“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land]” (Daniel 8:9).

The study of the ram and he-goat opens up exciting information of a restoration atonement typology. In fact, soon we will see that it is a Jubilee Atonement. But what about that little horn? One immediately is tempted to go back and review the little horn of Daniel 7:8, 20-21 and 24-26 that had a face, mouth and power to subdue kings and hurt the saints. In fact, the parallels are so close, many scholars have said they are exactly the same in repeated prophecy, called recapitulation.

Before we’re tempted to go down that path, there are two other issues, often overlooked, that need addressing. One, there are significant differences between the two horns. Two, the timing clues reflect an altogether different period of history. Keeping those in mind, let’s see how the little horn is introduced.

“Therefore the he-goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great.” Daniel 8:8-9a.

The little horn arises out of “one” of “them” and becomes exceedingly important and powerful (gadal) just like the he-goat did. What does the little horn arise from? Is it from “one” of the four horns or Grecian kings of the he-goat? (In chapter 7 the little horn came out of the Rome beast.) The preceding noun is “winds” (the word “heaven” explains “winds”). Then, grammatically, it has to be from “one” of the “winds” of heaven, meaning one of the directions – north, south, east or west. The prophetic statement is directional and totally unrelated to empires or political origins. This can be shown through Hebrew studies.

The little horn waxed exceedingly great and (here it comes) “towards the south and towards the east and towards the pleasant land [or west]” (“land” is not in the original text) (Daniel 8:9b). Where did the little horn come from? It came from the “winds” of the north. By coming from the north, its power spreads throughout the world.

Why did it come from the north?

Psalm 48:2 says God’s throne is in the north. But this is an evil power, as we shall see. We then look to a surprising text in Isaiah.

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Satan wanted to be like God and have His ruling and controlling power. So do his agents, such as the little horn. Winds represent strife and conflict. The little horn is an emissary of Satan, pretending to be God.

We are told in Daniel 8:23-25 that that little horn:

1.  Harms God’s holy people

2.  Magnifies himself in his heart and

3.  Stands up against the Prince of princes (Michael – God)

This little horn is anti-God and represents the papacy just like the little horn power of Daniel 7, which uprooted three kingdoms and ruled 1260 years. The latter came to its end (7:11) by force in 1798 via Napoleon’s army. The little horn of Daniel 8 has power over the whole world and will come to its end “without hands” (8:25). The first rules until just before the judgment “sits” (7:26), and his rule is “taken away.” The second, as we will see, comes during the judgment, after the 2300 atonement evenings and mornings. These are the first clues that it is a second rise of the papacy after the wound is healed, being vastly different from Daniel 7.

Putting this in perspective, there is a major time gap between the Grecian empire and this second rise of the papacy. The four he-goat horns rise toward the four winds (directional, over all the world). The little horn, in “the latter times” when the “transgressions are full” (8:23), arises from somewhere in the four directional corners of the earth. This time it will become a Biblically defined global power. When it comes to its end, it will be without hands. God controls its final destiny. Imagine if we tried to make the papacy come up at the time the Greek empire ended. It just wouldn’t fit. Some expositors quickly rush in to claim the little horn represents two things: First, pagan Rome – then, papal Rome. That is an uninvited attempt to add to the Bible. There is no animal or beast in Daniel 8 as the bearer of the “little horn” or an associated
symbol.

This chapter presents a second rise of the papacy, which is so important that Gabriel later gave Daniel 11 as a special reinforcement message. There, he presented two rises of the papacy to make this very clear!

In the next two chapters other clues of its last-day timing will begin to emerge. Next we look at how that evil horn misuses its power.

Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; Prophecy Research Initiative © 2009