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In this message we come to the beast out of the sea (Rev. 13:1). Chapters twelve and thirteen seem to stand alone, and for many years I did not know the connection between them. The connection is the sea mentioned in Rev. 12:18 and Rev. 13:1. Revelation 12:18 (13:1 in KJV) says, “And he [the dragon] stood on the sand of the sea.” Following this, 13:1 says, “And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea.” The sea both in 12:18 and in 13:1, as well as the great sea in Dan. 7:2, refers to the Mediterranean Sea. (Mediterranean means “the sea within the land.”) Hence, the sea is the link connecting chapters twelve and thirteen.
In chapter twelve, the dragon was defeated and cast out of heaven to the earth. After coming to the earth, immediately he begins to stir up the beast from the sea. The sand of the sea here no doubt indicates the seashore of the Holy Land, the very edge of the nation of Israel. The dragon will stand there and cause the beast, Antichrist, to come up out of the sea. The fact that the dragon stands on the sand of the sea and the fact that the holy city, Jerusalem, will be trampled under foot forty-two months (Rev. 11:2) indicate that Satan’s persecution in the great tribulation will be carried out mainly in the land of Israel.
In these messages on Rev. 13 I am burdened to point out all the various aspects of Antichrist, as revealed to us in detail in Daniel, Revelation, and 2 Thessalonians, so that the saints may have a clear understanding concerning this evil person.
Hardly anything in the book of Revelation is altogether new. Rather, nearly all the items here are mentioned in the Old Testament. If we would understand the book of Revelation, we must trace the items found here back to their first mention in the Old Testament. In this way we shall see both the original revelation and the development of the revelation. This is the case, in principle, with Antichrist. Antichrist is revealed in Daniel, but Revelation gives a further development regarding him.
Many of us are somewhat familiar with the prophecies in the book of Daniel. In these messages we need to consider four chapters in Daniel: chapter two, an account of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; chapter seven, a revelation of the four beasts out of the sea; chapter eight, the ram and the goat fighting against each other; and chapter eleven, the northern and southern kings. In chapter eight a little horn comes out of one of the four horns of the goat, and something also issues from the northern king in chapter eleven. These two are the same.
The great image in chapter two is of four parts: the head, the breast and the arms, the belly and the thighs, and the legs, including the ten toes. The fourth part is subdivided firstly into two legs and then into ten toes. The periods of history signified by the first three parts of the image and the two legs have been fulfilled, but the ten toes have not yet been fulfilled. The four beasts in chapter seven correspond to the four parts of the great image in chapter two. The first beast corresponds to the head, the second to the breast and the arms, the third to the belly and the thighs, and the fourth to the legs with the toes. Eventually, according to the vision in chapter seven, the fourth beast will have ten horns. These ten horns of the fourth beast will actually be the ten toes of the fourth section of the great image.
The two animals in chapter eight, the ram and the goat, are equal to the second and third beasts mentioned in chapter seven. Hence, the goat equals the third beast and the third section of the great image. According to chapter eight, upon the goat there are four horns, and out of one of them sprouts a little horn.
In chapter eleven of Daniel we have the two kings, the southern king and the northern king. The northern king is a shadow of Antichrist, and he comes out of the horns of the goat in chapter eight.
Please note the connections between these four chapters in Daniel. The four beasts in chapter seven equal the four sections of the great image in chapter two. The ram and the goat in chapter eight equal the second and third beast in chapter seven. The northern king in chapter eleven comes out of one of the four horns of the goat in chapter eight. Eventually, the northern king will be a shadow, a type, of Antichrist, who is the little horn spoken of in chapter eight.
In Daniel 9:24-27 we have the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks. According to this chapter, seventy weeks have been assigned by God in the history of Israel. Each week denotes a period of seven years. After the sixty-ninth week, a prince, who was Titus, came to destroy Jerusalem, and Jerusalem was trodden under the feet of the Gentiles. During that time, the desolation came with the abomination (Dan. 9:27). In A.D. 70 Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem. From that time until 1967 Jerusalem was under Gentile control. The return of Jerusalem to the Jews in 1967 is an indication that we are very close to the end time. Through Antichrist the desolation with the abomination will soon come in full.
The beast out of the sea in 13:1 is the last and crucial part of the fourth beast in Daniel (Dan. 7:7-8, 19-26). Both in Daniel and in Revelation the beast out of the sea refers not only to the Roman Empire but specifically to Antichrist. Hence, eventually Antichrist is the beast out of the sea, the fourth beast in Daniel 7.
This beast is dreadful and terrible (Dan. 7:7, 19). In the past the Roman Empire did dreadful and terrible things. In the future Antichrist will also do terrible things to damage people. Both are cruel and dreadful.
Daniel 7:7 reveals that the beast is “strong exceedingly.” The Roman Empire was the strongest heathen power in history, and Antichrist will also be extraordinarily strong, even strong in the power of Satan. As the Roman Empire conquered all the neighboring powers, so Antichrist will subdue and conquer all the powers around the Mediterranean Sea.
The beast also has great iron teeth and brass nails (Dan. 7:7, 19). The iron teeth are for eating or devouring, and the brass nails are for standing or treading.
This beast devours the whole earth and breaks it into pieces (Dan. 7:7, 19, 23). Along with all the other aspects of the description of the beast, this applies firstly to the ancient Roman Empire with its Caesars and then to the coming Antichrist.
The fourth beast stamps the residue with its feet (Dan. 7:7, 19, 23). Whatever remains after the devouring and breaking will be stamped by the beast. This was true of the Roman Empire in the past, and it will also be true of Antichrist in the future.
The beast also has ten horns (Dan. 7:7, 20, 24). These ten horns correspond to the ten toes of the great image in chapter two. According to the vision of the great image in Daniel 2, the ten kings represented by the ten toes are, in God’s view, the lowest part of the body. However, in the vision in Daniel chapter seven these ten kingdoms represented by the ten kings are exalted as the ten horns. In chapter two these kings are the lowest, and in chapter seven they are the highest. Whether these kings are the lowest or the highest depends upon our viewpoint. If we view them from the perspective of heaven, they will be the lowest. However, if we view them from a worldly perspective, these kingdoms will seem to be the highest. Furthermore, worldly politics and worldly kingdoms are, in the eyes of God, like wild beasts which do nothing except damage and devour people. But in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar, that is, in human eyes, the worldly kingdoms seem to be a great and glorious image.
The fourth beast has a little horn — Antichrist — coming up among the ten horns (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24-26). Antichrist will bud out of one of the ten horns.
This little horn will have eyes like the eyes of man (Dan. 7:8, 20). Here the eyes signify insight. That the horn will have eyes like a man indicates that Antichrist will be intellectually brilliant. He will be a man full of knowledge and will possess great insight. He may both know political science and be familiar with all the up-to-date scientific knowledge. Keep this in mind as you observe the world situation and read the newspapers. Not too long from now, such a man will rise up.
This little horn will also have a mouth speaking great words against the Most High (Dan. 7:8, 20, 25). He will be arrogant in utterance and speak blasphemous words against God. Antichrist will be an eloquent speaker. Even today, any candidate for political office must be both intelligent and articulate. The greater words a candidate speaks, the more likely he is to be elected. When you see a brilliant and eloquent person speaking arrogant words and blaspheming God, you must take notice — he may be Antichrist.
The little horn will have an appearance more stout than that of his fellows (Dan. 7:20). His appearance will be so strong, so stout, so imposing, and so attractive that he will be able to subdue many simply by the power of his presence. The Bible does not leave us in darkness. It not only reveals Christ, but also clearly describes Antichrist. When he appears, we shall be able to recognize him easily.
Daniel 7:21 says, “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.” Not only will Antichrist be arrogant and blasphemous, but he will also make war against the saints. He will persecute the God-fearing Jews and the Christ-believing Christians.
Daniel 7:25 indicates that the little horn “shall wear out the saints of the most High.” Antichrist will put the saints under his hand and gradually wear them out. How he will do this I do not know. It is more difficult to endure this wearing out than to be put to death suddenly. Do not wait to experience this yourself. Rather, pray that you might escape it. The more we see someone arising who looks like this person, the more we need to pray, “Lord, if this is the one, take me away before he comes into power. I do not want to be under his hand.”
Daniel 7:25 also reveals that the little horn will “think to change times and laws.” This changing of times and laws refers to changing the appointed feasts of the children of Israel. According to the book of Leviticus, God appointed at least seven yearly feasts for the Jewish people. Because these feasts are related to the worship of God, and because Antichrist will oppose any kind of religion, he will abolish all the feasts and change all the laws. These laws refer to the laws of God given to His people through Moses. Hence, Antichrist will alter the Jewish religion, abolish the feasts, and change the laws they have received from God through their forefathers.
Daniel 7:26 says, “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion.” The dominion of the little horn, Antichrist, shall be taken away.
Verse 26 also reveals that Antichrist will be consumed and destroyed “unto the end.” Although Daniel does not specifically tell us how Antichrist will be destroyed, we know from other portions of the Word that he will be destroyed by the lake of fire (19:20).
Now we come to chapter eight of Daniel, where we see the little horn (vv. 8-12, 21-25). Antichrist will be the fourth beast in Daniel chapter seven and also the little horn revealed in Daniel chapter eight. The revelation in Daniel chapter eight is mainly of two things — the ram signifying Persia and the goat signifying Greece. In his book on the great prophecies, G. H. Pember says that throughout ancient Persia, especially in the capital, the symbol of a ram was found. Furthermore, in ancient Greece there were many symbols of goats. The Bible uses a ram to signify Persia and a goat to signify Greece. The goat in this chapter refers to Alexander the Great. Alexander was in power for approximately twelve years and died quite suddenly in his thirties. His strength was not like that of a ram, but like that of a goat. History tells us that when Alexander the Great came to Macedonia, he put on a crown of goat horns.
Daniel 8:8 says, “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.” Alexander the Great had four generals. After Alexander’s death, these generals occupied certain territories and out of them made kingdoms for themselves. Thus, after the death of Alexander, the ancient kingdom of Macedonia was divided into four kingdoms. As we read this prophecy, written long before Alexander’s time, we cannot help but believe that the Bible was inspired by God. When I was reading and studying these matters fifty years ago, I was fully convinced that the Bible is inspired by God. No human mind could ever have given us such a brief yet inclusive revelation.
The little horn in Daniel 8 comes out of one of the four horns of the goat, that is, out of one of the four kingdoms of ancient Macedonia and Greece (vv. 8-9, 21-23).
Daniel 8:9 says, “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the beautiful land” (Heb.). “South” refers to Egypt, “east” refers to Asia Minor, and “the beautiful land” refers to the Holy Land. Knowing this will enable us to determine the region out of which the little horn will arise. He will come either from Greece or Macedonia, probably from Greece. This is the reason that he will be intellectually brilliant, for, since ancient times, the Greeks have been noted for their intellectual achievements.
However, the prophecies in the Bible are sometimes rather “sneaky.” For example, Micah 5:2 prophesied that Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Although this prophecy was fulfilled, it was difficult for anyone to trace Christ’s origin to Bethlehem. His mother Mary was impregnated in Nazareth, not in Bethlehem. Near the time of her delivery, she journeyed to Bethlehem and stayed there just long enough for the Lord Jesus to be born. Soon after His birth, Jesus was taken by His parents to Egypt and later to Nazareth, where He was raised (Matt. 2:19-23). Consequently, everyone knew Him as Jesus of Nazareth. Hardly anyone knew that, in a “sneaky” way, He had actually been born in Bethlehem.
Mr. Pember says that Napoleon was a descendant of the Greeks. Although it is difficult to be certain, I feel strongly that Antichrist will also be a Greek descendant. However, it is difficult to determine exactly where he will spring up. Nevertheless, he will undoubtedly be closely related to Greece in some way. This is not my guess or even my interpretation; this is the clear implication in Daniel 8:9. Antichrist will certainly come from one of the four kingdoms in the territory of the ancient empire of Macedonia and Greece under Alexander the Great.
At this point let us consider, as a parenthesis, the historical fulfillment of Dan. 2:31-33, 38-45, and Dan. 7:3-7. The head of the great image, the first beast, was the empire of Babylon (605 B.C. to 539 B.C.). The breast and the arms of the great image, the second beast, represent the empire of Medo-Persia (549 B.C. to 330 B.C.). Media and Persia were like two arms, but they were one empire. The belly and thighs of the great image, the third beast, signify the empire of Macedonia and Greece (336 B.C. to 323 B.C.). As we have seen, after the death of Alexander the Great, the empire of Macedonia and Greece was divided into four parts: the kingdom of Ptolemy in Egypt, Cyrene, Coelo-Syria, and parts of Asia Minor; the kingdom of Cassander in Macedonia and Greece; the kingdom of Lysimachus in Thrace, western Bithynia, Lesser Phrygia, Mysia, and Lydia; and the kingdom of Seleucus in the remainder of Asia Minor and in Syria (323 B.C. to 31 B.C.). Therefore, that the little horn will grow great toward the south, the east, and the beautiful land is a proof that Antichrist will arise from the source of Greece and Macedonia. The legs of the great image, the fourth beast, are the Roman Empire (30 B.C. to A.D. 476). The territories of the western Roman Empire included Gaul, Spain, Britain, Italy, and the western half of North Africa. The territories of the eastern Roman Empire included Macedonia, Greece, Thrace, Asia Minor, Syria, Judea, Egypt, and the eastern part of North Africa. After A.D. 476 the Roman Empire was suspended. During the time of this suspension, that is, during the interval after the two legs and before the ten toes, the Roman Empire has been replaced by the Roman Catholic Church.
Daniel 8:10 says, “And it grew great, even to the host of heaven” (Heb.). The little horn will not only grow great to the south, to the east, and to the beautiful land, but even to the host of heaven. How proud he will be! We all know that man has succeeded in landing on the moon. This space technology may enable Antichrist to do something involving the host of heaven, including the planets and the stars. Antichrist will be so arrogant, great, and proud that he will even presume to touch the host of heaven.
Daniel 8:10 also says that the little horn “cast down some of the host and of the stars to the earth, and stamped upon them” (Heb.). What a person he will be! Something will be developed in the scientific field that will enable Antichrist to bring down the heavenly host. Antichrist will be so proud that he will dare to do even this.
Daniel 8:11 says, “Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host,” and verse 25 says, “He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes.” This means that he will exalt himself against God.
The little horn will also take away the continual sacrifice (v. 11). This means that he will stop the worship of God by the Jews. We have seen that Antichrist will change the Jewish feasts and laws. Now we see that he will discontinue the daily, or continual, sacrifices. Verse 12 says, “And a time of trial was appointed unto the continual sacrifice by reason of transgression” (Darby). This means that the sacrifice will suffer a trial because of Antichrist’s interference. This trial will be due to the Jews’ transgression. The Jews who have returned to the land of their fathers are presently in a very poor situation, full of sins and transgressions. This condition will continue until the time of Antichrist. Although the Jews will worship God by offering sacrifices to Him, they will still be sinful. Therefore, God will be disgusted with their offerings, and, due to their transgression, He will allow Antichrist to cause the sacrifices to cease.
Antichrist, the little horn, will also cast down the place of the sanctuary of the Prince of the host (Dan. 8:11). This indicates that he will destroy the temple of God. It also implies that the temple will be rebuilt. If Antichrist would appear today, there would be no temple for him to tear down. I believe that the temple will be rebuilt before long. Soon after that, Antichrist will rise up and tear it down once again.
Daniel 8:12 also reveals that Antichrist will “cast down the truth to the ground.” This means that with Antichrist there will be no truth. He will abolish and tear down every truth. The tendency of the world situation today is like this. As far as international relations is concerned, there is very little truth. With regard to the renouncing of all truth, Antichrist will go to the farthest extreme.
Antichrist will do great things and prosper (Dan. 8:12, Darby; v. 24). The Hebrew word rendered did great things (Darby) is a specific word indicating a marvelous and wonderful practice. Antichrist will do great things, things which have never been done before, and he will prosper.
Daniel 8:23 describes Antichrist as “a king of fierce countenance.” As we have seen, Antichrist’s appearance will be stout, overpowering.
Antichrist will also understand “dark sentences” (Dan. 8:23). These dark sentences will be riddles, deceitful words of double and ambiguous meanings. It will be impossible to tell exactly what he is saying, because his words will have a double meaning.
Daniel 8:24 says, “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power.” Antichrist’s power will be the power of Satan. Revelation 13:2 says, “And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.” In a sense, Antichrist will be the embodiment of Satan.
We are also told that Antichrist will “destroy marvelously” (Dan. 8:24, Heb.). This indicates that Antichrist will destroy to an extraordinary degree. He will destroy cities and even nations in an unprecedented manner. I do not want to witness this on earth. I would rather observe it from the heavens.
Antichrist will also “destroy the mighty and the holy people” (Dan. 8:24), the people of God.
Daniel 8:25 says, “And through his cunning also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand” (Heb.). This reveals that Antichrist will be cunning and crafty.
Daniel 8:25 also says that “in security” Antichrist “shall destroy many.” When many are secure and at peace, Antichrist will come and destroy them.
Daniel 8:25 also reveals that Antichrist “shall be broken without hand.” Eventually, Antichrist will be broken by Christ, not by any human hand.
All these points give us a complete picture of Antichrist as the little horn in Daniel chapter eight. Please remember that Antichrist is firstly the fourth beast of Daniel chapter seven and then the little horn of Daniel chapter eight.
