Throughout the ages, Satan has used many weapons against the ten commandments, but the most dangerous weapon of all has been the teaching that Christ gave the church authority to add to, or to take away from the commandments of God. In spite of God’s thrice-repeated warning (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19), this doctrine has shaped the thinking and conduct of millions of professed Christians. This may come as a surprise to us, but it has not taken God by surprise. He predicted it long ago. How Satan has used leading men of the church to make a breach in the law of God is the theme of one of the most absorbing prophecies of the Bible.

01. In the Book of Daniel a significant dream is recorded that gives us the topic for this lesson. What was this dream?
Daniel 7:1-3
1 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.
2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction.
3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.
Note 1
Prophecy is filled with symbols, and here we see four winds striving on the sea, and four beasts coming out of the sea. What do these symbols represent? The Bible gives the key to unlock these symbolic pictures.

02. What does the symbol of WIND represent in prophecy?
Zechariah 7:14; Jeremiah 49:36
14 “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.” (NKJV)
36 Against Elam I will bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven, And scatter them toward all those winds; There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. (NKJV)
Note 1
WIND represents war, strife, commotion or trouble.

03. What does the symbol of WATERS or SEAS represent in prophecy?
Revelation 17:15
Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language.
Note 1
WATERS or SEAS represent nations, peoples or tongues.

04. What does the symbol of BEASTS represent in prophecy?
Daniel 7:23
23 Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. (NLT)
23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. (NKJV)
Note 1
​Beasts are shown to represent kingdoms. Thus in Daniel 7:1-3, Daniel actually saw winds of war or strife blowing on the nations of the world and as a result of the situation, four kingdoms arose to prominence.

05. What historical kingdom does the first beast represent?
Daniel 7:4, Daniel 2:37-39
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.
38 He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.
39 “But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world.
Note 1
The king of beasts is a fitting symbol for this proud and powerful nation. This beast represents the mighty kingdom of Babylon. The “lion” parallels the “head of gold” in Daniel 2:37-38.

06. What historical kingdom does the second beast represent?
Daniel 7:5
“And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
Note 1
The kingdom of Medo-Persia followed Babylon and aptly fits the description of the devouring bear. This bear was raised up on one side, showing the duality of Medo-Persia, and the Persians as the greatest power. The Persians were extremely cruel, which is alluded to by the command to devour much flesh. The “bear” parallels the “breast and arms of silver” in Daniel 2:39.

07. What historical kingdom does the third beast represent?
Daniel 7:6
“After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it."
Note 1
The leopard with four wings and four heads pictures the rise of Greece, the next world empire. The four wings represent the speed of Alexander the Great when he conquered the world, and the four heads symbolise the four divisions of the kingdom at Alexander’s death. The “leopard” parallels the “thighs of brass” in Daniel 2:39.

08. What historical kingdom does the fourth beast represent?
Daniel 7:7
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns."
Note 1
The dreadful beast very fittingly represented the fourth successive world empire and that was Pagan Rome. The iron teeth parallel with the iron legs of the image in Daniel 2:40. The ten horns of this fourth beast pictured the break up of power of Pagan Rome into the divisions of Western Europe, which were finally established by the year A.D. 476. This corresponds with the feet and toes of Daniel 2:41-43.

09. What does the symbol of a HORN represent in prophecy?
Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12
24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
Note 1
The symbol of a HORN in prophecy represents a king or a ruling power.

10. Where in the book of Daniel does this "little horn" appear?
Daniel 7:8, 19-21
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.
20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them,
Note 1
A little horn was to arise and do very great things. Nine specifications in this prophecy reveal the identity of the little horn. And in all history from the days of the prophet Daniel, there is one power, and only one that answers to all these characteristics, and that is the power of Rome during it's Papal phase. This fact is stated with the utmost kindness. This prophecy does not refer to the people of God who attend the Papal church, but rather the Papal entity as an organisation or a system. The Bible must, however, expose this erroneous religious system. God does this out of love, to warn of the dangers of apostate religion.

11. What are the nine Biblical criteria that clearly identify the "little horn" power?
Criteria 1: The little horn comes up "among them"
Daniel 7:8
As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
Note
The Papacy arose in Western Europe, among the ten horns. Of this prophecy, Martin Luther says, “Behold there came up from among them another little horn. This … is the Papal Kingdom rising up in the middle of the Roman Empire.”

Criteria 2: This little horn power is a "little" one
Daniel 7:8
As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
Note
The Papacy is a little kingdom. The Vatican is a separate, independent kingdom in Europe, extending over just 108 acres of land.

Criteria 3: This little horn power "arises after" the other ten kingdoms
Daniel 7:24
Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
Note
“Arises after the ten horns”. The ten kingdoms were finally established in A.D. 476. The Papacy received her political supremacy and came into prominence at a later date. (Approximately A.D. 538.)

Criteria 4: This little horn power is "different" to the other ten kingdoms
Daniel 7:24
Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
Note
The kingdoms of Western Europe were established as political kingdoms. The Papacy was a religio-political power.

Criteria 5: This little horn power "subdues" or "plucks up" three of the other ten kingdoms
Daniel 7:24
Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
Note
On the Papal ascendancy to power, she would overcome three kingdoms in her rise to prominence. Before the Papacy became dominant it was necessary to overthrow three other powers, namely, the HERULI, OSTROGOTHS and VANDALS.

Criteria 6: This little horn power would "speak pompous [blasphemous] words against the Most High"
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Note
Throughout history the Papacy has persistently spoken pompous or blasphemous words against God. For example, The Catholic National, July 1895 pronounces unabashedly that “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but He is Jesus Christ Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.”
Dignity and Duties of the Priests or Selva, by St. Alphonsus De Leguorl, page 27: “With regards to the mystic body of Christ, that is, all faithful, the priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, or making them worthy of paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. AND GOD HIMSELF IS OBLIGED TO ABIDE BY THE JUDGEMENT OF HIS PRIESTS”.

Criteria 7: This little horn power would "persecute the saints of the Most High"
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Note
Rome readily and boldly admits she has persecuted the saints of God. The Western Watchman: “The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in Church History would deny it ... When she thinks it good to use force she will use it”. During the Dark Ages in excess of 150 million people were put to death by the cruel hand of the Roman Papacy. The book titled Foxe's Book Of Martyrs by John Foxe (which is freely available for download from the internet in PDF format) depicts with scholarly accuracy the instances and methods for unrestrained Papal persecution that was documented during the dark ages.

Criteria 8: This little horn power would rule for "time, times and half a time"
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Note
The book of revelation reveals the period of time covered by time, times and half a time:
Revelation 12:14 - But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time.
Revelation 12:6 - And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.
The preceding verses reveal this "time, times and half a time" period is 1260 days. As a day represents a year in Bible prophecy this would mean the Papacy would have a period of dominance for 1260 years. (Historical circumstances suggest the Papacy fulfilled this between A.D.538 and 1798).

Criteria 9: This little horn power would "intend to change times and law"
Daniel 7:25
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
Note
A comparison of the ten commandments in a Roman Catholic Catechism with the commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 will reveal that Rome has tampered with the law of God. She has also altered the “Times in the Law”, by interfering with Commandment Number 4. e.g. T. Enright, February 18. 1884: “I have repeatedly offered $1000 to anyone who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic church. The Bible says, ‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy’. The Catholic church says, No: By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week! And lo: the entire civilised world bows down in a reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church”.

Concluding Question
<INSERT CONCLUDING QUESTION HERE>