Understanding the Little Horn and the Holy Trinity

Daniel 7

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove on the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand on the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.

6 After this I beheld, and see another, like a leopard, which had on the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7 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 broke 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.

8 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.

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the middle of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

16 I came near to one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

24 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.

25 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.

26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.

27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

28 Till now is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

The little horn of Daniel 7 is a blasphemous, persecuting power representing the Papacy that arose out of the ruins of the Roman EmpireSITI November 10, 1887, page 681.1+1. This symbolic power emerged among the ten horns of the fourth beast, which represents the fourth universal kingdom, RomeMWV2 79.2+1.

The Rise and Identity of the Little Horn

• Succession of Empires: The vision of Daniel 7 follows the same progression as the image in Daniel 2 starting with Babylon (the lion), followed by Medo-Persia (the bear), and Grecia (the leopard) Daniel 7:4-6ARSH January 31, 1856, page 140.24.

• The Fourth Beast: The fourth kingdom is a "dreadful and terrible" beast with ten horns, representing the Roman Empire divided into ten kingdoms following the barbarian invasions Daniel 7:7MMM 525.1+1.

• Emergence of the Horn: The little horn came up among these ten horns, and before it, three of the original horns—the Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths—were plucked up by the roots Daniel 7:8BEST March 1, 1889, page 74.6+1.

• Identity as the Papacy: Protestant commentators and historical evidence confirm that this little horn is the Papacy, which transitioned from a purely ecclesiastical power to one possessed of civil authorityMBSG 9.2+2.

Characteristics and Blasphemies

• Exalting Itself Above God: The little horn is described as having "eyes like the eyes of man" and a "mouth speaking great things," identifying it with Paul's "man of sin" who sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God Daniel 7:8+1SITI November 10, 1887, page 681.1+1.

• Speaking Against the Most High: This power speaks great words against the Most High, claiming titles and prerogatives that belong only to God Daniel 7:25ChSa 180.2+1.

• Changing Times and Laws: The little horn would "think to change times and laws," specifically targeting the law of God Daniel 7:25MBSG 9.2+1. This is fulfilled by the Papacy's claim to have transferred the sanctity of the seventh-day Sabbath to SundaySITI November 21, 1900, page 4.13+2.

The Period of Supremacy

• The 1,260-Year Prophecy: The saints, times, and laws were given into the hand of this power for a "time and times and the dividing of time," which equals 1,260 prophetic days or years Daniel 7:25+1EVRR344+1.

• Timeline: This period began in AD 538, following the decree of Justinian and the removal of the last opposing Arian horn, and ended in 1798 when the French government stripped the Papacy of its political powerEVRR344+2.

• War on the Saints: During these centuries of supremacy, the little horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them, resulting in the martyrdom of millions through the Inquisition and other persecutions Daniel 7:21ChSa 174.1+1.

Final Judgment and Destruction

• The Judgment Scene: Following the 1,260-year reign, the prophecy describes a judgment scene where the Ancient of Days sits and the books are opened Daniel 7:9-10SITI November 10, 1887, page 681.1+1.

• Total Destruction: The little horn will continue its work until it is consumed by the spirit of the Lord's mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His coming Daniel 7:11+1SITI November 10, 1887, page 681.1+1.

• The Everlasting Kingdom: After the dominion of the little horn is taken away, the kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven will be given to the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom Daniel 7:26-27SITI November 10, 1887, page 681.1+1.

While the Holy Spirit is a distinct personality within the Godhead, His specific office work is to be the regenerating agent that makes the sacrifice of Christ effectual in the human heartEv 616.4+2. The Scriptures reveal that the Father and the Son are seated upon the throne in the heavenly sanctuary, surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand holy beings who wait to do their bidding4BC 1139.7+2.

The Office Work of the Holy Spirit

• A Personal Representative: The Holy Spirit is the Comforter who personifies Christ while remaining a distinct personalityBDOC 66.34.

• Sent to Earth: Jesus specifically asked the Father for the gift of the Spirit to be given to His people as the highest of all giftsDA 671.2.

• Abiding Presence: The Spirit’s role is to dwell within the believer, making them partakers of the divine nature and overcoming evil tendencies John 14:16-17DA 671.2.

• Operating on the Heart: Rather than being described as seated on a throne in a localized sense, the Divine Spirit reveals its working on the human heart to bring the faculties into captivity to Jesus Christ2MR 34.2.

The Throne of the Father and Son

• Visible Majesty: When the prophet Isaiah was permitted to look into the holy of holies, he saw a personage on the throne high and lifted up, whose glory filled the temple Isaiah 6:14BC 1139.7.

• Co-regency of the Son: Christ, after His ascension, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high as the express image of the Father's person Hebrews 1:36BC 1068.5.

• Heavenly Communication: All heaven remains in active communication with every part of the universe through various channels, with the Holy One bending from His throne to listen to every sound utteredGH March 1, 1900, par. 5.

The Harmony of the Trinity

• Three Eternal Dignitaries: There are three eternal heavenly dignitaries—God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit—who work in unison to convince the world of sin and advance the work of salvationEv 616.4.

• Godhead Fullness: While the Spirit is not portrayed on the throne in the same manner as the Father and Son, He is nonetheless an essential part of the "redeeming Trinity" and the "three great powers of heaven"BDOC 66.22+2.

• Overcoming Evil: It is only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, coming with the fullness of divine power, that the prince of evil can be held in checkTM 392.2+1.

Through the Spirit, Christ comes to us personally, for the Spirit represents Him so perfectly as to be practically Him in our hearts John 14:18BDOC 66.27+1. This divine arrangement allows the Father and Son to remain on the throne of the universe while the Holy Spirit carries out the vital work of restoration within the human soulARSH May 29, 1855, page 233.9+2.

While some view God as a single person, the Scriptures and divine revelation clarify that the Godhead consists of three distinct, living persons who are one in purpose, character, and natureEv 615.1+1. This "heavenly trio" comprises the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are the three highest powers in heaven working in perfect cooperation for the salvation of humanityEv 615.1+2. 🕊️

Three Persons in One God

• Distinct Personalities: The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there are three persons in one God, rather than three persons in one personARSH March 4, 1862, page 109.16.

• The Father and the Son: Jesus addressed His Father as a person distinct from Himself over forty times in a single discourse, showing they are two separate individuals John 17:1-26ARSH November 5, 1861, page 184.5.

• The Holy Spirit: The Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, an eternal heavenly dignitary who stands under His own sanction and powerEv 615.1+1.

• United in Nature: While they are distinct individuals, they are one in thoughts, attributes, and mind, working in such perfect harmony that to see the Son is to see the Father John 10:30SITI June 19, 1884, page 377.5+1.

The Fullness of the Godhead

• Divine Essence: In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, meaning He possesses by nature every attribute of divinity Colossians 2:9PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.8+1.

• Co-Equality: The Son is the exact image of the Father’s person, sharing the same substance and eternal power Hebrews 1:3TTR 332.3.

• The Baptismal Name: Believers are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, signifying a covenant relation with these three great authorities Matthew 28:1916LtMs, Ms 179, 1901, par. 13+1.

Working Together for Redemption

• The Everlasting Covenant: The Father and the Son pledged themselves to the plan of salvation, mutually agreeing to give fallen man another chanceEVRR245+1.

• The Role of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit makes manifest the power of divine grace to those who believe, acting as the regenerating agent that brings the soul into harmony with GodEv 615.1+1.

• Harmony of Action: This unity is not a physical blending into one person, but a spiritual union of two or more distinct beings who never work at cross purposesSITI June 19, 1884, page 377.5+1. 🤝

A Mystery of Faith

• Beyond Comprehension: The nature of the Trinity is a mystery of faith that the human mind cannot fully solve or comprehendTTR 332.3+2.

• Accepting God's Word: We are encouraged to modestly believe what God has revealed about His own existence, even if we cannot explain the infinite mystery of how three distinct persons constitute the one true GodARSH March 4, 1862, page 109.16+2.

• Truth Between Extremes: The truth lies between the extreme of Unitarianism (which denies Christ's divinity) and forms of Trinitarianism that mistakenly claim the Father and Son are the same personARSH August 29, 1865, page 101.3+1.

By understanding that God is a unity of three divine persons, we can appreciate the infinite love shown when the Father gave His Son, and the Son gave His life, and the Spirit gives His presence to restore us to the divine imageEVRR245+1. ✨