Chapter 9

Three of the First Horns Were Plucked Up

Our chapter title introduced a point in prophecy which we do not find explained in the Bible. Our explanation of it by chart and word must therefore be of a suggestive nature, and certainly far from being dogmatic in attitude. This point in prophecy, so far as we know unexplained by scripture, does not invalidate the closing scene of world-empire; that is settled by direct and easy-to-understand prophecy in Revelation. We introduce this feature in order to emphasize the clarity of the closing scene.

Of the fourth beast of Daniel 7 it is said: "And it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things" (Dan. 7:7-9). Ten horns less the three plucked up would leave the little, eleventh horn and seven others.

"Having Seven Heads and Ten Horns"

In Revelation 13 there is revealed a composite beast; it has seven heads and ten horns; it incorporates all four beasts of Daniel 7 — the nameless beast, leopard, bear, and lion. The seven heads represent the seven world-empires revealed in the Bible. These in order are, the Old Babylonian or Assyrian empire, Egypt, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. These six kingdoms, not six forms of one kingdom, brought things down to the time John wrote Revelation. This little eleventh horn, as a development out of Rome was future from John's day and is still future. That eleventh horn is called "the beast" in Daniel 7:11 and proves to be the seventh head of the composite beast in Revelation 13 and 17. These seven heads were SUCCESSIVE in order and not grouped, as we often see them pictured and the ten horns were on the seventh head.

Daniel speaks of the eleventh horn and Revelation reveals the seventh head, because the eleventh horn becomes the seventh head. This seventh head was, or will be, the head which is killed by a sword stroke and is made to live (Rev. 13:3, 12, 14) : he exists as seventh head and as such is killed by a sword stroke — goes to and comes from the abyss (Rev. 11:7); lives again or exists again and as such he becomes an eighth head. The same man is both seventh and eighth heads; as seventh he is head of human world-government brought to its highest degree of efficiency and lowest state of morality; as eighth head, as raised from the dead, he becomes Satan incarnate and is indeed antichrist. The reader should examine Revelation 13 and 17 where these things are confirmed.

"And the Ten Horns that Thou Sawest"

"And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast. These shall war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful" (Rev. 17:12-14 with 19:11-21). The last form in world-government of Gentile rule is ten kings and one dictator; this is Daniel's picture (Dan. 7:7, 8); this is John's picture (Rev. 17:12-14). Daniel says that the little horn — "the beast" put down three of the ten; the last word of inspired revelation shows ten kings, puppet kings, and the beast. Our conclusion is, that the three must have been restored. The details of the putting down or the restoring to power are not given. The facts of Daniel and Revelation perfectly agree. The chart shows to the eye what we have been saying to the mind of the reader.

"And Upon His Heads Names of Blasphemy"

It is not a pleasing fact that both the Bible and history reveals the anti-God character of the six great world-empires which lie in the past. That the seventh and eighth heads yet to appear are atheistic to the extreme is clearly indicated in nearly every passage which teaches on the topic. The reader should examine II Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13 on this feature. The Devil told Adam and Eve that they could become, by disobeying God, as God. Man has always believed that lie. He believes that he can become as God, and even more: he believes that he can and will yet dispossess God in this world and take His place. Sin began in the universe when a creature said "I will" against God's will (Isa. 14:12-14). Satan's most desperate act against God, and a fatal mistake it will be, will be when he becomes incarnate to enlist men and defeat God (Rev. 13:2). Thus it is that Satan is "the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; and let not loose his prisoners to their home" (Read Isaiah 14:12-20). We live in the day of preparation for this coming atheistic world-power. We see now whole nations that were once called "Christian nations" anti-God. We are seeing the whole world swept right into an anti-God dictatorship.