Who Is the Great Anti-Christ: Identifying the Power in the Book of Daniel
The document discusses identifying the Antichrist through analyzing prophecies in the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel gives us the first glimpse through history, how and when the Antichrist was to arise and what it would do. This study provides historical evidence to support identifying the Papacy as fulfilling the Antichrist role described in Daniel and Revelation.
The Vision of the Four Beasts
In Daniel 7, Daniel has a vision where he sees visions of four beasts representing four world empires. Four Beast – Four World Empires; they were: Babylon, Media Persia, Greece, and Rome. This was history in advance.
- Babylon: In verse three he sees a lion with wings. All over the walls at the Ishtar gate of Babylon were depicted lions with eagles wings. God uses this design to represent Babylon that Babylon had already chosen and everybody knew.
- Media-Persia: Behold another Beast, a second, like to a bear. Before Media-Persia could become a world power it had to subdue Lydia, Babylon and Egypt. These were the three ribs in the mouth of the Bear.
- Greece: I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard – verse 6 - four wings – four heads.
- Rome: A Fourth Beast – Rome - 10 horns verse 7. Ten horns = Ten countries within the Roman Empire that was divided into the countries around the Mediterranean.
| World Empire | Prophetic Symbol | Historical Context |
|---|---|---|
| Babylon | Lion with wings | Ishtar gate depictions |
| Media-Persia | Bear with 3 ribs | Subdued Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt |
| Greece | Leopard with 4 wings/heads | Rapid conquest and division |
| Rome | Fourth Beast with 10 horns | Divided into Mediterranean countries |
The Rise of the Little Horn
The document asserts that the "little horn" that arises in Daniel 7 represents the Antichrist power. Horn Number 11 – The Antichrist is described in Verse 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.”
Identifying Characteristics of the Antichrist
To trace the Antichrist, the following traits are identified from the text of Daniel 7:
- Location: Among – comes up in Europe (verse 8).
- Timing: Comes up after the 10 (476 A.D.). Arises in 538.
- Uprooting: Uproots 3 (verse 24). The Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were uprooted; all four were supporters of Arianism which was a rival of Catholicism.
- Nature: He shall be diverse or different – a religo-political power.
- Blasphemy: He shall speak great words against the Most High (v.25).
- Persecution: Wear out the saints of the Most High. Historians estimate that perhaps 150 million Protestant Christians have been put to death by Papal dominance.
- Law: Think to change times and laws.
The 1260-Year Prophecy
Daniel 7:25 describes the ruling time of the Antichrist: “They shall be given into his hands until a time, times and the dividing of time.” Using Jewish reckoning of time, we find the following calculation:
- Time equals one year or 360 days (Jewish calendar).
- Times equals two or 720 days.
- Dividing of time equals 180 days.
- Total: 1260 days.
In prophecy a day stands for a year (Eze. 4:6 & Nu. 14:34). Therefore, the power would rule from 538 – 1798, which equals 1260 years. Western Roman Empire comes to an end in 476 when the Heruli king, Odoacer, an Arian, took the city of Rome, setting the stage for the rise of this power.