglo-Saxons – England
- Franks – France
- Alemani – Germany
- Burgundians – Switzerland
- Lombards – Italy
- Suevi – Portugal
- Heruli – Italy, Switzerland (Rooted up)
- Ostrogoths – Austria, Serbia, Bosnia, etc. (Rooted up)
- Vandals – North Africa (Rooted up)
Many people, myself included, assumed when the European Union was officially formed in 1993 with 10 original countries joining. This was related to the ten End Times countries which would give their power to the anti-christ. Do you know who those ten countries are? They are:
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands (Holland)
- Portugal
- Spain
- United Kingdom
Do you notice what countries are missing from the original ten of the Roman Empire? All of the Ostrogoths, Vandals and Heruli (Switzerland, except for Italy)
Three of the ten kingdoms were to be destroyed by the instigation of the little horn power. Only the Papacy fits this description. Three kingdoms that did not accept his papal mandates regarding Christ’s divinity were literally uprooted and mercilessly destroyed. Although the doctrine of the divinity of Christ was correct, the method of dealing with it was not.
Since the little horn made its appearance after the division of Rome into ten different states (after 476 AD) but before the destruction of three of them because it arises among all ten, we now have a very definite time frame for the rise of the potential Antichrist’s future “power”. The Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were eliminated by the year 538 AD. This power arose between 476 AD and 538 AD.
These conquests strengthened the hand of the Papacy, which was established in the year 538 AD. It was known as the HOLY Roman Empire, not the Roman Empire. In that year, Vigilus, the bishop of Rome, ascended the papal throne under the protection of the Roman general Belisarius. The date for the establishment of papal Rome as an independent power can thus be pinned to 538 AD. Since that year until today there has been no single emperor over the Roman Empire but there has been an individual with power over “Christianity”, i.e., the pope. And yet, there have been many, many attempts to re-unite the Roman Empire, aka today’s European Union.
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them: and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
Daniel 7:24
Many of us were disappointed when the EU allowed more countries to join and their members today are 27 (although Great Britain has voted to leave in what is referred to as Brexit). Do not be surprised however, if they decide to rejoin. Nonetheless, the original ten countries remain the true policy makers of the EU and I believe Bible prophecy will be fulfilled with a reborn “Roman Empire” in the guise of the European Union when it comes under the reign of the anti-christ.
I find it incredibly fascinating as yet another example of prophesy coming true today. Here we have the vision of Daniel and John with a ten headed beast representing ten kingdoms. Three of those did not accept the papacy and yet those seven remaining today are back to ten countries which were and are the founding members of the European Union. As we witness these things coming true today we must remain vigilant as Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. And, do not hold this knowledge in! Tell others so they also will come to know the accuracy of God’s prophecies and how He wants us to be aware of what is coming!
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the saying of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:7
Take comfort in knowing God is with you. He gave His son Jesus Christ to come to earth as a man and to die for our sins. Accept His Gift of Pardon and repent of your sins and you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Pass this message on to others as we have all been told to do, and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” So much is happening TODAY! Don’t let anyone miss His Message.
May God Bless you!
This is a very interesting topic, and so many people are confused. First, let us differentiate horns from beasts. “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces (Dan. 7:23).”
Thus, beasts = kingdoms.
The fourth beast in Daniel 7:7–8 was, as you say, the Roman Empire. “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings (Dan. 7:24).”
Thus, horns = kings.
We find this elsewhere in the Bible. For example: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast (Rev. 17:12).”
Beasts should never be confused with horns. Beasts are kingdoms and horns are kings. The eighth king of Revelation 17:11 (the Antichrist) will likely rise to become a president of the European Union (the beast that was, and is not, and yet is) or overthrow it to become its dictator.
We also must not confuse the fourth beast in Daniel 7 with the beast from the sea in Revelation 13.
Daniel 7 beast: eleven horns (10 plus another little one, making 11); no heads.
Revelation 13 beast: ten horns (not 11); 7 heads (not 0).
Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts:
Roman Empire (63 BC–AD 476)
1. Pompey (63–49 BC)*
2. Julius Caesar (49–44 BC)
3. Augustus (44 BC–AD 14)
4. Tiberius (AD 14–37)
5. Caligula (AD 37–41)
6. Claudius (AD 41–54)
7. Nero (AD 54–68)
8. Galba (AD 68–69)**
9. Otho (AD 69)**
10. Vitellius (AD 69)**
11. Vespasian (AD 69–79)**
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(63_BC)
** The Year of the Four Emperors, AD 69, was a period in the history of the Roman Empire in which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Between June of 68 and December of 69 Galba, Otho, and Vitellius successively rose and fell, the latter overlapping with the July 69 accession of Vespasian, who founded the Flavian dynasty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_of_the_Four_Emperors
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (Dan. 7:25).”
Destruction of Herod’s Temple in AD 70, by Vespasian’s order, to the siege of Masada in AD 73 = a time and times and the dividing of time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Jewish%E2%80%93Roman_War
John’s Vision of the Beast from the Sea:
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy (Rev. 13:1).”
Symbolism is consistent in the Bible. This beast from the sea is a kingdom, as per Daniel 7:23. Yet it has two sets of kings: heads and horns. So, it is an alliance between two states, such as the Axis Powers. Before the Napoleonic Wars, the Holy Roman Empire was a center of Christendom. It consisted of what are today known as Italy and Germany. The Byzantine Empire had fallen by 1453.
Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire: 1806
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empire
From the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806:
Seven Italian Heads/Kings (Rev. 17:10) :
1. Victor Emmanuel I (1802–1821)
2. Charles Felix (1821–1831)
3. Charles Albert (1831–1849)
4. Victor Emmanuel II (1849–1878)
5. Umberto I (1878–1900)
6. Victor Emmanuel III (1900–1946)*
7. Umberto II (1946)**
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Italy
Recall: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy (Rev. 13:1).”
The name of blasphemy: Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.”
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, ‘God with us (Mat. 1:23).’”
“And I saw one of his heads [kings] as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast (Rev. 13:3).”
* “ITALIAN KING WOUNDED BERLIN [Rev. 13:3]. Dec. 28, 1915. (Via Sayville by wireless.) King Victor Emmanuel of Italy has been wounded by an Austrian grenade and is now in the hospital, it is stated by the Overseas News agency. The agency attributes its information to a traveler who has just arrived from Italy. Terroristic and anti-government demonstrations are extending to an alarming extent in Italy, according to this traveller.”
https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=SBNT19151228.1.1&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——-
** Reigned only 34 days; “a short space (Rev. 17:10).”
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space (Rev. 17:9–10).”
Seven Hills of Rome :
1. Aventine Hill
2. Caelian Hill
3. Capitoline Hill
4. Esquiline Hill
5. Palatine Hill
6. Quirinal Hill
7. Viminal Hill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_hills_of_Rome
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast (Rev. 17:12).”
From the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806:
Ten German Horns/Rulers (Rev. 17:12) :
1. Frederick William III (1797–1840)
2. Frederick William IV (1840–1861)
3. William I (1861–1888)
4. Frederick III (1888)
5. Wilhelm II (1888–1918)
6. Friedrich Ebert (1918–1925)
7. Hans Luther (1925)
8. Walter Simons (1925)
9. Paul von Hindenburg (1925–1934)
10. Adolf Hitler (1934–1945)*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Germany
These ten rulers began as the German Confederation (“no kingdom as yet”), but received power as kings one hour with the beast (1939–1945).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Confederation
* Whose holocaust lasted 42 months (Rev. 13:5).
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months (Rev. 13:5).”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust
My name is Rich Seibert and I wrote a series of novels called memories from a real world the road to the rapture only one has been published I have 8 more to go seven are finished and waiting to be published. I am currently writing the last two which are after the rapture the left behind series is flawed and not accurate even though it is fictional. what is listed in the above study is quite accurate exc ept for the countries of the three horns that is theory and speculation when they are ousted I and my fellow Christians will be with the savior
Wouldn’t you agree that the three uprooted kings were horns and not beasts? Since horns are kings, that would make the three uprooted horns Galba (AD 68–69), Otho (AD 69), and Vitellius (AD 69). Horns are kings, so the three uprooted horns could not be three countries, otherwise they would be beasts.
Galba, Otho, and Vitellius were uprooted before Vespasian (AD 69–79). He ordered the siege on Jerusalem in AD 66, during which Herod’s temple was destroyed (AD 70) and the Julian calendar was gaining popularity (Dan. 7.25).
The papacy was established by Peter in AD 42, not by Vigilus in 538. I don’t even get why you’re concerned with the year 538: the Adventist church didn’t even exist back then. Neither did the Protestant Church or the Eastern Orthodox Church! The Catholics hardly had any dissenters (since it was relatively young). The empires at the time were still known as the Eastern and Western Roman Empires; the Holy Roman Empire was not established by AD 962 by Otto I.
Since AD there have been plenty of emperors over the Eastern and Holy Roman Empires: let’s take the Holy Roman Empire alone. You have the Hohenstaufen dynasty, the House of Habsburg, and the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. These spanned 727 years!
The beast that once was, is not, and yet will come is himself an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction…
If the seven heads of the beast from the sea are seven Italian kings from the fall of the Holy Roman Empire to the end of World War II, then the eighth could very well be the grandson of Italy’s last king:
https://www.tatler.com/article/prince-emanuele-filiberto-of-savoy-is-running-for-political-office-in-italy
Hello Mike,
You stated: “Beasts should never be confused with horns. Beasts are kingdoms and horns are kings.”
I’ve never heard of a king having no kingdom.
The horns simply help people understand that they are PART of a beast. Simply to say they are part of a kingdom. So kingdoms within a kingdom. This is exactly how the Holy Roman Empire ruled. They APPROVED kings for their kingdoms, so the main King aka the Pope authorized which king was allowed to rule a specific area/kingdom, but still subject to him as supreme king.
Galba, Otho, and Vitellius were part of the Roman Empire. The point is that they were part of the same kingdom, not different ones. Also popes are not kings. At most they can be advisors to kings. I’m sure you knew that.
You are correct if viewing this only in the ancient alignment. However, today Spain and Italy (Rome) are two separate “kingdoms” but will be RE-united as part of their membership in the EU (soon “kingdom” of the anti-Christ). As I have repeatedly said in a number of posts, the pope is not a king but is rather a supporter of the anti-Christ comparable ( in Satan’s mind) to the Holy Spirit of the Trinity.
The point is there were 10 prominent ones the rest were simply small irrelevant ones. The enemy simply wants to try to add a few other regions here and there part of history just to deny the “perfect 10 kingdoms”. It’s very symbolic and over another dozen points fits the Papacy. Furthermore, the IRON is mixed with clay and divided, this shows indeed the mixed divided kingdom of Rome and Europe of today never to come together again.
More info on that in this study: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT9nLsB5-PVyIlJOv1jTwXNxeuIctmsUl
Finally, are you really denying that the pope is not a king?
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/sp_ss_scv/insigne/triregno_en.html
The tiara is the pope’s crown. There are more than twenty actual papal tiaras in existence. Over a period of about one thousand years until recently, each new pope was crowned with a tiara at his coronation.
Since the 14th century the Pope’s tiara has had three tiers. According to the Vatican, the three layers symbolize “the triple power of the Pope: father of kings, governor of the world and Vicar of Christ.”
What do these titles signify?
Father of kings
A father is one who produces, nurtures and guides his offspring. It’s interesting to note that many heads of state, politicians, business leaders and other key decision makers have been trained in Jesuit schools. As “father of kings” the Pope claims right to instruct and guide world leaders.
Governor of the world
Merriam-Webster defines “govern” in this way:
to officially control and lead (a group of people)
to make decisions about laws, taxes, social programs, etc., for (a country, state, etc.): to control the way that (something) is done
to control or guide the actions of (someone or something).
Vicar of Christ
New Advent, the Catholic Encyclopedia, defines “Vicar of Christ” as, “A title of the pope implying his supreme and universal primacy, both of honour and of jurisdiction, over the Church of Christ.”
According to the same source, primacy is defined as, “The supreme episcopal jurisdiction of the pope as pastor and governor of the Universal Church.” And Episcopal jurisdiction is, “The right to guide and rule the Church of God.”
By definition, it is clear that the papal tiara symbolizes the Pope’s claim to universal political and religious authority.
I want to make sure I understand your point. Are you saying the pope will be the antichrist or false prophet? Or both?
Yes that is the point. Pope is clearly AC. It’s part of the iron and the iron component has existed since.
Now that the Queen of England has died and Charles is King, people are remembering his Coat of Arms and it’s symbols including the red dragon. Upcoming events will be very interesting.
Friend there is no speculation required. Please study this as the Bible is very clear and precise as who is the beast of Rev 13-19: https://youtu.be/4y3tDILQFhE
Blessings to you.